One of the strategies I employ in NL Hold'em cash games is making small mistakes on purpose in small pots in exchange for others making big mistakes in big pots. Here's a hand in which I made a huge mistake, which cost me a lot in missed opportunity:
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Live game 1/2 NL $100
SB (seemingly lucky player who has over $300 in chips. While he seems lucky, he's not necessarily shown down garbage or less than the nuts thus far.).
BB (friend of SB, more solid player has over $200 in chips).
UTG (playing any two cards. Stuck to the table for over $600 at this point, has $85 in chips. Would love to isolate).
Late position player ($275 in chips. Seems to overplay draws quite a bit. Not very aggressive until the river).
Your's truly ($225 in chips and on the button).
Hand
UTG limps for $2
2 more limpers.
Late position raises to $12.
I call cleanly on the button with A ♣ 5 ♣.
The SB, BB, and UTG.
All others fold.
Pot contains roughly $50
4 handed, the flop comes: 3 ♣ , 10 ♥ , jack ♦
When I initially called with this hand, I was not so delusional that I thought I had the best hand. I was looking to get into a big pot, catch, and/or knock someone off the pot and take it down. I'd taken down several pots in position with aggressive play, betting with nothing. Sometimes, firing two barrells to get my point across.
SB & BB & UTG check. Late position (original raiser) - bets $25. I make the call cleanly, looking for a reason to pop it on the turn, or maybe a free card, for that matter.
The SB, BB, and UTG all call as well.
Pot now contains roughly $150.
Turn: 8 ♣
This card is good for me in that there's a flush draw on the board, of which I have the ace of clubs. It also presents a possible straight on the board.
The SB checks, BB bets out $20. UTG shoves allin for $43. Late position calls cleanly. I sit there and think. I KNOW I have the implied odds to call. I also have correct pot odds. I'm really worried about one of the blinds and the money they have behind. Too many people have bet out at this point, and I'm pretty convinced that someone has a straight, and/or a set, maybe even a flush draw. While the odds scream call, I fold. The BB calls after the SB folds.
The river is a Jack ♣ . This gives me the flush, however it also puts the possibility of quads or a bot on the board. The BB moves allin, and the late position calls. BB had AJ, SB had flush 9-7, UTG had pocket queens. It appears that had I stayed, I'd have had the nuts.
Opportunity missed. My mistake! Overall, it was a quite profitable session though.
Mike
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2007/06/30
| [+/-] |
Mistake in a big pot |
2007/06/28
| [+/-] |
through 21 events |
Here's the top of the leaderboard through 21 events.
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Reelcrazy 207.9
cardluvr 191.1
yellowrose 185
careybear 173.4
imjusthere4thebeer 156.7
vegasjj 142.7
bc5457 124
Lazrus 89.6
Tonight we crown the champion...
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2007/06/27
| [+/-] |
noteworthy live hands - hammer drop 1 |
Lots of live play for the Beerguy this week. Here's the highlight reel...
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Hand 1 - Charity tournament
Blinds - 50 - 100 10 ante 32 players started, 24 players remain... 8 handed, avg stack 2666
UTG (3500 chips) raises 2.5 times the blinds,
button calls (1700 chips),
I call from SB (4500 chips) with 2 ♠ 7 ♦
BB also calls (roughly 900 chips)
Pot contains: 1080
Flop comes: 2 ♣ 10 ♣ king ♥
Action:
I check, BB checks, utg bets out 500. Button folds. I suspect BB is going to either fold or go allin, so I raise to 1200 - which is enough to both cover him and not make it appear as if I'm trying to force him out. Additionally, I'm interested in seeing how the UTG plays this. He thinks and calls cleanly.
Pot contains: 3480
Turn card is the 7 of ♥
I check, being reasonablly certain he's going to bet here again - especially considering there are now two flush draws on the board, not to mention the straight draw. All of which have not been filled on the turn. My suspician is that he will bet here hoping for a fold.
He does in fact bet out, and bets 800. I again raise to put him all in. He postures and someone at the table mentions I'm playing the hammer. He thinks some more and says, "We're boys, he wouldn't drop the hammer on me." He concludes I'm either on a straight or flush draw, so he calls with top pair, ace kicker.
River's a blank and the hammer correctly holds up. I go on to finish fourth place...
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2007/06/17
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Happy Father's Day to all |
Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Father's Day. Sometimes being a father is easier than other times... However, whether easy or challenging, it's all worthwhile!
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My kids are my world. They put a smile on my face, as well as the faces of everyone around them. Nothing, no one brings me a greater joy.
All you fathers out there, take a second to thank your children for allowing you the privilege of being a father, their father. Abby, Zack... it's an honor to be your Dad. Happy Father's Day, kids!
Daddy/Mike
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2007/06/16
| [+/-] |
CheckRayz Forum coming soon... |
In a few short days, We'll be opening the CheckRayz forum... It's been quite some time since I've posted on a forum of any sort. After the "falling out," I posted in a few different forums, but nothing seemed like "home."
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The new CheckRayz forum will serve as my new "home." Some of the best conversations and blog posts I've participated in have been started from forum posts. I can't wait to get the forum fired up...
I've been short on words lately, and I really can't explain why...
Coming soon... CheckRayz Forum!
Mike
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2007/06/14
| [+/-] |
Leaderboard update |
Despite what was said last post, it was after 15 events. Here's the CheckRayz Leaderboard after 18 events...
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player total
Reelcrazy 197.9
cardluvr 179.1
careybear 167.4
yellowrose 150.9
imjusthere4thebeer 148.7
vegasjj 102.4
bc5457 89
Lazrus 68.5
shamanalix 44.3
bomber44 33
angels2005 32.1
texasdan333 29.2
Ohmanda 25.1
TSM12 16
deadmonk26 15
creepykenny 12
runroughshod 11
clayshooter 10.6
hyppichyck 10
Chinga2 7
acekicker2 5
PrinceSheba 5
1breaks 4
roneil33 3
ThreeDimes 3
Merlin558nj 3
Knapping 2
Braisco 2
Willplay 1
TJMoney08 1
Superdad6 1
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2007/06/07
| [+/-] |
CheckRayz Leaderboard Update... |
Here's the CheckRayz Leaderboard after 16 events.
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Reelcrazy 179.4
cardluvr 168.1
careybear 121.9
yellowrose 116.6
vegasjj 102.4
imjusthere4thebeer 99
bc5457 82
Lazrus 60.5
shamanalix 44.3
angels2005 31.1
bomber44 33
texasdan333 29.2
Ohmanda 25.1
TSM12 16
deadmonk26 15
creepykenny 12
runroughshod 11
clayshooter 10.6
hyppichyck 10
Chinga2 7
PrinceSheba 5
1breaks 4
roneil33 3
ThreeDimes 3
Merlin558nj 3
Knapping 2
Braisco 2
Willplay 1
TJMoney08 1
The CheckRayz Leaderboard Tour at Poker.com plays out every Wednesday and Thursday nights at 9pm EDT. Passwords are available on the CheckRayz tourney schedule and passwords page. You must be registered and logged in to access the passwords. Register for free at CheckRayz.
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