At least so far. Couple of hands from last night.

On the first, I had villain is very passive and scared of monsters under the bed. Perfect time to semi bluff the diamonds.

Bodog History for Hand #967719372
Hold'em No Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2007-11-02 23:26:09
Table 'Quail Hollow (max 6)' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: natstar1 ($103.00)
Seat 2: Hero ($109.75)
Seat 3: norivernoriver ($62.75)
Seat 4: krummster ($150.25)
Seat 5: Blakester143 ($98.75)
Seat 6: Prov1x7 ($133.12)
------------------------------
NEW HAND
Blakester143: posts the small blind $0.50
Prov1x7: posts the big blind $1.00
--- DEALING POCKETS
Hero is dealt [Jc,Jd]
natstar1: folds
Hero: raises $2.50 to $3.50
norivernoriver: calls $3.50
krummster: calls $3.50
Blakester143: folds
Prov1x7: calls $2.50
--- DEALING FLOP [7d,2d,4d]
Prov1x7: checks
Hero: checks
norivernoriver: checks
krummster: bets $12.00
Prov1x7: folds
Hero: calls $12.00
norivernoriver: folds
--- DEALING TURN [Tc]
Hero: checks
krummster: bets $31.00
Hero: goes all in $94.25
krummster:, it's your turn. You have 10 seconds to act
krummster: folds
$63.25 is not called, return back to Hero:
Hero: mucks
Hand 967719372:
Hero: wins($97.50)
------------------------------

More of the greatness of Bodog

Bodog History for Hand #967702119
Hold'em No Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2007-11-02 23:14:13
Table 'Sand Hills (max 6)' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: imake ($77.15)
Seat 2: Hero ($131.70)
Seat 3: Mohomafama ($98.00)
Seat 4: The Harris ($102.25)
Seat 6: POKERDOGGB ($96.75)
------------------------------
NEW HAND
Mohomafama: posts the small blind $0.50
The Harris: posts the big blind $1.00
--- DEALING POCKETS
Hero is dealt [9h,Kh]
POKERDOGGB: folds
imake: calls $1.00
Hero: calls $1.00
Mohomafama: folds
The Harris: checks
--- DEALING FLOP [4d,7h,4h]
The Harris: bets $1.00
imake: raises $3.50 to $4.50
Hero: calls $4.50
The Harris: raises $3.50 to $8.00
imake: calls $3.50
Hero: calls $3.50
--- DEALING TURN [Jc]
The Harris: bets $1.00
imake: calls $1.00
Hero: calls $1.00
--- DEALING RIVER [3h]
The Harris: bets $1.00
imake: calls $1.00
Hero: raises $31.50 to $32.50
The Harris: calls $31.50
imake: folds
Hero: shows [9h,Kh], a Flush
The Harris: mucks
Hand 967702119:
Hero: wins($94.50)
with a Flush
------------------------------

And, a question for the class, I have 36 hands on this guy and he is 32/0 per flop.

This has to be KK or AA right? My question is do I even 4 bet this? Should I just have set mined after his 3 bet given his low PFR stats?

Bodog History for Hand #967569857
Hold'em No Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2007-11-02 21:54:31
Table 'Sand Hills (max 6)' 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: KiddCherokee ($126.50)
Seat 2: Hero ($150.20)
Seat 3: FKewpie ($98.65)
Seat 5: mage ($99.65)
Seat 6: Ry Eun ($44.60)
------------------------------
NEW HAND
mage: posts the small blind $0.50
Ry Eun: posts the big blind $1.00
--- DEALING POCKETS
Hero is dealt [Qd,Qs]
KiddCherokee: folds
Hero: raises $2.50 to $3.50
FKewpie: raises $7.50 to $11.00
mage: folds
Ry Eun: folds
Hero: raises $18.00 to $29.00
FKewpie: goes all in $87.65
Hero:, it's your turn. You have 10 seconds to act
Hero:, it's your turn. You have 5 seconds to act
A New $5.00/$10.00 Texas Hold'em table Mixto (max 6) has started.
Hero: folds
$69.65 is not called, return back to FKewpie:
FKewpie: mucks
Hand 967569857:
FKewpie: wins($59.50)

All in all a great night, up $260. 14 more buy ins til I take a shot. At this rate, hopefully it will be by the end of the month.

Thanks for reading.

Mac

One of those nights that just nothing really happens. Played 2 $100NL tables at Bodog and ended up down $80. There weren't the usual maniacs there. A bunch of 35/6 guys which is fine, but not the usual spewtards of 58/20. I played one hand so damn bad that it still bugs me. I floated flop and turn bets with what I was pretty sure was the best hand. The river brought the flush draw and the guy pushed. I actually didn't put him on the flush...thought he had an underpair....he did...the same one as the river card. Oops. Just should have blown him off on the turn.

