Last few days

I have played another $6.60 KO MTT on UB and finished about the same as the first one. This time with 5 KOs I was only down $1.60 at the end. I have managed to pick up hands to build a stack and then run card dead and into trouble when the small/medium stacks get aggressive in the middle stages.

Also, played a $5.50 10 person SNG on UB and took it down for +$19.50

Then I have played 4 HORSE SNGs and got a 1st, 2nd and two 4ths. Both of the 4th places were in stud I think and I was not happy playing the hands vs a bigger stack on the bubble.

The 2nd place was dissapointing since I had the chip lead in 7stud 8/B and won a big pot at the end of the level and then when it switched to LHE the deck hit him hard and I kept picking up "good" hands vs him that are pretty much too good to fold HU in LHE.

First was nice after the rest of the set. Overall for those it was +$10.00.

90 KO SNGs and KO MTT

32nd and 25th /90

Had big stack in one early (yet only 1 KO), but at about 45 left the blinds go up so high that all the stacks are short. Don't really like these too much.

I think I will be giving the Deepstack MTT versions a shot. I found the play early to be soft, but with the crapshoot 2nd half not happy with the swings.

-$5.60 for the two.

EDIT: Played in a KO MTT on UB and I think that is a much better setup. More payout spots and a flatter blind structure. Same soft play, got a big stack early and then missed a couple of big draws to get somewhat short. Got it all in with a FD on the flop, made the flush, and he caught a 4th spade on the river to go with his As. 3 KOs for me early so only $3.60 loss.

Also just won a RAZZ HU SNG. Man, those can be battles against ok/good players...

Today's SNGS

Got a 3rd in a LHE SNG and then played a 90 KO SNG and finished 25th when my AK was no good vs QJs, AIPF. I flopped TP, but he flopped his straight, obv.

These 90 KO SNG turbos are pretty fast and loose.

EDIT: also played a $5.50 HU LHE SNG and won that.

On to Step 11

After being up, then down and now back up above $200, I am moving on to Step 11


Looking around at stars, FT and UB and I see there are :

$3.30, $5.50 and $11 MTT KOs @ Full Tilt
$3.30 and $11 90 man KO SNGs @ Full Tilt

I don't see any on Stars

$4.40, $6.60 and $11 MTT KOs # UB

I guess I will mix in a few of the $3.30 90 man KO SNGs into the mix and see how it goes.

Step 9 Summary

Current Level:
Level 9: $11 or less 9 Man SNGs

$5.50 SNG
ITM: 4/7 (3,0,1)

$6.50 TURBO SNG
ITM: 0/1

$5.50 SNG (other games)
ITM: 3/9 (1,1,1)
HORSE: 7
LHE: 1
PLO: 1

$6.50 SNG (other games)
ITM: 0/2
PL08B: 2

$5.50 HU SNGs
3/5
NLHE: 1
RAZZ: 2
LHE: 2

Profit/Loss: +$12.75

Hu RAZZ win

Only one HU tonight, but won it after 35 minutes of mind-numbing torture.

Other guy was pretty solid, but had a couple of major flaws that I was able to take advantage of EVENTUALLY.

Biggest one was that he would raise whenever he had the best card showing. That is typically a good thing in HU RAZZ, but there are exceptions like when you have a 2 up and the other player has a 3 up. You are probably better to vary your play in these spots since you will be called a lot and you will have tough decisions later in the hands if you rarely have the 3 low cards you are representing. The bigger version of this flaw, IMO, was when he had a 7 up and I had an 8 up(or 8/9, 9/T, T/J, J/Q, Q/K). He would raise in EVERY one of these spots. So any time I had two low cards underneath I likely had him beat (since he will have a pair/high card underneath many times) and have a pretty good starting hand to draw to.

So, my strategy was to wait for one of these close hands and then punish him when he continued to bet while I was drawing smoother than he was and then raise when I had drawn to a better low (ignoring that first card). At first, he was betting the first 2-3 streets and then he figured out what I was doing to some extent and slowed down if I called and caught better on 4th. He still continues the "raise every hand with a better door card" thing though.

Aggression in poker is key, but adding some common sense in the mix and not being predictable is just as important IMO (especially HU).

Profit: +$4.75

A win is a win....

Played 2 HU matches vs the same guy. I rarely accept the rematch unless there is a special case and this guy was it. LHE and he was just ..... BAD! Split the matches, first one was mostly due to the time it took to figure out what he was doing. Once I had it I could have played him all night but he declined the 2nd option for a rematch.

