Nick Lane Talks Poker

The Latest

Hey everyone it has been ages since I posted on here how about I get you caught up. Or the non poker playing that I have encountered over the last 4 months. Anyway basically to sum it up I have played at a minimum online and nothing live at all.

The Setup

Everybody starts out with 6k in chips and the starting blinds are 25/50 the pay out is 3 places and tonight he had 8 people participate I guess on a normal basis there is 12-14 people. After the re buys the pay out was 30,70,140.

My Start

Basically I just folded a few rounds and sat patiently. I hit a flush on the river out of the big blind against a flopped 2 pair that this guy slow played and it bit him in the ass. Not to much later, I pick up with the blinds at 100/200 I made it 600 to go in middle position and I got 2 callers. The flop came out action goes check, bet 1k I go instantly all in and was called. This guy to the right of me flips over the turn brought him a double gutter with his outs being any Queen, 9, or a King I was sweating it out. The river put out a blank and I picked up a much needed pot and started to command the action in late position only. If I would of lost this pot I would of been under 1k and most likely out in 8th place and a early night.

Knockout Stages

We still had our original 8 when the re buys were over after the 1st hour. I was 2nd in chips and looking good with the average stack of the other players were about half of what I had. With this in mind I had the confidence to have a money showing for sure. I stole the blinds a couple of times from late position and kinda just hung around waiting for the blinds to climb up to have some people just go all in cause they had to. I picked up I raised 3 times the big blind and he goes all in I called after deliberation. The host had I pulled it out and took out the 1st guy. After some play we were down to 6. Play was pretty tight I was caught stealing a pot and stole some pots just hanging in that 2nd place spot and waiting for people to make mistakes. I ended up taking out the 6th place guy with in a 3 way all in pot with the short stack all in and with me and the other guy checking it down.

3 Handed

After a knockout of the guy to the left of me and a showdown pre flop with vs we are in the money and now down to 3 players the blinds at this point are 500/1k. With being 2nd place in chips and 2.5-1 behind the chip leader I was hoping to get my money in good and see what happens. I picked up in the small blind and it was a 3 way limp pot. The flop comes out I bet out 3,500 and the chip leader goes all in after not much thought I called pretty quick. He shows with outs being an 7 or a diamond to catch I did not get unlucky and won. This was a huge pot that turned all the momentum to me cause I ended up doubling up through the chip leader and have all the makings now to win. I took out the former chip leader with you guessed it vs .

Heads Up and Food for Thought

We get down to heads up and it took about 30 hands going into the heads up match I had at least a 3-1 chip lead. In the Beginning he won a few pots and narrowed the gap a little bit. I proceed to chip away at his dwindling chip stack with a lot of flop betting and pre flop raising. I ended up with the winning hand of and he didn't connect with that I was happy to end about 4hrs of play and the win. He was kind enough to take the picture that I now have on my Facebook page.

With this being a weekly thing on a Thursday I am very happy that I can finally play in a weekly game. A big thank you to Steven for inviting me to the game and a thank you to Anh for hosting. With that I am ready for bed it is 3:15 am. Take care and may all your pots be monster.

Smashed on Cake

Hey everyone, I have played enough in the last week to write another post about my play and my goal to obtain from my last post. First off I wanted to give you a great update on Cake, playing some 25/50 while smashing that today. I then went to a 50/1 table and got lucky on the river on two hands that I misread and felt like I received a gift to win. Regardless, I now have 415 in the account and very happy about it now I can regularly play 10/20 and go for 15 dollars per session. That seems like the correct winning ratio for my account balance at the moment. After the next section I will talk about the hands that I escaped in and doubled up in both.

La Center On Thursday

When I last left you, my live roll had 220 and going into Thursday I went with 270 after a nice win at Justin's cash game which was up down then up again. I only wanted to play the 2/8 spread game and started off on a terrible start. I lost my 100 that I bought in based on terrible whole cards, bad flops, and when I had somewhat of a good hand I would keep getting raised and forced to fold. I bought in for my last 170 ( All of my bankroll) and after 30 minutes or so I caught fire by turning the nuts with a gut shot and made some nice money. Then the next hand I had and flopped a set I got a max bet on the turn and river out of it. Later we had to combine tables I brought $213 over by this time it was 2am or so. I proceeded to flop a flush in a 5 way pot with and won a very nice pot and knocked out 2 people in the process. Lost a pot by flopping a gut-shot and a flush draw on the flop, I did win with three times twice by bluffing but felt like I played the hands correct with my foes not showing strength. Overall after 5 and a half hours of play I was down 70 which is good to climb out of an early hole. I was able to play a whole bunch of hands now sitting at 200 looking to play again up there but that will have to be in the future.

