Post Archives Tag: loose aggressive

2017 Podcast Countdown: First Place

I’m glad – blown away, really – that so many of you enjoy listening to the Thinking Poker Podcast. Ultimately, though, it’s a selfish endeavor (for me anyway, don’t want to speak for Nate here). I do it because it’s good for me. Poker is a stressful pursuit, and often … Read full post

December 31, 2017 No Comments

WCOOP Day 20 ($500 6-Max)

My birthday always falls during WCOOP, so it’s been a long time since I took it as a vacation day. But this year’s events felt more skippable than usual (the only thing I was really tempted to play was the $2100 PKO, and even then, the mid-week $2K events just … Read full post

October 15, 2017 No Comments

WCOOP Day 16 ($530 NLHE, $109 NLHE Day 2)

Monday was going to be a day off, but since I was going to be playing Day 2 of the $109 anyway, I decided to reg a few other tournaments, including the $530 NLHE WCOOP. That one got off to a good start, but I soon ended up in a … Read full post

September 22, 2017 No Comments

WCOOP Day 14 ($530 Progressive Knockout and $215 6-Max Rebuy)

I slept poorly on Thursday night, probably a combination of adrenaline from making a significant final table with drinking caffeine later than usual (because of the final table) and replaying (ok, beating myself up over) some key hands in my head. I hadn’t planned to take Friday off, but the … Read full post

September 17, 2017 No Comments

WCOOP Day 3 ($215 Rebuy, $530 Super Tuesday)

The $215 rebuy started with a bang, as I got all in on the flop on the very first hand holding KJ vs QJ on JJT, only to get rivered for a stack. Not really a big deal, it was a $215 bad beat, but it set that “every damn … Read full post

September 6, 2017 3 Comments

WCOOP Day 2 ($215 PLO 6-Max, $1050 PKO, $530 8-max NLHE)

Emily and I did some extensive grocery shopping in the morning, returning in just enough time for me to squeeze in a quick workout before the start of the $1050 Progressive Knock-Out. I late registered the $215 PLO around the same time. I’m barely competent at PLO, but I do … Read full post

September 5, 2017 No Comments

A Thin Shove

My latest poker strategy article, A Thin Shove, is now appearing in Two Plus Two Magazine. It covers in great detail a large pot that I briefly mentioned on Twitter, in which I won a big pot by three-betting TT and then going bet-bet-shove with an overpair after the … Read full post

April 2, 2017 No Comments

Suicide Shove

This is the “absurd” hand I referenced on Twitter yesterday. I want to be clear that I’m not posting this as an example of a hand that seems bad but I think is actually good. It was a badly played hand, I don’t have any delusions about that. I do … Read full post

February 27, 2017 1 Comment

WPT Maryland

Somehow it took me 12 years to get around to playing a World Poker Tour event, but I played my first one over the weekend at Maryland Live. Overall it was a well-run and well-attended event and I’m glad I played.

My Day 1A table draw was quite tough, I … Read full post

October 6, 2016 2 Comments

Rate Our Play: Blind Battle

It’s called Rate Our Play. I’m going to post a hand featuring multiple decisions points for both myself and my opponent(s). Your job will be to comment on any mistakes (or choices that surprised you in a good way) that you think either of us made. I’ll participate in the … Read full post

September 13, 2016 20 Comments

So Tempting…

The Backstory

I’m currently in Maryland visiting family and have been to Maryland Live a few times. It’s been quite busy; even when I arrived around 4 yesterday there was already a long list for 5/10 and 10/25 and no open tables to start a new game. So, I ended … Read full post

August 20, 2016 No Comments

They’re More Afraid of You

Sorry for the recent, worse-than-usual silence. Immediately after the WSOP, Emily and I moved out of our apartment (big job!) and then took a two-week vacation. There were also some technical difficulties with the latest podcast, though we hope to have resolved them and to be able to bring you … Read full post

August 5, 2016 No Comments

WSOP $1500 Bounty

I got off to a good start in this tournament, doubling through (but not quite stacking, and therefore not winning a bounty from, a tough player on my right). I tanked a bit on the river decision, even though I was pretty sure I was calling, and that seemed to … Read full post

June 27, 2016 3 Comments

Monster Stack and a Monster Fold

I’m in Las Vegas! I arrived Thursday night and played my first event, the Monster Stack, on Friday morning. It was great starting with 300BBs and the value was clear to see, but unfortunately I took a big hit early that really hindered my ability to take advantage of the … Read full post

June 25, 2016 12 Comments

The Thinking Poker Diaries, Volume 8 Now Available!

vol8threedeeThe eighth installment in my Thinking Poker Diaries series, which tells the story of my summers at the World Series of Poker, is now available. Unlike past volumes, this one covers many preliminary events as well as the 2013 Main Event. In particular, includes a report from the $1500 PLO8 … Read full post

May 12, 2016 No Comments

Battle of the Bay, Part 2

Based on how risk-averse everyone seemed to be during the latter half of Day 1, I expected the start of Day 2, with 43 people competing for 40 prizes, to go quite slowly. In fact, we saw four eliminations in three hands, and just like that, the bubble was over.… Read full post

November 25, 2015 5 Comments

Just Released! The Thinking Poker Diaries Volume 6

cover_7fcd65a2-b494-44c9-ad82-075a3bdad5f6_grandeMy sixth e-book tells the story of my 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event, in which I finished 53rd. Like the other volumes, it features an entertaining trip report from the tournament interspersed with essays discussing strategic concepts that play an important role in each day’s success.

