He is back!

He is back! He is out from retirement. Right now the poker world is buzzing. They all talk about who the hell is that guy Isildur1? There are many rumors about his true identity. Here below are my 2 cents:

1) Victor Bloom

I don't know who the hell he is, so no comment!

2) Guy Libertre

Maybe, but he is a fish. Can't win, so most likely not.

3) Bill Clinton

Maybe, as his wife is too busy in the political circus, the only way you won't lose your husband is to lock him at home for some online poker.

4) Osama bin Ladan

Nothing to do inside the cave somewhere in Afghanistan. So the best way to hit the US economy is to win all the fishes money online.

5) Daniel Sklansky

No way! Although he loves to shove, but can't do it in PLO.

6) James Wood or some Hollywood actors

Probably! They have millions. Money not really an issue for them. Somehow highly unlikely coz they can't show boating their acting skills online.

7) Kobe Byrant

Maybe! His boss Jerry Buss loves poker. The question is: How can he loggon to FullRig the same time when the Laker's game is on?

8) Micheal Jordan

Maybe! Just like Superman, he has gambling addiction. He loves Blackjack and Roulette more than poker.

9) Bill Gate

His Microsoft team already hacked into FullRig site. Now they just create a bot and ready to kill the game. Very soon we will see MicrosoftPoker.com They will take over the industry and have more customer than their Window 7.

10) Master Gee

He has the skills. He has the look (all depends on your taste). He has the hearts (willing to go broke anytime). Somehow he doesn't have the bankroll.

Wait! Master Gee........ Maybe its him. He is back and kill the table at PS last night. After GrandMaster grand showing in the $1 re-buy donkament, plus final table at Crown on Sunday. Maybe Master Gee could get $50 off him. Phil Galfond, Tom Dwan, James Obsts, they all winning millions online, but they all start from either playing freeroll or from $50. If they can do it, the Master can do it as well. Since the Master was in action last night, and I was fortunate to find him. Time for me to watch him play. Hopefully I can learn a trick or 2.

..

He played 25c/50c at the start. Bought in for $20+. Then he double up with KK and stack ran up to $40+. Then this hand came up. Master raised to $2 on the flop, SB called. SB played the hand very aggressively by check/calling on every street (ATC). Normally it works, but not against the Master. The Master always have the goods. He has some special poker ability thats so unique in this world. Its called "Donkey Magnet." I would love to have it, but all I got were "Suck-out Magnets".

..

Now the Master is hungry for more. A few hands later, he dealt AQ sthooted UTG, raised to $1.50. MP will KK mini-raised him and Master called. They saw the flop. Just like in your local Maccas, they will ask you, "Sir! Would you like fries with your burger?". Tonight is different, the Master is so hungry, he would love to have some Mushroom with his Poker. Since the Mushroon is too short, its there for the taking. Master flop a monster, as he always do, "When you flop a monster draw, get ready for an all-in brawl!" What else, he shoved. MP couldn't lay down his KK, not fearing Master might have 99 or A 2, and went for his 2 outer. Well, he deserved to lose.

..
Now the table surrounded by fungus. He moved to a new table with 50BB min. In his 2nd hand in SB, he dealt the most horny hand in poker of all time. The 69 sthooted. CO raised to $2, Master called, and they saw the flop HU. Once again the Master hits big. He had straight draw + flush draw + backdoor trips + runner 2 pair + any 6 or 9 might be good, if the guy had A 2 or 33. With hand so much combos, he must be a massive favorite to win the hand. He lead out for $3. CO call. Turn complete his flush. He bet $7, CO called. River blank, and he bets like $15. Co called with JJJ. Another donkey in the making. CO should learn how to fold top sets. His mistake, so it became the Master's gain.

..

Nothing special about this hand. Just SB vs BB confrontation and proves to all of you that the Master is not a flop rack. He will lose some pots after putting money in. Like all the good players in this world, he managed to lose the min everytime.

..

