Hi msnl FTP Regs Thread!

So one of my friends tells me that the msnl FTP Regs thread on 2+2 have turned into a conversation on whether I'm good or not. I don't care much about what's said about me online, cuz I don't know them, and they don't know me. Also, 2+2, esp. the regs threads, is just a dickwaving contest...mostly kids in their 20s talking about how big their games are, esp. vs others. I've tried to get involved once, before PTR came out, when a certain poster was datamining all the midstakes games on FTP and posting it online. I was showing up as biggest winner at $5-10 most of the time and a conversation ensued about how good/bad I was. At the time (this was about 1.5 yrs ago) I thought I'd chime in and quiet the talk down and just say that I'm just out to make the most money I can, not to show that I'm the best at any particular game/stakes. Most were receptive of it, but again, 2+2 brings out the self proclaimed "God's gifts to poker" kids, and these 4-5 guys (you guys know who you are :) ) kept pointing out how bad/avg I was. Interestingly enough, they did point out some leaks I was making (so thanks guys!) and have since corrected them.

Since then, I've thought about contributing more on 2+2 and other forums...just giving back as they say. Ultimately I decided that most are kids in their 20s and the ones I prob. want to associate w/ are kind of arrogant (these being the biggest winners at midstakes) and I'd rather not be associated w/ those type of guys (in fairness, since there is some anonymity being online, their real life personalities could be a lot different than their online personalities). I'm sure there are winners that are humble, and I'd like to think I belong in this group (granted this year posting my results can be considered a long brag, but I have my reasons to do so, and it's def. not to brag). What some of these kids don't realize is (or maybe they have already experienced this) that it's not smooth sailing year in year out in poker. Most of these guys have been playing for 1-3 yrs and maybe have gone thru the ups and downs of playing for a living, but most will face some tougher times ahead, esp. if they don't have the right mentality. I've been around the poker scene for over 12 yrs now, and I've seen numerous guys fail, even guys w/ more poker talent than me. Anyway, instead of posting on 2+2 daily, I just decided to make one long post about my career to show one can make a successful living at it while having a productive family life (link in 1st blog post).

In other news, I decided to forego the $5k NAPT main event at the Venetian today. Originally I planned on playing it, w/ it being a televised event and all, but I decided to take my wife and kid to the movies instead (about to go see Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief...greek mythology grabs my attention), and help my kid bake a cake (don't ask..lol... she's gotten hooked on baking cakes after watching Cake Boss on tv). I do have pieces of a couple guys in it, so hopefully they can do well in it. Played a really long sesh last night. Lost about $1300 in nl, and another $700 in mix games so whatever.

So I figured out how to post hands.. one of my hands this month (I run good :) )

No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Hold'em Manager Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com



BB ($313.70)

UTG ($1121.40)

MP ($400)

CO ($428)

Button ($400)

Hero (SB) ($681.50)



Preflop: Hero is SB with 6, 6

1 fold, MP bets $10, 2 folds, Hero calls $8, 1 fold



Flop: ($24) 7, 7, 4 (2 players)

Hero checks, MP bets $12, Hero calls $12



Turn: ($48) 3 (2 players)

Hero checks, MP bets $24, Hero calls $24



River: ($96) 5 (2 players)

Hero checks, MP bets $68, Hero raises $635.50 (All-In), MP calls $286 (All-In)



Total pot: $804



Results:

Hero had 6, 6 (straight flush, seven high).

MP had 7, 7 (four of a kind, sevens).

Outcome: Hero won $1082.50


Obv. this falls under the worst beat one can give/take. I think it's around 990-1 against him losing, so it sucks to be him here. Ensuing chat went like this.. Villian: Omg, SO SICK
Me: Yeah, that sucks..sorry
Me (actual thoughts).. not really sorry, glad it happened..that's poker buddy.

This hand I think is one of my favorites of the month so far..will explain at bottom...

No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Hold'em Manager Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com



MP ($839)

CO ($426.10)

Button ($782.50)

SB ($1218.30)

Hero (BB) ($406)

UTG ($292.50)



Preflop: Hero is BB with 8, 8

4 folds, SB bets $10, Hero raises $32, SB calls $24



Flop: ($72) Q, 9, 9 (2 players)

SB checks, Hero checks



Turn: ($72) A (2 players)

SB bets $54, Hero calls $54



River: ($180) K (2 players)

SB checks, Hero bets $200, SB calls $200



Total pot: $580



Results:

SB had A, J (two pair, Aces and nines).

Hero had 8, 8 (two pair, nines and eights).

Outcome: SB won $577

So this hand is interesting in a few different ways and def. one to file under thinking outside the box, or in other words, bluff gone horribly wrong! Villian is a laggy semi-reg multitabler and I incorrectly assumed he had a brain. Preflop is standard and was willing to stack off if need be. Flop I elected to try to get to showdown as cheaply as possible, as this is a very wet board and my hand can't stand a checkraise. Turn gets interesting...when he bets, I put his range as air, maybe 9x, but weighted toward Ax hands (but not AK, AQ, AA, KK, QQ as he would've 4betted preflop w/ these) so I call his bet intending to take the pot at the riv when he checks (which I assumed was a good possibility considering his range is weighted toward AJ or worse). He checks, and I overbet the pot (which for me works cuz I overbet from time to time w/ my bluffs and for value) to give him a bad price if he just has AJ or worse. Here's where I was wrong about him having a brain...(let the leveling wars begin!)... My range should be narrow here after I 3bet and flat turn and bet riv (almost always narrow here, obv. I will show up w air like now to balance)...down to AK, QQ, 99, and Ax (drawing hands are nonexistent cuz I'd cbet flop, as would most 9x combos). So basically he calls off $200 to win $380 when the most likely scenario is a chop or lose. I can break down the #s, but for timesake, just take my word for it that his call is not a good one if you're calling an overbet to try to chop the pot at best (well, except for this time..lol). Or maybe he made a soul read and he's the next "God's gift to poker" guy :)