Hands that I escaped on Cake

The first hand that I will discuss, involves me having with a 7 high board I bet out and was raised thinking I can get him off his hand. I shoved he called with and this was for most of my account with a on the river I doubled up. The second hand was with me having I raised 6 dollars preflop with one caller to the flop. It came out with I bet out 15 and was called the hit the turn I immediately shoved he insta called with . I proceeded to river a for the win I left the table soon after. Now I am going to take a couple of days off and not think about the session and re group before I go into the 10/20 cent bankroll play.

Concerns

Lately when the flop comes out with 3 flush boards I am assuming that they don't want to call. With there suit being to low for there draw or won't call with top pair and a good kicker cause they would think that they are running into a monster that they can be potentially drawing dead to. I am also over valueing pocket pairs on low boards. With my pair higher then what the flop brings out. It looks like I am just misreading the strgenth of hands. I am just assuming that I am either good to make this play or just think that my pocket pair is good enough to call an all in. Maybe it is me not being as sharp any suggestions from the pokersoup community?

Food for Thought

This will be a brief section but now with 618 combine with both the live and online bankrolls. My goal is in site stay tuned for posts coming up, upon which I will give everyone new updates on my progress in the meantime, Take care and may all your pots be monster.

Update

I wanted to start out by saying good luck to Jason, Jeff & Stephen then last but not least Adrian in your events at the WSOP. In my last post I was talking about my live bankroll, well with moving into my new place that has been stagnet but what has been going on is my online play. I said that I busted my $100 that I deposited. Well, I received $2.20 in rakeback and after I got my internet, in less then 3 weeks with playing on average of a half hour a day playing the ranks of 2/4 cent then some 5/10 I have been dominating the 5/10 cent game and I now have $150. After play this weekend I am just under $150 but it is actually alot of fun to findout what I can turn this into from 2.20. I am playing 2 tables of 5/10 cent and trying to win an average of 10 bucks a day and move up from there.

Food for Thought

This was just a quick update on everything, I am wanting to see about playing with my live roll of $220 and go play the 2/8 spread game at La Center and build from that amount. My goal is to get to 1k and make a Vegas trip for myself and play nonstop hoping that goal will be obtained by the end of the year. Until next time play well and may all your pots be monster.

P.S.

Be sure to checkout Jason & Adrian's progress on his twitter page after noon on Monday to track how they are doing in a 1,500 event in the WSOP.

Intro

Hey sorry about having no posts in the last 2 months. I have not been playing much (especially live) lost again on Cake running into bad luck but this time it is for half of my original investment from the previous time so not the end of the world. In the meantime live play has been on the after burners with typing up the strategy and finally finishing that last month I would say a main focus on my agenda.

Ashland Trip

As usual when I go and see a best friend of mine Brian that lives now in Ashland. I will play once at the 7 Feathers Casino in Canyonville about an hour north of Ashland. Where the 3/6 game to me is very easy people limping in on every hand!! calling you down with inferior kickers and will call raises it is almost like heaven at times. This time being last Thursday, I was only able to play for 45 minutes. I started out getting flopping top pair in a 3 way capped pot. I Kept betting out until the river and the guy folded to me taking down a nice pot. I am dealt in the SB I raised and was called 4 way pot to the flop. I missed the flop and bet out on the turn after missing again and getting 1 caller then I missed the river. I tried to fire again but it was a dumb move. This guy called me with the top pair on board which was an 8 not that big of a loss. I get dealt I proceeded to turn trip kings in a 3 way pot. I got a caller all the way to the river. Finally, what is great in the strategy playing Ax suited is a great option especially in limit I have I flopped 2 pair with 1 caller and 1 other is all in I turn the house with a and get a caller all the way and rake in a nice pot.

After flopping top pair with Ace rag non suited and flop top pair with Q10. Three people cash out bringing us down to 3 handed and ending the game, it was terrible. I was seriously a tidal wave of destruction. I felt a rush night coming on but it didn't happen. I ended up cashing out with a total of 165 bucks. I bought in for 65 (losing some in roulette) coming out of the night ahead and knowing that this time I was just dealt very good hands more often then average. I didn't even have to think about my plays or question anything really which is nice to take a night off from time to time.

Pretty nuts in a span of 45 minutes you get delt Ak suited 3 times and Ak off suit once turn a full house and your top kicker holds twice it is a beautiful thing.

Food for Thought

Here I am now I am caught up with expenses I can proceed to keep money in my room again and keep a live bankroll for the 1st time in a longtime. I found out through email that the Bridgeview Rounders has a cash game that I can play in and will seriously look into playing in that game in the near future. Winning some money will help instead of taking my whole roll just to go and play 1 session. I would rather take my time and build. As for the total it is only 230 for now but it will grow. I had a 165 bankroll in my head that was in my "checking" account. After getting money back that I was owed I didn't have to worry about taking anything out of the bank. Now I am looking to hit up La Center and the crazy crazy 3/6 game that is there and really test out the strategy. Until then, play well and may all your pots be monster.

