Absolutely Nothing

Within an hour of playing now, I seriously want to vomit. How egotistical of me to play wraps with NFD's and NLD's fast, I should ofcourse realize I should be folding them immediately. What am I thinking when betting and raising the flop and/or turn with the best hand at the time? Especially if there is any kind of of draw out there. My favorite is the call with air and backdoor fush draw OTF. That means it will hit.

Lessons learned:
I don't win flips.
If I'm drawing against a set, I lose. If someone is drawing against my set, I lose.

If I have a K high flush, the A is GUARANTEED to be out there, regardless if it was 2 on the flop.

Example PLO8 hand, I have A2h4Kc. Flop comes 3510, 2 hearts, 1 club. Turn 9c. River 7c. Result 1/4. Or even better Jc. Result 0.

Now this didn't used to bother me, but when a dozen different variations of it occur daily and no action on the hands that do seem to hold up(typically involve checkdowned random pair), it becomes unbearable.

Granted, I'm not saying I'm playing perfect every hand. There are plenty of hands that I played poorly. I usually have no trouble overcoming those. Right now, it's not happening and it is incredibly dejecting. I went from the highest achievements in personal online success to right back where I was 3 months ago. I was playing great, making some great reads and decisions. Then slowly those great reads and decisions were seeing less and less reward. I'm down $1,100 bucks in a week and I don't see it ending.

For some, like someone like jongreenway, an $1,100 downswing is a cough, as he will win that back in two hours. OK, so he plays 1/2. Well make it $2200 for him and it's still the same concept. I don't play much NLHE and it takes me a really long time to reach that. I don't go on heaters. I don't have +$500 days. Hell, +$200 days for me are unusual playing O8. I have limited time to play, 700 hands in a night is alot for me.

I don't know what to do. I have so much going on right now with my business that my days are really tied up, so it's not like I'm dwelling on it all day. Actually, I've managed eneter each session with a pretty clear mind. I also don't like to take too many days off away from the game. When I return is when I end up playing my worst, as I'm still working of the rust.

I have 3 more days until I reach Gold in the Iron Man promo, which I've never done before. At this rate, I'll likely be broke before I make it. It's funny when thinking about the accomplishments of the month. Most points in a month and in a day, Gold Level, playing with Phil Ivey, biggest single table win, biggest pot. It's all been for absolutely fucking nothing. After this month, I'm no sure what I'm going to do. For once, I'd like to know what it feels like to feel some sense of extended reward. Gbucks don't help the bankroll.

Bloodshed

I'm getting fucking destroyed right now. I ended up tilting off $50 because of it, in an almost maniacal way. Just potted everyhand until it was gone. I couldn't take the beats anymore and flipped. -$300, -$400, +$150, -$250. That's my summary for my last four days on Full Tilt. I really like PLO, but I can't handle the beats, it's too fucking sickening, mindnumbing, bankroll exploding, etc. to handle. I've lost 75(fine 73, 75 sounds better)% of my 50/50's-70/30's on those three negative days. 75%! What the fuck? How do I ran that cold?

Here's just a sample of the crap.

I made the mistake of slow playing a pretty monster hand the other day(KKXXhh) on a KXXhh board, running into runner,allin, runner straight. 19/20 I'm playing it like this:
Full Tilt Poker Game #5771168738: Table Chalon (6 max) - $0.25/$0.50 - $20 Cap Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 22:51:18 ET - 2008/03/24
Seat 1: Zophar ($45.35)
Seat 2: thaigh ($31.60)
Seat 3: Mauska ($27.10)
Seat 4: SlickVic29 ($40)
Seat 5: 2whynot7 ($74.15)
Seat 6: vi3tboy7 ($20)
Zophar posts the small blind of $0.25
thaigh posts the big blind of $0.50
5 seconds left to act
SlickVic29 posts $0.50
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Zophar [9d Ks Td Ts]
Mauska folds
SlickVic29 checks
2whynot7 calls $0.50
Zophar calls $0.25
thaigh checks
*** FLOP *** [4s 3s Tc]
Zophar bets $2
thaigh calls $2
SlickVic29 folds
2whynot7 folds
*** TURN *** [4s 3s Tc] [Kc]
Zophar bets $6
thaigh calls $6
*** RIVER *** [4s 3s Tc Kc] [9s]
Zophar bets $11.50, and is capped
thaigh calls $11.50, and is capped
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Zophar shows [9d Ks Td Ts] a flush, King high
thaigh shows [As 3h Js 8c] a flush, Ace high
thaigh wins the pot ($38.95) with a flush, Ace high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $41 | Rake $2.05
Board: [4s 3s Tc Kc 9s]
Seat 1: Zophar (small blind) showed [9d Ks Td Ts] and lost with a flush, King high
Seat 2: thaigh (big blind) showed [As 3h Js 8c] and won ($38.95) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 3: Mauska didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: SlickVic29 folded on the Flop
Seat 5: 2whynot7 (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: vi3tboy7 is sitting out

