Somewhat off topic, but what a great comeback by my Tar Heels last night, down 16 points in the second half!
The little bit of March Madness that I've been able to catch has been fantastic. A sports nut like myself loves this time of year. I'm looking forward to the Final Four and hopefully UNC can take it down!
Little off topic I know, but blogs can't be about poker every time, can they??
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Making the Comeback
Now, the beginning of March was just absolutely horrible. I felt like a complete donkey. I couldn't take down a Sit-n-Go to save my life. I just felt like I was playing terribly, and every time I thought I was in a good spot, it turns out I was drawing dead the whole time.
But I guess that's poker, as they say.
You have to take the goods with the bads and just grind it out. Well, I did just that and I've been able to reverse all of that negative vibe from the beginning of the month.
I've taken down two of the last four live games I've entered the past 3 weeks - the SJPC event in Rio Grande two weeks ago, a smaller circuit SJPC event at Yabi's place two weeks ago, and overall, I have cashed in all four, the most recent being a second place at the normal Thursday game that Yabi frequents.
This was my first time playing at this location and with their odd blind structure, but I was able to adapt and quickly get reads on the players at my table. I was able to identify the one player who I knew I could get chips from when I needed them, and I made it a point to be in pots that he was in. I also had the advantage of acting right after him after Yabi unfortunately got knocked out, and used this position to my advantage.
Before my turnaround, though, I was able to sit down and investigate some of my play with Yabi, a guy who has taught me very much about the game, and has given me plenty of advice the past few months. He was able to sit down and figure out that while I was finding myself getting busted in these SNGs online, just about everytime I was making the mathematically equitable play. Unfortunately, some terrible actions by opponents paid off, and it all piled on me at once.
But after looking at the math and figuring out I wasn't being a complete donkey, I've been able to find again the confidence that just didn't seem to be there about two weeks ago. Now, I'm playing my rush and loving it.
I guess that's poker, as they say.
But I guess that's poker, as they say.
You have to take the goods with the bads and just grind it out. Well, I did just that and I've been able to reverse all of that negative vibe from the beginning of the month.
I've taken down two of the last four live games I've entered the past 3 weeks - the SJPC event in Rio Grande two weeks ago, a smaller circuit SJPC event at Yabi's place two weeks ago, and overall, I have cashed in all four, the most recent being a second place at the normal Thursday game that Yabi frequents.
This was my first time playing at this location and with their odd blind structure, but I was able to adapt and quickly get reads on the players at my table. I was able to identify the one player who I knew I could get chips from when I needed them, and I made it a point to be in pots that he was in. I also had the advantage of acting right after him after Yabi unfortunately got knocked out, and used this position to my advantage.
Before my turnaround, though, I was able to sit down and investigate some of my play with Yabi, a guy who has taught me very much about the game, and has given me plenty of advice the past few months. He was able to sit down and figure out that while I was finding myself getting busted in these SNGs online, just about everytime I was making the mathematically equitable play. Unfortunately, some terrible actions by opponents paid off, and it all piled on me at once.
But after looking at the math and figuring out I wasn't being a complete donkey, I've been able to find again the confidence that just didn't seem to be there about two weeks ago. Now, I'm playing my rush and loving it.
I guess that's poker, as they say.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Cards, Cards, and More Cards
Monthly Recap: So, February for the most part was a productive month. Even though yesterday I finished $30 in the hole, I'm pretty happy with the way I played. I played hands correctly, donkeys made bad plays yet the poker gods rewarded them for their terrible plays.
But looking at the whole scope of things, I was able to turn $40 on World Poker Exchange into just shy of $300 in only two weeks time.
Monster Hands: I was able to get back on Full Tilt Poker and took down a Sit-n-Go there after not playing on that site for quite some time due to the horrendous luck I was getting.
I was also able to net some monster hands, and can now officially say I have gotten my first Royal flush. The diamonds looked oh so beautiful, and once I get the screenshot from Yabi's PC, I'll happily post it up.
Also, on the first hand of the SJPC circuit event on Saturday night, I picked up QQ in the hole. The resulting flop came QQK. I couldn't believe it. Quads on the flop of all things. Unfortunately with such low blinds, I wasn't able to relay this into a very profitable hand, trying to slow play it throughout.
The future: I plan to finally get some photo software so I can get screenshots up. I also plan to play some more MTTs and really work on my SNG game. Other than that, I just want to have fun playing cards, because that's ultimately why we play.
Cheers,
Sana
But looking at the whole scope of things, I was able to turn $40 on World Poker Exchange into just shy of $300 in only two weeks time.
Monster Hands: I was able to get back on Full Tilt Poker and took down a Sit-n-Go there after not playing on that site for quite some time due to the horrendous luck I was getting.
I was also able to net some monster hands, and can now officially say I have gotten my first Royal flush. The diamonds looked oh so beautiful, and once I get the screenshot from Yabi's PC, I'll happily post it up.
Also, on the first hand of the SJPC circuit event on Saturday night, I picked up QQ in the hole. The resulting flop came QQK. I couldn't believe it. Quads on the flop of all things. Unfortunately with such low blinds, I wasn't able to relay this into a very profitable hand, trying to slow play it throughout.
The future: I plan to finally get some photo software so I can get screenshots up. I also plan to play some more MTTs and really work on my SNG game. Other than that, I just want to have fun playing cards, because that's ultimately why we play.