Very next hand, AA>KK in what was probably a tilt move by me. I decide to flat call the 4 bet pre flop in position. This guy is only 4 betting premium hands and the flop comes QJx. That is bad news. But, the fact that I had just lost almost $80 caused me to call with my AA and luckily he had KK instead of either QQ or JJ. Winner.

I watched my buddy Neff completely own the 300's AGAIN. Just chips up and chips up and next thing you know he is up $300-500. He does a much better job than me putting big time pressure on people. I float a bunch more bets and he is constantly applying pressure. He also plays position better than I do.

I am still getting the feel of Bodog and only playing decent hands most of the time as I am still winning at crazy rates without having to deviate much from ABC poker. But, I am pretty sure I will have to if I want to move up to the 300's soon.

Goal - $3k in bankroll to take a 3 buy in shot at the $300s.

Started with $500 on 10/26. Currently, I have $1400 in that account. Not bad for the first week.

Mac

Some interesting hands from last week or 2.

Bodog History for Hand #964706524
Hold'em No Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2007-10-31 20:37:16
Table 'Glen Arbor (max 6)' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: chocoloteface ($20.89)
Seat 2: Hero ($136.24)
Seat 3: natstar1 ($184.08)
Seat 4: recloser ($110.25)
Seat 5: JUSTINTIME32 ($53.44)
Seat 6: misstae01 ($23.00)
------------------------------
NEW HAND
chocoloteface: posts the small blind $0.50
Hero: posts the big blind $1.00
--- DEALING POCKETS
Hero is dealt [Ks,Kh]
natstar1: folds
recloser: calls $1.00
JUSTINTIME32: folds
misstae01: calls $1.00
chocoloteface: folds
Hero: raises $3.50 to $4.50
recloser: raises $3.50 to $8.00
misstae01: folds
Hero: raises $11.00 to $19.00
recloser: calls $11.00
natstar1: is sitting out
--- DEALING FLOP [Kd,8c,6h]
Hero: bets $27.00
recloser: goes all in $91.25
Hero: calls $64.25
recloser: shows ?,?
--- DEALING TURN [9s]
--- DEALING RIVER [As]
Hero: shows [Ks,Kh], Three of a Kind, Kings
recloser: shows ?,?
Hand 964706524:
Hero: wins main pot($219.00)
with Three of a Kind, Kings
recloser: is sitting out
------------------------------

Pays to be lucky as well

Bodog History for Hand #959226521
Hold'em No Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2007-10-27 20:52:44
Table 'Shoreacres (max 6)' 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: aka OSCAR ($120.75)
Seat 2: justfoldit04 ($250.89)
Seat 3: xlzou ($26.50)
Seat 4: Hero ($98.50)
Seat 5: waveslider ($102.25)
Seat 6: oh_paul ($99.00)
------------------------------
NEW HAND
oh_paul: posts the small blind $0.50
aka OSCAR: posts the big blind $1.00
--- DEALING POCKETS
Hero is dealt [Kd,Ks]
justfoldit04: calls $1.00
xlzou: folds
Hero: raises $3.50 to $4.50
waveslider: folds
A New $0.25/$0.50 Texas Hold'em table Thunder has started.
oh_paul: raises $7.50 to $12.00
aka OSCAR: folds
justfoldit04: folds
Hero: raises $22.00 to $34.00
oh_paul: goes all in $87.00
Hero: goes all in $64.50
$0.50 is not called, return back to oh_paul:
oh_paul: shows [Ac,Ah], a Pair, Aces
--- DEALING FLOP [Jd,2d,Kh]
--- DEALING TURN [Td]
--- DEALING RIVER [9h]
oh_paul: shows [Ac,Ah], a Pair, Aces
Hero: shows [Kd,Ks], Three of a Kind, Kings
Hand 959226521:
Hero: wins main pot($196.00)
with Three of a Kind, Kings

I have no idea if this is a good river bet...turned out to be just fine. LOL Bodog