In a CAP game, am I supposed to check this river? I run into this non stop. non stop. non stop. WWWWWWWWTTTTTTFFFFFFFFF. Even if I did check/fold or check/call all of these hands, I may be down $25 less. Big fuckin deal. If I can't win any of the hands that I'm able to gain max value out of, I'm screwed. I don't win an enormous number of hands, or pick up a ton of bluffs, as both are hard to do in CAP PLO. Atleast I have little success w/that aspect at $1 $40cap. Notice in the above hand he has a pr3's and nut flush draw. That's it. 7 outs max.

Full Tilt Poker Game #5771000525: Table Chalon (6 max) - $0.25/$0.50 - $20 Cap Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 22:38:37 ET - 2008/03/24
Seat 1: Zophar ($50.50)
Seat 2: jholacka ($117.35)
Seat 5: 2whynot7 ($54.05)
2whynot7 posts the small blind of $0.25
Zophar posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Zophar [6s 9c Td 9h]
jholacka folds
2whynot7 calls $0.25
Zophar checks
*** FLOP *** [Jc 7d 8h]
2whynot7 has 15 seconds left to act
2whynot7 checks
Zophar bets $1
2whynot7 calls $1
*** TURN *** [Jc 7d 8h] [4s]
2whynot7 checks
Zophar bets $3
2whynot7 calls $3
*** RIVER *** [Jc 7d 8h 4s] [4h]
2whynot7 checks
Zophar bets $9
2whynot7 raises to $15.50, and is capped
Zophar calls $6.50, and is capped
*** SHOW DOWN ***
2whynot7 shows [2h Jd 6h 4c] a full house, Fours full of Jacks
Zophar mucks
2whynot7 wins the pot ($39) with a full house, Fours full of Jacks
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $40 | Rake $1
Board: [Jc 7d 8h 4s 4h]
Seat 1: Zophar (big blind) mucked [6s 9c Td 9h] - a straight, Jack high
Seat 2: jholacka (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: 2whynot7 (small blind) showed [2h Jd 6h 4c] and won ($39) with a full house, Fours full of Jacks

Awesome! I didn't put this guy(donkeyboy) on a set OTF because I know he would have CR'ed it, regardless of the straight, because he was awful and that's what he would do everytime.

Full Tilt Poker Game #5770771655: Table Chalon (6 max) - $0.25/$0.50 - $20 Cap Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 22:21:27 ET - 2008/03/24
Seat 1: Zophar ($36.25)
Seat 2: jholacka ($53.25)
Seat 3: DegenerateNJ ($25.70)
Seat 4: supercoop2544 ($94.30)
Seat 5: 2whynot7 ($82)
Seat 6: dcampbell_32 ($20.45)
2whynot7 posts the small blind of $0.25
dcampbell_32 posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Zophar [3s 5s 6d 5d]
Zophar raises to $1.10
jholacka folds
DegenerateNJ calls $1.10
supercoop2544 folds
2whynot7 calls $0.85
dcampbell_32 folds
*** FLOP *** [5h As Kc]
2whynot7 checks
Zophar bets $3
DegenerateNJ calls $3
2whynot7 folds
*** TURN *** [5h As Kc] [Jc]
Zophar checks
DegenerateNJ checks
*** RIVER *** [5h As Kc Jc] [7d]
Zophar bets $4.90
DegenerateNJ calls $4.90
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Zophar shows [3s 5s 6d 5d] three of a kind, Fives
DegenerateNJ shows [7h 2d 4c 7c] three of a kind, Sevens
DegenerateNJ wins the pot ($18.65) with three of a kind, Sevens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $19.60 | Rake $0.95
Board: [5h As Kc Jc 7d]
Seat 1: Zophar showed [3s 5s 6d 5d] and lost with three of a kind, Fives
Seat 2: jholacka didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: DegenerateNJ showed [7h 2d 4c 7c] and won ($18.65) with three of a kind, Sevens
Seat 4: supercoop2544 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: 2whynot7 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: dcampbell_32 (big blind) folded before the Flop

Slowed down w/my bottom set on the straight fitted board. What a huge error that of course has to be punished. Give the donkey his 6 outer.

