got my tourney fix tonight...

Every couple weeks or so I get the itch to play a few MTTs. I played a few tonight, but no buyins higher than $10. I whiffed them all.. Lost a couple flips when it mattered most... Shoved k5hh from sb and bb woke up with AQ 10 bbs deep... And made a bad call for all my chips in one. Just typical tourney stuff really.. Its such a different mindset than cash games. I've always thought I was average at best at online MTTs, but pretty good in sngs, and getting good at cash. Alex, teach me MTTs! lol

Well after busto in all the tourneys, I played a small session of a little over 300 hands of 50NL, and won a little under $150. I ran good, and got good value out of my hands. I know I keep saying it, but its really hard to explain how much I think I understand the game much better now than I used to. I'm getting comfortable with cash games, and hopefully not just because I'm running well. Some players, not many, but some, just want to GIVE me their chips... here's an example...

I'd only been at the table a few hands, but this guy had been involved in every hand so far.. usually limping pf, and sometimes being the aggressor.. but it was like he wanted to win every pot. One hand I isolated his limp with KQdd and he c/folded when I flopped the flush.. oh well... Very next hand, he limped AGAIN and I isolated AGAIN... here's the hand..

Full Tilt Poker Game #10810921541: Table Upton - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:48:39 ET - 2009/02/23
Seat 1: moneymaker155 ($0), is sitting out
Seat 2: pcktpair_ADAMS ($9.80)
Seat 3: bishop713 ($10.15)
Seat 4: jfarr22384 ($41.75)
Seat 5: BrandonAU ($53.70)
Seat 6: Delstar ($32.30)
Seat 7: ajax866 ($23.40)
Seat 8: pppoker4 ($13.50)
Seat 9: liquidvelvet2 ($12.70)
pppoker4 posts the small blind of $0.25
liquidvelvet2 posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BrandonAU [9s As]
pcktpair_ADAMS folds
bishop713 folds
jfarr22384 calls $0.50
BrandonAU raises to $2.25
Delstar folds
ajax866 folds
pppoker4 folds
liquidvelvet2 folds
jfarr22384 calls $1.75
*** FLOP *** [4c 9d 8c]
jfarr22384 bets $5.25
BrandonAU has 15 seconds left to act
BrandonAU raises to $22.50
jfarr22384 raises to $39.50, and is all in
BrandonAU calls $17
jfarr22384 shows [4d 5s]
BrandonAU shows [9s As]
*** TURN *** [4c 9d 8c] [Th]
*** RIVER *** [4c 9d 8c Th] [Kh]
jfarr22384 shows a pair of Fours
BrandonAU shows a pair of Nines
BrandonAU wins the pot ($81.25) with a pair of Nines
jfarr22384 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $84.25 | Rake $3
Board: [4c 9d 8c Th Kh]
Seat 1: moneymaker155 is sitting out
Seat 2: pcktpair_ADAMS didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: bishop713 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: jfarr22384 showed [4d 5s] and lost with a pair of Fours
Seat 5: BrandonAU showed [9s As] and won ($81.25) with a pair of Nines
Seat 6: Delstar didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: ajax866 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: pppoker4 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: liquidvelvet2 (big blind) folded before the Flop


I raised the flop big because I wanted to play for stacks against this guy. I knew I was soooo far ahead of his range here, especially after the potsized donkbet on the flop. Once he shoved I snap called so quick, thinking I'd see a flush draw or J10 or something.. 45?? oooook. lol... I made a note on him obv... Poker can be fun sometimes.

- Brandon

Roll back over $1k...

Thanks to running good in 50NL, I've gotten my online roll over $1k for the first time in a few months. It also helps that I haven't had to cash out any lately, though that might change soon.