Bodog History for Hand #965581393
Hold'em No Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2007-11-01 15:02:03
Table 'Mauna Kea (max 6)' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 2: Teach7 ($102.25)
Seat 3: pinkgirl17 ($120.75)
Seat 4: Hero ($123.25)
Seat 5: 3C ($100.00)
Seat 6: SuperTiger ($75.25)
------------------------------
NEW HAND
Teach7: posts the small blind $0.50
pinkgirl17: posts the big blind $1.00
--- DEALING POCKETS
Hero is dealt [As,Ad]
Hero: raises $2.50 to $3.50
3C: calls $3.50
SuperTiger: folds
Teach7: calls $3.00
pinkgirl17: calls $2.50
--- DEALING FLOP [2h,Qc,6c]
A New One-On-One $1.00/$2.00 Texas Hold'em table Zadar has started.
Teach7: checks
pinkgirl17: checks
Hero: bets $11.00
3C: calls $11.00
Teach7: folds
pinkgirl17: folds
--- DEALING TURN [3s]
Hero: bets $31.00
3C: calls $31.00
--- DEALING RIVER [Jc]
Hero: goes all in $77.75
3C: goes all in $54.50
$23.25 is not called, return back to Abby17:
3C: shows [Kc,Qh], a Pair, Queens
Hero: shows [As,Ad], a Pair, Aces
3C: shows [Kc,Qh], a Pair, Queens
Hand 965581393:
Hero: wins main pot($205.00)
with a Pair, Aces
3C: is sitting out

Since 9/25 (last tilt), AA and KK are my 13th and 14th winningest (is that even a word?) hands. AKs is 16th. So, I would have to think while I am running good, things could actually get better if I start getting paid off on my big premium hands.

But, all in all, LOL Bodog. And, by the way, up another buy in today. Good start to November.

While not the most profitable month I have ever had, it was easily the best poker I have played. Finished with the following PT numbers at $100 NL:

Stars - 10.17 PT BB/100

Bodog - 14.20 PT BB/100

That is just crazy improvement for me and getting me to actually start to believe that I can beat this game. 16 months of just treading water and not accoimplishing much had me thinking I would never beat this again like 2004-2006. But, 1 good solid month with zero tilt has really helped. Now, as long as I don't piss it all away in Vegas in 2 weeks, all will be good.

Mac

Nothing makes for an easier blog post than trying to establish some goals for poker. So, here goes.

Disclaimer: This is written as I am giong through arguably the hottest heater of my life. Super brag (for me, at least) - Up 24 buy ins in Oct. All at the $100 NL. Not bad for part time. Likely going to have my first month where I am over 10 PT BB/hr. At almost 11 now for October. Not playing tonight and only a bit on Halloween after Abby goes to bed.

So, what does the rest of the year hold for me. Maybe we can look at it as sort of a minimum maximum thing.

Minimum - I need to finish 2007 up over $5k. I am at $2300 right now and I see no reason that I can't average about $1350 per month in Nov and Dec. I do have a week off for Vegas in Nov and a week in California for business where I won't be playing much, but still, no reason to think this can't happen.

Assuming that happens, that will put me at about $3500 in my Bodog bankroll. I think I will take a 5 buy in shot at the 300s then. Everything I have seen says I can beat these as the players are just as bad as the 100s.

For 2008, the 300s is where I want to be. I would like to win 50 BI's before even considering moving up. That would be $15k and based on the way I have done it in the past, I would withdraw half and build bankroll with the other half. That would put me right around $10k in bankroll at Bodog. At that point, I have to decide if I want to test the waters at the 6's or stay at the 3's. As of now, I think I would be happy to stay at the 3's. That is a lot of money and, while I don't "need" it, I can always use some FU money.

Some fun things that I really want to buy:

1. New deck - ours sucks, need a new one before spring 08. Must have.

2. Golf clubs - oops...bought them already.

3. WSOP $1500 entry - since I am not playing at PS much, looks like I will actually have to foot the bill myself. I do have about $250 in PS T$ that I can either cash in or try to qualify for something.

4. Steroe system - Need to try and see if I have my home theater system set up. I don't think it is right.

5. Basement - Next, I am going to work on redoing the basement to a Mac Lounge!! Vegas style sports book feel. Lots of TV's, comfy chairs. Anyone know someone in the chicago area that wants a free working hottub. All they have to do is get it out of my basement...they can have it for free. PM me if you know someone.

Getting long. Later

Mac

Even though the cash games are going good, looks like this will be the first losing tourney month in about 6 months. I have totalyl donked off a bunch of money that I had in $T and $W. Played way too crazy in some rebuys. Didn't follow my usual path to success.

But, overall, things are still good. Gotta decide if I am going to play for gold by getting 1150 FPP in the rest of the month.

I probably will because I need the FPP. Gotta start hording them for WSOP or bonuses. Either that or stop running bad at Bodog.

Mac

Well kinda. October is shaping up to be a pretty good month all things told.

Up $1450 for the month as of this morning. High point was about $1600.