Full Tilt Poker Game #5770701818: Table Chalon (6 max) - $0.25/$0.50 - $20 Cap Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 22:16:17 ET - 2008/03/24
Seat 1: Zophar ($49.25)
Seat 2: jholacka ($54.75)
Seat 4: DoTHEDishes ($52.25)
Seat 5: 2whynot7 ($77.05)
Seat 6: gr8ness300 ($79.75)
gr8ness300 posts the small blind of $0.25
Zophar posts the big blind of $0.50
DoTHEDishes stands up
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Zophar [5s 4h 6d 3c]
DoTHEDishes folds
2whynot7 folds
gr8ness300 calls $0.25
Zophar checks
*** FLOP *** [Jd 4c 2s]
gr8ness300 bets $1
Zophar raises to $3
gr8ness300 calls $2
*** TURN *** [Jd 4c 2s] [9c]
gr8ness300 checks
DegenerateNJ sits down
DegenerateNJ adds $24
Zophar bets $4.50
gr8ness300 raises to $9
Zophar calls $4.50
*** RIVER *** [Jd 4c 2s 9c] [Td]
gr8ness300 checks
Zophar checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gr8ness300 shows [Js Ah Jc 4d] three of a kind, Jacks
Zophar mucks
gr8ness300 wins the pot ($23.75) with three of a kind, Jacks
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $25 | Rake $1.25
Board: [Jd 4c 2s 9c Td]
Seat 1: Zophar (big blind) mucked [5s 4h 6d 3c] - a pair of Fours
Seat 2: jholacka is sitting out
Seat 4: DoTHEDishes didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: 2whynot7 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: gr8ness300 (small blind) showed [Js Ah Jc 4d] and won ($23.75) with three of a kind, Jacks

Flip? Nah. His set's good. Ofcourse, I don't hit wraps. Hit 2 of 9(1 of which was split)

I beat Phil Ivey

While sitting at my desk the other day, I decided to rail the big cash games while doing some paperwork. So I checked out Omaha Hi on Full Tilt Poker and saw there was a red sitting by himself, Phil Ivey. With no one else sitting, he decided to turn on observer chat. A few people congratulated him on his WPT win, which I think was just a few days before. He then said he was going to play some micro's.

About a minute later, I decided to see if he was playing and he was. He had sat at a 9 man .5/.10 cap table. And there were only 3 other people! So I decided to have a seat. It almost immediately filled.
First hand, Phil shoves UTG. 3 other people call. He has absolute crap, but it wins. Second hand, several limpers, Ivey shoves again. 4 callers and his crap holds up. Next hand, it just starts as open shoves. If you enter the hand, you shove. I picked up something like Q9o, shove and lose. 2 hands later, I pick up A6s, shove and win. Even though it's a cap, each pot is large because so many people are involved.

Over the next 10 or so hands, I managed to win 3 of my four shoves. I was patient, but picked up several premiums, including KK, JJ and AK. I think I ended up about $28. It was a big win by any means, but it was definitely fun and a memorable experience. If I can figure out how to paste actual images in here, I'll put up a screen shot. I don't want to post a link.

Like scratch tickets

I found a new little gamble over on UltimateBet.

I had $5 on UB for the longest time, just sitting there. So I decided I was going play some micro S&G and found they had some $2 games. Instead of regular turbos though, they had ultra turbos, with 2 1/2 minute rounds. They are a blast. They're almost like scratch tickets. They don't last but 15 minutes or so. Alot of flips.

Been running sort of blah playing PLO8. Went out massive tilt the other night after several 3/4's turned into 1/4's on me. After lossing a few buyins, I tilted my way back up a couple. Comical, but sad. I must say, it is hard to grind out a win when absolutely cold decked. My few and far between playable starting hands quickly went nowhere and my winning hands were ackward 2 pairs that were hard to get value from.
I have a feeling it's turning back in the right direction though.

The biggest problem for me is I start reaching, trying to force hands to much. Often inferior hands and this is obviously -EV. I think I may start to really TAG it up when I get cold, top 5%+ only hands.