I think I'm a whole lot better at cash than I used to be. I've been making some good calls/laydowns, putting people on pretty accurate ranges, getting good value, etc. I think my biggest improvements are probably stealing more, tightening up my UTG to MP range, and isolating more. HUD has been a huge help with isolating, cause alot of the time now I know who's limping with junk (QJ, K10, 810suited etc.) vs the ones limping with monsters UTG, small pkt pairs, etc. Ranges seem to be more defined now. Of course I've played a really tiny sample of 5,424 hands, which is because I only 6-table now, but I like it better than mass-tabling. I'm running at 9.93 ptbb/100 hands, which translates to +$538.55. I've also earned about $45 to $50 in rakeback so far on top of that. I'm still debating when to take a shot at 100NL. I'll more than likely wait until my roll is up to $1.5k so I'll have 15 buyins. If I drop 3 or 4 buyins from there, I'll just move back down and try again.

On another note, some of us are going to Tunica in mid-March. I'm selling $25 shares of myself in the $550 tourney up there that Saturday, and giving 100% payout on the shares. Basically I just want to play, but don't want to put up the full amount. Alot of my friends that would buy shares don't play much poker, and probably wouldn't buy them if it was like a stake and it was a 50/50 or 60/40 cut or something, so I decided that I don't really care that much, and I'll give out the full 100%. I think it will be fun to have people sweating me too. I'll probably put up $250 to $300 myself, so that leaves 10 to 12 shares for sell. I've already gotten 4 of them sold, and I know someone that will take a couple more, but there are still a few available. They know I run ridiculously good in live tourneys in Mississippi though, so hopefully I don't disappoint lol... I also already have somebody staking me in 1, maybe 2 $100 tourneys that weekend. I'll take a stake over paying myself any day, as long as the cut is decent. Risk-free poker is fun poker :) Well thats all for now..

- Brandon

Full ring 50NL cash...

I've been 6-tabling full ring 50NL cash games lately, and its a huge difference from 12-20 tabling and playing like a robot.. I can actually get reads from people, I have time to take notes on people, and I enjoy actually being able to play POKER lol.. I've run pretty good, up 4 buyins or so after 2k hands. Rakeback isn't a bad bankroll builder either. Here are a few fun hands from my session tonight.. I run good...

Full Tilt Poker Game #10555931855: Table Gullwing - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:46:06 ET - 2009/02/10
Seat 1: Xeta23 ($86.80)
Seat 2: lesya777 ($10)
Seat 3: flaiSM ($9.25)
Seat 4: AAATTStrong ($8.55)
Seat 5: TML0521 ($36.40)
Seat 6: BrandonAU ($50)
Seat 7: IsNotConcerned ($54.60)
Seat 8: Mishkec ($48.75)
Seat 9: AlGhazali ($115.40)
Mishkec posts the small blind of $0.25
AlGhazali posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BrandonAU [Ac Ah]
Xeta23 folds
flaiSM has 15 seconds left to act
flaiSM folds
AAATTStrong folds
TML0521 folds
BrandonAU raises to $1.75
IsNotConcerned calls $1.75
Mishkec folds
AlGhazali calls $1.25
*** FLOP *** [4h 7c Ad]
AlGhazali bets $3
BrandonAU has 15 seconds left to act
BrandonAU calls $3
IsNotConcerned calls $3
*** TURN *** [4h 7c Ad] [8d]
AlGhazali has 15 seconds left to act
AlGhazali checks
BrandonAU bets $10
IsNotConcerned raises to $28
AlGhazali folds
BrandonAU raises to $45.25, and is all in
IsNotConcerned calls $17.25
BrandonAU shows [Ac Ah]
IsNotConcerned shows [7h 7s]
*** RIVER *** [4h 7c Ad 8d] [3c]
BrandonAU shows three of a kind, Aces
IsNotConcerned shows three of a kind, Sevens
BrandonAU wins the pot ($102) with three of a kind, Aces
IsNotConcerned adds $45.40
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $105 | Rake $3
Board: [4h 7c Ad 8d 3c]
Seat 1: Xeta23 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: lesya777 is sitting out
Seat 3: flaiSM didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: AAATTStrong didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: TML0521 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: BrandonAU showed [Ac Ah] and won ($102) with three of a kind, Aces
Seat 7: IsNotConcerned (button) showed [7h 7s] and lost with three of a kind, Sevens
Seat 8: Mishkec (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: AlGhazali (big blind) folded on the Turn


In this hand, I got the WORST TURN I could ask for. When the BB leads out smallish like that, I think 56 is definitely in his range (alot of people will play 56 suited this way IMO). The turn play made it easy though. As soon as IsNotConcerned raised and AlGhazali folded, I knew I had set-over-setted him. Sweet hand.