My sleep schedule is off big time due to staying out way too late on Tuesday night with my fantasy basketball draft. Go LeBron!!! So, I came home from work last night, went str8 to bed and ended up getting up at about midnight. Time to fire up a table or 2. Played at Stars as I am way behind hitting Gold for the month and need about 1100 more pts by the end of the month.

Dropped a buy in quickly where my second pair, nut flush draw didn't come in and all the money went in on the flop. Board was AQx with 2 diamonds and I had KQ of diamonds. AJ just couldn't let go.

Then, it was off to the races. Stakced 3 different short stacks. Then, stacked a guy twice - first time with a set to his overpair, second time all in pre flop with my KK against his AA. Board QJ9xT. Standard!! Same guy was down 5 buyins over about 200 hands - and wasn't playing that crazy. Just couldn't get away from top pair or an overpair.

Then, finally stacked a guy HU when my Q6 of diamonds saw a flop of AK7 with AK of diamonds. He flat called my raise on the flop. Turn was T of diamonds and we got it all in. He had 77. I avoided the 10 outs and was styling.

Up $384 in under 3 hours.

Amazing how I play better poker when I am rested and can focus.

Also, watched the latest WSOP and HSP episodes as well as the new ESPN reporter show, E:60. It was pretty good with small (10 minutes or less) features. There was an interesting one from the U of Wisc where a kid that knows nothing abuot sports betting gets involved with this degen and ends up losing $70k+. Then, his parents find out from Taiwan and are heading back to drag his ass out of college. He places one last bet with this degen for $17k. Degen decides to book it himself. Kid goes crazy - kills degen and 2 others. Just another example of "click the mouse, lose the house". What I found interesting is the story was from 2003. Here is ESPN looking for find stories for its PREMIER edition of this new show and they find a story from 4 yrs ago. If they wanted to find some over the top story about college gambling gone bad...couldn't they have found something more recent? Newhizzle, maybe? Grimstarr?

By the way, the Taiwanese kid ended up offing himself right before trial. Happy story.

They also featured a 14 yr old bullfighter. I consider myself to be fairly desensitized to violence, but I had to fast forward through this. Here is this 14 yr old that has been gored twice badly. Something like a nine inch gash near his rectum and also punctured a lung another time and lost 60% of his blood. I don't want to get on the soapbox about cruelty to animals, but who in their right mind pays money to watch a bull fight. Next up, tickets for the Michael Vick dogfighting spectacular.

As with everything ESPN, the show is way scripted to look like they are actually covering news and that part is pretty well done. I like the format...now, they need to actually try and take on some real issues.

As for the ESPN HORSE tourney, did anyone notice that it is tagged "Players championship" when you look up info on it on your Direct TV guide. Interesting. I bet ESPN was pissed, given the star studded nature of that field, that no one who has any real TV time made it to the final table.

Hopefully, the good cards continue.

Been playing mostly on Bodog as it is where a buddy of mine has been playing and playing well. So, got my Dogwatcher and PT all set up, threw some money in there and have been giving the $100 NL a go. So far so good, up a few sheckles.

Now, if I can only start to win with AA and KK and QQ. Since 9/25, KK and QQ are my 2 biggest losing hands and I am also negative for AA.

Stacked 2 times last night when I had AA and KK and villain hit top pair with a face card kicker on a low board. All in on the flop...of course, they hit 2 pair on the turn. Standard.

But, all in all, life is good.

Also, got a message from PS that I can use echecks to deposit. Anyone know if you can withdraw the same way? Doesn't look like it.

Mac

And on to my next adventure. Less than 20 buy-ins to go at PS to move up.

Got FT rakeback...almost a buy in. I really need to play there more.

Mac

At least at the $100NL. And at least at 1 table.

Up $540 at one table after going in a $300 hole. So, at one point, I had over $950 on the table. LOL. Interesting philosophy question here.

Guy is on my left. My PA HUD stats say 10 hands, 70 VPIP/30 PFR. So crazy, but still only 10 hands. He has more than doubled up when the following 2 hands take place. He ends up all in pre flop with AQ vs 77 and loses about $180. He has $65 left for the next hand. I raise UTG +1 with ATs. He pushes in what sure seems like tilt. What range do you put him on and call given only 11 hands of info?

Answer: AT kills his range because he had J4o. This guy turned into my ATM for the night. I will post some hands, but they are fantastic. I haven't seen many complete maniacs on PS...more on Bodog, but this guy was priceless.

So, fun Vegas fund is at $450 and climbing.

Interesting stat: 6k hands since super mega life tilt on 9/25. Up well over $1200 in cash games. Losing with both KK and AA.

Mac