So sick

PokerStars Game #15715556882: 5 Card Draw Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2008/03/03 - 16:01:54 (ET)
Table 'Thais II' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Zophar101 ($25.35 in chips)
Seat 3: synmo ($24.45 in chips)
Seat 4: TEATR ($8.85 in chips)
Seat 5: hood60 ($2.15 in chips)
Seat 6: EAL7104 ($4.40 in chips)
synmo: posts small blind $0.25
TEATR: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to Zophar101 [Js Jd Kd 2s Qc]
hood60: folds
EAL7104: folds
Zophar101: raises $0.50 to $1
synmo: calls $0.75
TEATR: folds
synmo: discards 1 card
Zophar101: discards 3 cards [Kd 2s Qc]
Dealt to Zophar101 [Js Jd] [4h 4c Jh]
synmo: checks
Zophar101: bets $1
synmo: raises $1 to $2
Zophar101: raises $1 to $3
synmo: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
Zophar101: calls $1
*** SHOW DOWN ***
synmo: shows [Ts Jc Ks Qd Ad] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
Zophar101: shows [Js Jd 4h 4c Jh] (a full house, Jacks full of Fours)
Zophar101 collected $10 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $10.50 | Rake $0.50
Seat 1: Zophar101 (button) showed [Js Jd 4h 4c Jh] and won ($10) with a full house, Jacks full of Fours
Seat 3: synmo (small blind) showed [Ts Jc Ks Qd Ad] and lost with a straight, Ten to Ace
Seat 4: TEATR (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 5: hood60 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 6: EAL7104 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)

Was in the bag anyway, but love the added umph.

PokerStars Game #15714572510: 5 Card Draw Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2008/03/03 - 15:22:39 (ET)
Table 'Thais II' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Zophar101 ($7.25 in chips)
Seat 2: seppinut ($17.50 in chips)
Seat 3: mrbnz ($15.55 in chips)
Seat 4: hipeye ($25.40 in chips)
Seat 5: rose4me ($11.20 in chips)
Seat 6: METTE100 ($24.45 in chips)
mrbnz: posts small blind $0.25
hipeye: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to Zophar101 [Kd As 8s 8c 8d]
rose4me: calls $0.50
METTE100: raises $0.50 to $1
Zophar101: raises $0.50 to $1.50
seppinut: folds
mrbnz: calls $1.25
hipeye: folds
rose4me: calls $1
METTE100: calls $0.50
mrbnz: discards 3 cards
rose4me: discards 3 cards
METTE100: discards 2 cards
Zophar101: discards 1 card [Kd]
Dealt to Zophar101 [As 8s 8c 8d] [8h]
mrbnz: checks
rose4me: checks
METTE100: bets $1
Zophar101: raises $1 to $2
mrbnz: folds
rose4me: folds
METTE100: calls $1
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Zophar101: shows [8h As 8s 8c 8d] (four of a kind, Eights)
METTE100: mucks hand
Zophar101 collected $10 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $10.50 | Rake $0.50
Seat 1: Zophar101 showed [8h As 8s 8c 8d] and won ($10) with four of a kind, Eights
Seat 2: seppinut (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 3: mrbnz (small blind) folded after the Draw
Seat 4: hipeye (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 5: rose4me folded after the Draw
Seat 6: METTE100 mucked [Qd 5h 5s 5d 3h]

$$Edit--I tilted broadway guy too, was pretty funny. He started to spazz and do stuff like this. FWIW, I sat w/$10.

PokerStars Game #15715679115: 5 Card Draw Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2008/03/03 - 16:06:42 (ET)
Table 'Thais II' 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: Zophar101 ($27.85 in chips)
Seat 2: Ouaiuz ($34.20 in chips)
Seat 3: synmo ($19.80 in chips)
Seat 4: TEATR ($9.60 in chips)
Seat 5: hood60 ($4 in chips)
Seat 6: EAL7104 ($8.45 in chips)
TEATR: posts small blind $0.25
hood60: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to Zophar101 [8s 9s Kd Jh Ks]
EAL7104: folds
Zophar101: raises $0.50 to $1
Ouaiuz: folds
synmo: calls $1
TEATR: folds
hood60: folds
Zophar101: discards 3 cards [8s 9s Jh]
Dealt to Zophar101 [Kd Ks] [Jc Tc 3d]
synmo: discards 1 card
Zophar101: checks
synmo: bets $1
Zophar101: calls $1
*** SHOW DOWN ***
synmo: shows [Qc 7c Kc Js 8c] (high card King)
Zophar101: shows [Jc Tc Kd 3d Ks] (a pair of Kings)
Zophar101 collected $4.55 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $4.75 | Rake $0.20
Seat 1: Zophar101 showed [Jc Tc Kd 3d Ks] and won ($4.55) with a pair of Kings
Seat 2: Ouaiuz folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 3: synmo (button) showed [Qc 7c Kc Js 8c] and lost with high card King
Seat 4: TEATR (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 5: hood60 (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 6: EAL7104 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)