Training Sites, Mult-tabling and Grinding

After getting frustrated with the direction my game has been going lately, I signed up for a membership at deucescracked.com. They are one of the only training sites that does not have a sign up fee and they have a seven day trial. I took full advantage of the trial and watched a number of videos, particularly a SNG series (Real Life Micro SNG Grinder) by Vandweller. Hearing Vandweller coach a player that I consider in the same situation as myself was very enlightening. I picked up so much good information that I was able to put to use rather quickly. It all seemed to just click. It helped me understand why I was unable to multitable with any real success. I was over thinking my hands in the early rounds. The most tables I have ever played was three and maybe four but I was only comfortable with two. After watching a few videos in the series I tried four then six. I have to say I can now comfortably six table. My ROI in the first six table session was 87.5% (not too shabby). While I have always been one to read the latest in poker lit, I have found the training site videos to be a useful tool in extended my poker knowledge. I am now also experimenting with Holdem Manager to see how this software can help me find and close leaks in my game. I have finally come to the conclusion that while I have been playing seriously for a long time I was really only a casual player online, NOW I am making the change to being a grinder. As a casual player I will never be profitable to the degree that I have money to spend. My goal is to be profitable and have money to spend. After I absorb all that I have learned fully, I plan to continue my use of DC and the great videos they offer.

Cornbread_TN makes HOTWon Ante Up Magazine Podcast

LISTEN TO HAND OF THE WEEK

Here is the hand history for Hand of the Week as sent to Ante Up Magazine so you can follow along.

The first hand of the AIPS PLO satellite.

PokerStars Game #25357050925: Tournament #136757771, Freeroll  Omaha Pot Limit - Level I (20/40) - 2009/02/25 21:00:00 ET

Table '136757771 5' 9-max Seat #1 is the button

Seat 1: contra42 (1500 in chips)

Seat 2: CdnMedium (1500 in chips)

Seat 3: heffmike (1500 in chips)

Seat 4: enyguitar360 (1500 in chips)

Seat 5: Beaker D (1500 in chips)

Seat 6: cornbread_TN (1500 in chips)

Seat 7: AngelEyesGBU (1500 in chips) is sitting out

Seat 8: ownthedream (1500 in chips)

Seat 9: jwthoma (1500 in chips)

CdnMedium: posts small blind 20

heffmike: posts big blind 40

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to cornbread_TN [Qh 9c Jd 9s]

enyguitar360: folds

Beaker D: folds

CdnMedium said, "oh god"

enyguitar360 said, "lol"

cornbread_TN: raises 40 to 80

AngelEyesGBU: folds

ownthedream: folds

jwthoma: folds

contra42: folds

CdnMedium: calls 60

heffmike: calls 40

*** FLOP *** [Jc 9d Th]

(I’m feeling good about this flop, but I know someone probably already has the str8. I figure I have outs to tie and outs to win)

enyguitar360 said, "apparently they only play nlhe in brazil"

CdnMedium: checks

heffmike: bets 160

CdnMedium said, "lol no idea what i'm doing"

cornbread_TN: calls 160

CdnMedium: folds

*** TURN *** [Jc 9d Th] [3d]

(Now I still feel the same about my outs so I have no problem continuing… it is a freeroll after all go big or go home, I still put him on KQxx)

heffmike: bets 475

cornbread_TN: calls 475

*** RIVER *** [Jc 9d Th 3d] [Tc]

(Easy decision…doubt he has TT)

heffmike: checks

cornbread_TN: bets 785 and is all-in

heffmike: calls 785 and is all-in

heffmike said, "freeroll"

AngelEyesGBU has returned

*** SHOW DOWN ***

cornbread_TN: shows [Qh 9c Jd 9s] (a full house, Nines full of Tens)

heffmike: shows [Ks Qc 4h 8s] (a straight, Nine to King)

cornbread_TN collected 3080 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot 3080 | Rake 0

Board [Jc 9d Th 3d Tc]

Seat 1: contra42 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 2: CdnMedium (small blind) folded on the Flop

Seat 3: heffmike (big blind) showed [Ks Qc 4h 8s] and lost with a straight, Nine to King

Seat 4: enyguitar360 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 5: Beaker D folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 6: cornbread_TN showed [Qh 9c Jd 9s] and won (3080) with a full house, Nines full of Tens

Seat 7: AngelEyesGBU folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 8: ownthedream folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 9: jwthoma folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Two Hands, One Target, Max Profit

PokerStars Game #24846910020:  Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2009/02/12 0:48:02 ET

