Roller Coaster

Overall January is turning out to be a great month, and a great start to 2008, despite a late disaster today.

I have always seemed to run terrible whenever I have played a stake higher than my regular game. For example, it took me multiple shots at 25/50 before I ever started winning at it, same w/ 10/20 when I was a 5/10 player. While in the past it certainly was a lack of skill as well as maybe running bad, now I KNOW I have an edge in every 50/100 match I have played recently. Today I was up a buy in playing 50/100 6m when a player named "livetowercam" sat with me on 2 tables. My initial impression on him was fairly suspicious, as I had already seen him playing HU w/ urindanger, which pretty much NO ONE who is any good does. I dropped 45k in about an hour. My month was goin so great and all of a sudden I had to deal w/ a huge loss, which is never fun. Here are some hands:

FullTiltPoker Game #5051075876: Table Badillo (Heads up) - $50/$100 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:12:03 ET - 2008/01/30
Seat 1: Ansky451 ($11,948.50)
Seat 2: livetowercam ($9,600)
Ansky451 posts the small blind of $50
livetowercam posts the big blind of $100
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Ansky451 [Th Qd]
Ansky451 raises to $300
livetowercam calls $200
*** FLOP *** [Qh Jh 6c]
livetowercam checks
Ansky451 bets $500
livetowercam raises to $2,100
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 calls $1,600
*** TURN *** [Qh Jh 6c] [9c]
livetowercam has 15 seconds left to act
livetowercam bets $4,400
Ansky451 raises to $8,800
livetowercam calls $2,800, and is all in
Ansky451 shows [Th Qd]
livetowercam shows [6s Qc]
Uncalled bet of $1,600 returned to Ansky451
*** RIVER *** [Qh Jh 6c 9c] [5d]
Ansky451 shows a pair of Queens
livetowercam shows two pair, Queens and Sixes
livetowercam wins the pot ($19,199.50) with two pair, Queens and Sixes
Ansky451 adds $7,651.50
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $19,200 | Rake $0.50
Board: [Qh Jh 6c 9c 5d]
Seat 1: Ansky451 (small blind) showed [Th Qd] and lost with a pair of Queens
Seat 2: livetowercam (big blind) showed [6s Qc] and won ($19,199.50) with two pair, Queens and Sixes

I probably could have folded either flop or turn w/ the read I have now of him, but overall I think this was kind of a cooler.

Not every hero call makes me a hero:

FullTiltPoker Game #5051530900: Table Badillo (Heads up) - $50/$100 - No Limit Hold'em - 4:37:43 ET - 2008/01/30
Seat 1: Ansky451 ($11,644.50)
Seat 2: livetowercam ($42,431.50)
livetowercam posts the small blind of $50
Ansky451 posts the big blind of $100
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Ansky451 [8s 8h]
livetowercam raises to $300
Ansky451 raises to $1,200
livetowercam calls $900
*** FLOP *** [7h Ad 5s]
Ansky451 checks
livetowercam bets $1,750
Ansky451 calls $1,750
*** TURN *** [7h Ad 5s] [9h]
Ansky451 checks
livetowercam checks
*** RIVER *** [7h Ad 5s 9h] [Qh]
Ansky451 checks
livetowercam bets $4,000
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 has requested TIME
Ansky451 calls $4,000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
livetowercam shows [3h Jh] a flush, Queen high
Ansky451 mucks
livetowercam wins the pot ($13,899.50) with a flush, Queen high
Ansky451 adds $5,305.50
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $13,900 | Rake $0.50
Board: [7h Ad 5s 9h Qh]
Seat 1: Ansky451 (big blind) mucked [8s 8h] - a pair of Eights
Seat 2: livetowercam (small blind) showed [3h Jh] and won ($13,899.50) with a flush, Queen high

This hand blew my mind, his line had me so confused I almost called riv:

FullTiltPoker Game #5051388214: Table Badillo (Heads up) - $50/$100 - No Limit Hold'em - 4:08:25 ET - 2008/01/30
Seat 1: Ansky451 ($11,991.50)
Seat 2: livetowercam ($25,167.75)
Ansky451 posts the small blind of $50
livetowercam posts the big blind of $100
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Ansky451 [8c Ad]
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 raises to $300
livetowercam raises to $900
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 raises to $2,700
livetowercam calls $1,800
*** FLOP *** [7d Jh 8s]
livetowercam checks
Ansky451 checks
*** TURN *** [7d Jh 8s] [3d]
livetowercam checks
Ansky451 checks
*** RIVER *** [7d Jh 8s 3d] [5s]
livetowercam checks
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 has requested TIME
Ansky451 bets $3,100
livetowercam raises to $22,467.75, and is all in
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 has requested TIME
Ansky451 folds
Uncalled bet of $19,367.75 returned to livetowercam
livetowercam mucks
livetowercam wins the pot ($11,599.50)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $11,600 | Rake $0.50
Board: [7d Jh 8s 3d 5s]
Seat 1: Ansky451 (small blind) folded on the River
Seat 2: livetowercam (big blind) collected ($11,599.50), mucked

I really let myself down on this hand. I felt like he reallllly hesitated on the riv cause he was considering betting w/ a flush or Ten, but I still felt the urge to go for the thin vbet.

FullTiltPoker Game #5051347095: Table Badillo (Heads up) - $50/$100 - No Limit Hold'em - 4:00:18 ET - 2008/01/30
Seat 1: Ansky451 ($15,744)
Seat 2: livetowercam ($21,419.75)
Ansky451 posts the small blind of $50
livetowercam posts the big blind of $100
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Ansky451 [Ah Qd]
Ansky451 raises to $300
livetowercam calls $200
*** FLOP *** [9d Qc Ac]
livetowercam checks
Ansky451 bets $500
livetowercam calls $500
*** TURN *** [9d Qc Ac] [Kd]
livetowercam checks
Ansky451 bets $1,200
livetowercam calls $1,200
*** RIVER *** [9d Qc Ac Kd] [Jc]
livetowercam checks
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 bets $3,100
livetowercam raises to $19,419.75, and is all in
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 folds
Uncalled bet of $16,319.75 returned to livetowercam
livetowercam mucks
livetowercam wins the pot ($10,199.50)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $10,200 | Rake $0.50
Board: [9d Qc Ac Kd Jc]
Seat 1: Ansky451 (small blind) folded on the River
Seat 2: livetowercam (big blind) collected ($10,199.50), mucked

OK im just a little bit of a hero?:

FullTiltPoker Game #5051218492: Table Badillo (Heads up) - $50/$100 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:36:25 ET - 2008/01/30
Seat 1: Ansky451 ($12,449)
Seat 2: livetowercam ($24,723.75)
livetowercam posts the small blind of $50
Ansky451 posts the big blind of $100
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Ansky451 [5d 5s]
livetowercam raises to $300
Ansky451 calls $200
*** FLOP *** [4c Ts 6c]
Ansky451 checks
livetowercam bets $600
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 calls $600
*** TURN *** [4c Ts 6c] [Th]
Ansky451 checks
livetowercam checks
*** RIVER *** [4c Ts 6c Th] [As]
Ansky451 checks
livetowercam bets $1,800
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 calls $1,800
*** SHOW DOWN ***
livetowercam shows [5c 7s] a pair of Tens
Ansky451 shows [5d 5s] two pair, Tens and Fives
Ansky451 wins the pot ($5,399.50) with two pair, Tens and Fives
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $5,400 | Rake $0.50
Board: [4c Ts 6c Th As]
Seat 1: Ansky451 (big blind) showed [5d 5s] and won ($5,399.50) with two pair, Tens and Fives
Seat 2: livetowercam (small blind) showed [5c 7s] and lost with a pair of Tens

OK, sometimes I guess I do run good:

FullTiltPoker Game #5051026632: Table Jaffa (heads up) - $50/$100 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:04:10 ET - 2008/01/30
Seat 1: Ansky451 ($10,100)
Seat 2: livetowercam ($30,226.50)
livetowercam posts the small blind of $50
Ansky451 posts the big blind of $100
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Ansky451 [Js Ah]
livetowercam raises to $300
Ansky451 raises to $1,100
livetowercam calls $800
*** FLOP *** [Qh As Jc]
Ansky451 bets $1,450
livetowercam has 15 seconds left to act
livetowercam raises to $3,600
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 raises to $9,000, and is all in
livetowercam calls $5,400
Ansky451 shows [Js Ah]
livetowercam shows [Ts Kh]
*** TURN *** [Qh As Jc] [Ac]
Ansky451: cool
*** RIVER *** [Qh As Jc Ac] [8h]
Ansky451 shows a full house, Aces full of Jacks
livetowercam shows a straight, Ace high
Ansky451 wins the pot ($20,199.50) with a full house, Aces full of Jacks
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $20,200 | Rake $0.50
Board: [Qh As Jc Ac 8h]
Seat 1: Ansky451 (big blind) showed [Js Ah] and won ($20,199.50) with a full house, Aces full of Jacks
Seat 2: livetowercam (small blind) showed [Ts Kh] and lost with a straight, Ace high

Missed draws? OK I CALL!

FullTiltPoker Game #5051265988: Table Jaffa (heads up) - $50/$100 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:45:00 ET - 2008/01/30
Seat 1: Ansky451 ($21,092.25)
Seat 2: livetowercam ($21,941.25)
livetowercam posts the small blind of $50
Ansky451 posts the big blind of $100
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Ansky451 [9s 9h]
livetowercam raises to $300
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 raises to $1,200
livetowercam calls $900
*** FLOP *** [Kd Ts 2d]
Ansky451 checks
livetowercam checks
*** TURN *** [Kd Ts 2d] [5h]
Ansky451 bets $1,650
livetowercam calls $1,650
*** RIVER *** [Kd Ts 2d 5h] [3h]
Ansky451 checks
livetowercam has 15 seconds left to act
livetowercam bets $4,500
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 calls $4,500
*** SHOW DOWN ***
livetowercam shows [8d 3d] a pair of Threes
Ansky451 shows [9s 9h] a pair of Nines
Ansky451 wins the pot ($14,699.50) with a pair of Nines
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $14,700 | Rake $0.50
Board: [Kd Ts 2d 5h 3h]
Seat 1: Ansky451 (big blind) showed [9s 9h] and won ($14,699.50) with a pair of Nines
Seat 2: livetowercam (small blind) showed [8d 3d] and lost with a pair of Threes

Watch out there are falling barrels everywhere:

FullTiltPoker Game #5051370275: Table Jaffa (heads up) - $50/$100 - No Limit Hold'em - 4:04:52 ET - 2008/01/30
Seat 1: Ansky451 ($25,631.25)
Seat 2: livetowercam ($17,393.25)
livetowercam posts the small blind of $50
Ansky451 posts the big blind of $100
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Ansky451 [Qs Kh]
livetowercam raises to $300
Ansky451 raises to $1,200
livetowercam calls $900
*** FLOP *** [3c 4h 8d]
Ansky451 bets $1,700
livetowercam calls $1,700
*** TURN *** [3c 4h 8d] [Tc]
Ansky451 bets $4,100
livetowercam calls $4,100
*** RIVER *** [3c 4h 8d Tc] [Js]
Ansky451 has 15 seconds left to act
Ansky451 bets $18,631.25, and is all in
livetowercam folds
Uncalled bet of $18,631.25 returned to Ansky451
Ansky451 mucks
Ansky451 wins the pot ($13,999.50)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $14,000 | Rake $0.50
Board: [3c 4h 8d Tc Js]
Seat 1: Ansky451 (big blind) collected ($13,999.50), mucked
Seat 2: livetowercam (small blind) folded on the River

(I can't fucking believe that worked. If it were later in the session i really doubt I'd have done that)

There were a bunch more hands, but I think these were the interesting ones. I reallllllllly doubt I'll do this much in the future, for a variety of reasons, but I can't help but let up a little brag for my month:

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/3162/jan30dh8.jpg

I'll be goin to LA for the LA Poker Classic at the Commerce in mid Feb. I'll try to get some good sessions of 20/40 nl in and hopefully I'll have stories to tell. It's a 10k WPT, which I will be buying into direct, and hopefully I can work on my 1/8 cashing record in 5k events. All these events are so ridiculously soft that I just know if I can run really hot one time, there will be no stopping me from crushing the live tourney donkeys.

Hee Haw,
Dani