Full Tilt Poker Game #10555654045: Table Garnett - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:30:42 ET - 2009/02/10
Seat 1: C Huuustle ($23.75)
Seat 2: hoylet86 ($17.30)
Seat 3: ripvw ($30.15)
Seat 4: ekze ($10)
Seat 5: balscent75 ($19.30)
Seat 6: LuckyMaverick1 ($9.25)
Seat 7: phratstar ($32.55)
Seat 8: wholefinshow ($15)
Seat 9: BrandonAU ($50.80)
wholefinshow posts the small blind of $0.25
BrandonAU posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BrandonAU [Tc Jc]
C Huuustle folds
hoylet86 raises to $1
ripvw folds
balscent75 calls $1
LuckyMaverick1 folds
phratstar folds
wholefinshow folds
BrandonAU calls $0.50
*** FLOP *** [3c 7d Jh]
BrandonAU checks
hoylet86 checks
balscent75 bets $2.50
BrandonAU calls $2.50
hoylet86 folds
*** TURN *** [3c 7d Jh] [6c]
BrandonAU checks
balscent75 has 15 seconds left to act
balscent75 bets $15.80, and is all in
BrandonAU has 15 seconds left to act
BrandonAU has requested TIME
BrandonAU calls $15.80
balscent75 shows [9h 9s]
BrandonAU shows [Tc Jc]
*** RIVER *** [3c 7d Jh 6c] [8h]
balscent75 shows a pair of Nines
BrandonAU shows a pair of Jacks
BrandonAU wins the pot ($37.90) with a pair of Jacks
balscent75 adds $40
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $39.85 | Rake $1.95
Board: [3c 7d Jh 6c 8h]
Seat 1: C Huuustle didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: hoylet86 folded on the Flop
Seat 3: ripvw didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: ekze is sitting out
Seat 5: balscent75 showed [9h 9s] and lost with a pair of Nines
Seat 6: LuckyMaverick1 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: phratstar (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: wholefinshow (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: BrandonAU (big blind) showed [Tc Jc] and won ($37.90) with a pair of Jacks

I think I may have played this badly, forcing myself to call a huge overbet on the turn, when I could've either c/r'd the flop or led the turn, but I was planning on c/r'ing the turn allin anyways. After the club falls on the turn, I can't fold anymore anyways, given his stack, after any turn bet. I still think I should've led the turn though, cause if he checks behind on the turn and a non-club hits the river, I don't know what I do...


Full Tilt Poker Game #10555739316: Table Desert Primrose - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:35:21 ET - 2009/02/10
Seat 1: one_last_hope ($20)
Seat 2: k030101 ($50)
Seat 3: IsNotConcerned ($50)
Seat 4: WallstreetWolf ($25.25)
Seat 5: Decamus84 ($64.35)
Seat 6: brax1231 ($23.55)
Seat 7: Qlio69 ($10), is sitting out
Seat 8: BrandonAU ($63.45)
Seat 9: aggelosk7 ($15.05)
brax1231 posts the small blind of $0.25
BrandonAU posts the big blind of $0.50
one_last_hope posts $0.50
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BrandonAU [Js As]
aggelosk7 folds
one_last_hope raises to $1.50
k030101 folds
IsNotConcerned folds
WallstreetWolf folds
Decamus84 folds
brax1231 folds
BrandonAU calls $1
*** FLOP *** [9s Qh Ts]
BrandonAU checks
one_last_hope bets $2
BrandonAU has 15 seconds left to act
BrandonAU raises to $8.50
one_last_hope raises to $18.50, and is all in
BrandonAU calls $10
one_last_hope shows [Qc Kh]
BrandonAU shows [Js As]
*** TURN *** [9s Qh Ts] [8s]
*** RIVER *** [9s Qh Ts 8s] [5c]
one_last_hope shows a pair of Queens
BrandonAU shows a flush, Ace high
BrandonAU wins the pot ($38.25) with a flush, Ace high
one_last_hope is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $40.25 | Rake $2
Board: [9s Qh Ts 8s 5c]
Seat 1: one_last_hope showed [Qc Kh] and lost with a pair of Queens
Seat 2: k030101 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: IsNotConcerned didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: WallstreetWolf didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: Decamus84 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: brax1231 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: Qlio69 is sitting out
Seat 8: BrandonAU (big blind) showed [Js As] and won ($38.25) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 9: aggelosk7 didn't bet (folded)