Table 'Alsatia IV' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: 8==========B ($25 in chips)
Seat 2: PeterNorth77 ($24.40 in chips)
Seat 3: cornbread_TN ($29.50 in chips)
Seat 4: knakeddefguy ($20.25 in chips)
Seat 5: virtua_fish ($25 in chips)
Seat 6: BaRutal ($43.85 in chips)
Seat 7: Combsy53 ($29.80 in chips)
Seat 8: ollielead709 ($23.45 in chips)
Seat 9: rofflemayo ($25.10 in chips)
knakeddefguy: posts small blind $0.10
virtua_fish: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to cornbread_TN [As Ks]
BaRutal: calls $0.25
Combsy53: folds
ollielead709: folds
rofflemayo: calls $0.25
8==========B: folds
PeterNorth77: folds
cornbread_TN: raises $0.75 to $1
4x seems like a good place to start here esp on the button. 
knakeddefguy: folds
virtua_fish: folds

BaRutal: calls $0.75

rofflemayo: calls $0.75

*** FLOP *** [Kc Kh Kd]

Well, I didn't see that coming. I figure I will not see any action here...

BaRutal: checks

rofflemayo: bets $2

oh look, a taker, I'll just give him all the rope he wants. Especially since he is first to act.

cornbread_TN: calls $2

BaRutal: folds

*** TURN *** [Kc Kh Kd] [3c]

rofflemayo: bets $3

seriously, I don't mind. I figure he must have a wired pair.

cornbread_TN: calls $3

*** RIVER *** [Kc Kh Kd 3c] [7c]

rofflemayo: bets $6

now I have to decide how much I can extract. I did not want to push all in fear of him folding feeling like I must have the case King. He only has $13.10 behind... I'll raise 1.5 his raise. I'd rather have $9 more vs no $$ more. Am I leaving him with $4 that I could probably get, who knows. He can have it.

cornbread_TN: raises $9 to $15

rofflemayo: calls $9

*** SHOW DOWN ***

cornbread_TN: shows [As Ks] (four of a kind, Kings)

rofflemayo: mucks hand

cornbread_TN collected $41.25 from pot

rofflemayo said, "LOL"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $43.35 | Rake $2.10
Board [Kc Kh Kd 3c 7c]
Seat 1: 8==========B folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: PeterNorth77 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 3: cornbread_TN (button) showed [As Ks] and won ($41.25) with four of a kind, Kings

Seat 4: knakeddefguy (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: virtua_fish (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: BaRutal folded on the Flop
Seat 7: Combsy53 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: ollielead709 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 9: rofflemayo mucked [8s 8c]

rofflemayo rebuys table max just before this next hand...
---------------------


PokerStars Game #24847056514:  Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2009/02/12 0:55:50 ET
Table 'Alsatia IV' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: 8==========B ($36.45 in chips)
Seat 2: PeterNorth77 ($22.90 in chips)
Seat 3: cornbread_TN ($48.75 in chips)
Seat 4: knakeddefguy ($20.50 in chips)
Seat 5: virtua_fish ($25 in chips)
Seat 6: BaRutal ($42.50 in chips)
Seat 7: Combsy53 ($29.55 in chips)
Seat 8: ollielead709 ($13.20 in chips)
Seat 9: rofflemayo ($25 in chips) 
rofflemayo: posts small blind $0.10
8==========B: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to cornbread_TN [Qc Qs]

I am UTG+1. I decide to play hand aggressive. Also my plan was to call it a night when blinds came back around.

PeterNorth77: folds

cornbread_TN: raises $0.75 to $1

knakeddefguy: folds
virtua_fish: folds
BaRutal: folds
Combsy53: folds
ollielead709: folds

rofflemayo: raises $1.75 to $2.75

Based on his range I felt confident and the fact he wanted revenge from the previous pot. 2.3:1 PO

8==========B: folds

cornbread_TN: calls $1.75

*** FLOP *** [2c 2s 6c]

rofflemayo: bets $3

Preflop reraise, doubt he did that with a deuce so... Also he expects me to trap like I did previous hand if my hand was good.

cornbread_TN: raises $7 to $10

rofflemayo: calls $7

*** TURN *** [2c 2s 6c] [8c]

rofflemayo: bets $12.25 and is all-in

I really doubt he has a set here... plus I have over pair with a flush draw. Easy call based on past observations.

cornbread_TN: calls $12.25

*** RIVER *** [2c 2s 6c 8c] [Kc]

*** SHOW DOWN ***
Queens were enough but I'll take the flush. 

rofflemayo: shows [Td Th] (two pair, Tens and Deuces)

cornbread_TN: shows [Qc Qs] (a flush, King high)

cornbread_TN collected $47.80 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $50.25 | Rake $2.45
Board [2c 2s 6c 8c Kc]
Seat 1: 8==========B (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: PeterNorth77 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: cornbread_TN showed [Qc Qs] and won ($47.80) with a flush, King high
Seat 4: knakeddefguy folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: virtua_fish folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: BaRutal folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Combsy53 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: ollielead709 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: rofflemayo (small blind) showed [Td Th] and lost with two pair, Tens and Deuces

Reed Takes Another Big One

I'm Feeling A Little Flushed

Poker Bling and AIPS Tourneys on Full Tilt

Have you ever wanted some poker bling to intimidate your opponents at the poker table? Well now is your chance. You could buy one but it would feel so much better if you won one from PokerBling.com's weekly tourney on Full Tilt. The tourney runs most Tuesdays at 9PM EST. This is a $10+1 Knockout Tourney. It is usually a small field of players. Go to their site for more information. You will probably see All In Reed or OutlawJesco playing in these when available.

