Archive for December, 2009

This is a rare situation, so I can’t promise you’ll get a chance to use it, but it’s a fun brag:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em, $10.00 BB (6 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
MP ($1000)
Hero (CO) ($1272)
Button ($1000)
SB ($1090.30)
BB ($1479)
UTG ($2129.15)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 7, 6
2 folds, Hero bets $30, Button raises to $100, 1 fold, BB calls $90, Hero calls $70

Flop: ($305) 10, 3, 8 (3 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, Button checks

Turn: ($305) J (3 players)
BB bets $130, Hero calls $130, Button calls $130

River: ($695) 5 (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $444, 2 folds

Total pot: $695 | Rake: $3

Results:
Hero didn’t show 7, 6 (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won $692

On the one hand, a bunch of draws missed, and I probably raise monsters on the turn. On the other hand, this looks like a strange spot to bluff, and I probably can value bet thinnish here (like KJ+) and maybe even flat call weaker two-pairs on the turn.  Read the complete post...

A recent study finding tremendous academic gains for students participating in urban debate leagues has meant great things for the Boston Debate League, not only because of the impressive findings themselves, but because of the opportunity for publicity. Here’s a recent local news piece featuring compelling interviews with some of our students and coaches.

In a nutshell, the peer-reviewed study finds that debaters in urban public high schools are far more likely to improve their reading, writing, and English language skills, graduate high school, and attend college than are their non-debating counterparts.

It’s very important to note that this is not a self-selecting group. The two students interviewed here aren’t necessarily the best examples of this, but debate appeals to a wide variety of students. This includes English Language Learners, students achieving at well below grade level, students with a history of academic or behavioral problems, and even young people involved with gangs and drugs. In fact, the opportunity to engage with academic subjects in an active, student-centered way often holds unique appeal for students who have been turned off by more passive learning methods or who have failed to thrive in the traditional classroom.  Read the complete post...

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em, $20.00 BB (2 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (SB) ($7800.50)
BB ($4029.50)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A, K
Hero bets $60, BB raises to $220, Hero raises to $499, BB calls $279

Flop: ($998) 2, 9, 10 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($998) 3 (2 players)
BB bets $500, Hero calls $500

River: ($1998) 9 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1111, 1 fold

Total pot: $1998 | Rake: $0.50

Results:
Hero didn’t show A, K (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won $1997.50

Villain is pretty good at making thin value bets and will probably bet any pair here after I check the flop. Of course on the flop I intended to play my hand as a bluff-catcher, but the sizing of his turn bet made me second-guess that. I decided I was better off trying to bet him off a pocket pair or maybe even a T. I’m sure I have best hand here somewhat often, but I think bluffing is slightly more profitable than just showing down. That would change if I thought Villain were often going for a check-raise (bluff or value, doesn’t really matter), and though it’s a decent spot, I didn’t think he was.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em, $10.00 BB (4 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($594.25)
Button ($375)
SB ($711.25)
Hero (BB) ($2190)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9, 8
1 fold, Button bets $25, SB calls $20, Hero calls $15

Flop: ($75) K, 7, 2 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, Button checks

Turn: ($75) 10 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, Button bets $40, SB raises to $80, Hero raises to $275, 2 folds

Total pot: $275 | Rake: $2

Results:
Hero didn’t show 9, 8 (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won $273

If I’m going to have a bluffing range here at all, and it’s very possible that I shouldn’t, but if I’m going to have one, this hand has to be a part of it. I think you see enough little spaz min-check-raises here from guys who don’t actually have monsters but just don’t want to see another card, and I’m showing enough strength by cold shoving, that I want to have at least a tiny non-value range in this spot. And what better to do it with than a monster draw?

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em, $20.00 BB (2 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (SB) ($5294)
BB ($4588)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 7, 5
Hero bets $60, BB calls $40

Flop: ($120) 9, 8, 6 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $77, BB raises to $240, Hero calls $163

Turn: ($600) K (2 players)
BB bets $400, Hero raises to $1444, BB calls $1044

River: ($3488) 7 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Total pot: $3488 | Rake: $0.50

Results:
Hero had 7, 5 (straight, nine high).
BB had 9, 8 (two pair, nines and eights).
Outcome: Hero won $3487.50

This is a crappy river for a number of reasons. It downgrades my hand to the 3rd nuts, it makes it a lot easier for Villain to have the second nuts, and it polarizes my range to the point where the only worse hands that call a shove will be bluff-catchers. The big sticking point for me is Villain’s flat call on the turn. I expected him to shove his value hands, so when I called, I thought he’d often be drawing. He’s not calling a river shove with a busted spade draw, and if he had something like TJ or Tsxs, he got there. I was surprised to see 98, though I actually think this is a good way to play it. It just wasn’t what I was expecting.

We were looking for a place to stay last night in Estes Park, a resort town just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. During the summer, the place is apparently over run with tourist families, but in December it’s a ghost town and lodging prices plummet. After walking out on one proprietress of a near-empty hotel who wouldn’t come down more than 5% on her price, we walked into a lobby presided over by a sweet, grandmotherly old lady named LuJean Dunlap.

She was cheerfully plump, with a knitted sweatshirt, bifocals, and a kind smile. But let me tell you, this little old lady was a straight hustler. We asked about rates for the night, and she trotted out the high-end stuff first:

“I’ve got a beautiful cabin, right on the river, hot tub, fireplace, kitchen, barbeque grill, doesn’t that sound like fun? That goes for $180.” She smiled encouragingly but we just gave her the silent treatment until she continued.

“Our intermediate lodges have fireplace and kitchen, they’re two-room suites, those go for $115.” Silence.

“And then I’ve got motel rooms,” she said with a discouraging frown. “Just a standard room, one queen and one twin, for $50.”

We smiled and looked each other. “That sounds good,” we told her.  Read the complete post...

Happy Thanksgiving! I know I’m a few days late, but I do want to thank all of my readers, especially those of you who read and comment regularly. I generally enjoy blogging and am pretty sure that reviewing my thought processes publicly is helpful to my bottom line as well. Still, for an egomaniac like me, it’s very rewarding to know that I am not just writing into the void but that there are people who enjoy reading what I have to say, who find it helpful, and who take the time to offer their own thoughts, questions, and disagreements.

My latest article for 2+2 Magazine, Relative Hand Strength, is a small token of my appreciation. In my opinion, the subject matter is among the most advanced that I’ve ever made widely available for free (i.e. to folks who are not students of mine or members of Poker Savvy Plus). It’s a concept that even some high-stakes players don’t fully grasp, yet something that even small stakes players would do well to consider at the table:

“You won’t always be able to calculate your equity with such precision, but there are three key points to take away from this example that will help you with real-time decision-making. The first is that there is a lot of value in dominating the portion of your opponent’s range that is “drawing”….  Read the complete post...