Making good decisions....

8321 hands have been played since my last update on July 4th and I have lost $379.85. I have added $125 from a FT ironman mid-season bonus so my bankroll stands at $6812.69.

I was all ready to make the official jump to 100nl, but have encountered a downturn in my play...Poker is one of the craziest games I have ever experienced, as it can make you believe you are playing terrible when you are making good decisions and make you believe you are playing great when you are making bad decisions.


Below is an example of bad play paying off...A player had 3-bet several times and it was time for me to stand up and 4-bet him in return. He shoves all in making me call $31 to win$39.75 or 1.28/1 odds to call. I put his range on 1010+, AQ+. Which makes me an 68/32 underdog. I would need to be a 57/43 underdog to have the correct pot odds for the call. But like I was saying...sometimes the we get rewarded when we make the wrong plays.


FullTiltPoker Game #7280783718: Table Hartke (6 max) - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:36:20 ET - 2008/07/18
Seat 1: mikey miz ($72.65)
Seat 2: 888allin888 ($67.40), is sitting out
Seat 3: laminhas2 ($144.50), is sitting out
Seat 4: osmar1987 ($50.70)
Seat 5: drrrrrrrty ($39.20)
Seat 6: birdiemachine ($50)
osmar1987 posts the small blind of $0.25
drrrrrrrty posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to birdiemachine [Qh Kh]
birdiemachine raises to $1.75
mikey miz raises to $5.50
osmar1987 folds
drrrrrrrty folds
birdiemachine has 15 seconds left to act
birdiemachine raises to $19
mikey miz has 15 seconds left to act
mikey miz raises to $72.65, and is all in
birdiemachine has 15 seconds left to act
birdiemachine has requested TIME
birdiemachine calls $31, and is all in
mikey miz shows [Tc Ts]
birdiemachine shows [Qh Kh]
Uncalled bet of $22.65 returned to mikey miz
*** FLOP *** [5d Jh Ac]
*** TURN *** [5d Jh Ac] [Jc]
*** RIVER *** [5d Jh Ac Jc] [Kc]
mikey miz shows two pair, Jacks and Tens
birdiemachine shows two pair, Kings and Jacks
birdiemachine wins the pot ($98.75) with two pair, Kings and Jacks
mikey miz adds $27.35
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $100.75 Rake $2
Board: [5d Jh Ac Jc Kc]
Seat 1: mikey miz (button) showed [Tc Ts] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Tens
Seat 2: 888allin888 is sitting out
Seat 3: laminhas2 is sitting out
Seat 4: osmar1987 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: drrrrrrrty (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: birdiemachine showed [Qh Kh] and won ($98.75) with two pair, Kings and Jacks


And good plays can work against you...



FullTiltPoker Game #7267262661: Table Yo-Yo (6 max) - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:07:55 ET - 2008/07/17
Seat 1: SoLucky_Ass ($20.10)
Seat 2: birdiemachine ($56.90)
Seat 3: Jchou87 ($28.25)
Seat 4: ereliaesae ($14.95)
Seat 5: KimKJ ($74.35)
Seat 6: mike836 ($61.20)
Jchou87 posts the small blind of $0.25
ereliaesae posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to birdiemachine [9d 9s]
KimKJ has 15 seconds left to act
KimKJ folds
mike836 raises to $1.75
SoLucky_Ass calls $1.75
birdiemachine has 15 seconds left to act
birdiemachine raises to $7.75
Jchou87 folds
ereliaesae folds
mike836 folds
SoLucky_Ass has 15 seconds left to act
SoLucky_Ass calls $6
*** FLOP *** [3c 7d 6c]
SoLucky_Ass has 15 seconds left to act
SoLucky_Ass bets $12.35, and is all in
birdiemachine calls $12.35
SoLucky_Ass shows [Ac Ks]
birdiemachine shows [9d 9s]
*** TURN *** [3c 7d 6c] [Jh]
*** RIVER *** [3c 7d 6c Jh] [Ah]
SoLucky_Ass shows a pair of Aces
birdiemachine shows a pair of Nines
SoLucky_Ass wins the pot ($40.60) with a pair of Aces
birdiemachine adds $13.20
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $42.70 Rake $2.10
Board: [3c 7d 6c Jh Ah]
Seat 1: SoLucky_Ass showed [Ac Ks] and won ($40.60) with a pair of Aces
Seat 2: birdiemachine (button) showed [9d 9s] and lost with a pair of Nines
Seat 3: Jchou87 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: ereliaesae (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: KimKJ didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: mike836 folded before the Flop





FullTiltPoker Game #7266919364: Table Yucca (6 max) - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:41:42 ET - 2008/07/17
Seat 1: birdiemachine ($51.30)
Seat 2: Raymo2 ($21.85)
Seat 3: Pay Out Wizard ($70.95)
Seat 4: jliny611 ($47.20)
Seat 6: Rogue_Chia_Pet ($75)
Raymo2 posts the small blind of $0.25
Pay Out Wizard posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to birdiemachine [5c 5h]
jliny611 folds
ereliaesae adds $10
Rogue_Chia_Pet folds
birdiemachine raises to $1.75
Raymo2 folds
Pay Out Wizard calls $1.25
*** FLOP *** [3c 3d 5d]
Pay Out Wizard checks
birdiemachine checks
*** TURN *** [3c 3d 5d] [8h]
Pay Out Wizard bets $2
birdiemachine raises to $6.50
Pay Out Wizard has 15 seconds left to act
Pay Out Wizard raises to $23.25
birdiemachine has 15 seconds left to act
birdiemachine calls $16.75
*** RIVER *** [3c 3d 5d 8h] [Qs]
Pay Out Wizard bets $45.95, and is all in
birdiemachine calls $26.30, and is all in
Uncalled bet of $19.65 returned to Pay Out Wizard
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Pay Out Wizard shows [8s 8d] a full house, Eights full of Threes
birdiemachine mucks
Pay Out Wizard wins the pot ($99.85) with a full house, Eights full of Threes
birdiemachine adds $50
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $102.85 Rake $3
Board: [3c 3d 5d 8h Qs]
Seat 1: birdiemachine (button) mucked [5c 5h] - a full house, Fives full of Threes
Seat 2: Raymo2 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Pay Out Wizard (big blind) showed [8s 8d] and won ($99.85) with a full house, Eights full of Threes
Seat 4: jliny611 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Rogue_Chia_Pet didn't bet (folded)


Going back and checking my positional stats...I'm losing money UTG and UTG +1...and that should never happen. I think my opening ranges have become too wide and I'm not able to play well enough post-flop out of position when I blank the board.

My VPIP has increased to near 23% the past month or so which is an indicator of my widened open range. To play this loose, I must become better at recognizing players and situations according to the board that allows me to 2-barrell and possibly 3-barrell bluffs. And for the most part...I don't think that style fits very well (-EV) into the low-limit stakes.

Soooooooo, I look to tighten my opening ranges from UTG and UTG+1 to hopefully keep me out of trouble post-flop.

I have heard through the local rumor mill that local young man is going to make a go of Sports betting as a career in VEGAS. WoW! With the internet and the ease of betting online...I'm not sure why he would put himself in such a (-EV) life situation as living in Las Vegas. A person needs to be a good decision maker in order to succeed in Vegas. His track record doesn't fit that mold, but I wish him the best with his endeavor! My degenerate side envies him a little, but I just think there are too many distractions and money pits in Vegas to succeed even if he makes money betting sports.