Now, the table really knows who the best player is. Like 99% of poker player out there, they never give up on their egos. Since the Master is a Donkey Magnet, and all superstars wannabe would like to win a pot against the Master, they would give the Master plenty of action. All fold the Master, and he raised to $1.50 with QQ. both blinds calls. SB lead out for $2.50, Master call. SB lead out for $8.50 on the turn, Master mini raised to $17, SB called. River, SB check/call Master's all-in shove with top pair. See! the Master played this hand very aggressively. If ATC on the flop not aggressively enough, then a check-raise on the turn follow by the IRON FIST on the river really give you enough infos. Just like most donkeys in this world, they will hand their chips to the right direction, to the Master's stack.

..

Couple of rounds later, once again the SB vs BB confrontation. Master called with A 8 and flop top pair, elected to check. Master demonstrated what ATC is all about in this hand, check/calling $1.50, $3.00 and $7.00 bets. The guy had something close to nut low.

..

How can someone keep getting slapped around by the Master? Once again the Master limped with Ad5d, the donkey popped to $2.50, Master called. As usual Master will check with his straight. The donkey will bet and fired $3.50, this time the Master changed gear, and raised to $7. The guy called. Now he fired $8 on the turn and the donkey fold. He must feel pain in his ass right now. He should give Master Buck a call, he will tell you which hospital to go in order to stitch up your ass.

..

If this guy is not suffering from diarrhoea, he must be special. Another SB vs BB confrontation. Master bets $1 on the flop and the BB called. Then Master check/call his $3 bet on the turn with straight. River check/call again his $6 bet. I know the Master could have raise him on the river, but somehow he might be a bit remorseful after all these beatings giving to him. Another nice pot to the Master.

..

This time against the same donkey, again SB vs BB, again the Master dominated. If you think he is a flop rack, then you are wrong. In this hand the Master had nothing. After the flop, he check call a $1.50 from his favorite donkey. On the turn he check raise his $3.50 bet to $8.50 total. After all those beatings, about time to go to toilet. So he folded and left the table after that hand.

..

His favorite Donkey has gone. So time to pick another target. Somehow no need to do anything when you were dealt AA, and they call your re-raise pre-flop.

..

The Master fear no one, nothing can stop him except some lucktards. Master first in pop to $1.50 with JJ, got 2 callers. Master fired $3 on the flop and only the SB called. On the turn Master fired $9, and this time SB mini-raised to $18. Master called. River went check/check. Huge suckout with the guy holding A 7.

We all know we can't beat lucktards in this game, but against normal donkeys, Master's skills will dominate his opponents in all areas. ATC, check-raise move, IRON FIST, well timed bluff, changing gear, etc. I have seen it all on TV, but the Master once again showed his superior poker skill and demonstrated it in 1 short session. You have inspired all the grasshoppers like myself. You are good! TRUELY AMAZING!

Technical Swimming: Individual Medley

Just got back from the Pond. I have done the Grand Slam of poker today. I woke up very early today, and still pissed off about the $75 donkfest from FullRig last night. So first thing in the morning, I decided to punish FullRig by withdrawing my full bankroll over there. Leaving less than $2 for emergency. Its also the beginning of my marathon swim. Instead of playing in the same site/table for a long period of time, I added some tweeks into it. Here's how I went:

LEG 1: Online Poker

I want to see how far I can go with only $2 in my account. KO Master did once before, built to $700 from like $5. Ok, I am not as good as he is, but I might give it a try. All those bankroll management, % buy-in related to bankroll, short stack strategy blah blah blah. I just chucked all them out the window. My bankroll right now only $2 (in FullRig), I don't care if I donk it away in 1 pot. Coz I can afford it!! Anyway, can't really buy-in to any SNG except $1.10 donkfest. If I lose that, I can't really do with 90c. So I grinded a bit in Stud H/L table, I made 30c in the process. Then I played 2 HU SNG, NLH and PLO each cost me $2.15. Lucky for me, I won them both, so my RIG roll right now stands at $6. Then Superman rang me up, and asked me to go for a swim. I went there after lunch.

