Hand of the Day

This really isn't that interesting, but I was playing a step tourney today on PokerStars. This hand came up. I thought I'd throw it on here since it's rare that you get your stack in 3-way pre-flop as a 85% favorite to win the pot. Obviously, it wasn't long before I was on to step 2.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $7.00+$0.50 Tournament, 100/200 Blinds (5 handed)

Hero (Button) (t3822)
SB (t3150)
BB (t1950)
UTG (t1100)
MP (t3478)

Hero's M: 12.74

Preflop: Hero is Button with A, A
1 fold, MP calls t200, Hero bets t400, SB calls t300, BB raises to t1950 (All-In), 1 fold, Hero raises to t3500, SB calls t2750 (All-In)

Flop: (t8450) 2, 3, 6 (3 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: (t8450) 9 (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: (t8450) 6 (3 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: t8450

Results:
Hero had A, A (two pair, Aces and sixes).
SB had Q, Q (two pair, Queens and sixes).
BB had A, Q (one pair, sixes).
Outcome: Hero won t8450

Poker

New Poker Show on G4

So, G4 is coming out with a show 2 Months, 2 Million, which will bring together four poker players who will attempt to win, well, the title says it all...

I'm super pumped that Dani Stern, aka Ansky, is one of the guys. He's a teaching pro at PokerSavvy+. The best thing in the house tour promo video (below): the tilt room, the war room, and that Dani got the pink room.

I'll be tuning in.

PokerStars relocates Moscow event to Kiev

Because of this, PokerStars had to do this:

The PokerStars.com European Poker Tour (EPT) announces an alternate venue for its August event, now scheduled to be held in Kiev, the largest city and capital of Ukraine, at the Kiev Sports Palace, from August 18-23, 2009. The "EPT Kiev Sports Poker Championship" is to be held under the regulation and authority of the Ukrainian Ministry of Youth, Family and Sport, and in partnership with the Ukrainian Poker Federation. This event is expected to be the largest poker tournament ever held in the Ukraine.

The Kiev event replaces the previously-scheduled 2009 Russian Open poker tournament due to be held at the Radisson SAS Slavyanskaya, Moscow from August 18-23, 2009. That event has been cancelled because our ability to run the event was placed in doubt due to the recent closure of all casinos in Russia.

Euro Poker Tour Ltd. sincerely apologises to all players who were intending to attend the Moscow event, but unfortunately these circumstances were beyond our control. Players are encouraged to consider attending the Ukrainian event instead, and to participate in the opening of the EPT's sixth season.

PokerStars advises its players who qualified online for the Moscow event that their packages (including buy-in and hotel) will be converted to EPT Kiev packages; however they will also be eligible to take a credit for a future event, or receive the cash equivalent value as alternatives.

The buy-in for the "EPT Kiev Sports Poker Championship" Main Event will be 5,000 EUR (4,700 + 300).

Hand of the Day

Well...nothing like sticking it in with 5% equity and sucking out. Normally, I'm not shoving 100bb's here, but it was the villain's first hand at the table and I've seen too many micro-donks spaz out on their first hand. Lesson learned...sometimes they have it.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (5 handed)

Hero (UTG) ($10.15)
MP ($10.60)
Button ($16.35)
SB ($17.90)
BB ($10)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A, K
Hero bets $0.35, 3 folds, BB raises to $1, Hero raises to $10.15 (All-In), BB calls $9 (All-In)

Flop: ($20.05) 6, 2, 5 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: ($20.05) K (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($20.05) A (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $20.05 | Rake: $1

Results:
BB had A, A (three of a kind, Aces).
Hero had A, K (flush, Ace high).
Outcome: Hero won $19.05

Poker, 6max, Suck Out

Worthwhile CardPlayer Video

When I was starting out I joined PokerSavvy+ and watched a ton of videos, trying to get to the point where my thought processes went beyond simply my cards and the board. Andrew Brokos is one of the pro's (I link to his blog as well) and just did a short video for CardPlayer. Enjoy.

Hand of the Day

UTG was passive and limp/folding a lot, so bet to isolate the UTG in position. Maybe I should have cBet the flop, but decided to delay my cBet and raise any good card if the villain bet the turn. The river bet is pretty bad because I don't really see me getting called by any worse on that board, but I didn't really want to show the K6s to maintain my ability to abuse UTG.

You can read more about the hand here.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed)

MP ($25)
Hero (CO) ($25.70)
Button ($25)
SB ($25)
BB ($33.55)
UTG ($27.35)

Preflop: Hero is CO with K, 6
UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero bets $1, 3 folds, UTG calls $0.75

Flop: ($2.35) 8, 7, A (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($2.35) 4 (2 players)
UTG bets $1.25, Hero raises to $4.50, UTG calls $3.25

River: ($11.35) 5 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $6.25, 1 fold

Total pot: $11.35 | Rake: $0.55

Poker6max

November Nine

Obviously, the November Nine are set. I'd love to see Ivey cap off his tremendous World Series with a win, but don't think it's likely. The lines I've seen of 6-1 seem about right given his chip stack. I still hate that they take months off. I think it's only good for TV and not for the intrinsic game play and certainly not for pro's as it gives time for amateurs to get coaching, etc. I'm not going to lie though, I always am a little glad that the WSOP is over...well, at least for now.

Interview with Jeffrey Pollack about WSOP Sellout

Get involved

You play poker...so get involved with the PPA's fight against the UIGEA.

Send a letter to your member of Congress.

Honestly, this takes 2 minutes.

Hand of the Day

Here's a hand from a couple weeks ago. There are probably two things worth noting. First, I missed some value, obviously. After checking the flop, a turn bet would have probably gotten two callers. I'm not sure what I was thinking. Second, I gained some value. By checking down TPTK, I got to see the other two players hands. While I would have preferred to have their money, knowledge is not without its rewards. When you get these opportunities, even after playing too passively or not going for value, you have to note them. It's helpful to know that the Button 3bet A10s and didn't fire a cbet on a dry-ish board and that neither the CO or Button bet the turn. Know your opponents, get their stacks.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (UTG) ($7.90)
MP ($14.50)
CO ($10.55)
Button ($12.35)
SB ($10)
BB ($12.45)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Q, A
Hero bets $0.30, 1 fold, CO calls $0.30, Button raises to $1, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.70, CO calls $0.70

Flop: ($3.15) Q, 8, 7 (3 players)
Hero checks, CO checks, Button checks

Turn: ($3.15) 3 (3 players)
Hero checks, CO checks, Button checks

River: ($3.15) 6 (3 players)
Hero checks, CO checks, Button checks

Total pot: $3.15 | Rake: $0.15

Results:
Button mucked A, 10 (high card, Ace).
Hero had Q, A (one pair, Queens).
CO mucked 9, 9 (one pair, nines).
Outcome: Hero won $3

Poker, Hold'em, 6max