Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

I joked with my wife today that I have found the perfect time to play and be successful. I figured if you get in a session between 8 and 9:30 in the morning, you will be getting on before all of the really good players do.

That being said, having played at the same times these last couple of days I have seen familiar faces at some of tables. Faces that I have been successful against in the past and whose play I am becoming familiar with.

I just hope the opposite doesn't hold true.

Luckily I won two of the first three hands of this session, garnering a whopping $.24, but wins are wins.

On hand number five, I get handed in the MP3 position.

1 fold, UTG+1 ($3.87 stack) calls $0.10, 1 fold, MP2 ($19.10 stack) calls $.10, Grimm calls $0.10, 1 fold, Button (3.75 stack) calls $.10, SB ($6.99 stack) calls $0.10, BB ($4.35 stack) checks - Middle pocket pair is normally a trap hand for me so I will just see the flop.

Flop: ($0.60) (6 players)

SB checks, BB checks, UTG+1 bets $0.10, MP2 calls $.10, Grimm calls $0.10, Button folds, SB calls $0.10, BB folds - Would a raise here get any action? Of course, raising here would keep anyone else from pairing a hole card on the turn. Not a good play there.

Turn: ($1.00) (4 players)

SB checks, UTG+1 bets $0.10, MP2 calls $.10, Grimm raises to $.70, SB folds, UTG+1 calls $.60, MP2 folds - Ok, luckily an under on the turn, thankfully I raise it up and get called. Ace in the hole maybe?

River: ($2.50) (2 players)

UTG+1 checks, Grimm checks - That Ace made me crap my pants and once again I don't finish off someone. Go for the kill dammit!

Showdown:
UTG+1 shows - (Full house, Queens full of Fours)
Grimm shows - (Full house, Queens full of Sixes)

This $1.48 net pot could have been more if I would have grown a pair and not let that Ace freak me out. I must make people pay to stay along with me. Controlled agression is key here.

Shortly thereafter, I would run into a spell of cold cards and aside from a hand of pocket Jacks facing off with two preflop callers, an Ace King flop and an overly excited BB (UTG+1 from above example) - I didn't play for 15 straight hands.

Picked up a $.61 pot with Ace Ten and a flop that missed, but a 1/2 pot scared off everyone. Also a $.83 pot with Ace King and betting the Ace on the flop - no takers.

That was about it until in the Big Blind - The exact starting hand from before.

UTG ($9.70 stack) calls $0.10, 1 fold, MP1 ($12.68 stack) calls $0.10, MP2 ($13.80 stack) calls $.10, 1 fold, CO ($2.93 stack) calls $0.10, 2 folds, Grimm checks - As I said before, I am wary of middle pocket pair - Even moreso as the BB.

Flop: ($0.55) (5 players)

Grimm checks, UTG checks, MP1 checks, MP2 checks, CO bets $0.27, Grimm raises to $.54, UTG folds, MP1 folds, MP2 folds, CO calls $.27 - An initial bet to get rid of chasers should have been in order, but I do wise up and check-raise for the read. Methinks he paired a hole card.

Turn: ($1.63) (2 players)

Grimm checks, CO checks - This is typical of me to check here dammit (not good). His check leads me to believe he didn't get his straight however.

River: ($1.63) (2 players)

Grimm bets $.81, CO folds - That bet should have been on the turn. No sense letting him have a free card.

Got myself a $.91 net pot there - Not quite a Big Hand, but a nice setup for the very next hand.


I am in the Small Blind and having stare me in the face. I am up $1.60 right now.

1 fold, UTG+1 ($12.58 stack) raises to $.35, 2 folds, MP3 ($2.29 stack) calls $.35, 2 folds, Grimm raises to $.70, 1 fold, UTG+1 calls $.35, MP3 folds - Wow, looks like I have someone to play with. NOTE: If my bankroll was higher, this is a place I may be pushing.

Flop: ($1.85) (2 players)

Grimm bets $.92, UTG+1 calls. - Wicked flop, keeping lots of options open on his hand range. I am worrying about him pairing his hole cards, but what else is new?