LEG 2: Limit Holdem

I didn't feel like playing any cash table at the start. Not many tables opened, and each of them playing very loose and always a couple of monster stack over there. I saw Happy Andrews in the $5/$10 Limit table, so I cashed $150 and muck around with him.

I played very tight all the way, mostly play nothing up front. One thing I found out, the rake was killing me. They took $2.50 out from everypot right from the start. Most pot were above $50. So they took $7.50 rake for pots over $50, $10 in rake for pots over $75. Most importantly, they took the rake by the end of the hand. So instead of having 10% in rake, they are charging more than that.

The table as always in all limit games are very loose, no one willing to fold pre-flop. Everyone going to see the turn card for $5 as well. Position in this game is very important. The turn card would be the key. If you have a good hand, in late position, you can drive out a lot of opponents. I played like a NIT all the way, folding a lot of hands. I won a couple of mid-size pots today, and 1 monster pot. I had K 10 off on the button. After several limpers, CO raised to $10, I flat called. Everyone called, flop A J 7. Everyone fold to the raiser, and he bets. I flat called, plus 2 callers. Turn 9, now made 2 diamonds on the board, I had no diamonds. All of the sudden MP came out firing $10, initial raiser flat call, I called as well for my GS on the button. With close to $100 inside already, I gamble. I knew both of them not folding, so I have $20 implied odds to make my hand. So I were like getting 12 to 1 on a 10 to 1 shot, I called. BB folded. River Q, and I made the nuts. They all check to me and as I expected, they both called my $10 river bet. Happy Andrews left soon after and I followed him. A bit boring in those limit games, simply impossible to drive out people. Overall up $115 over there.

LEG 3: NLH

With $115 profit already, all it would cost me was $100 more to swim around with Superman. I joined his table, didn't play a hand in the 1st orbit. Dealt JJ in BB, limp pot, I pop to $25 and everyone fold. Couple of hands later, got AA in the middle. After 2 limpers, I raised again to $25, all of the sudden the guy next to me re-raised to $100. All folded to me and I applied the IRON FIST for total $205. He called. AA vs AK and I double up. A few hands later, UTG+2 dealt KQ, I raised to $18, all of the sudden the Maniac 2 seats on my left re-raised to $55, got 1 caller. Folded to me and I folded. I was thinking all I could hope for would be JJ or 10 10 for a flip. Although the Maniac re-raised, odds were those type of players love to raise with anything, but only re-raise with premium hands. Flop 9 10 J, Bugga!!! The maniac had QQ and took it down.

Once again I wish I have no idea. 2 face cards, I should go all the way! I should at least see the flop. I should fish around since my flippers is working today. If you never see the flop, you never know if you win or not. I should be sitting there with $800+ stack. Like Doyle Brunson used to say, " You need to play or you never know if you are on a rush or not." Pump my ass please!

My stack hovering around $400, then this hand came up. I dealt 5c6c in BB, limp pot and I checked in the dark. Flop 788 with 1 club. UTG fired $20, all folded and I snapped call. Turn Ac, I checked again, but not going anywhere. I put him on 7 instead of trips. Most likely I will have a free hit. He checked! River 9c. Instead of drawing to straight, I ended up making a flush. Since I put him on 7, I bet a teasing $15, hope he would call. He raised me instead to $50. Maybe he had full house, I snapped call him and he showed 5 6, same hand as me on the flop but I won with runners. Now stack about $530.

Then I lost the min on button with Jd 4d. Limp pot, and I called. Flop TT8 with 2 diamonds. All checked on the flop and I took a free hit. Turn 7d. Now I made the flush. SB came out with a $25 bet, BB flat called. I put one of them with 8, so if river no pair, I should be ok! River Qs. This time SB checked, BB came out betting $20. I flat called feared SB might going to check raise, since he representing trips on my part. SB called, BB showed Kd 2d and beat my flush. SB said he also had flush. I guess I lost the min in that one.