Also played 2 HORSE SNGs and split those as well with an 8th and a 2nd (should have been first but bricked on 7th in RAZZ again. Jhigh vs 4 to a 7 on 5th street and I can't make it. 95% of the chips were in the middle (oh, and he started with a Q up of course....).

So back to a "winning" session of..... +$.50.....yippeeee

Getting back to normal?

Played 4 SNGs late last night and 2 HU matches today.

Started with more troubles going 0/3 in O8BPL, HORSE, and PLO SNGs.

O8 was kind of a sick hand. Flopped nut straight and 2nd nut low. Got in vs nut low (obv) and top set who got there.

HORSE, nothing special short stack and bubbled

PLO was average stack and got SS AI and they caught a straight. Then next hand I got it all in with AATx (double suited) and was called by high connectors that got there. Standard.

Then the last SNG I played was another HORSE one and I played very tight and got an average run of cards to build my stack gradually. Got to the final 5 with chip lead and played it out well to HU. HU started in O8B and played through RAZZ, 7 Stud and into stud H/L where I finally finished him off for a MUCH NEEDED win.

HU matches were in RAZZ and NLHE. Razz one I had the guy down and then he called with a Q up and then again when he caught a T on 4th. I had 4 to a 9 and kept betting. I bricked (KKQ) the rest of the way and he improved to a J low for the pot. Couldn't draw anything from there. NLHE was interesting match vs the master of the poorly timed bluff. Caught him 3-4 times and then doubled him up with the best hand and then finished him off with a straight vs his bottom end straight caught on the river.lol

Overall that is a small loss but turning around some: -$3.50

2 more and done for tonight

$5.50 HORSE and LHE

Loss: $11

HORSE, got down to 4 and was shortstacked after a 7stud H/L hand where I had 2 pair and the other guy got open trips on 6th and I had to lay it down and save the last few bets for another hand. Got to HE level and couldn't catch anything and was in a waiting game vs other SS with a few chips more. in in the blinds with K2 and had live cards but other guy caught A and out.

LHE, was in good shape 7-8 handed and then flopped JJ6 in the BB with J8 vs a crazy player that was R/RR with nothing all the time and she limped with J6 in LP for the flopped boat. Next hand she called me all in on a KJQ board (only had 1 1/2 bets left) with J9 vs my AA and she turned the 9 for the KO.

Tough day for SNGs. Tried most of the games and nothing seems to be going my way today. Done for tonight. Try to rebuild tomorrow night.

BB

The streak is SO over

Could not get anything to go right in the SNGs today.

played 2- $5.50 NLHE and got 6th (77 vs 56 on 533 board, turn 6, river 5) and 7th (AQ vs AJ AIPF, J flop obv).

Then changed it up with a $5.50 HORSE , $6.50 PLO8B and a $6.50 TURBO NLHE. With nothing doing in any of them.

In the PLO8B one I got it in 3 ways with 56A3 on a 556 board and the turn T sealed my fate even with the river 6 vs the TT6x that called the flop.

Total Loss: -$29.50 + $3.50 = -$26.00

EDIT: Played one more $5.50 and finished 3rd for $3.50 profit. Sick flop and river with K9 (no spades) flopping KKJ with KJ of spades on the board and got it all in vs Q9 spades. T on the river took me out after I battled back to even with the 2nd stack from short too....

One more SNG today

Played one $5.50 SNG today and even going into 6 handed as the shorty, came back to take it down for another $17 profit.

It takes a lot of concentration for me to play the way I have been playing in these so I don't think I could really do it as effectively if I played 3+ tables. I might try 2-tabling, but this seems to be working right now.

Level 9: Good Start and finish?

Just played one 9 Man while I was "watching" the updates for the WSOP and I took it down for +$17 profit. Good Start. I am over the amount for the next level. Off to fins two dice....
2-4
5-3
3-3 !!!! Rolled my doubles, but I think I will still be sticking to the 9 man SNGs for the time being. I am more comfortable there then trying $11 KOs, I think. I might try some smaller KOs mixed in, but I think playing 10-20 $5.50 SNGs and then maybe the same at $11 SNGs before moving up might be a plan. We'll see how it goes.

Level 8: Done

I played 3 6 max SNGs and a HU SNG and ran pretty well throughout.

$2.25 6 max 3/6 (-$2.25)
$5.50 6 max 2/6 (+$5.00)
$5.50 6 max 1/6 (+$14.00)
$5.50 HU SNG Win (+$4.75)

Total session profit +$21.50

Step 8 is done with room to spare and I will likely move on tho the 9 man SNGs next. I do really like the play in 6 max SNGs, but I think my nerves would do with a bit of break. The bubbles start a bit early in 6 max!