Turn: ($3.69) (2 players)

Grimm bets $1.84, UTG+1 calls. - Well didn't that turn out grand? Now the possibility of betting into a split pot as one or both of his hole cards are painted.

River: ($7.37) (2 players)

Grimm bets $3.68, UTG+1 calls. - Now there is a small boat possibility, but if he had it he would have raised it. This will give me ulcers.

Showdown:
Grimm shows - (Straight, Ten to Ace)
UTG+1 shows - (Two pairs, Aces and Queens)

Voila! The $6.86 net pot taken in is my highest to date since my return and reaffirmed that being aggressive on good hands is the way to go and will pay off in the end.


My session ended two hands later as I am limiting myself to one hour sessions for the time being until I feel more comfortable at the tables again. I am ever so slowly getting to the point where I less hesitant about my plays but I haven't reached the level where I can just do them automatically without thought. That and the fact that and my bankroll is just a mere $36 and a can't lose focus or all of that will go bye-bye.

Holidays Are Hell

Big Hands (Net Gain > 10/BB) Won = 0
Big Hands (Net Loss > 10/BB) Lost = 2

The last 2 months have been hell as I have been putting in 70-75 hours a week at work trying to get some overtime together to give the kids a nice Christmas season. This has also affected the time I have available to play.

Last we met, I had me a pretty fortunate run of cards. I played very cautiously and while it may have limited to big hand, it gave the table image of a tight player which I was looking for initially.

Today was another story.

The cards started off very cold and limited my action. I would win a small pot here and there - just enough to pay off the blinds as they came around. At the 30 minute mark I was up, albeit a mere 13 cents.

And I thought fate was smiling upon me as I was dealt on the button.

UTG calls ($7.24 stack) calls $0.10, 1 fold, MP1 ($2.90 stack) raises to $0.45, 3 folds, Grimm raises to $0.90, 2 folds, UTG folds, MP1 raises to $2.90 and is All-in, Grimm calls $2.00 - Maybe it was because I hadn't had anything play so far, but I was going to get me a big pot here.

MP1 shows - This hand is still mine. I am ahead 55%-45%.

Flop: ($6.05) (2 players, 1 is All-in) - Or not.

Turn: ($6.05) (2 players, 1 is All-in)

River: ($6.05) (2 players, 1 is All-in)

I am not going to whine about this one at all. I had position and got my money in with the better hand. No, it's not a bad beat - but it's not quite a coin flip either. Still, I wanted to play more aggressively going in and that is what I did.

I remained positive and kept being aggressive, possibly too aggressive as on occassion I bet too much post flop on made hands when I could have milked more out. Instead I was faced with Insta-folds. It's a fine line that I need to learn.

Toward the end of the session, I had recouped 1/2 of that big pot I lost and was dealt in the MP3 spot.

3 folds, MP2 ($3.29 stack) calls to $0.10, Grimm raises to $0.40, 4 folds, MP2 calls $0.30 - Unless he's slow playing (which hasn't been his style) that initial bet is not saying a high pocket pair.

Flop: ($0.95) (2 players)

MP2 checks, Grimm raises to $0.47, MP2 calls $0.47 - Rough flop but his check tells me he hasn't flopped the flush. His call makes me think he is one card away..

Turn: ($1.89) (2 players)

MP2 checks, Grimm raises to $0.94, MP2 calls $0.94 - Another call of my raise. Is he chasing? Maybe top pair?

River: ($3.77) (2 players)

MP2 checks, Grimm checks - And there it is - he caught his flush. Not once did I consider representing a flush to HIM, I was so sure he had it. A $2 bet here and that pot would be mine. I know, hindsight is 20/20.

Showdown:
MP2 shows -- - (Two pair, Queens and Fours)
Grimm mucks - (Two pair, Tens and Fours)

Net Loss = $1.81

This should tell you either one of three things: 1) I can't read people worth a damn. 2) Some players will call top pair to the house. 3) Both.