After the Maniac has left, I loosen up my game. Since I have established a tight image, I managed to run several bluffs at the pot and they all folded. Now stack close to $470. Then had KJ off, I raised to $8 UTG pre-flop. Got 3 callers. Flop J 9 8 with 2 diamonds. I fired out $20 on the flop, Superman and SB called. BB check-raised shoved for $150. I made another tight fold, invested only $28, I felt I were either marginally in front, or way behind. Not going to risk it at a small pot, so I folded. They called time soon after and I left with $440 stack. Superman didn't fare well today, as he busted his whole stack with KK, ran into AA preflop. Losing 2 buy-ins today.

FINAL LEG: Bonus Holdem

On the way to the carpark, I stopped by the bonus holdem table. $15 ante, $30 to play, $15 on flop and turn, plus $5 jackpot. First hand folded 8 3 off, and the next hand I called $30 with 6h3h, hit nothing and lost. Thats $70 already, I guess I better leave.

When I want to win, I lose. When I want to lose, but I can't!!!!!

Login to FullRig today, I had like 6k in points over there. I used them and played some SNG. I registered a 1800 ftp, top 3 will win a $26 token. The first one I played, I had no joy. Somehow I won in my 2nd attempted. Apart from entering tourneys or SNGs, these token are absolutely useless. I though for a while whether I should use it in SNGs or MTT. I found a SNGs which top 2 paid $75 token and 3rd place paid $66.

I did ok at the start. I didn't play much but it was a turbo SNG. The table seems a bit tight, so it ok. Lets make it a shoving game. At blinds $25/$50, I raised to $150 with my AJ. I got 3 callers. $650 in the middle already. Flop 8 8 9 with 2 clubs. Both blinds check, and UTG also check. With only $1k behind me, I took a stab at the pot by applying the IRON FIST. BB called, all-folded. BB turn over 10 4 clubs, so I were still in front. Turn+river blank and I almost triple up. Then won another pot with QQ vs KJ. With $4500+ in chips, I only needed to maintain my stack and I will be home. Now another question popped up in my mind. Should I take the cash for $66? or should I play and try to win the $75 token?

Now the bubble had bursted. I decided to take the cash. There were 2 ways doing it. Either I can sit out and get blind out, or I shove with nothing. The problem on the first option would be, if both guys all of the sudden wake up with something, then I can't lose. So I took the other option.

Now blinds 300/600. I had about $4k in chips in BB, SB had like $5k+ and button had $4.2k. I dealt 7 3 off. Perfect! Button pop to $1800, SB folded, now I shoved with my 7 3 off. Button thought for a long while and made the call. He showed A J. Perfect!!!! The flop brought nothing but sadness to my face as I made trips, and he drew dead on the turn. In the very next hand I have to post $300 in SB and BB all-in for less than that amount. So I was forced to play, dealt QQ vs his QJ. Flop all rags and no draw for him all the way. So instead of trying to cash 3rd, I ended up winning it.

What can I do with that stupid $75 token? Not going to play high buy-in tournys with that. I want cash but I can't sell it. I had that token all free, so I went to a donkfest NLH turbo SNG with only 300 starting chips. Also top 3 paid, $319/$200+/$126 something like that. It is a shoving game. Here is the strategy:

1) Any Ace = shove
2) 2 face cards = Shove
3) Any Pair = Shove
4) Any K in late position but first in = Shove
5) Anything in SB vs BB = SHOVE

The action was fast and furious. I managed to double up with A5 vs 9 10 sthooted, all-in preflop, rivering the Ace. Soon after, down to 4 handed. I managed to maintain my stack and now folded to me with K 8 off. Blinds 50/100 and only had $500 behind me, so I shoved. BB had $440 and he called with Q 10 off. Q on the flop and no King on turn/river. With $60 behind me, shoved with Q 4 sthooted. Hit nothing and busted out in 4th place.

