2009 REVIEW + Award / 2010 Resolution

I will be going to Hong Kong this Friday for 6 weeks. So would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Don't drink too much, and use a condom. 2009 not too bad or me in terms of poker. The only disappointment I have would be no final tables at the Pond, haven't won any donkaments online as well as still haven't won any NLH tournaments. The upside would be I become a more consistent player, with less swing in my account. Here below are the figures:

Year 2007:
Total online profit = $1110 (USD)
Total Pond profit = $134 (AUD)
Total Live Cash game = -$391 in 108 hours

Year 2008:
Total Online profit = $1561 (USD)
Total Pond profit = $1529 (AUD)
Total Live cash game = -$403 in 32 hours

Year 2009:
Total Online Profit = $1520 (USD)
Total Pond Profit = $878 (Excluding $3k profit from staking Superman)
Total Live cash game = $1063 in 30 hours

Compare to previous years, my profit at the Pond has increased especially in cash tables. I made some minor adjustments at the Pond and it worked out OK. Instead of grinding long hours at the Pond, I decided to play shorter session. It works quite well. Manage to maintain my overall figure without any big cash in tournaments. So next year, I probably will swim a bit more and stick to my short session system. Hopefully I could also win a PLO tournament as well.

As far as my online goes, I have no idea how I could keep up that figure. This year I have played a lot less. I spent a lot of time visiting my parents interstate (I didn't play much when I were over there), I tried to do Master Buck twice with no result, donked like $600 away in the process, also I dropped 1 level in cash tables (mainly play 10c/25c instead of 25c/50c). I didn't win any smaller field donk fest this year, with my best finish only 2nd in PLO H/L for $100+. Maybe my hit and run strategy is working. Anyway, would like to play more tournys online next year. Hopefully I could manage to take down my first ever NLH donkament.

As my snooker in 2009 wasn't anything special. I didn't play a lot of tournaments this year, and everytime I bumped into a brick wall in my last 32 match. I lost in my first match to Alibaba at Yarraville was a bit of disappointment. Then I lost all of my second round (3rd round once) matches to either Mr.Invincible, Slowvari, Ben Judge and the Great Has Been which I had no chance at all. I missed the Princes Cup due to personal reason. The only highlight I had this year would be at the National Championship. Best of 7 against the Gimpsland State Champion, I won 4-3 at the end, but I gave him 1 frame start coz I rocked up late. I did very good in snooker prop bet this year. This year my goal is to get back to top 30 in Aus ranking. Mr.Invincible is laying me 2-1.

Now its time for all the AWARDS. There are no panels, no voting, no ballots.

Most inspiring figure: Mr. Sklansky

Most spectacular move: IRON FIST

Lucktard of the Year: Superman

Most annoying person: Lucktard Fat Chowhi

Trash talking line of the year: " I don't think your AK would be any good in this spot." I had AK on flop K 6 2, unfortunately LT had AA. My stack, gone.

Most consistency: Teapot

Biggest BS of the year: Master Chan. Always kill the game in PS $1/$2 and $2/$4 level, but PTR had him down almost $9k US for the year.

Roller-coaster ride of the year: Superman.

I need help award: Master Buck. Send! Send! Send!

FaceBook line of the year: "Why people loves comparing the Moon to the Sun? You might be able to walk on the Moon, but good luck if you try to walk on the Sun!"

The best show on FaceBook: "Love is in the Air!" by Master Gee + Cate

The PottingAngle award: The Master Gee. I can't leave him out. He is my spiritual leader. Even he is on semi retirement, but he has already set the bar for all his fellow student to follow.

I let the Master down!

Well, after nearly 3 months of waiting, FINALLY the Master came to my place and we had some tag-team action. I want to make it crystal clear, we are not colluding. We played under 1 account, each player chooses their table and play for 1 hour. Then we swap it over and change tables. So nothing we did were against PS rules. Tonight we played under Master Gee's account. We both deposited AUD$50 (Total $90US) and started rolling.

At first Master Gee drove the action. He had a $11, 27 players SNG running as well as $30 in a 25/50c NLH table. He hit nothing at all at the SNG and busted at the 4th level. Then he entered a $5.50, 45 players SNG and had no joy as well. Somehow Master's speciality not only in SNG, but in cash tables as well. Everytime he played a pot, he will bring in for a raise. He steam rolled the table and slapped everyone around like his little bitch. He maintain his stack at $30 and than flop a set of 4s and double up straight away. There were 2 pots which he flopped a straight but 3 flush on the board. The 4th flush card hit the board on the turn and forced to fold. After a while he ran his stack to around $95+ and he said this to me. " To my student, my favorite Grasshopper! Its time for you to lift. Take this stack and go to PLO. Its time for you to shine. Your guiding light will be watching. Hopefully you can find the PATH to POKER ENLIGHTENMENT."