Ahh... nothing like flopping a huge draw and hitting.. nuff said..


Full Tilt Poker Game #10556055753: Table Desert Primrose - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:53:02 ET - 2009/02/10
Seat 1: one_last_hope ($8.60)
Seat 2: k030101 ($50)
Seat 3: IsNotConcerned ($65.65)
Seat 4: Sumix76 ($8.50)
Seat 5: milagraz ($9.25)
Seat 6: wowhwan ($60)
Seat 7: AAATTStrong ($10)
Seat 8: BrandonAU ($85.50)
Seat 9: aggelosk7 ($14.75)
wowhwan posts the small blind of $0.25
AAATTStrong posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BrandonAU [Js Jc]
BrandonAU raises to $2
aggelosk7 folds
one_last_hope calls $2
k030101 folds
IsNotConcerned folds
Sumix76 folds
milagraz raises to $9.25, and is all in
wowhwan folds
AAATTStrong folds
BrandonAU calls $7.25
one_last_hope has 15 seconds left to act
one_last_hope calls $6.60, and is all in
milagraz shows [Ks As]
BrandonAU shows [Js Jc]
one_last_hope shows [Kc Jd]
*** FLOP *** [Ac Qh 4h]
*** TURN *** [Ac Qh 4h] [5h]
*** RIVER *** [Ac Qh 4h 5h] [Jh]
milagraz shows a pair of Aces
BrandonAU shows three of a kind, Jacks
BrandonAU wins the side pot ($1.25) with three of a kind, Jacks
one_last_hope shows a pair of Jacks
BrandonAU wins the main pot ($25.25) with three of a kind, Jacks
one_last_hope adds $20
milagraz is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $27.85 Main pot $26.55. Side pot $1.30. | Rake $1.35
Board: [Ac Qh 4h 5h Jh]
Seat 1: one_last_hope showed [Kc Jd] and lost with a pair of Jacks
Seat 2: k030101 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: IsNotConcerned didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Sumix76 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: milagraz (button) showed [Ks As] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 6: wowhwan (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: AAATTStrong (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: BrandonAU showed [Js Jc] and won ($26.50) with three of a kind, Jacks
Seat 9: aggelosk7 didn't bet (folded)


Great shape pf... horrible shape flop... 1-outer river... nuff said :) I run good


