thejimsheet

So, I didn’t play in the TD or 8game tourneys, mostly due to wanting to watch football.   Lame, whatever.   But, it’s Tuesday, and I feel my expectation is probably highest in Razz anyways (maybe higher in TD, but also more variance there).   At 1:30 Pacific time, the Razz tourney starts.   I will be updating my progress, or lack thereof, here.

Update #1 : 12 minutes in and no playable hands.   Started at 3k, down to 2860.

Update #2:   Very next hand, win, up to 3175.    I don’t know if I should start posting HH.   Pretty basic right now.

Update #3:  30 minute levels.   End of 1st level, I’m at 3850.

Update #4:  40 minutes in, we have lost a player.     YAY!

Update #5:  60 minutes, 2 levels, up to 5125.

Update #6:  Played a hand three way.   Good on third, caught a K on 4th, called when I didn’t have to (but it was close), 3rd player actually folded 4th, so when bettor caught a K on 5th, I was ahead.   Brick/brick, and I actually folded the river.  I almost never fold the river in a cash game, but saving that bet is obviously more important here.    I guess it might have been a mistake, but I don’t think so.    Anyways, down to 4500.

Update #7:   I can make thin value bets and close folds, making and saving extra bets, as much as I can.   And, I’m usually good about knowing where I am in a hand that allows me to do this well, giving me a nice edge in Razz.   But, as with any tournament, you gotta catch some cards to win.   I just lost another hand without a showdown, and am now down to 4100. We are down over 100 players now (1288 to start, 1180 now, 192 get paid).

Update #8:  4190 at the 2nd break.   No rush yet.   Basically, I want 7 big bets to start a hand in a limit tourney.   BB is 300 after the break.    But, I will say that you can wait longer in 7 stud games than limit HE or Omaha, due to the antes and bring in.

Update #9:  This is the most I’ve ever spent on a tourney, IIRC.  I guess I should be nervous, but I’m not.

Update #10:   Just got over 6k.   Over 25% of field gone.   Still a long way to go, obviously.

Update #11: First semi-interesting hand, so you get a HH.   Down to under 5k now.

PokerStars Game #20280733177: Tournament #200800010, $200+$15 Razz Limit - Level V (150/300) - 2008/09/09 19:01:18 ET
Table ‘200800010 162′ 8-max
Seat 1: Gunslinger3 (2045 in chips)
Seat 2: thejim2020 (6035 in chips)
Seat 3: briaann1 (8045 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 4: caprioli (4845 in chips)
Seat 5: cypherf22 (2975 in chips)
Seat 6: BestarOunder (2225 in chips)
Seat 7: KRIST3N (2315 in chips)
Seat 8: rzepa (5115 in chips)
Gunslinger3: posts the ante 15
thejim2020: posts the ante 15
briaann1: posts the ante 15
caprioli: posts the ante 15
cypherf22: posts the ante 15
BestarOunder: posts the ante 15
KRIST3N: posts the ante 15
rzepa: posts the ante 15
*** 3rd STREET ***
Dealt to Gunslinger3 [8d]
Dealt to thejim2020 [Ad 5h 7c]
Dealt to briaann1 [Qc]
Dealt to caprioli [Js]
Dealt to cypherf22 [Jd]
Dealt to BestarOunder [Qd]
Dealt to KRIST3N [Kc]
Dealt to rzepa [3d]
KRIST3N: brings in for 45
rzepa: raises 105 to 150
Gunslinger3: calls 150
thejim2020: raises 150 to 300
briaann1: folds
caprioli: folds
cypherf22: folds
BestarOunder: folds
KRIST3N: folds
rzepa: calls 150
Gunslinger3: calls 150
*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to Gunslinger3 [8d] [Td]
Dealt to thejim2020 [Ad 5h 7c] [5s]
Dealt to rzepa [3d] [7s]
rzepa: checks
Gunslinger3: checks
thejim2020: bets 150
rzepa: calls 150
Gunslinger3: folds
*** 5th STREET ***
Dealt to thejim2020 [Ad 5h 7c 5s] [Tc]
Dealt to rzepa [3d 7s] [6s]
rzepa: bets 300
thejim2020: calls 300
*** 6th STREET ***
Dealt to thejim2020 [Ad 5h 7c 5s Tc] [6h]
Dealt to rzepa [3d 7s 6s] [9h]
rzepa: checks
thejim2020: bets 300
rzepa: calls 300
*** RIVER ***
Dealt to thejim2020 [Ad 5h 7c 5s Tc 6h] [Qs]
rzepa: checks
thejim2020: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
thejim2020: shows [Ad 5h 7c 5s Tc 6h Qs] (Lo: T,7,6,5,A)
rzepa: shows [2h 2s 3d 7s 6s 9h 5c] (Lo: 7,6,5,3,2)
rzepa collected 2565 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2565 | Rake 0
Seat 1: Gunslinger3 folded on the 4th Street
Seat 2: thejim2020 showed [Ad 5h 7c 5s Tc 6h Qs] and lost with Lo: T,7,6,5,A
Seat 3: briaann1 folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: caprioli folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: cypherf22 folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 6: BestarOunder folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 7: KRIST3N folded on the 3rd Street
Seat 8: rzepa showed [2h 2s 3d 7s 6s 9h 5c] and won (2565) with Lo: 7,6,5,3,2

