Matchroom Open Review

I am back! Had a great time over there. I can't recall when was the last time in Australia we have a $20k snooker tournament with only 44 entries. Monty and the Matchroom staffs has done a good job running the tournament. Somehow there are still a lot of improvements could be make. The table conditions were very crap. Only 6 tables were available, and I think 4 of them has new cloths in it, but the cloths on the cushions are old. It gives an uneven bounce off the rail. On Friday and Saturday, it was 37C outside. The room still using the evaporating type air con system. It was hot inside the room and also sticky. Too much moisture in the air, even on a new cloth, the table runs very slow. Table #1 and #2 has tight pockets, but all the balls roll off the rail. It is impossible to pot balls along the rail no matter how hard or soft you hit them. I didn't play on table #4, 5 and 6, so no comments from me, but they should definitely throw Table #3 away. More on it later!

My first match was against M.Hook, I played absolutely crap. Too hot inside the room and I were sweating after 5 min. Won the first frame easily, and won the second frame with a bit of luck on the black. In the final frame I cued well and won by a big margin.

On Saturday, I were up against Paul Balzer. We played on the butcher table #3. It was an old cloth, I think re-stretched. After a few shots, there were something wrong with the table. The table was not levelled. I played a shot from the top rail, rolls towards the balk. The cue ball rolled towards the yellow pocket about 1 1/2 ball length. Further more you can't play a lot of shots. When you hit it hard, the cue ball throws to the other way; No drag shots allow, coz the cloth has no grab, so everytime you drag, it becomes a swerve. No screw back when 2 balls like 2 feet's apart, coz the cloth has no grab ( either stop or stun follow), plus hitting it hard, the cue ball might throw off. Scrappy game all 5 frames, even Paul can't make anything over 30 with clear chances, pack wide open and colours all on spots. Playing on tables like this actually works in my advantage. Now it becomes a crap shot against a better player. Even Vinny, Ben Nunan, Jayden, they all can't pot a string of balls together on that table. Aaron made a break of 104 over there, by hitting plain ball on every shots.

In the first frame, I had a good chance to pinch it. With 3 reds on the table, all open, I cut back a red about 1/2 ball to the middle when the red was a couple inches under the blue spot. Just before it rolls to the pocket, the red rolled towards the upper jaw. Paul made a 15 break or so and pot 1 ball at a time and won the frame.

I won the second and Paul ran out in the third. In the forth frame I won on the yellow when he needed 1 snooker. Paul did enough in the final frame and won the match 3-2. Hard to judge my effort playing on conditions like these. Somehow I am having the feeling to play almost everyday. Its something lost in my blood over the last 4 years. Looking forward for the pennant tomorrow night vs Humphrey Bear's team. Should be a good season coming ahead.

Whenever tournaments is on, I will have a prop bet or 2 with Mr.Invincible. Before the tournament starts, I were already down $25 when Man United won 3-2 at Milan. So here are the bets I had with him for the weekend.
1) Everton +1/2 in EPL vs Man.United
2) Luke Hough vs MVP
3) S.Budd at 5 -1 to win the tournament
4) Vinny at 5-1 to win the tournament
5) Laying 4-1 on Mr.Invincible
6) Laying 8-1 on Bobo

Everton got up, Budd lost in first round. MVP 3-0 over Luke, but Vinny won the tournament. So I am up $125 Yum Cha credits.

My bad run in cards continues. Lost another $800 in Adelaide. I played in the $65 NLH freeze out tourny on Wed night. $2500 starting chips, and built it up to $4k+ after 2 rounds. With blinds $50/$100, I got AA in MP. After 2 limpers, I raised to $450. All folded to SB called, all folded to UTG also called. So 3 way action. Flop J Q 5 rainbow. All checked to me and I bet $800. Now SB shoved for $2k+ and UTG folded. I called. SB had 9 10 for straight draw. Turn 8 and I were drawing dead. Still had $2200 behind. A few hands later, I dealt the MIGHTY TUNA UTG. I raised to $250, sort of a block raise, knew no one will pop me back without a real hand. Now all folded to the BB and he called. Flop J 2 3 with 2 spades. I had no spades in my hand. SB over betting the pot for $600. With my top pair, I called. He might be on draw, want to know what he will do on the turn. Turn card an off suite J, so now I have trip Jacks. This time he shoved and had me covered. I called instantly. He turn over 4 5 off. River card 6. Now I bust! I lost another $700+ on Friday night playing BlackJack, losing 15 hands in a row. Can't win a hand, so from now on, I am not going to Crown or any casino for the next 6 months. I will go to the Pond, but not for cash games but only for the 2 tournys in the Sook's Deepstake. Need to stay away from there, and play more snooker. Once again I am enjoying it. It helps!