That's what poker is all about. If you want to win, all you get is suck-outs. So I thought it would be easier for me to lose. Somehow the site must know something. Perhapes I should never shove with 7 3 off in the first place. Joe "The Sook" Hachem won the WSOP with that hand. As I am a worm, FullRig might think I have been watching too much TV. Shoving with 7 3, and they rewarded me with the pot. Giving a huge suck-outs late stage in tournament is exciting, good for railbirds, good for viewers, good for TV. FullRig might want me to stick around in the cash tables. Since they thought I am an action player, I will juice up the pot. So more rake to them and thats good business!

The Hot run / Cold Deck continues

When you are on running good, you are playing like GOD. No one can stop you, and money just kept on flowing into your acc. Superman is on a hot streak. After he took 2nd at the Pond, time for him to tax all those fishes online. On Thursday night he ran wild in PS. He entered a $75 NLH turbo, registered 45 min past the hour. An hour later, he was top 10 in chips. He played aggressively all the way, but this time it was a bit different. Some short stack played back at him. It didn't matter that much to him coz he stole enough blinds to gamble along the way. He reached the final table 3rd in chips, but a cooler at the end busted at 4th place. All folded to SB, raised, Superman shoved allin with AQ, SB called with KJ. FLOP 9 10 Q, and he drawing dead. Still a very good effort, pocketing $1500 in the process.

Then he withdrew most of it and donked off the rest to a team Pokerstars PRO "Exclusive" in a $2/$4 NLH table. Losing close to $400 in the process. Then he went to FulLRig, played some $48 HU SNG with 300 starting chips. He went 7-2 against some FullRig PRO, and also won a $45 9 players SNG. Pocketing $500 in the process. See if you are running hot, you can Neverlose!!!!!

According to me, I can't get anything going. It has been a couple of weeks that my Bankroll has been stuck. No big cash, and also in cash table nothing went right. Played a lot of Donkaments, sick beats everywhere. Everytime I had the goods but somehow they were just too good at the end. Too good knowing whats coming on the flop. Too good catching cards on the river. Here are a few coolers.

...

FullRig donkfest. I think in the second level. I limp with my AA55. Not too fuzz about my hand as stack still too deep. The whole table limp, button raised pot, 1 caller, and I re-pot. He 3-bets. Middle guy folded, I 4-bets. He shoved all-in, I called. KKK4 and 1 outer on the flop! Why is he so good?

...

This hand normal 3XBB raised pot, I think blinds 50/100. I bet pot on the flop, with my 2 pair + small flush draw. BB check/call. Turn made me 3 pair with potential straight on the board. BB lead out 1/2 pot and I re-pot him, putting more than 3/4 of my stack in there. River completed my flush and he put me all-in. I made the call coz pot committed. BB showed the nuts and I busted. He really played his hand aggressively. ATC all the way with 1 pair + nut flush draw. As the result, FullRig will reward you for your aggressive play.

...

This one another Classic. Still early in the Donkaments. Blinds $40/$80. Limp pot and the guy with 6 9 mini-raised to $160. Everyone call, about 6 way action. I hit the almost perfect flop. Middle pair + flush draw + GS + straight flush draw. Based of Master Gee's aggressively play, "When you hit a monster draw, get ready for an all-in brawl!" I check the flop, button bet $700, 1 caller in the middle and I put the IRON FIST in play. BB called for his whole stack about $4k+. UTG folded. I were way in front the whole way until the river. Now i know what aggressive means. I didn't play my big draw aggressively coz mathematically I were way in front. BB played it well with his bottom pair + GS. Thats aggressive! Since he played it that well, FullRig will reward you with your gutsy effort.

YOU ARE BETTER THAN ME

After my 14th place finish in PLO on Monday night, Tuesday night its time for Superman to shine in the $340 NLH terminator. Not long ago, he opened an account at FullRig, since than he fall in love with those KO tournaments. Somehow I know he wanted to play in that KO tourney at Crown, but wouldn't like to fork out $340 entry fees. So I staked 1/2 of his buy-in. I will get 1/2 of his winnings capped to $3k. This is his maiden live tournament. I would be surprised if he survived the first break. One thing stood out in my mind, he will have a jaw breaking experiance.