Pick up … Read full post

October 17, 2015 No Comments

What’s Your Play? Pair Plus Draw

Playing $5/$10 NLHE with $3000 effective stacks. Villain 1 is among the better regulars in the game, and, I believe, considers me tough and capable. I started to say that he doesn’t like to fold big hands to me, but he also knows how to avoid stacking off to strong … Read full post

September 6, 2015 18 Comments

Thinking Poker Diaries, Volume 5

Depending on your definition of exciting, you might be interested to hear that my latest book has hit the digital shelves! The fifth volume of The Thinking Poker Diaries chronicles my 87th place finish the 2010 WSOP Main Event. Day by day, it introduces the situations and opponents I encountered … Read full post

July 19, 2015 3 Comments

WSOP $1K Turbo

Delightful little tournament. As in the Millionaire Maker the day before, I found plenty of good spots in a short amount of time and finished with time left over to play cash.

The table was, perhaps not quite as good as the previous day’s, but pretty spectacular. I made good … Read full post

June 7, 2015 10 Comments

Millionaire Maker Day 1B

Today went pretty much perfectly. I had an amazing table draw in the Millionaire Maker, put my money in good several times, busted in just a few hours, got a seat in 10/25 game, won back my MM entry and then some, registered for tomorrow’s $1K turbo, and got home … Read full post

June 7, 2015 10 Comments

Millionaire Maker Day 1A

Man ten-handed, short-stacked poker is the nut low, but at the same time it’s plain to see how much value there is in this tournament. Our discussion on the latest podcast makes me tempted to just go play something I’ll enjoy more, and I’m still a little on the fence, … Read full post

June 5, 2015 No Comments

WSOP $1500 6max

I just finished 120th in this, out of 1600 or so. It was a fun and interesting tournament, and I want to share a few hands here while they’re still on my mind:

Facing a Donk Bet

I opened 2.5x from the CO with As Tc, a good player in … Read full post

June 4, 2015 10 Comments

SCOOP Day 10: Super Tuesday

I got off to a bad start in this tournament and didn’t recover in time to survive a lost coin flip, but there was at least one interesting pot. My river bet here is about 1.5x pot. This is a somewhat “experimental” line, but I think there’s a fair chance
… Read full post
May 22, 2015 1 Comment

SCOOP Day 7: 4-Max and Variable Levels

Today was the most frustrating day I’ve had so far, though I suppose that’s in part because it comes on the backs of several other frustrating days. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, because I know I’ve said this here before, but I can swallow my share … Read full post

May 16, 2015 2 Comments

SCOOP Day 2: Heads Up and Full Ring Rebuy

I decided to unregister the Low buy-in heads up event, because heads up really isn’t a game I can autopilot in the corner of my screen the way I’ve generally been doing with the Low events, and I didn’t want to be distracted from a $700 heads up match by … Read full post

May 11, 2015 1 Comment

Don’t Judge Me Too Harshly

I made a pretty bad fold last night. I’m more than a bit embarrassed to post it, and I’ll just ask that those of you not familiar with the sort of game/player described here hold your judgment. I promise you that this isn’t as bad as it looks.

I was … Read full post

April 26, 2015 28 Comments

A Bad Time to Balance

$5/$10/$20 game with $2500 stacks.

UTG2 opens to $60, gets four calls, I call with 85s in the BB.

Flop A85r (no backdoor for me), checks to the second caller, who bets $170. I call, everyone else folds.

Turn A. We both check.

River 4.

At this point I’m almost … Read full post

April 11, 2015 15 Comments

What’s Your Play? Suited Gapper In Position, Deep

Sorry but there’s no new podcast this week. The show will return next Monday, April 6, with Matt Savage as the guest. In the meantime, here’s a What’s Your Play? to occupy your mind:

The game is $5/$10 with $2500 effective stacks. Hero is widely perceived as tough but a … Read full post

March 31, 2015 23 Comments

What’s Your Play? KJo in the BB Results

Thanks for all the comments on What’s Your Play? KJo in the BB. I think my favorite was Carlos’ remark that, “The goal in this hand is not to go after the fish. It is to go after the shark who is going after the fish. He has made himself … Read full post

March 6, 2015 3 Comments

Looking for the latest content?

Blog Home
Podcast Home

...or want to keep exploring?

Visit the archives home
Explore other archives by category:
Search