Rush Poker

Happy Chinese New Year to you all!

Last Saturday I travelled all the way to Pakenham and visited the Master. It was his birthday and we had a 10/20 home game. BTW we played in cents. Grand Master was there, along with the Master, Stacy, myself, Sam Fishy, Marty and also Nehad. Neverlose wasn't there and it was the best thing for the night. I have heard enough whats it like playing at the high stake area at the Pond. We have heard enough about "string bets" for 60 cents. Also we have heard enough about his short but fruitful poker career. Sam Fishy still annoying as ever.

We played 7 handed, and the Master played about 80% of his hands, so did Grand Master. There was a major difference between the two. The Master managed to win 50% of his hands played, but Grand Master just mucked 75% of the time on the river. Once again the Master showed to all his fellow students how to play small ball, as well as the power of raising. He played his position well and bluff at the right situation. For me I played very well. Tighter than Action Dan. Card dead for the whole night. We played closed to 8 hours, My best hand was pocket 10s. Had AK once, but folded before the flop instantly. The action went like this: Sam Fishy limped, Nehad raised, I re-raised, Sam Fishy shoved all-in, and both of us folded. I guessed I have read the same book, Sam fishy was reading. I put him on the big pair. Later I found out he had QQ. I ended up winning $20. The Master broke even due to running into AA 4 times when he had KK. Grand Master was the biggest winner for the night, up like $60. It was a great night out, looking forward for the next home game (only if Neverlose not there).

As far as my online goes, I managed to win back 1/3 of my lost so far this year. Superman has just quit PS for good. I think I might follow his footstep soon, if those donkeys keep on shoving on draws when I am at least 2 to 1 fav in every spots. I recently tried my hands in Rush Poker at FullRig, and I am having mixed results. The NLH is tough. I am losing in that game at Rush poker. There are a lot of things I need to adjust. The action goes so fast, and you can always fold in advance. So everytime when a player enters the pot, their starting hand generally will be better than in an average ring game. People lose patience and starts playing more hands. In PushPoker, you see a lot more hands in a minute, so you will be dealt more good hands in a minute. So the UTG raise or MP raise first in, not necessary means AJ or middle pair. Most of the time they will have a premium hand. So folding KQ, A 10 in position will not be a bad play. You will be amazed how often you bump into AA or KK over there. Because I haven't adjusted to the flow of the game yet, I am losing there.

Rush Poker also have PLO. Normally they played 6 handed, which I am doing very good right now. I tend to play short session. For 15 mins or so, I can play like 40 hands at least. I know the table will be loose and many people will take the pot bet as always. I guess I have adjusted to the flow of the game by folding a lot of hands OOP. Once I am on the button or CO, that will be my seats. I bluffed a lot of pots in position. Imaginative Representation is the key in there. Calling the first raise in position won cost you too much. Betting the dangerous card on the turn or river when OOP player checked will become very profitable. Since you will be shuffle to a different table every hand, your opponent won't have a read on you. Generally they will think you play tight, and bluff less. I took full advantage of this. I once ran my stack from $25 to $180+, also from $15 to $87, within 10 minutes. All I played was 10c/25c PLO short handed. I will be playing more often in PLO than NLH. In NLH, my play is based on my read and on my opponents betting patterns. You never get any of them in Rush Poker.

After losing $600 at the Pond last week, I went there again with Fat Banana on Sunday and donked away another $400. So I won't go there again untill the Sook Deepstack Series and I plan to play the $230 PLO, or maybe the team event if I can come back from Sydney in time. I am heading to Adelaide on Wed, and I will play in the $65 NLH tourny that night, then back to snooker. The Matchroom Open's draw is out already. My first match will be against M.Hooks. I think I sort of knowing who he is and I should be 2 to 1 fav in that one. Then in last 32 will be up against Paul Balzer. I need to pot well and full capitalize my chances if I have any chance beating him.