Another great tournament series is the Ante Up! AIPS events. This is a year long set of tournaments with a mix of all the games we love to play. If any of you guys have not checked out Ante Up (2007 Best Poker Podcast, Bluff Magazine Readers Choice Awards) then you don't know what you're missing. Make it your goal this month to start listening to these guys. There are more than 138 episodes of poker info, tips and interviews with top poker professionals. Start by listening to the current episodes and then go back and listen from the beginning. Reed and I have been listening to these guys for almost two years.

Good luck and we'll see you at the tables.

Ship It!!!

Sean just won the $3 Rebuy tournament for the 2nd time on Full Tilt Poker. His win was good for $1,178.10 . This is his 5th overall $3 rebuy victory online over the last 12 months making him a $3 rebuy specialist!

He stayed in top 3-5 for the last two hours until his QQ was beat by A10 on river. From then on he had to grind his way to the FT. At the FT, Sean came in 7th in chip count. He grinded, pushed a couple of times and ended up catching a BB special by flopping a set that got paid off. He then proceeded to bust 4 of the remaining players.

Heads up play lasted 4 hands, as the other player kept asking to make a deal. Sean refused and then got a monster hand 24off. He raised 3x and got re-raised. Figuring his opponent probably had an AX he called. The flop came 478. Sean checked raised all-in with his pair of 4's w/ 2 kicker. He was instacalled with AK and the 4's held for the win.

Queens, party of Four

PokerStars Game #13065866388: Tournament #66049204, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2007/11/05 - 20:57:13 (ET)
Table '66049204 160' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: punishment (2600 in chips)
Seat 2: gmguy (9545 in chips)
Seat 9: ReedMoney (4450 in chips)
NeroEinstein: posts small blind 50
ReedMoney: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ReedMoney [Qs Qc]
punishment: raises 2500 to 2600 and is all-in
gmguy: calls 2600
ReedMoney: raises 1850 to 4450 and is all-in
gmguy: calls 1850
*** FLOP *** [Qh Qd Th]
*** TURN *** [Qh Qd Th] [5c]
ReedMoney said, "damn"
*** RIVER *** [Qh Qd Th 5c] [4d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ReedMoney: shows [Qs Qc] (four of a kind, Queens)
gmguy: shows [8c 8s] (two pair, Queens and Eights)
ReedMoney collected 3700 from side pot
punishment: shows [Kd Kh] (two pair, Kings and Queens)
ReedMoney collected 7850 from main pot
NeroEinstein said, "wow"
solid_corp said, "very nice hand buddy"
punishment re-buys and receives 1500 chips for $3.00
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 11550 Main pot 7850. Side pot 3700. | Rake 0
Board [Qh Qd Th 5c 4d]
Seat 1: punishment showed [Kd Kh] and lost with two pair, Kings and Queens
Seat 2: gmguy showed [8c 8s] and lost with two pair, Queens and Eights
Seat 9: ReedMoney (big blind) showed [Qs Qc] and won (11550) with four of a kind, Queens

Reed Poker Online Tonight

Don't forget tonight is the $2 rebuy on FTP at 9pm. the password is sean.

And tomorrow night is the Reed Poker League Event #10. If you have not let Sean or Trinity know that you will be there please do so. That way we can plan on how many players to prepare for.

Home and Online Points Updated!!

Check out the home site for the latest point standing (home game/online game). I have added a new column with money won to date and noted rank of top 5 players for easy glance. Brian still leading the home game in stats but it is a close race with only 9 points separating 1st and 4th.

Big Week for ReedMoney!

I am in the middle of the best week of my poker career.

Wednesday- Won a $30+3 tourney for $2902.

Friday- 4th in Stars $5.50 tourney for $372.

Saturday- 14th place FTP's nightly $26k GTD. and finished 14th for $272. Suffered two horrible beats with 15 people left when I was chip leader.

Sunday- Won the Stars $10+1 $15k GTD. for $5664.

Finally, with cash games, SnG's and MTT's I have profited just shy of $10,000 in 5 days online. I can't wait to see what the next two days bring. However, I am alittle tired though.