With our roll at $140, I took $100 and sat down at a 50c/$1 PLO 6 handed table. I started off pretty well, after missing several flops, limp pot stack down to like $93, I bet all the way in the BB with middle pair + GS + small flush draw, representing a straight on a 4 5 8 board. The turn was 6 and river complete out flush, went check/check. Won an ok pot about $20+. Then we flopped the nut flush on the button, limp pot again. I bet pot on the flop, both blinds called. Turn rag but no pair on board. BB check called again. I put him either had a flush (hopefully K high) or a set. Our nuts held up and I went for the kill, he folded river pot bet after some thoughts.

Moments later, this hand came up. I were in CO with a bunch of low connecting cards 3 6 7 9. Nothing spectacular about this hand, but I love this hand at the right situation. In full ring game, with callers in front of me, I definitely fold. 6 handed, in late position first in, different story. I need to bring in for a raise. My hand totally conceal. High cards flop, people put me on high cards and hit the flop nicely. Rags flop, it will be in my territory.It plays like low sthooted connectors in NLH, but with a lot more outs. With our stack about $129, and the table playing tight, time to bully them a bit. I bought in for a raise to $3, hopefully I can buy the button. Button called, so did the blinds. So 4 way action.


Flop K 4 5 rainbow. Now we have a 5 card wrap draw. Any 2 3 6 7 8 will make us a straight. All check to me, and its time for a big semi-bluff. I hit a big draw and ready to go to war! I bet the pot for $11.40. Button fold, SB called, and all of the sudden BB popped to $50 leaving $42 behind. Now I knew he had at last 2 pair and very likely a set, but my hand still very good. I am willing to play for my whole stack at this point. SB check called me, either he also on draw or 2 pair at best. Hopefully he had 2 pair and took away some outs if BB had a set. If he is on some kind of up and down, hope he would fold, so I could scoop for the whole pot. So I went for the IRON FIST and shoved it on the flop. SB flat called again and so did the BB. SB turned over 67 for up and down only, and BB had top set. Still ok, I am 50% to win at least half the pot, thx to SB took away 2 of my outs and split pot with 5 or 8. I have a +EV of 35% overall so I didn't make any mistake. If SB didn't check call me I probably will flat call BB check-raise, no pair board on the turn, I am going nowhere for extra $40+. Unfortunately for us, we missed and lost a big one.

Sorry Master! Once again I let you down. Being a grasshopper that I am, I think I can only hop around in micro-limits. Grinding on donkey tables and win $10 here and $15 there. I have such a bad record in those 50/50 situation for the whole stack. Master, you gave me the opportunity to shine, but I am the MOON. You are shining brightly coz you are the SUN. Like Master Buck famous word of wisdom, " Human started walking on the Moon 50 years ago, but good luck if you try to walk on the SUN." Sorry Master, once again I let you down! Thank you for showing faith in me. Thank you for your Master Class. One thing for sure, I won't give up. I might be back to my micro-limits and donkaments, I am going to improve my game. Hopefully next time when I step to the plate, I can hit a Home Run off a hanging curve-ball.

Suck-out Galore!

PLO is a game of swing, but in lower stakes, you still need to dodge a bunch of bullets. Having the IRON FIST in your arsenal, a lot of times would not be enough. Not only because its Pot-limit, but with 4 cards combination, your opponents always have OUTS! When the pot getting bigger and bigger, the word VALUE will take over. People tends to have this in mind, " WOW! Big pot! I must call and see all the cards." Or they might be thinking," The guy must be on draw or just one pair, although I am behind right now, but I could improve to 2 pairs and win a monster." Here are some hands that I have experienced, either you can say they are a bunch of LUCKTARDS, but in my most humble opinion, they are just TOO GOOD!.

This hand was back a while ago. After 1 or 2 limpers, the KKds guy raised the pot. From what I have seen, either he has 4 high cards, or high pair. Since I were holding AA, so the possible of him having the same hand will be minimal. The next guy flat call, plus 1 or 2 callers. Now in the SB, I had the perfect situation to re-raise with my AA. With the stack related to the blinds were so deep, if I could not put 1/2 of my stack in, I would just flat call. Otherwise, re pot. Now I pot to $10+, the KK guy didn't disappoint me by shoving all-in. The next guy with A 10 10 3, also shove. I forced to call, and turned out I am getting 2- to 1 on 40% fav preflop, 64% fav on the flop, 70% fav on the turn. Just like all other online poker site, they need to keep the fishes alive. Nice hand Sir, you are too good. You just won the lottery for $71.