Since each bountys worth $100, I told him to work on the bountys. If he managed to win 3 of those, then he will be free-rolling. We went there in the same car, and I first thought it will be short. Somehow he survived the first few levels, with 1 KO in the pocket. The starting bank was $15k, he lost a $6k pot with AK, flop A 3 4. He bet all the way and at the end lost to a runner runner 2 pair. The guy had 6 7, called with GS all the way and hits lightning.

He came over and chat with me every hour, and he said the table was full of fishes. He managed to triple up with AA. With blinds 75/150. After several limpers, he raised to $1500 with AA. Got several callers. Flop 669 rainbow, and he lead out for $3k. Some Crown PRO re-raised shove all-in with 5 5, and talked a lot about his poker theory, put him on AK or so. Superman called and AA held up. He then managed to bust several mushroom and collected their bounty. At the first break, his stack reached alomost $75k.

After the break, things were all the same. Maybe the way he dressed, the table tought he is a big fish. He dressed like a nerd, has his usual bowl cut from his local $5 brabershop and you looked at him from a distance, hes a bit like "GobbleBoy" Jimmy Fickke. He got all the action he need when he had a monster. People try to bully him all the way, at the end Superman just need to falt call all the way and shove the river. At the break, his stack reached over $100k with 5 KO.

Half of the field had gone, with a massive chip lead, Superman didn't change gear at all. His stack yoyoing up and down but collected an extra bounty on the way. I stood there like an idiot and watched him from a fare distance. After 8 hours, finally he made into the money. I didn't watch him play much but saw him raking up a lot of pots. He played very aggressive, but under control. Another 2 hours past, he reached the final table with about $400k stack, 3rd in chips.

At the final table, everyone was playing tight except him. He raised everytime when folded to him in late position and picked up a lot of blinds. No one played back at him and kept on folding. He played like Gus Hansen on TV, steam rolling the final table. Now with Blinds 20k/40k, 5 players reamining, this hand came up. Superman had A 10 off in SB. Folded to mushroom in middle shoved all-in with 88 for $100k+. Superman made the call. BB folded 8 9 off. Flop A x x, but turn the 1 outer 8. He lost to trips. In the very next hand Superman on button dealt Q 10 off. All folded to him and he pop to $100k. BB called and had him covered. Both still had $400k+ in chips. Flop 2 5 7 rainbow. BB lead out for $75k, Superman mini raised to $150k, BB called. Turn the miricle 10. This time BB shoved all-in and Superman snapped call with Q 10. BB showed 5 6. River J, Superman won a monster pot. He soon took another 2 bounty, both with KJ vs QJ. Both times KJ held up, now total 9 KO.

Close to 8am in the morning and we were HU. Both players had similar stack, and they both agreed to chop. So each get $7500 and left about $700 in the middle for the winner. If short handed poker is his specialty, then HU poker would definately be his achilles heal. All I can say he sucks in HU. After like 10 hands, he lost more than 1/2 of his stack. In the final hand, his 22 lost to AK all-in preflop and he finished 2nd place.

CONGRATULATION to you. Very good effort! Now you are OFFICIALLY better than me in NLH. Now you can brag all you want unless I manage to take down 1st place in some big tournys. I stood there for more than 13 hours, barracking for you and its totally worth it. I have learnt a lot. I learnt that image is very important. A special combo of Tony G 's $5 haircut along with Gobbleboy's nerdy outfit will give your opponents a FISHY image. Thats how you find the donkeys, re-raising you with 10 J when you had KK. Everytime you push with the good, they will put you on AK. Everytime you shove, they will call you with 6 7 due to POT ODDS. Now you have the BRAGGING RIGHTS and you can give me all the shits you want, coz you deserved it!

