No Limit Hold 'Em Poker Discussion

[SaiWa]

Have played a few more times the last few weeks. Myself and 3 friends all got back into it at the same time - unfortunately i'm the only one with kids lol so they can all play more than me. I have been playing pretty tight but no losing sessions yet, have made around $350 total across 4 sessions, not much just kinda grinding but have been pretty happy with my play.

Last time I was at a really shitty table. A mix of calling stations and a couple players who have never seen a playing card in their life, and i was completely fucking card dead for the duration while they were there. Bluffing was off the table because the guy to my immediate left would literally call down with anything so just had to be patient. Eventually I got rockets 2 hands in a row lol so made some money there but I wasn't even getting anything playable while the table was really ripe for the picking.

A friend of mine at the table was cleaning these guys out though - he's not even a good player just got a nice run of cards at the right time. So he had doubled his stack and was riding high with confidence.....and then this idiot gives every cent away lol

So he raised to around 30 pre flop and the guy next to him immediately goes all in. This guy had been very tight the entire time and showed no indication of having aggressive plays really. Just a good but fairly straightforward player. He was putting his stack of probably around $400 up against my friend who had around $380.

EVERYONE knew he had aces. It has never been more obvious in the history of poker someone had pocket aces lol. My friend tanks for a long time, actually says out loud "Man if you have a pair i'll need to catch something" - OF COURSE HE HAS A FUCKING PAIR! I'm across the table staring daggers at him trying to get him to fold lol, but he calls and turns over AK of hearts. Flop comes with 2 hearts to get his hopes up, but no other help and he busts. Everyone at the table just shocked he called for his entire stack there when it was so clear the guy had Aces. He buys back in for $100 and within 5 hands he gets dealt AK again lmao, and this complete fish at the table calls with 10 8 and gets a straight on the river. My friend Helmuth's him, screams some obscenities and leaves. Then the next time he went to play a few days later, almost an identical thing happened... he got up big quickly, got overconfident, and lost it all. Then on Sunday he won a tournment, first one he's ever played so now he's gonna have an artificial boost of confidence and it will probably go badly for him. He's definitely more of a gambler then a technical player and although he is intelligent, he also has no self awareness at all so he makes some bad decisions and then doesn't realize or correct his mistakes after.

Hoping I can play more this weekend!

People have stated that I am a very solid and smart player but I’d rather be lucky if given the choice. Luck trumps all... lol

 

[Graves The Elder]

used to love card games.
won decently in Vegas at times.
watching other ppl play?
not so much.

 

[SurferH2O]

I just found this thread, but will visit from time to time and share some key hands, tournaments, and information.

I grew up on poker with my mom paying for about 1/2 my college on Low Ball and Hold Em. My Uncle was a world class player, and still a force when he make it out. I was ranked #13 at Paradise Poker back in the days until Black Friday, and I was Top 100 at Poker Stars until then as well.

I have some decent online tournament wins, and my best payday was $164K on Paradise Pokers Masters III Tournament, with the final table played out in Tahiti.

I still play on Ignition Poker (online), but the games there are pretty weak. I play live at Commerce, The Bike, Oceans 11, and my favorite Hawaiian Gardens.

 

[LEWIS540]

Played last night.

In first hour, I shit thee nay:

KK < 78 suited on a 8 3 4 rainbow flop (ran it twice, lost twice to trips and straight)
KK < A 10 suited, all in pre (5 bet shoved)
AA < 77, all in pre (called my 6 bet raise all in)
AA < 9 10 suited, all in pre (9 10 was on the double straddle, open pushed all in to my BB raise of 55)

Playing 2/2 Euro, each pot with 500 min in play.

-2500 Euro.....yes you're delighted to play against such idiots, and in the long run blah blah blah, but that hurts.

 

[Fugazy]

Ahh yes, NLHE Poker baby!

WPT is airing good content now, and the 2019 WSOP is around the corner...

 

[Michaelangelo]

favorite Hawaiian Gardens.

i was there a few months ago. they have a lot of games you won’t find anywhere else like stud, Big O, and short deck. wood recommend.

