Senator Menendez (D-NJ) introduces poker bill

Senator Menendez introduced a bill to regulate online poker in the US. You can read more about it here. The only people that I can see not liking this are the 18 yr old online kids.

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.

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

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