Full Tilt Poker Game #10556091041: Table Desert Primrose - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:55:00 ET - 2009/02/10
Seat 1: one_last_hope ($19.50)
Seat 2: k030101 ($50)
Seat 3: IsNotConcerned ($66.40)
Seat 4: Sumix76 ($8.50)
Seat 5: milagraz ($0), is sitting out
Seat 6: wowhwan ($59.75)
Seat 7: AAATTStrong ($9.25)
Seat 8: BrandonAU ($103.25)
Seat 9: aggelosk7 ($14.25)
aggelosk7 posts the small blind of $0.25
one_last_hope posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BrandonAU [Td Kd]
k030101 folds
IsNotConcerned folds
Sumix76 folds
wowhwan folds
AAATTStrong has 15 seconds left to act
AAATTStrong folds
BrandonAU raises to $1.50
aggelosk7 folds
one_last_hope calls $1
*** FLOP *** [6d 5c 3s]
one_last_hope checks
BrandonAU bets $1.50
one_last_hope calls $1.50
*** TURN *** [6d 5c 3s] [2d]
one_last_hope checks
BrandonAU checks
*** RIVER *** [6d 5c 3s 2d] [3d]
one_last_hope bets $2.50
BrandonAU raises to $9
one_last_hope calls $6.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BrandonAU shows [Td Kd] a flush, King high
one_last_hope mucks
BrandonAU wins the pot ($23.05) with a flush, King high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $24.25 | Rake $1.20
Board: [6d 5c 3s 2d 3d]
Seat 1: one_last_hope (big blind) mucked [Kc 4c] - a straight, Six high
Seat 2: k030101 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: IsNotConcerned didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Sumix76 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: milagraz is sitting out
Seat 6: wowhwan didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: AAATTStrong didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: BrandonAU (button) showed [Td Kd] and won ($23.05) with a flush, King high
Seat 9: aggelosk7 (small blind) folded before the Flop


lol.. I almost feel bad for this.. oh wait, he called a pf raise with k4.. nevermind..


Full Tilt Poker Game #10555795137: Table Garnett - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:38:25 ET - 2009/02/10
Seat 1: C Huuustle ($26.15)
Seat 2: MrSnapPush ($10)
Seat 3: ripvw ($40)
Seat 4: ekze ($10)
Seat 5: balscent75 ($44.70)
Seat 6: LuckyMaverick1 ($8.50)
Seat 7: phratstar ($30.80)
Seat 8: wholefinshow ($16.20)
Seat 9: BrandonAU ($68.90)
wholefinshow posts the small blind of $0.25
BrandonAU posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BrandonAU [8s 5s]
C Huuustle folds
ripvw folds
ekze raises to $2
balscent75 folds
LuckyMaverick1 has 15 seconds left to act
LuckyMaverick1 folds
phratstar folds
wholefinshow folds
BrandonAU calls $1.50
*** FLOP *** [8c 5h Ks]
BrandonAU has 15 seconds left to act
BrandonAU checks
ekze bets $2
BrandonAU raises to $10.25
ekze calls $6, and is all in
BrandonAU shows [8s 5s]
ekze shows [As Kd]
Uncalled bet of $2.25 returned to BrandonAU
*** TURN *** [8c 5h Ks] [6s]
*** RIVER *** [8c 5h Ks 6s] [4s]
BrandonAU shows a flush, King high
ekze shows a pair of Kings
BrandonAU wins the pot ($19.25) with a flush, King high
ekze adds $10
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $20.25 | Rake $1
Board: [8c 5h Ks 6s 4s]
Seat 1: C Huuustle didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: MrSnapPush is sitting out
Seat 3: ripvw didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: ekze showed [As Kd] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 5: balscent75 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: LuckyMaverick1 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: phratstar (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: wholefinshow (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: BrandonAU (big blind) showed [8s 5s] and won ($19.25) with a flush, King high


lolol... Obviously I had the "call 1.50" button checked, thinking it was just "check". When I saw the flop and that it was HU in a $4 pot, I was like wtf happened? lol... well this hand plays itself after this flop, especially against a shortstacker...


Well I guess I DO RUN GOOD from time to time lol. Ok I'm done for the night.


- Brandon

haven't been playing as much lately...

...but I'm still going to try to get in 100 $23 HU sngs on FTP this week. Since I started playing them last week, I'm 23-10... obviously running good. I'm 16-9 so far this week. 75 more to go by Sunday. I've been reading alot of the HU NL forum on 2+2 lately, and I think its helping. There are so many great HU players that post over there, and for alot of them, they're level of thinking is like 10x what I'm at now, but I'm learning every day. I feel more in control and like I'm not tilting as much as last time I tried to play HU a few months ago. Of course, 33 games is a very very small sample and I'm just on an upswing, but hopefully I can keep my focus up. My roll on FTP has gone from $400 to right around $700.. Hopefully I can try to move up to the $34.50s soon.

- Brandon