 

[Michaelangelo]

KK < 78 suited on a 8 3 4 rainbow flop (ran it twice, lost twice to trips and straight)

how big was this pot lol

 

[LEWIS540]

how big was this pot lol

About 500bb if memory serves.

Villain called a 5-bet pre of around 60bb.

 

[Michaelangelo]

About 500bb if memory serves.

Villain called a 5-bet pre of around 60bb.

oh shit, now that sounds like a great game

 

[LEWIS540]

oh shit, now that sounds like a great game

It's largely a "fun game''. Couple of good players, couple of nits, 3-4 casuals.

I bluffed off 250 euro on the river the other night on a Qc10cJh 6c Kh board. Villain check tank-called with kc7h having check called flop and turn...........

 

[Makani]

Been in a funk lately. Last two poker games I've lost a couple hundred at 1-1. It's not the economics that hurt, it's just making decisions that I wouldn't have if I were playing like usual. I need to stop playing just because games need a player or two to run. If I'm not feeling my oats I'm too passive and sneaky, then I'll make some big bluff to end my night, trying to prime my pump. If I notice it, it's bad.

 

[Fugazy]

Got in a tidy 4.5-5 hour session at a 1-3 table. Chipped up from $300 to $920 or so. I was up over 1k but I tangled with another stack that was at about 1k as well, dropped ~ $80 about 20 min before standing up.

All in all, it was a smooth session. About 10 min in I called a guy trying to shove me off of a pot with a $40 bet on the river. I had 2 pair to his Ace high. He was gutted when I called. Later on I took him for a $400 pot. KQs against his (what I am guessing) KJ or K10. Again tried to push me off a pot, this time by raising my $40 river bet when I made a straight. Pushed it to $140, I came over the top for an additional $180, he folded. I underbet the river to induce a raise, and I was hoping he'd call me off but he slunk away. That guy probably dropped 1500-2k at the table within 4 hours. He's not a bad player either, but his timing was all over and he was too aggressive with bad cards.

I didn't mix it up really. Just played my cards, which were pretty rough all day. Saw a few low pocket pairs out of position that I had to fold thanks to too much pre-flop action. Had KK cracked by A-Junk, but it only cost me $20, had QQ and doubled my stack with that.

A couple of younger guys who were more aggressive players, were sniping back and forth and complaining. One guy dropped "these guys are playing their cards, they're not playing poker." Problem is he was raising too aggressively pre-flop, scaring people off and getting mad when people avoided him. Shit was funny. His style of play would work better at the 2-5 or 5-10, or against a bunch of players who think they are hot shit and want to get silly preflop with constant raises and 3bets. I doubled through him with my QQ. He had a 9-10s and raised $20 preflop. I came along, with one other caller. Flop is 5-10-9 rainbow, he checks, I bet $40, third player folds, 9-10s calls. Turn is a 5, pairing the board. He bets 60, I raise all-in. I know he is aggresive and looking for action, I also knew he wasn't holding a 5 with that pre-flop raise. I put him on a full bluff, or suited A-10/ A-9. He instacalls while saying aloud "if you got a pair I'm fucked" I flip over QQ and call out my two pair. He flips over his 10-9s and looks sad. River is a deuce, he ships 'em.

I'm learning, still but I feel like I've got a good grip on how to play this game at this casino, imo that's what matters. Adjust to the game in front of you. You can be a great player technically speaking, if you can't adjust to who you are playing with, you're only fooling yourself.

Fun time. Hopefully I can keep it going. I noticed I didn't spend much time considering other players ranges. I just played the best cards I could in favorable positions and picked my spots against weaker players.

 

[SurferH2O]

Played last night.

In first hour, I shit thee nay:

KK < 78 suited on a 8 3 4 rainbow flop (ran it twice, lost twice to trips and straight)
KK < A 10 suited, all in pre (5 bet shoved)
AA < 77, all in pre (called my 6 bet raise all in)
AA < 9 10 suited, all in pre (9 10 was on the double straddle, open pushed all in to my BB raise of 55)

Playing 2/2 Euro, each pot with 500 min in play.

-2500 Euro.....yes you're delighted to play against such idiots, and in the long run blah blah blah, but that hurts.