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This hand also played a while back, but in 25/50c deep table. After several limpers, I raised to $3.50 with my AKQQds. The guy behind me re-raised to $12. Fold to the Gimp flat called, I called as well, so $35+ inside already. On the Flop UTG gimp check, I bet the pot. I hit a nice flop, with a bunch of outs plus overpair. Most likely the guy behind me had AAxx, and my bet on the flop could make him fold. He folded instantly, and now the GIMP shoved all-in. I called. He turned over that piece of crap and hit bottom set. I still have a bunch of outs about 45% to win. As usual in these lottery contest, PS will reward the donkey with a monster pot.

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Nothing special about this one, but I wish I could use all 4 cards.

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If you think it only happens in PS, then you are wrong. FullRig has the right name for their site, and you know how rig it is. In 25c/50c PLO. I called with KKxx. A bunch of people called, then SB all of the sudden pot it to like $5. He was a manaic, and I didn't respect his raise at all. I could have a case for either calling or folding, but I mini-raise him to $10 and see what he would do. Now MP flat called for the second time, SB just called, so I knew he didn't have AA. Flop top set but a bunch of draws out there, SB lead out for $10, and I applied the IRON FIST. MP flat call again and SB folded. I filled up but he made QUADS. Very nice hand sir! Now I believe 2 7 10 10 is a monster hand and should be played aggressively. ATC all the way would be the way to go. As usual FullRig will reward you for your ultra-aggressiveness.

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This one in NLH, 25c/50c. MP opened raised to $1.50, CO called, I called with 33 on the button. The blinds folded. On the flop, MP made c-bet of $1.00, then CO re-raise to $3.00. I figured some big pairs out there. If either one of them have a set, nothing I can do. 2 pair also a possibility. No point slow playing it, coz if the Ace come, and both of them have pairs, I won't get any action. Remember in FulLRig, they are playing 10 Aces in a deck. Once again, I applied the IRON FIST, and figured will be called by 1 place. MP folded instantly, now CO thought for a long while and made the call with 44. How the hell he can call with 44? I were shoving $20+ into a $8 pot. He's not getting anything close to 2-1. Well, I didn't make any mistake. Once again in FullRig poker, if the board not coming 3 flush with a King, then they will come 4 straight with an Ace. So with his pocket 4s, he would be 100% chance to win. PERIOD!!!

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Back to PS, some 10c/25c donk fest. Limp pot, the guy who won this hand just joined the table and posted BB. Folded to him, he checked. Others folded, SB called, I checked my option in BB. I hit a decent flop. Nut flush draw + wheel draw + backdoor crap flush draw. I knew AA not out there, coz they will go crazy with there AA. No raise pre-flop, everyone had random hand. SB lead out for $0.75, I flat called. Now that PLO Superstar, he raised pot. SB fold. Do I want to continue? He might have 2 pair, which I have full 11 outs to win. He might have 444, full 11 outs as well. QQQ? then I would be in bad shape, but not as bad as it appears. So I decided to play this hand aggressively, ATC all the way. So I check/call $3+ flop bet and $8 turn bet. I hit my set of 5s on the river. Based on the action, most likely he has 2 pair or set rather than 23 or 68. Pot was protected, I thought my hand was good, and shoved for last $5+, he called. Another cooler in the making. ATC only works for some individuals, and I know I am not the one!
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Changed table straight away, post BB in my first hand. With middle position, limp pot I checked my option with AJ73. Button called, SB raised to 75c, everyone called. After the flop, MP bet $2. I definitely call. So did the button. Now I had the nuts on the turn with 1 way flush draw. With $8 inside already, I bet pot to protect may hand. Button re-raised all-in and I called with my nuts + flush draw. He had the same hand as I did, but with a set. River, I lost. Well I have no complaint about this one, coz it could go either way. His hand much better than mine, but why coolers always keep following me?

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Now I top-up. I said to myself, if I bump into coolers again, I won't play PS for the rest of the year. Now UTG just call, in MP 2nd in, my AKK looks pretty good, but can't sell my hand cheaply. So I just flat call. A bunch of players limp, and we saw the flop AA3. UTG bet $1.25 on the flop, I figured my AK good right now, I re-pot him straight away. All fold, and he called. Turn 2, now, he checked, I bet pot and he check-raised me all-in. I called in an instant. I had enough of that shit. If he had 45, what a donk he is. A 2, A 3, so be it. He turned over A 10 2 2. OMG! Stupid 5 outer again. maybe this time PS heard my voice and gave me a miracle river card. I scooped a much needed pot with the nuts!