I thought the last group session went great. Instead of the usual group sweat...we reviewed a recorded session of mine. We could really dive into the hands and the discuss the play as long as we wanted to. Plus, there is nothing like a Fender rant...I wish I could have recorded his comments...needless to say they were very colorful and descriptive. He called it "tough love"...and it was certainly enlightening. Hopefully we can continue this format for the foreseeable future.

Also, the group has started a separate class on Mondays conducted by Chris. The first one went extremely well with some lively discussion between Vili and Chris.

Alot of the group...seems to be moving into HU NL...I hope they make some posts on how it's going.

Happy Valentine's Day

Last night a made a discovery about myself...I tilt more than I thought.

I lost two big pots against a donk almost back to back...My AK against AJo allin pf, etc. Then my mind turned to REVENGE. I just so bad wanted to get this guy. This caused a couple of problems. First, all my focus was on this retard...so the other 3 tables I had opened suffered from lack of attention. Second, I started to try to force the action.

Over the next several hundred hands I slowly lost another BI. I was playing sub-optimally. I thought I had everything under control...but when I reviewed by stats and hands I noticed quite a bit of mediocre play.

I should be happy that I am sitting a tables with complete morons...and just be patient and play my best game. Until I can do that...I need to come up with a solution. So for now I will either call it an end to the session...or close up the table(s) when I sense I am out to get certain players there. Also, I am implementing a 4 BI stop/loss no matter what.

www.showmepotatosalad.com

Along with most in Joshuadzl's study group I have moved by blog to showmepotatosalad.com

See ya there...

Les

The last couple of weeks I've been playing 50pl on FTP. These games are just so soft. The average table VPIP is like 35%. I do struggle a bit with hands like AJs and AQo in the BB after 4 or 5 have limped....when you raise it up (just to pot, of course)...you usually get 3 and sometimes 4 callers. Anyway, I feel very comfortable playing these games.

Last night...I lost 2 BI's cause of hero calls. It was very early in the session and I knew little to nothing about my opponents. Hero calls are -EV. I had no reason to believe that the villains were shoving light. If I had been more patient...which I always preach...and learn my enemies tendencies....I would have folded. I should not make moves vs. unknowns. Lesson learn.

Finally, I get to meet a poker buddy in person...Chad (Ornycjv) is coming into bean town this weekend. I believe he should be buying me many drinks....since he is a winning player and I'm still a donk. Go Hawkeyes...whoever they are??

Good skill at the tables...

Les

So, I understand that the 3 people that read my last blog are a bit suspicious of my allegations that FTP is RIGGED! As the class action case moves forward...I will present evidence that players like Citizenwind are FTP bots...out to bankrupt you (the honest grinder).

Exhibit A: www.pokerhand.org/

Obviously, my current downswing has nothing to do with my superb play...it's all part of the FTP conspiracy. More later....

Les

Well...I am switching over to FTP from Stars as my main poker site. I really need the rakeback. I don't play enough to ever go over gold status on Stars. It will take me a while to get my $$$ from Stars to FTP. I have enough on FTP to play 25nl...so that is what I have been doing the last several days.

FTP does play differently than Stars...'cause it's RIGGED! That's right...I believe it is absolutely impossible to be sucked out on ten zillion times in a row. My theory is that most of the players on FTP are FTP bots....they see I am a 3 to 1 favorite and get me to put all my $$$ in. Then BAM! These bots hit their 1 or 2 outter and get all my cash. That's right players like citizenwind and not real. No one can be that lucky! There's no hope for the needlenoses or the advizorys on FTP.

Please let me know if you had similar experiences as I am putting together a class action lawsuit.

Les

This will be short...just about to catch a flight to Cleveland.

Yesterday I was coolered to death...the standard stuff...I tilted and quit. Of course, I was moaning how unlucky I am, etc. My confidence was a little shaken, so I emailed Alvin and Joshua could they sweat me later that day. For the most part these guys aren't assholes, so they both agreed.

Before, during and after the session, I actually realized what a lucky son-of-a bitch I am. I am surrounded by a great group of poker players. They offer support and a fresh perspective. I am sure there are plenty of players that would kill (or mame) to be in my position.

Our poker group was started by JG about 6 months ago and it's still going strong with about 12 or so members. I mean these guys aren't douche bag fish like me...they're competent players. Everyone is so generous with their time and advice. A lot of different personalities...but the group has really come together. It's like a fucking poker school.

3 months to Vegas!

Check out.....www.allmuscle.net

I wanted to publicly state some goals for the near future...hopefully this will help keep me on track.

• play between 12k and 15k hands a month----right now I just barely get in 10k.

• Learn more about full ring---I really enjoy FR...it's a nice change of pace from 6-max. Still feel I play too tight. and I am not isolating enough. My FR stats are like 10/8. I would like to work more with the study group on FR cause there's $$$$ to be had.

• Move to 100nl FR in September and hopefully 100nl 6-max sometime in the fall.