Yep! Sometimes the bug, sometimes the windshield.

But, variance is a real thing... if you sit with those donks again and again and again... you will end up with a fat bank roll.

 

[LEWIS540]

Played yesterday....2 big hands back to back

KsQs
-Raise call a 3 bet, pre. 3 way to the flop.
-Flop KcQh2d. Check call flop....three way to the turn.
-Turn 4d. Check. Player 2 bets. Player 3 raises. I push all in. Player 2 folds. Player 3 snap calls.
-River. 8d. Player 3 shows 9d3d. Lost 250bb.

Ac8c
-Call a raise pre flop. Heads up.
-Flop 8h7c2h. I Check call.
-Turn 2c. I lead. Player raises really big. I call.
-River Jh. I check. Opoonent checks. Opponent shows Jc3h. Lost 100bb.


Few hands later had 8h9h on a 7h10h2c board. Opponent goes all in for 100bb into a 20bb pot. I call. He had AA. I missed.

A mere -800euro for the session.


Cannot catch a break recently.

 

[Fugazy]

Played yesterday....2 big hands back to back

KsQs
-Raise call a 3 bet, pre. 3 way to the flop.
-Flop KcQh2d. Check call flop....three way to the turn.
-Turn 4d. Check. Player 2 bets. Player 3 raises. I push all in. Player 2 folds. Player 3 snap calls.
-River. 8d. Player 3 shows 9d3d. Lost 250bb.

Ac8c
-Call a raise pre flop. Heads up.
-Flop 8h7c2h. I Check call.
-Turn 2c. I lead. Player raises really big. I call.
-River Jh. I check. Opoonent checks. Opponent shows Jc3h. Lost 100bb.


Few hands later had 8h9h on a 7h10h2c board. Opponent goes all in for 100bb into a 20bb pot. I call. He had AA. I missed.

A mere -800euro for the session.


Cannot catch a break recently.

If I may...

Your last 2 hands don't seem particularly well played.

With your A-8 seems like he was bluffing to push you off the hand on the turn amd then got lucky on the river. Still, I'd be weary calling a large raise at that stage with only a pair of 8s. Did you have a read on him at that point that lead you to call his big raise?

Your last hand, calling off 100bb into a 20 bb pot without a made hand is very iffy. With only an draw, yeah thats a sexy draw, straight, flush and straight flush staring at you, but it feels too loose for that type of bet to me.

What are your thoughts?

 

[LEWIS540]

If I may...

Your last 2 hands don't seem particularly well played.

With your A-8 seems like he was bluffing to push you off the hand on the turn amd then got lucky on the river. Still, I'd be weary calling a large raise at that stage with only a pair of 8s. Did you have a read on him at that point that lead you to call his big raise?

Your last hand, calling off 100bb into a 20 bb pot without a made hand is very iffy. With only an draw, yeah thats a sexy draw, straight, flush and straight flush staring at you, but it feels too loose for that type of bet to me.

What are your thoughts?

A-8 hand I had nut flush draw too. Probably should have pushed or folded the turn bet, in hindsight. Knowing opponent's hand, don't really think it was a huge mistake. Played with the guy before an he is normally pretty poor...bordering on awful. He often 3 barrel bluffs with nothing. I was almost sure he was betting the river no matter what, and I was almost sure I was calling.

Folding the 8h9h in that spot would just be wrong in a cash game 100bb deep, imo. The guy who had the AA is a pretty solid player, but even still he never has a set there. Even if he has a set of 10s or AhKh I've 40%. Against over pairs and A 10 I'm favourite. Not a spot you love, obviously, but it's a no brainer call, imo.



Not really upset with my play just bemoaning my bad luck! . Think I've lost in 7 of my last 9 sessions, and I was only disappointed in my play in one of them

 

[Fugazy]

A-8 hand I had nut flush draw too. Probably should have pushed or folded the turn bet, in hindsight. Knowing opponent's hand, don't really think it was a huge mistake. Played with the guy before an he is normally pretty poor...bordering on awful. He often 3 barrel bluffs with nothing. I was almost sure he was betting the river no matter what, and I was almost sure I was calling.