Update #12:   I draw bad.

Update #13:  At 4220 now.   Under average stack for the first time since the first few hands.

Update #14:   4100 going into level 6 (BB 400).   No missteps so far.   Need some luck and gotta be patient.

Update #15:  Down to 3k (starting stack).   This sucks.   Get lucky.   Be patient.   Repeat.

Update #16:  5200.   Be patient.   Get lucky.  Repeat.

Update #17:  Down to 3600.   Being patient, but not lucky.  Break in a few minutes.   BB = 600 after break.

Update #18:  Down to 3k again.   Frustrated but not anxious.  Time for a rush after break.  Ok, it’s break.  Almost 1/2 the field gone (45%).   Ideally, I should be at about 9k.   Ok, so just win a couple hand, Jim.   Ok, thanks, I will.

Update #19: Down to 2300.  As VVP would say, I’m on the morphine drip.

Update #20:  1800.  3 BB.  I won’t be in any hand mode for awhile (less than 1), but can no longer call completes on 3rd, and now must reraise or fold.   YAY.

Update #21:  First one to get my blood pumping a bit:

PokerStars Game #20282266594: Tournament #200800010, $200+$15 Razz Limit - Level VII (300/600) - 2008/09/09 20:07:49 ET
Table ‘200800010 162′ 8-max
Seat 1: Gunslinger3 (3930 in chips)
Seat 2: thejim2020 (1770 in chips)
Seat 3: briaann1 (5150 in chips)
Seat 4: caprioli (5905 in chips)
Seat 5: cypherf22 (4970 in chips)
Seat 6: apolo321 (14590 in chips)
Seat 7: KRIST3N (3710 in chips)
Seat 8: rzepa (3475 in chips)
Gunslinger3: posts the ante 30
thejim2020: posts the ante 30
briaann1: posts the ante 30
caprioli: posts the ante 30
cypherf22: posts the ante 30
apolo321: posts the ante 30
KRIST3N: posts the ante 30
rzepa: posts the ante 30
*** 3rd STREET ***
Dealt to Gunslinger3 [9s]
Dealt to thejim2020 [7h 5h 4h]
Dealt to briaann1 [5s]
Dealt to caprioli [Kc]
Dealt to cypherf22 [3s]
Dealt to apolo321 [5c]
Dealt to KRIST3N [3d]
Dealt to rzepa [2d]
caprioli: brings in for 90
cypherf22: folds
apolo321: raises 210 to 300
KRIST3N: folds
rzepa: folds
Gunslinger3: folds
thejim2020: raises 300 to 600
briaann1: folds
caprioli: folds
apolo321: calls 300
*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to thejim2020 [7h 5h 4h] [Js]
Dealt to apolo321 [5c] [Ts]
apolo321: checks
thejim2020: checks
*** 5th STREET ***
Dealt to thejim2020 [7h 5h 4h Js] [7d]
Dealt to apolo321 [5c Ts] [Th]
thejim2020: bets 600
apolo321: folds
Uncalled bet (600) returned to thejim2020
thejim2020 collected 1530 from pot
thejim2020: doesn’t show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1530 | Rake 0
Seat 1: Gunslinger3 folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: thejim2020 collected (1530)
Seat 3: briaann1 folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: caprioli folded on the 3rd Street
Seat 5: cypherf22 folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 6: apolo321 folded on the 5th Street
Seat 7: KRIST3N folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: rzepa folded on the 3rd Street (didn’t bet)
Stole on the next, and over 3k.