Sook PLO Deep Stack Reveiw

Playing the PLO tonight, $15K starting bank, triple chance format. Before I started, my strategy was start with $5k and played very loose, before I used my re-buy cards. Total of 125 players entered and top 16 paid. We played 8 handed all the way.

I started out very well. Double up in the first orbit. Then had AA, I raised the pot in CO, flop A 6 7. One guy had A 5 8 9, we both shipped our stack in there. Turn 7 and he was drawing dead. Then I won another $15k pot, flopped nut flush vs a set. And my hand held up. Before the break, I managed to build my stack close to $50k (including $10k rebuy). Lost a bit at the end, and stack $45k at the break.

After the break, nothing went right for me. I was dealt a lot of those medium rundowns, raised pot and I will call with those 5679, 9 10 J K all day long. Somehow I couldn't hit anything on the flop and slowly down to $30k. Then I bluffed at a pot with K678 in SB. Blinds $300/$600. Flop 5 9 Q. I lead out almost a pot size bet on the flop and got 3 callers. Turn another Q, I lead out again for 1/3 of the pot, everyone fold. Several hands later in CO, dealt J244 ds. Multiway limp pot as well. I caller, flop A 4 5. UTG bet the pot, I called so did button. Turn 2. UTG checked, and I bet the pot for like $3k. Both called. River 5. UTG shoved for $6k. I though for a long while, with $18k inside, I made a tilt call. I knew button on draw and won't be a threat. UTG might try to buy the pot with his wheel, as it turned out, he had A 5. WTF? Calling with 2 pair and hit 4 outer in a 4 straight 2 flush board? SIMPLY AMAZING!!!!

As the blinds kept increasing, $30k didn't look that much. Not a lot of plays remaining. There was a loose cannon at my table, entering in everypot and likely to bet with anything when checked to him. With blinds $400/$800, I had a free look in BB with my 44 8 10. Flop A 4 7 all diamonds. I had a set but no diamond. I checked as the whole table checked as well. Turn 5, I lead out for $3k, and the loose cannon called, all folded. River another 5. This time I checked, figured he will bet for sure. He didn't disappoint me and fired $6500 into the pot. I snapped call him, coz I had an under boat. Can't re-raise in case he fluked a bigger boat. He had straight and I won the pot. Now stack back to about $40k.

Somehow the table playing very slow, people thinking a lot. With each levels only 25 min, there weren't many hands to play at each level. At the meantime the table loved to raise with big pair, and big pair only pre-flop. Dealt a lot of junks and forced to muck. After like 3 rounds, now blinds $800/$1600, my stack down to $25k. All folded to the NIT on button called. SB called and I checked with my KJ86. Flop K 10 8 with 2 diamonds. I flops 2 pair but dangerous board. SB checked, and I bet $4k. The NIT shoved $15k plus. I mucked faced up, and she showed 1010 for set + flush draw. One round later on button dealt KQJ7 with hearts, stack about $12k. The whole table limp and I called. BB raised pot to $9.6k, all folded to me and I shoved. My KJQ7 held up against 6789. Now stack just less than $40k.

The blinds really increasing rapidly. Soon after, the blinds were 1k/2k. After that 2k/4k, 3k/6k and 4k/8k. I forced to fold a lot of hands. I didn't play a hand in 4 rounds, either dealt all kind of junks or totally missed the flop completely. My AKJ10, can't even bluff on a 457 board against several players. Now stack down to $20k+. Dealt AAJ6 ds in BB. A bunch of limpers, and raised., took the blinds and dead money in the middle. Then dealt KK4 9 ds. I raised to $6k UTG, the guy behind me repop to $27K. I folded my KK, figured he either had AA or High pair rundown with sthooted Ace. So either marginally in front or way behind. He showed KK as well with an Ace, but my double suite were live. Still I consider not a bad fold.

Soon after with blinds 2k/4k. I dealt KQJJ. I raised the pot and got called by the BB. Flop 8 AA. He checked and I shoved, took it down. 2 rounds later I dealt AAKJ ds. There were 2 mushroom all-in already preflop and I called. They both had junks, had them all the way and I hit ROYAL FLUSH on the river.