Folding the 8h9h in that spot would just be wrong in a cash game 100bb deep, imo. The guy who had the AA is a pretty solid player, but even still he never has a set there. Even if he has a set of 10s or AhKh I've 40%. Against over pairs and A 10 I'm favourite. Not a spot you love, obviously, but it's a no brainer call, imo.



Not really upset with my play just bemoaning my bad luck! . Think I've lost in 7 of my last 9 sessions, and I was only disappointed in my play in one of them

The 1st hand is what I suspected, that is a perfectly reasonable play. I figured you must have had a read on him.

I still have to disagree with you on the second hand though. If you had position and shoved I could understand, or if the pot was larger. I really do feel that calling off 100BB into a 20bb pot on a draw in that spot is usually the wrong play. Especially if he was a solid player, you had to suspect you were behind and you were for the entire hand. You were drawing to the nut, but that's not enough of a justification imo for that pot size. It looks like you played exactly how he wanted you to, I feel like it was obvious that he had a big pair, and made a donk bet in attempt to make you think he had a weaker hand.

Would you have played it the same if you knew he had a big pair?

 

[LEWIS540]

The 1st hand is what I suspected, that is a perfectly reasonable play. I figured you must have had a read on him.

I still have to disagree with you on the second hand though. If you had position and shoved I could understand, or if the pot was larger. I really do feel that calling off 100BB into a 20bb pot on a draw in that spot is usually the wrong play. Especially if he was a solid player, you had to suspect you were behind and you were for the entire hand. You were drawing to the nut, but that's not enough of a justification imo for that pot size. It looks like you played exactly how he wanted you to, I feel like it was obvious that he had a big pair, and made a donk bet in attempt to make you think he had a weaker hand.

Would you have played it the same if you knew he had a big pair?

He actually raised all in on the flop, not open shoved. Think there was 14 in the pot pre, I bet 7 on the flop, he raised all in to about 195.

Suspected he had AA, KK or QQ......all of which I'm a solid favourite against. Worst case I'm 40%, and I was getting about that.

Seriously, that is a no brainer, sigh call. Anything else is wrong.

 

[Fugazy]

He actually raised all in on the flop, not open shoved. Think there was 14 in the pot pre, I bet 7 on the flop, he raised all in to about 195.

Suspected he had AA, KK or QQ......all of which I'm a solid favourite against. Worst case I'm 40%, and I was getting about that.

Seriously, that is a no brainer, sigh call. Anything else is wrong.

The way I see it, you're pretty much a coin flip to improve your hand to a straight or flush.

Say you do improve, even if you don't hit the nut, against quite a few hands, you'd win. But you could have improved to a flush and still lost if he were holding a suited Ace, which wouldn't have been crazy considering how you explained the hand.

You chose to gamble, I understand that. For my tastes, I'm not always making that play. Especially if I have a strong feeling that my opponent has a made hand. Putting him on an over pair likely takes one of your outs from your flush. I don't think that situation is an insta-call at all. Again if there were a larger pot, I'd be inclined to go along. The overbet was telling though, and I likely would have folded there unless I had a different read on him. We can talk about the long run and all that, a coin flip is a coin flip.

 

[LEWIS540]

The way I see it, you're pretty much a coin flip to improve your hand to a straight or flush.

Say you do improve, even if you don't hit the nut, against quite a few hands, you'd win. But you could have improved to a flush and still lost if he were holding a suited Ace, which wouldn't have been crazy considering how you explained the hand.

You chose to gamble, I understand that. For my tastes, I'm not always making that play. Especially if I have a strong feeling that my opponent has a made hand. Putting him on an over pair likely takes one of your outs from your flush. I don't think that situation is an insta-call at all. Again if there were a larger pot, I'd be inclined to go along. The overbet was telling though, and I likely would have folded there unless I had a different read on him. We can talk about the long run and all that, a coin flip is a coin flip.

It’s a 100% a call tbh. Not even a discussion. As I say worst case I’m 40% and I’m getting that.

Again, my draw was a decent favorite against the majority of made hands.

The push with AA was obviously a poor play, but you see such things fairly regularly in these games.