Level 8: 6 max SNGs ($6.50 and below)
SUMMARY

Full Tilt - $2.25 6 max
ITM: 1/8
1st: 1
2nd: 0

Full Tilt - $5.50 6 max
ITM: 3/3
1st: 1
2nd: 2

UB - $5.50 6 max
ITM: 1/1
1st: 1
2nd: 0

Full Tilt - $5.25 HU SNGs
NLHE: 2/2

Profit/Loss: +$36.25

WSOP Steps: Step 3 - Two tries and done

I played step three and made it to 4 handed and then pushed 9T and the BB woke up with QQ. Flopped a straight draw but did not get there.

Still got to retry the Step 3 and missed a few small PPs at a very limpy table and then got all in with NFD vs TP on the flop. Missed the draw and I am out of the steps altogether.

In general I don't think the steps are a very good way to try to win into the ONE prize package at the end of step 6, but if you can get through to step 6 you have a fair chance of getting at least some cash for one of the other payout spots for a good ROI and of course you do have a shot at the top prize.

UB 6max SNG win

Played a quick 6 max $5.50 SNG on UB and took that down for a profit of $15.50

Played pretty well with the exception of one hand where I flopped TP vs PFR and he had a slightly higher PP. Running spades to match my As fixed that though, so I had a nice stack to play with for the duration.

Not really feeling like playing more tonight.

WSOP Steps: Step 2

I just finished step two and won into step 3.

SICK running in these so far.

Was top 3 stack 6 handed, took someone out and then started picking up hands and playing stack/position and managed to have a chiplead 5-6 handed. That was the bubble so I was able to build up from there and then had the 2nd and 3rd stacks both at 2300 or so to my 9000 for the move-up bubble. Fun times.

Won the Step 2 seat. won a race with TT early vs AK and then was chip leader or second from 6 handed on. I took out a short stack 4 handed and then pushed the big stack into the two even stacks who didn't want to get knocked out in 3rd. Ended with SB picking up KQo and pushing into my AA :-)

Now if the next 5 steps go that way I will need to arrrange a trip to Vegas. lol

Side event:
In May I won a seat into the WSOP steps on PStars in an FPP rebuy MTT.

I was just playing because the 10FPP rebuy sounded like a good time. I have only played rebuys 2-3 times and usually rebuy 15-20 times and try to end up the hour with a big stack playing crazy poker (a la Daniel N. strategy).

So, I am going to give this a shot. Step 1 pays as follows:

1st/2nd = Step 2
3rd = retry step 1
4th $1.50

Step 1 is a TURBO SNG. Here we go.

Just played 4 more and I tried out turbos and a $5.50

finished 3rd in the first two (turbos) and then finished 2nd in the $5.50 and a regular $2.25

buyins: $12.25
won: $14.70
profit/loss: +$2.45

I am going to do some research and reading/videos on these. I know there are some situations that I am going about all wrong, but every time I do what I think is right it puts me in REALLY bad spots.

Biggest problem area is raising (even in position) when I am not the big stack. Really need to get a handle on that. I took to pushing with any hand I was going to play and that got me through since the stacks were fairly even, but I know the variance on that style of play (or using it with players who will call or don't have a clue about ICM) would be huge in the long run.

EDIT: Also just played a HU SNG for a 1 hand profit of $4.75. Flopped 2 pair vs his straight draw. All in and held up.

First set of 7- 6 max SNGs:

1,3,4,4,4,4,4

Buyins: $11.25
Won: $7.80

Profit/Loss: -$7.95

Need to adjust a little to the play in these I think.

Quick HU PLHE Win for +$4.75

...and then a LONG RAZZ win vs a very crazy (but still kind of good, I guess) player for another +$4.75

Level 6 summary:

$3.25 45 Man SNGs
(2) Out of the money
-$6.50 so far

$1.10 Turbo 45 man SNGs
1/45 (+$12.90)
5/45 (+$2.90)
(10) out of the money
+$4.80 so far

$1.25 45 man SNGs (FT)
1/45 (+$15.85)
(2) out of the money
+$13.35 so far

For Variety 2 Table SNGs
12/16 in HORSE Turbo (-$1.75)
12/18 in NLHE TURBO (-$3.40)
13/18 in NLHE TURBO (-$3.40)
10/18 in $1.20 NLHE (-$1.20)
8/18 in $1.20 NLHE (-$1.20)
12/18 in NLHE TURBO (-$3.40)
4/18 in NLHE TURBO (+$1.35) (FT)
-$13.00 so far

For Variety HU SNGs
$2.15 1/1 (+$4.75)
$5.25 11/16 (+$26.00)
+$30.75 so far

Level 6 Total: +$26.50

Quick HU PLHE Win for +$4.75.