Update #22:   Seen WAY too many Kings today.

Update #23:   Level 8 = BB 800.   C’mon card rush.

Update #24:  Building a house.   1800.   Dead.   Tourney dead, card dead.   Dead.

Update #25:  Card rack took two of us out on one hand.   I hate losing.   481.

I finally made it out of my comfort zone and went to the Hard Rock tonight.   The room was as described, and yet the picture in my head of how all the pictures posted online was a different jigsaw than how it was actually put together.   I got on a new table about 10 minutes after getting there.   The play was actually pretty good.   There were a couple over-aggressive guys, but one knew how to play LAG well and the other donked off his whole stack (300) in one orbit, although none to me.   There were a couple newbies, but one went broke and one left before I could get any of his chips.   I couldn’t get much in the way of cards.   No pocket pairs, other than sixes that took down a very small pot and jacks which lost to kings.   No draws completed.   Ran a couple moves, but generally spiraled toward the drain.   On my last hand, I was in the BB (with only 120 in my stack), limped around, I have 84o, check.  Flop 842.   I have a new habit of not checking dark, but checking without looking when first to act (basically checking dark without alerting the table to the fact).   German dude bets 10, Stu Ungar wannabe calls, I call.   Turn 7, completing the four suit rainbow.   I check, German bets 20, Stuey calls.   Ok, I couldn’t get crazy on the flop, but now I’m committed to the pot.   I shove.   German thinks, calls, not good,   Stuey thinks, folds.   German has 87, no miracle 4, and IGHN.

I have never won a jackpot, so don’t really enjoy having that extra dollar taken out of pots.

The “Hard Rock Straddle” was interesting.   Only a couple of us on the table were doing it, which surprised me.   I stopped doing it when we got shorthanded at one point, but now think that it’s even better to do it in that scenario.   I also stopped when we were full and the pots got big for about half an hour, thinking that the crazy action negated it and just having the button was advantage enough.   I now think that is wrong, too.   You may be throwing 4 away, but to get true last action is MORE beneficial with gambly guys at the table.   After thinking it over, I really think that you need to put it on every time you’re the button, without exception, even when you get brain ROT (Result Oriented Thinking).

I like both Texas Tech and Notre Dame, of course, but will stay away from listing them here.   I don’t know why, since I’m not betting.   It doesn’t matter.   But, I’m taking this semi-seriously.   I went 2-0 last week.   Obviously, there’s nowhere to go but down.    Given my track record, I’m confident I can turn that into a losing record this week.   Ok, here are the picks:

Duke +6.5 v. NW

WV -7.5 @ ECU

UT - 26.5 @ UTEP

GTech +6.5 @ BC

NYJ - 3 @ MIA

DET - 3 @ ATL

BUF -1 v. SEA

PHI -7.5 v. STL

DAL -6 @ CLE

OAK +3 v. DEN

Good luck, kids.

I had worked really hard on my first preview for the NFL, as I have lamented multiple times here.   I did no such hard work for the colleges.   Already, I am reversing on my early pick of OSU over USC.    UNLV will be bad.   SMU will win 4 (I hope).   Tech will win at least one game they shouldn’t, and probably lose at least one game they shouldn’t.   Notre Dame could win 9, but they probably won’t.   I don’t see any “mid-majors” running the table this year.  The SEC teams will beat each other up, again. I “think” UT-OU will be a game between undefeateds again.   If OU wins, I’ll take them against USC in the NC game.   If not, I’ll take a one-loss SEC team (LSU, probably).

Ok, that’s it.   My give a shit meter doesn’t  go crazy about writing a college preview when it’s late and nobody else cares, either.

I’ll be back with my best picks for the weekend tomorrow.

AFC division champs - NE, BAL, TEN, and SD Wildcards - HOU and NYJ

No Indy.   Baltimore winning the division with a rookie QB.   Dumb.   But, there it is.