Had a hit with Rudy this afternoon. I lost to him 4-2. In the first 4 frames I lost it all. I had like 10 visits to the table in total. Rudy made a 101 in the first frame in his first visit. In the second frame, he made 82. Then 72 in third and 89 in forth. I won a scrappy 5th on the black and ran away winner in the 6th with a 30 and 40. So at least I can win some frames after I warm up! Tomorrow another ass whipping from Mr.Invincible. Need to perform under pressure, and against these kind of monsters will be the way to go!

Unhappy Swim

Since I got crushed by a bunch of lucktards recently in PLO, I have done a lot of analysis about my play. Those big check/raised or big re-raised on the turn when drawing after a strong almost committed bet, I still couldn't figure it out. Those guys were just creating better odds for themselves by volunteer shipping majority of their stack in a nothing pot with only 1 card to come. What make it worse was they simply can't get the benefits of implied odds by calling. Checking a lot of forum, I found out Tom Durrrr, Phil Galfond loves doing this move. Based on the hands they played, their stack size compare to the pot ratio was totally different. They don't re-raise a huge bet on the turn when drawing when the guy almost committed. So I have learnt a lot in that session:

1) You can never beat Lucktards in this game
2) I joined a Pure Luck Omaha table
3) I am still a worm
4) There might be a glitch in all poker sites. Check-raise or re-raise after a huge bet, if the aggressor shoves, you must call or shove when drawing. All those online site will reward you. PERIOD!

Went to the Pond on Wed night. They have $60 PLO tourny there. I knew the structure will be crap, but for $60, I'm willing to test the water there. If PLO in PS stands for Pure Luck Omaha, than this tourny must mean Pure Lottery Omaha. Everyone limp and button will pot, then everyone will call. After the flop anything could happen. All-ins everywhere. "CONGRATULATION Player X! You have just won the Bingo in hand number 1."

Went there again tonight with Superman. I guess my bad run continues. Bought in for $200 in $2/$3 NLH. In CO I dealt 4d 5d. UTG raised to $15, after 2 callers, I decided to take the flop. SB also called and BB folded, so 5 players in and flop came Ad 10d 3d. I flopped flush with Steel Wheel draw. Everyone checked to me and I bet $45 to start with. SB called and everyone folded. Turn Kh, checked to me again, and I bet $107. Now SB shoved all-in for $150. Easy call for me. He turned over 7d 2d. Drawing dead!

WTF was he doing with 72 sthooted? By playing my small sthooted connectors, always a chance losing to a bigger flush at any point. I guess I played it right by playing it fast especially the Ace on the board. I also mistaken the power of 72 sthooted. After a long thought, I realised why people play 72 sthooted.

1) Its STHOOTED
2) It has 2 straight draws
3) 2 chances for straight flush draw
4) He might think he is Joe Sebok
5) Can also hit a pair, 2 pair, trips, fullhouse, Quads
6) He must have too much mojos playing 7 2
7) Runner runner possibilities if you know whats coming
8) Most importantly, its a FAMOUS HAND

I re-buy for another $200. After like 2 rounds, my stack down to like $180. dealt Kh Qh. UTG raised to $15, got 1 caller in the middle. I also called in MP+3. One of the blinds also called. 4 way action. Flop 10h 8h 5s. UTG bet $22, After a bit of thought I raised to $55 with my flush draw + 2 overs. All folded to raiser and he shoved. I called. Turn 4 river 8 with no hearts. UTG showed 45 off and I busted again.

Superman also didn't fair too well tonight. We went upstairs and I lost another $200 in Baccarat + Pai Gow. Overall down $600 for the night. Not pleased with that. I guess I better stop going there for a while untill the Sook Deepstack series. Need to practice more in snooker as I am heading to Adelaide next week for tourny. If feel boring, might start grinding again in PS. So far I have grind back $100 after that PLO session. Still a long way to go, but need to be patience. Tomorrow, I am heading to Pakenham, visiting the Master and have a home game over there. 10/20 blinds NLH should be interesting. As he is the Model of Excellent, hopefully the Master will teach me a trick or two. Hopefully I can turn the table in no time. By the way, the blinds we'll be playing tomorrow are in cents!

Rough start!

At the start of year, every poker room and bookies usually have some kind of bonus. At the start of the year I received an email from IAS. They were giving me $200 (100%) bonus. I deposited $400 in it and cleared it in no time. Once I cleared it, I withdraw $1000 straight away and still have $100 open bet on the Saints in Superbowl.