Cheers,
Sana
Thursday, February 15, 2007
First in WPEX $500 Guarantee
I picked up my biggest win to date tonight in the WPEX $500 Guarantee Tournament, yielding me a $200 payout. The field was only 40 players for a $11 buy-in, so just that fact alone allowed me to be fairly confident I was going to place in the money of this. I didn't really take any pictures of this save for Yabi's screenshots he snagged speccing the final table, so in the future I'll be more mindful of this.
Early on, I just played it tight, play my premium hands, look for a way to extract some chips. I end up making a move with A-J suited, raising it to 4x the BB, with the blinds still only being 25/50. I then face a re-raise, and another player goes all in for his remaining 1000 chips. I at least made the right decision to fold my A-J, since I was facing KK and TT. The tens actually ended up sucking out, which was a theme of this tournament all the way through.
I also notice Yabi is in this tournament, seated at another table. The majority of the low blinds portion of the tournament goes by fairly uneventful, with me just making position plays and stealing small pots when I can.
About two-thirds of the way through the tournament, I am dealt Q-Q, and I don't know whether or not I should be excited. Blinds are 100-200 and I am under the gun with 2500 chips. Not the optimal position, so I need to make my point and buy A-junk and K-junk out of this hand. I raise it 500 to go, and the small blind calls me. Flop comes 9-7-3. I bet 750 into the pot of 1200, and the guy pushes all in. I call with top pair to find he was on a pocket pair of tens. Don't blame the guy for shoving this hand, in his mind he had top pair. A few nice takedowns later, I am sitting with 9000+ chips as the chip leader.
I take a look at Yabi's position to see that he is low on chips, only 300 to be exact. But I give him credit for fighting his way through the pack to meet me at the final table. I make it there at the chip leader, while he limps on in with the small stack.
After losing a couple tough hands, I'm able to triple up by - guess what - sucking out! I raise with A-10, 9-9 calls, K-J shoves, I smell a fish and call, and then 9-9 comes all in as well. I was very lucky to hit this hand, or I would have been eliminated.
Once the bubble was burst, the action really heated up. I was able to make some plays and scoop some blinds because I could tell how tight the table was before the bubble was eliminated. Afterwards was another story, as people were making moves left and right. We get down to 3 players, and then I get a nice premium hand. I raise just over the minimum, my opponent shoves. I jump for joy and call, as the rat has gone for the cheese.
Needless to say, heads up didn't last long either. Yeah, I sucked out for sure, but it was a nice feeling after the many times I got sucked out on in this tournament. Picture says it all.
Thanks again to Yabi for taking the pictures and sending to me. The last thing I expected to be doing tonight was creating and writing on a blog, so in the future I'll be better prepared with pics and hand analysis.
Cheers,
Sana
Early on, I just played it tight, play my premium hands, look for a way to extract some chips. I end up making a move with A-J suited, raising it to 4x the BB, with the blinds still only being 25/50. I then face a re-raise, and another player goes all in for his remaining 1000 chips. I at least made the right decision to fold my A-J, since I was facing KK and TT. The tens actually ended up sucking out, which was a theme of this tournament all the way through.
I also notice Yabi is in this tournament, seated at another table. The majority of the low blinds portion of the tournament goes by fairly uneventful, with me just making position plays and stealing small pots when I can.
About two-thirds of the way through the tournament, I am dealt Q-Q, and I don't know whether or not I should be excited. Blinds are 100-200 and I am under the gun with 2500 chips. Not the optimal position, so I need to make my point and buy A-junk and K-junk out of this hand. I raise it 500 to go, and the small blind calls me. Flop comes 9-7-3. I bet 750 into the pot of 1200, and the guy pushes all in. I call with top pair to find he was on a pocket pair of tens. Don't blame the guy for shoving this hand, in his mind he had top pair. A few nice takedowns later, I am sitting with 9000+ chips as the chip leader.
I take a look at Yabi's position to see that he is low on chips, only 300 to be exact. But I give him credit for fighting his way through the pack to meet me at the final table. I make it there at the chip leader, while he limps on in with the small stack.
After losing a couple tough hands, I'm able to triple up by - guess what - sucking out! I raise with A-10, 9-9 calls, K-J shoves, I smell a fish and call, and then 9-9 comes all in as well. I was very lucky to hit this hand, or I would have been eliminated.
Once the bubble was burst, the action really heated up. I was able to make some plays and scoop some blinds because I could tell how tight the table was before the bubble was eliminated. Afterwards was another story, as people were making moves left and right. We get down to 3 players, and then I get a nice premium hand. I raise just over the minimum, my opponent shoves. I jump for joy and call, as the rat has gone for the cheese.
Needless to say, heads up didn't last long either. Yeah, I sucked out for sure, but it was a nice feeling after the many times I got sucked out on in this tournament. Picture says it all.
Thanks again to Yabi for taking the pictures and sending to me. The last thing I expected to be doing tonight was creating and writing on a blog, so in the future I'll be better prepared with pics and hand analysis.
Cheers,
Sana
Welcome
After much pressure from my good friend Yabi, I have finally decided to host up my own blog. I plan to focus much of my time on poker, my biggest hobby right now. Also, since I'm such an avid sports fan, don't be surprised to see the occasional sports post.
Since I'm still on a rush from my win in the WPEX $250 guarantee (on a suck out no less!), I don't have much else to say right now. I'll get around to posting more in the next day or so.
Cheers,
Sana
Since I'm still on a rush from my win in the WPEX $250 guarantee (on a suck out no less!), I don't have much else to say right now. I'll get around to posting more in the next day or so.
Cheers,
Sana
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