• Join Deuces Cracked

• Post or send out more hands for feedback. At times, I am embarrassed about my play and I don't ask for feedback on tricky or tough spots. I should be used to looking "donkish" by now.

good skill at the tables

-Les

Please check out comments before tourney:

PokerStars Game #19624503293: Tournament #101959485, $10+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/08/14 - 22:05:00 (ET)
Table '101959485 1' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Otumas (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: windcitizen (1500 in chips)
Seat 3: ornycjv (1500 in chips)
Seat 4: pipernga (1500 in chips)
Seat 5: elric (1500 in chips)
Seat 6: ocyras (1500 in chips)
Seat 7: NeedleNoze (1500 in chips)
Seat 8: LA samjake (1500 in chips)
Seat 9: joshuadzl (1500 in chips)
windcitizen: posts small blind 10
ornycjv: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to LA samjake [Qh 5s]
pipernga: folds
elric is connected
elric: raises 40 to 60
ocyras said, "if anyone wants to get on skype, add ocyras and i'll add you to the conference call"
ocyras: folds
joshuadzl said, "ill take any last longers up to $50"
NeedleNoze: folds
LA samjake: folds
joshuadzl: folds
Otumas: folds
windcitizen: folds
joshuadzl said, "except with alvin up to rolls"
ornycjv: folds
Uncalled bet (40) returned to elric
elric collected 50 from pot

and now the results

You can't tell..but Kim (la samjake) used most of her time bank before calling Joshua's shove...LOL

www.pokerhand.org/

So very easy to out play CR members:

www.pokerhand.org/

Ozzy slowed rolled by Kim's dad....by the time he raised I was tearing up...laughing so hard

www.pokerhand.org/

I am a pussy:

www.pokerhand.org/

Big big cash game last night with the poker group....I might be giving away too much info...but here are a few of my sophisticated plays...

Obviously, easy to outplay this villain (hand 1)

Seat 1: PlzdToPwnU ($10) -
Seat 2: JarvisLa ($10.65) -
Seat 3: advizory ($10)
Seat 4: citizenwind ($20.70)
Seat 5: idoubledonk ($23.20)
Seat 6: IofNeedle ($11.90) -


PRE-FLOP:

PlzdToPwnU posts small blind $0.05
JarvisLa posts BIG blind $0.10
Dealt To: IofNeedle


RAISE advizory ($0.35)
FOLD citizenwind
RAISE idoubledonk ($1.20)
RAISE IofNeedle ($11.90)
FOLD PlzdToPwnU
FOLD JarvisLa
FOLD advizory
CALL idoubledonk ($10.70)


FLOP:

Pot: $24.3




TURN:

Pot: $24.3




RIVER:

Pot: $24.3




SHOWDOWN:
IofNeedle:

idoubledonk:


IofNeedle collected $22.3 from main pot with a straight, Queen high

Queens never good here... (hand 2)

Free hand converter brought to you by CardRunners

Seat 1: PlzdToPwnU ($18.50) -
Seat 2: IofNeedle ($17.35) -
Seat 3: advizory ($10.50)
Seat 4: JarvisLa ($9.65)
Seat 5: citizenwind ($24.25)
Seat 6: idoubledonk ($12.80) -


PRE-FLOP:

PlzdToPwnU posts small blind $0.05
IofNeedle posts BIG blind $0.10
Dealt To: IofNeedle


FOLD advizory
RAISE JarvisLa ($0.35)
RAISE citizenwind ($1.20)
FOLD idoubledonk
FOLD PlzdToPwnU
RAISE IofNeedle ($5)
FOLD JarvisLa
RAISE citizenwind ($24.25)
CALL IofNeedle ($12.35)
UNCALLED citizenwind ($6.90)


FLOP:

Pot: $35.1




TURN:

Pot: $35.1




RIVER:

Pot: $35.1




SHOWDOWN:
citizenwind:

IofNeedle:


IofNeedle collected $33.1 from main pot with a full house, Aces full of Kings

Chad said he actually laid down QQ.. (hand 3)

..Free hand converter brought to you by CardRunners

Seat 1: PlzdToPwnU ($19.25)
Seat 2: IofNeedle ($31.45)
Seat 3: advizory ($10.20) -
Seat 4: JarvisLa ($10.35) -
Seat 5: citizenwind ($10.30) -
Seat 6: idoubledonk ($20.55)


PRE-FLOP:

JarvisLa posts small blind $0.05
citizenwind posts BIG blind $0.10
Dealt To: IofNeedle


FOLD idoubledonk
RAISE PlzdToPwnU ($0.35)
CALL IofNeedle ($0.35)
RAISE advizory ($1.55)
FOLD JarvisLa
FOLD citizenwind
RAISE PlzdToPwnU ($4.40)
RAISE IofNeedle ($31.45)
FOLD advizory
FOLD PlzdToPwnU
UNCALLED IofNeedle ($27.05)
MUCK IofNeedle

IofNeedle collected $10.5 from main pot


Don't try this against a station (hand 4)

Seat 1: PlzdToPwnU ($10.80)
Seat 2: IofNeedle ($10.80) -
Seat 3: advizory ($14.30) -
Seat 4: JarvisLa ($10.95) -
Seat 5: idoubledonk ($16.40)
Seat 6: citizenwind ($11.55)


PRE-FLOP:

advizory posts small blind $0.05
JarvisLa posts BIG blind $0.10
Dealt To: IofNeedle


FOLD idoubledonk
RAISE citizenwind ($0.35)
FOLD PlzdToPwnU
CALL IofNeedle ($0.35)
FOLD advizory
FOLD JarvisLa


FLOP:

Pot: $0.85


BET citizenwind ($0.60)
RAISE IofNeedle ($2.10)
RAISE citizenwind ($5.85)
RAISE IofNeedle ($10.45)
CALL citizenwind ($4.60)


TURN:

Pot: $21.75




RIVER:

Pot: $21.75




SHOWDOWN:
IofNeedle:

citizenwind:


citizenwind collected $19.75 from main pot with three of a kind, Sevens