Almost there, almost there....

Played 3 45 player SNGs this afternoon.

Placed 28th, 19th and 1st for a total profit of +$13.35

I think the games on FT are much easier in addition to the games being non-turbo (even though the blinds are still faster than the non-turbos on stars). I do like the variety of games filling up on Stars, though.

Hopefully I can make it to the single table levels of this soon. I am looking forward to trying to play sets of them and track ROI. I have always played SNGs sporadically and I would like to see how I can do over a long series of them.

Quick HU LHE win for +$4.75

I am thinking that the setup for this challenge is ok, but not great for my style of play. I would like it more if there were more choices (of equal bankroll requirements) at each level.

Today's Action:

I started out with a 2 table and a 5 table SNG and went out 12/18 and 20/45 (AA vs 66all in on a 522 flop, river 6). (-$6.65 for both)

Then I played a series of HU matches:

PLO 1/1 win (+$4.75)
NLHE 1/4 wins (-$11.00)
RAZZ 0/2 (-$10.50)
LHE 3/3 wins (+$14.25)

for a total of -$2.50 for those matches

.....and then I played a 2 table SNG on FT and placed 4th/18 for a $1.35 profit.

So, -$7.80 total for the day.

3 tonight:

10/18 in $1.20 NLHE 2 table SNG - Flopped 2 pair vs flopped straight (with 52os....) and then got in with AK vs AJ and that was no good obv.

8/18 in $1.20 NLHE 2 table SNG - bad call 9 handed.

$5.25 HU Win (+$4.75)

Overall for session: +$2.35

4 Tourneys tonight:

12/16 in HORSE Turbo SNG (2 table) (-$1.75)
12/18 in NLHE 2 table SNG TURBO (-$3.40)
13/18 in NLHE 2 table SNG TURBO (-$3.40)
HU Win NLHE (+$4.75)

Overall for tonight (-$3.80)

4 more $1.10 TURBO 45s:

30/45 - Nothing until shortstacked
16/45
14/45 - QQ in BB, Slightly bigger stack pushes from SB with AJ and rivers one....
5/45 - K8d (2BBs) vs J2d (bigstack) pair of ducks wins it....

These seem to be pretty standard that you have to double/triple in first two levels or get really lucky in the 50/100 level to stay in it. Then in the next 3 levels it basically all goes to the FT and whoever wins the races makes it.

I like multi-tabling these, it is somehow calming to me as crazy as they are, lol!

This Session: -$.40

Played 5 more $1.10 NLHE 45 Mans:

37/45(-$1.10)
41/45(-$1.10)
22/45(-$1.10)
19/45(-$1.10)
1/45 (+$12.90)

total for session: +$8.50

Played 3 $1.10 NLHE Turbo 3table SNGs:

#1 40/45 QQ vs set of 3s on a T-high flop.
#2 22/45
#3 20/45 Lost a big pot with AA vs JJ

and played a $5.25 NLHE HU SNG and won that

....for a total profit so far for this session of $1.45

Level 6:

45 Man SNGs are next ($3.25 or less). There are a veriety of these on Stars and I probably will play a few $3.35 NLHE as well as some of the lower limit "other" games.

I will probably not be able to get going on this until tomorrow night or this weekend, but I will be playing some HU SNGs in the meantime.

Next Level....

....No love in these at all. I have some hands I will post from the last two. Sick, sick, sick!

Level 5:
Series - 5x $2.25 180 Man SNGs

#1 - 135/180 (-$2.25)
AK vs AJ PF....yuck!

#2 - 62/180 (-$2.20) TURBO @ Stars
#3 - 77/180 (-$2.20) TURBO @ Stars
#4 - 72/180 (-$2.20) TURBO @ Stars
#5 - 83/180 (-$2.20) TURBO @ Stars

Change of pace HU SNGs:
$5.25
NLHE Win (+$4.75)
RAZZ Win (+$4.75)

$2.15
NLHE Win (+$1.85)

Total: +$.30

Since I am running this for myself, "my backer and I discussed it and I am calling the $.10 good and moving on.