Kept folding my junks and now blinds 4k/8k. My stack still about $50k. Managed to keep my stack in play but the blinds really caught up to me. Now with 17 players remaining, my stack down to $30K. Blinds 6k/12k. Table playing 6 handed. With blinds coming up to me, I had to shove with AQ77 ds. Fortunately the BB folded. After that hand, someone busted on the other table and I sneaked into the money.

I managed to win a small pot when I were in BB vs SB. Now blinds jumped from 6k/12k to $8k/$16k. Dealt KK23, with $55k behind me, I had to shove as well. 1 mushroom called for $4k, but the SB also called. My KK23 vs A899 vs QQJ10 (BB). Flop AQ3 and I almost drawing dead. I picked up a few outs on the turn as the 4 hits. River blanked and I were out in 14th place.

Overall I didn't think I play my best, but I satisfied with my effort. I had a good start, but played a bit too loose in the middle stage. Also, flop dead when blinds 300/600 onwards didn't help my clause. I think I called too many hands OOP with medium run-downs in the middle stage of the tournament. Well, always next time.

Melbourne Heats

I am back to Melbourne. Not much going on in the past few weeks. No snooker for me, a bit of donkfest online. Nothing really exciting. One night I played in FullRig and came 3rd in a PLO event. Entering the final table, I were the shortest stack with about 20k in chips. Managed to build it up to $114k. In the last hand, I were in the SB, I flopped top 2 pair with lower GS + flush draw vs a made straight. I ended up making my straight but not good enough. Very please with my effort in that one.

In the last couple of days, it is really hot outside, 34C everyday. Mum visiting me and grandma, so I spent the weekend with them. Since the weather is hot, beautiful under the sun. Last night I were tempted to go for a SWIM. Superman is doing quite well recently. He is going there nearly everyday and getting good results. Next week they have another SOOK Deep Stake tourney. I am going to play the PLO on Monday night. So last night I went there trying to win my buy-in.

Sat down in the table and there were 2 guys fighting against each other in every pot. Dealt AJ sthooted UTG, I opened raise to $15. Got re-raised to $25 by MOPS #1. Then his maniac villain shoved all-in for $190+. We both mucked instantly, and the maniac showed 77. Now I know it is an all-in table. I have to play tight in early position. Occasionally need to limp raise pre-flop with premium hands.

Then won a small pot with 10 10. Stack stayed the same around $225. Then dealt AQ UTG. I limp for $3, coz if the MOPS raise, my hand good enough to call. If the maniac shoves, I will call as well. This time both MOPS and maniac folded. CO raised to $11, BB called, and I called as well. Flop Q 4 7. BB checked, I lead out for $15, CO flat called, now BB re-raised to $35. I knew CO didn't have much. But BB, I had no idea. He only have like $70 behind him, so I raised $100 more. CO folded, and later he said he had JJ. BB called with Q 10. My AQ held up. Now stack about $350+.

About 1 round later, I dealt J Q off in BB. This time MOPS raised to $11, 2 callers in the middle, I called as well. BB also called, 5 way action. Flop 3 9 10 with 2 spades. All checked to me, and I checked as well. MOPS is capable check-raising with nothing and most likely I am behind right now, so I took a free card. Turn another 10 but put 2 diamonds on board along with 2 spades. Now MOPS lead out for $35, 1 caller in the middle. I thought for a long while, knew the middle guy most likely on diamond draw, but to MOPS, I still had no idea what he had. Already $100+ inside, I made the call. BB folded. River off suite Q. Both checked to me and I flipped over my JQ. MOPS shook his head and they both mucked.

Now stack about $470. I remember about a month ago when I didn't leave when I set myself a target. Not going to make that same mistake again, even thou I felt I will win more if I kept playing. So I left the table with $245 profit. So next week, I am free-rolling in the PLO tournament.