With $600 AUD profit, I had something else in mind. I said to myself, I will take a shot at higher limits in PLO. So I deposited US$500 in my PS account and start rolling. My target is to play at $1/$2 PLO. I would like to give it a try and I am confident I will be OK. My PS adventure didn't start too well. Coolers after coolers. I didn't think I played it bad. I played most of my hands in position. A lot of times, I managed to keep the pot small pre-flop and on the flop. Then based on my read, I either, re-raised or check-raised on the turn, managing to ship my stack in when I were well in front. Not 1 time my hand held up. What a sick feeling. I guess PS just wouldn't allow me to play at those middle stack. Or perhaps I am a worm, so they will award bad players the monster pot at my expenses. No idea whats going on. I guess I will stay away from there for a while.

I bought in for $175 in $1/$2 PLO and after a few rounds, I built it up to $185, then this hand came up. On the button, UTG limp for $2, CO raised pot to $9. My hand KJ68 ds, not a bad hand on the button. I flat called. Blinds folded, UTG called. $30 pot on the flop. I hit middle pair but no draw. All checked to me, so I checked as well. Turn 6. Now I had middle 2 pair along with 2nd nut flush draw. UTG checked as well. Now the initial raiser bet $22. The 6 most likely won't help him. His checked on the flop gave his hand away. Any kind of hand from 2 pair or set, he would at least bet a bit on the flop. I guess he would also bet the diamond draw and wrap. So most likely he had nothing but an overpair. Since no one showed any strength on the flop, he tried to take a stab at the pot. I believed I am in front. If he had a lower wrap, or AA with flush draw. I must make him pay. If he hd a set, I still got outs. So I raised the pot to $94+ leaving $82+ behind. Tried to end it right there. UTG folded, CO re-raised all-in, I called. My read spot on. I were 60% to win. What a donkey he was. I must have at least 2 pair. If I had a set, he could be close to 3-1 dog. Anyway DONKEY RULES!

At the same time I also playing in 25c/50c NLH. Straight after I busted in the PLO this hand came up. UTG raised to $1.50, all folded to me in the big blind. I called. Hit top pair on the flop, but I expect him to bet. I figured he had a hand, so I took the aggressive route by checking. He bet $2.25, but I still not sure if my hand good or not. So I called. Turned Qd. With 3 flush on the board, I can't check anymore. I figured my hand were good, HU situation, can't put him on flush. If he had overpair, he will check/call behind me. So I lead out for $6, almost the size of the pot. Now he raised me to $19.50. If he had a small flush, or set then hes too good. I put him on AA with Ad. Can't really call the bet and left $20 behind. So I shoved all-in for $42 ($23+ more for him). He snapped called me with nothing but AK. I were 75% to win on the flop, 73% to win on the turn, but in this game, you NEVER beat a SNAPPER on draw.

Then I went back to 25c/50c PLO full table, lost about $60 when my flopped top set lost to turned straight for another $100 pot in BB. So I quit for the night and went back the next day.

With bankroll about $230, I kept my promise. Went back to $1/$2 PLO 6 handed. Bought in for full amount $200 and slowly up to $220. Now on the button dealt 3456 ds. UTG folded, CO called, I raised to $6. Perfect hand to play on the button with a raise. If I hit the flop hard, I will win a big one. BTW my opponents most likely put me on high cards, so my hand would be well disguised. Both blinds called along with CO, so $24 pot pre-flop. I hit the flop well with bottom 2 pair + open ended. No flush draw there, so even I didn't have the best hand, I certainly had the best draw. Both blinds checked, CO bet $10, I mini raised to $20, Looking for a free card on the turn. Both blinds folded, CO called. Turn another 10. I figured he had turned a set, maybe boat but very unlikely coz he must have 10 4 or 10 3 in his hand. Now he checked and I checked behind him. River completed my nut straight. CO bet pot for $60. 50/50 situation for me. He might have A 10 or boat. I knew he put me on high pair, but I had straight. Made a curious call and he had quads.