Level 4 is actually a $3.30 KO 90 SNG

21/90
Caught stealing BB/Antes from other smallish stack short handed.
-$3.30 + $3(KOs) = -$.30 overall

Level 2:
308/535 in $5.50 KO MTT (freeroll)

Made a bad play with 99 in LP with two big/middle stack limpers. Should have pushed, but raised instead and they both called and then I was committed on the flop.

So, I decided to get going on Level 3: 18 Man SNGs $2.25 while I was waiting for the $5.50 MTT tonight and I took down the first one to put me $.10 short of Level 4.

I got to the final 9 with a top 4 stack and then essentially doubled against the over-aggro guy to have a 2:1 lead over 2nd place.

Pushed 2 players in and busted them and then....

....Lost a hand pushing a short stack in with J high and then got AA vs his KK the next hand playing it the same way.

Short stack went out 3rd and then HU basically came down to a race (won that, wow).

+$12.15

-----------------------
SUMMARY

Level Three
$2.25 18 Man SNGs
1/18 (+$12.15)

I am modifying the rules of this a little (I think) to change this...

"If the bankroll at any point falls below the value of a property square, you lose access to that square until you have reached that value again. "

.....to say that if you drop to less than the starting value of the LAST level, you have to drop back down to that level. Not that if you drop below the value that got you to the current level you have to go back, since that would mean you would always have to cash in your first game at each level. That would leave you bouncing back and forth a lot and I am trying to move up steadily. Using the profits from the previous level to play the current level seems reasonable and if it isn't for any of the levels I will adjust for those accordingly.

So, for level two (if I don't cash in the $5.50 MTT) I will play the $2.25 18 MAN SNGs unless my bankroll falls below the starting value of level 1 = $100. In that case I would move back down and start over with the HU SNGs......please no!

That may be the intention of the rules as stated but, in case it isn't, that is what I am doing for this attempt.

I played 6 more NLHE HU SNGs and split them 3/3. Also played one PLHE match and won that. That puts me JUST over the balance to move on to the next level.
-------------------------------
Level One Summary
$5.25 or less HU SNGs

$5.25
STANDARD: 8/15 (+$1.25)
PLHE: 2/2 (+$9.5)
RAZZ: 1/1 (+$4.75)

$2.15
STANDARD: 1/3 (-$2.45)
TURBO: 1/2 (-$.30)

TOTAL: +$12.75
---------------------------------
On to Step 2: Luxury tax (play a $5.50 MTT outside of the bankroll and add results to the bankroll).

I will probably play this tomorrow night.

5 more HU SNGs

Played 4 $5.25 NLHE matches and split them 2/2.

Then won a RAZZ HU $5.25

So that is another +$3.75

Three more $5.25 HUs

All NLHE and I went 2/3 for another +$4.25.

First one I limped with QQ (he had raised every limp so far) and of course he limps behind. I flop an overpair and he open pushes his last 1000 with a middle pair 6s, lol.

Second one was pretty standard.

I moved up the $5.25 HU SNGs and lost the first NLHE one. I had him down and lost a race to get us back to even and then had him down a little again and he hit another one on me and then picked up a big hand to knock me out.

Then I went on to play and win a PLHE match and another NLHE one.

So up $4.25 for the session.

Level One : HU Matches

I will start out with $2.15 HU matches on Full Tilt and see how that goes.

EDIT:
1st five done and I am 2/5.
I played 3 regular and two TURBOs

Played OK, but put too much in on a couple of hands in the 1st two.

I will be starting a "Monopoly Challenge" to gain comfort moving up in limits and rebuild my bankroll since I have withdrawn most of my winnings from the past.

Starting Bankroll : $100

First Level : $5.50 and lower HU SNGs

Goal to move on to next level : $112.50
--------------------------------
RULES:

• Start at the "Go" Square and try to move around the board.
• Each property square has a value on it, your heeb bank roll must reach that value in order to have access to the next square.
• You must follow the bank roll rules for that square.
• If you have compleleted a property square, then you have access to that square and can play those levels any time you want (for example, once you have passed $112.50 and can move to square 2, you can still play the heads up games for square 1 if you choose).
• You cannot play any squares for which the bankroll has not been met.
• Non property squares such as Challenges, Take a Chance, Series, Cash Challenges, etc, are 1 time gigs. You do them the first time you reach them and they are not to be repeated.
• If the bankroll at any point falls below the value of a property square, you lose access to that square until you have reached that value again. Losing that square does not allow you to redo Challenges, Take a Chance, Series, Cash Challenges, etc When you repass them.