NFC division champs - DAL, MIN, SEA, and NO Wildcards - TB and PHI

Better, but pretty vanilla.

Give me NO and NE in the Super Bowl.   And, I’ll take the Patriots to win it all.

Best bets for regular season win O/U - BAL over 6, GB under 8.5, KC under 5.5, MIN over 8.5, NO over 8.5, and SEA over 8.5

7:30 Wake up.   Late already.   Text Dave and let him know we’re running late.

8:00 Get off bigstack and actually get ready.

8:18 Walk outside to wait for Heather to be ready so we can go.

8:19 Notice sound of running water.   Notice flooded side yard.   Huh.   Well, yeah, I noticed the sprinklers in back were running weak last night, and figured there was a break in the line somewhere, but just planned to call on Tuesday.   Turned off sprinklers.   Cool.   Now I know there was running water flooding my yard and my neighbor’s yard all night.   Call Brent, my sprinkler specialist in Dallas, and decide what he’s telling me to do is difficult and dirty.   Turn off water to house at the street and talk Tech football for a couple minutes.

8:35 Actually head to Dave’s.

9:00 Jack in the Box.   Nice.   I used to stop by Jackindacrack once a week on my way to the train station.   No wonder I’m fat.   Good breakfast.   Punk loitering teens listening to jamz on crappy cell phone.   I’m old.

9:15 Get on the road.   Notice Dave’s car has alignment problem.   HAHA.

10:00 Making good time, past Primm and into Cali.   I read my poker book for awhile, talk poker with Dave and Heather, and then nod off for a little nap.

11:00 Stop in Barstow for some good snacks and a restroom break.   I also get a souvenir, totally outshopping Heather and Dave.  They are visibly jealous of my new glass.
1:00 Rolling into LA.   Dodger Stadium not open yet.   We decide Dave’s car has gotten worse and drive all around the barrio before finding a big, reputable Pep Boys that Dave feels comfortable stopping at (he doesn’t want to go somewhere that sells llantas, for some reason).

3:45 Car fixed, good as new.   Tire had serious damage.   No time for Hollywood or the beach.   It’s back to Dodger Stadium we go.

4:45.   In our free seats, and Maddux is warming up.   This is why we are here.   Dave and I talked about going to a Dodger game a couple years ago when Maddux was pitching and didn’t make it.   I’ve seen the Braves play in Houston and Boston, but never timed it right to see Maddux.   I’ve seen Pedro and Curt and Roger and Smoltz and the Big Unit.   But, never Maddux.

6:45 Maddux has pitched well (meaty, but well) giving up 2 in 5 and 2/3, making a couple plays on the mound, and even getting a RBI.   I’ve had a Dodger dog.   I’m a happy man.

7:30  Dave wants to beat traffic instead of staying until the end.   I’m a stay until the end type, but it’s cool, let’s go.

12:00 Back at home.   Heather, Dave, and I had a fantastic day.   I have now been to California.

Happy Labor Day to all.

In addition to quitting smoking, I’m planning on continuing successfully in the workout bet a few of us have over at the forums.   I believe both will help my poker.

In addition, I want to add some poker goals.

I want to make money playing online.   That’s it for online.   Just be profitable (for the third month in a row).  I may add more next month.

I want to play at least 100 hours of +EV live 1/2 nlhe.   When I came out here, my plan was to play between 200 and 250 hours a month.   I have yet to hit 100 in a month, and in fact, fall short of 100 over the last 2 months combined.   Even with what I consider a decent hourly rate, that’s not enough time on the tables to make a living.   What do I mean by +EV hours?   I mean I will ask for a table change if my table isn’t good, move to another casino if no table is good, and go home if I can’t find a casino with good action (or if I’m ‘off’ for any reason).

I want to finish reading and/or reread the five good nlhe cash game books I have now.

I want to watch at least one instructional video a day (yes, I finally joined a site), get better with PokerTracker (yes, I finally got it, at least the free trial), and I want to make at least 10 quality blog posts centered on poker hands and/or theory.

I want to attend at least five discussion group meetings (there’s two a week, so this is doable).

Good luck, me.

Ok, September 1 and I’ve been smoking again.   I am hereby quitting again.   Let’s see how long I last this time.