You take away those 2 Big Hands Lost and I come away $1.77 to the good. Despite the losses I do feel the level of my play has improved and this particular day was a good learning experience. I need to keep reminding myself to finish the job once I get my foot on their throats and when I do make a mistake - learn from it and not just pass it off as a bad beat or donkish play by my opponents.

Knocking The Rust Off

Big Hands (Net Gain > 10/BB) Won = 3
Big Hands (Net Loss > 10/BB) Lost = 0

So here I am again after much time to reflect on the mistakes of the past and finding some glaring weaknesses in my game.

I have decided to gradually shy away from tournaments for a bit and concentrate more to see if I can use my newfound knowledge to fix the holes in my game.

I enter the game as the CO and I am dealt , MP2 calls, I check to see the flop and the BB checks as well.

Flop: ($0.35) (3 players)

BB min bets ($.10), MP2 calls, I call as well - An example of my lack of aggression. This killed me before - letting others stay in the hand.

Turn: ($.65) (3 players)

BB min bets again, MP2 and I call again - Top pair and I don't press the issue here. I am playing to lose.

River: ($.95) (3 players)

BB min bets yet again, MP2 calls, Grimm raises to $.67, BB & MP2 fold. - A raise earlier might have gotten some action, and probably scared me to death in the process.

So I collect a net of $.79 on my first hand playing like a girly man.

The very next hand I am dealt in the MP3 position.

1 fold, UTG+1 ($6.57 stack) calls $0.10, Grimm raises to $0.30, 3 folds, BB ($25.27 stack) calls $0.20, UTG+1 calls $0.20 - I manned up and actually bet something here.

Flop: ($0.95) (3 players)

BB checks, UTG+1 checks, Grimm bets $0.47, BB calls $0.47, UTG+1 folds - This was a continuation bet to rep the King and also to see if someone had one. Alas, Mr. BB calls me.

Turn: ($1.89) (2 players)

BB checks, Grimm checks - Yep, he's scared me. God, I am a wuss.

River: ($1.89) (2 players)

BB checks, Grimm checks - I should have bet out here at least 1/2 pot.

Showdown:
BB shows ---- - (One pair, Twos)
Grimm shows - (One pair, Eights)

I pull in a $1.03 net pot but I am far from playing good poker.



Play continues for a few rotations with me peeking at 1 or 2 flops with BB calls but nothing worthwhile shows up.

After a bit of watching the others play I get again, this time on the button.

1 fold, UTG+1 ($21.61 stack) calls $0.10, 4 folds, Grimm raises to $0.30, 1 fold, BB ($7.39 stack) raises to $0.60, UTG+1 folds, Grimm calls $0.30 - I was feeling frisky here, normally I am hesitant about calling a reraise like this.

Flop: ($1.35) (2 players)

BB checks, Grimm bets $0.67, BB calls $0.67 - I am wary now, although if he had the straight he would have check raised - I put him on an Ace King or high pair.

Turn: ($2.69) (2 players)

BB checks, Grimm checks - This was a planned check to show weakness, but still a weak play overall.

River: ($2.69) (2 players)

BB checks, Grimm bets $1.34, BB folds - While I do not know what he had for sure, I would lean toward Ace King or King Queen. Still, that check on the turn could have hurt badly...

Playing a little better, gaining this nice $1.29 net pot for my second Big Hand. I am up $2.71 just 17 minutes into my session.



Things slow down as the action tightens up. I win a few minor hands but do not attempt to steal any blinds (another thing I need to work on).

41 minutes in, I am up $3.23 and sitting in MP2 when I get handed . Let's try not to blow this one, ok Grimm?

2 folds, MP1 ($17.42 stack) calls $0.10, Grimm raises to $0.40, 4 folds, MP1 calls $0.30 - Some people may have went 6BB or more, but I try to cap my preflop raises to keep them guessing on a broader range of hands.

Flop: ($0.95) (2 players)

MP1 checks, Grimm bets $0.47, MP1 calls $0.47 - Now here I probably should have bet more instead of just going 1/2 pot. The two hearts aren't scaring me...yet.