Now stack $131. Down to $93. The guy on my right was a fish, never fold a hand. I had position on him, so I got the perfect seat. I slowly built up my stack back to $174, raking a lot $20+, $30+ pot. Then this hand came up in BB. Had AAQJ ds. All folded to SB fishy and he raised to $6. With my huge hand HU + position, I re-raised him to $18. He had no choice but called. I caught a good flop, 10 6 2 rainbow. No obvious draw out there and that guy has to raise with junks to hit 2 pair. Best hand he could have will be 2456 or 6789 or 679 10 sort of hands. Now he checked, need to play it quick and try to end it right there. I bet pot for $34+. Now SB re-raised to $89 all-in. His range was huge, from 2 pair to 789. Since he raised pre-flop, I put him on KKxx, 4 high cards with a 10. I trusted my instinct and called him straight away. Once again my read spot on. Once again I were 69% fav pre-flop, 83% fav on the flop when the money went in. He must know whats coming and the spiked the Kc on the turn. Even though I still have re-draw, now I had a big wrap with nut flush draw. Although he spiked the miracle, I only 40% dog to win. River completed my flush but the board paired. Lost another one. $214 pot.

Now stack down to $67. I made a re-raised bluff on the turn with my wrap and took a much needed $50 pot. I slowly built it back to $140+. Then this hand came up once again with AAxx in BB. All folded to button and he raised to $7. SB had no choice coz he never fold and he called. I had AA39 1 suite. I were not folding, but my AA a bit weak. If I had a larger stack, I might just call. With $140 behind, I could either raise or call. Since the button played very aggressive and always raised in position, I decided to re-raised. So I pot to $28. Button folded instantly which was good. SB ATC again. Flop K 5 6 with 2 spades. Now SB checked, I decided to bet the pot coz I had the As. Representing AA with nut flush draw. I bet $60 leaving $58 behind. SB thought for a long while and shoved. He had me covered by a few $$$. Tough decision on my part. Since he had a long delay check/raise, I knew hes on draw. He would slow play a set, plus any kind of big hand he would check raise a lot quicker. He would check/call on crap flush draw, lead out with 2 pair. I thought for a long while, and put him on AKxx. Getting 4 to 1 on my money, I need a bit of luck there. He got 1 pair + up and down with no flush draw. I only 46% dog in this hand, but could easily be 67% fav if I had the flush draw. Turn blank, river 4s. BUSTO!

Losing US$500 in 2 days really hurts my poker mojo as I normally play in micro-stakes. Since I am on a free roll from IAS, I can still handle that. Did I play it that bad? I lost all the big pots when I were in good shape. I didn't shove it on the flop, but most of the time on the turn with only 1 card to come. Somehow PS always reward pots to those players shoving it on draw, espically on the turn. I lot of river rats these days. Perhaps ATC is the way to be no matter what. That's really piss me off. I am off from poker in the next few weeks. I am off to Adelaide on the 17th and play in the snooker tourny over there. I will also go to Sydney for the Oceania Snooker Championship in March. Need to spend more time in snooker and F*** poker right now!

I am Back!!!!

I am back in Melbourne after 40 days in Hong Kong. My time over there was OK, spent most of my time with family and did a limit time of swimming over there. My original plan was to take part in the FEPT (Far East Poker Tour), and test my 1/2 assemble IRON FIST in some poker room in Hong Kong before invading the Pokerstars home base across the border in Macau. I went to a poker room one night and found out poker in the Far East was like playing Bingo. With blinds $5/$10 (HKD), everyone would shove pre-flop with all kind of hands for $500+. I saw a 4 way all-in pot, with no mushroom stack, all-in preflop and no one had any Premium hand. AQ vs KJ vs JJ vs 89. WTF was going on in there? Unfortunately I didn't get any big pairs to play with. After 2 hours or so I broke even.

I planned to goto Macau as well. Soon after I went to Guangzhou, I abandoned my plan. Just too much fun up there in China. I ended up spending the weekend up there. At the meantime, I heard that Mr.Sklansky has retired from poker. Really? Without poker, what else can he do? Without poker, what does he worth? Without poker, his life will become meaningless! As one of the most influential figure in poker history, he has conquered millions of poker player around the world. Even in Hong Kong, during the countdown on New Years eve, I even heard people chanting his name at the Edinburgh Square. How can he retired? Poker is part of his life and The Pond is his home away from home. He thrives in all kind of all-in situation. His Iron Fist has revolutionized the world of NLH. Everytime hes at the table, the rail will explode. He can electrify all the players in the room. His opponents fear him and even the dealer is getting goose bumps. So my guess is that he is taking a break from poker, time to spend some of his winnings. Once he find the loneliness without poker, he will definitely head back to the Pond.