Turn: ($1.89) (2 players)

MP1 checks, Grimm bets $0.94, MP1 calls $0.94 - Ok, now I am wondering if he is sitting on pocket Jacks, although his preflop bet wouldn't tell this. Top pair maybe?

River: ($3.77) (2 players)

MP1 checks, Grimm bets $1.88, MP1 calls $1.88 - Again, probably a bigger bet here is needed, but I am feeling he just hit his second pair.

Showdown:
Grimm shows - (One pair, Aces)
MP1 mucks -- - (One pair, Jacks)

I consider myself lucky that my bullets rolled unhelped to a nice $3.47 chunk of change.



The rest of the session was merely picking up pots where I could as my cards starting to run cold. There are only so many times you can see Ten Two before you are tempted to start playing them and I didn't want to fall into that again.

Looking back, I played a cautious session as I was trying to get back into the flow after a few month layoff. The most I lost in one hand was $0.67 with pocket eights yet again - only this time the flop was not as kind - with a Queen and a Jack. Once an Ace fell on the river, I knew I needed to get out.

The Introduction

I know what you're thinking.

Here is another supposed poker genius thinking he is God's gift to the poker world. Here is another self-promoting Hold 'Em guru looking to tell the world about his superb play and his enormous bankroll. Here is another alleged master exhaulting himself as the next big thing.

Well then you would be very wrong.

I started playing online Texas Hold 'Em four years ago when I convinced my wife to let me deposit $100 into my account on Absolute Poker. Well, convincing might be too simple of a term to use - it was more like begging, pleading and promising that I would never ask for any more.

Why should I worry about needing more money? I watched the World Poker Tour. I TiVo'd Celebrity Poker Showdown. I know what beats what. This Texas Hold 'Em looks pretty easy to learn.

Six months later I was $100 poorer.

For months I complained about internet cheats, ridiculous bad beats and mentally deficient opponents. "How could my JT be beaten with a stupid Q5? How could you play that @#$! hand?" I would declare that the Gods of Poker had cursed me with unusually bad luck. I hated the fact that a was losing to people that played so ignorantly, a term I would later find out was called "a donk'".

Little did I know, I was the biggest donk out there.

So, naturally I did what any other great poker player would do. I quit playing.

I started playing again in late-2005. I still played on Absolute, but in keeping with the promise I had made to the wife, could only play in freerolls. It was during this time that I started noticing what other players were doing, how they betting and when they were folding. I would often wonder "why did he fold that?" or "why didn't he go all-in?" as the skill of the game still could not penetrate my thick skull.

Then while playing in a freeroll of 5,000 players, I had an epiphany. I was playing like I usually do - badly - when nature called. Rather than sit out a hand or two, I decided I couldn't miss the opportunity when those pocket rockets would show up and took my laptop with me. It was then, while sitting on the porcelan bowl, that things began to click for me. The importance of playing quality starting hands, why positioning is important and why patience will always be a virtue. It didn't happen all at once, but after sitting there for over an hour fighting off severe leg cramps I began to realize just how bad my game was.

I didn't place in the money in that tounament, but the very next freeroll I played I finished 26th out of 7,300 and squeezed out 80 cents.

I had won money.

Since then, I have turned that 80 cents into a fluctuation between $15 - $50, gaining both knowledge of the game as well as much needed experience. I also still make stupid mistakes - however I am quick to recognize them as such afterward. I had only played in .50 & 1.00 Sit-N-Go's (SnG's), but I am currently looking on improving my cash game. Hence what you are reading - I need documentation of my good and bad plays.

I am making this blog to share my experiences (both good and bad) and I hope that everyone that visits my little piece of the blogging world could gain useful information or even share thier knowledge with everyone.

So, am I this great poker player? Hell no. Am I a good poker player? I think I am getting there. So if you would like to tag along on my journey to either poker penthouse or the port-o-potty in the back alley behind the casino - feel free. I could use the company.