Introduction

Hey everybody how is play going? this post will consist of my bay area trip and what I did. Plus how two crazy calls that knocked me out of two tournaments that I played in the last two weeks.

Mackin Auto Body Charity Tournament

Let me give you the lowdown on how it was setup. Their was 65 people each player started with 7k in chips with 15 minute blind rounds. I got off to a very nice start by taking down a couple of pots early by just betting then I flopped top set with with the action of check calling on the flop then check raising the turn I proceeded to shove on the river (Unfortuniately he didn't call) after that hand I was the dominate stack then I ran into a hand that I wanted to talk about. I picked up I tripled the BB and got 3 callers. The flop came out I bet out 800 and was raised by a fairly good player. Without even thinking I shoved he called and he had I then proceeded to hit runner runner flush for the win after that pot I had a very nice stack for the long haul. After the break, I was bleeding chips by losing a pot with with only less then 20 players left I get moved to a different table where nobody knows how I am playing.

After folding 3 hands and two people getting knocked out I pick up under the gun with the blinds at 500/1000 with the blinds going up the very next hand to 1000/2000 I had about 18k in chips I tripled the BB to pick up the blinds and the big stack at the table calls. The flop comes out I bet out 4k and this guy took a longtime to call as he was looking at his hand in disgust then he decided to call showing 100% weakness the turn brings a I shove automatically and he quick called and shows . I couldn't believe that he would even call the flop let alone the turn when he has no pair no draw and has no idea how I play or how I am playing. The river didn't help and I was knocked out soon after, they went down to two tables and I left in disgust about that call I felt that he was folding 100% and with me showing strgenth the entire hand he still called with absolutly nothing just unbelieveable.

Jason Trip

After arrving to Foster city Jason and I went to Bay 101 In San Jose. Lucky enough the WPT Shooting Stars tournament was going on and it was a blast to watch the pro's play. I recognized 5 pro's there, which was cool enough to go and checkout. After eating dinner we were off to playing at Garden City which turned out to be a 3/6 session. Which was more fun then serious, we both enjoyed ourselves and came out ahead. The next night after Outback we headed to a guy's house who has a blog on the site and he holds a weekly 55$ dollar buy in tournament. His game holds about 16 people a nice setup in his garage and with good enough play this equaled a fun time. I did well in the beginning by winning a couple of small pots then in the small blind I pick up and I called the big blind with 3 people in the pot. The flop came out I check raised the big blind and after delibration he called. The hits the turn and the action goes check check. With the river bringing a I bet out and was called by trip queens trying to make a move on the best player at the table didn't work but it would of if he wiffed the flop. Which there was a good chance that was possible but not that time it happens I guess. Later in the tournament, I pick up on the button somebody in early position raises more then 3 times the big blind.

I re raised he pushed all in and after delibration I called he had Kings. I lost most of my stack, after thinking about the hand I feel like it was the wrong call but what are you going to do it is jacks. After being crippled and most likely soon to get out I picked up a few quality hands and with this situation at hand going all in is your only move I wasn't called 3 times with doing the all in move. Finally soon after the 1st break I am on the button and pick up I went all in after 1 person limped with the blinds at 600/1200 they are worth taking at this point. The person who limped ended up calling my 10k all in with and if he loses this pot he is in way worse shape then I am in at the moment. He ended up flushing me out on the river and I was knocked out I didn't like his call but you have to look at as if people are going to make calls like that and you don't get unlucky then you should do well in tournaments like that. Overall I enjoyed my time there and thank you to Tony for putting on the tournament.

Santa Cruz

The next night being a friday we were in Santa Cruz to help with Jason's girlfriend to move out of her place. After dinner, the two of us and Galen went to the Oceanview Cardroom which was in downtown Santa Cruz. To describe this place was interesting walking in for the 1st time It's kinda like walking through a strip mall and going into a store that is how big it was. There was 4 tables with dealers no food but had drinks like soda and beer. The location in that part of downtown was not very inviting to make it a habit to play there. With Jason telling me there has been stabbings right around the cardroom once I saw where it was at I can 100% believe that statement. After waiting for just about an hour for a table which was cutting into time to spend with my aunt and uncle that live in nearby Aptos. Jason finally got on then I got on the other table soon after. Where the action was pretty fast and furious the game was 3/100 spread limit which the action was great but when your getting bad cards it is unforuniate to watch big pot after big pot and getting delt shitty hands. I ended up getting and flopping top 2 pair and firing out a bet on the flop and wasn't called. The very next hand I tried to make a move with which didnt end up working out to well after getting re raised on my raise post flop. After that hand I just folded until Jason wanted to headout and so we did with only being able to play for about 45 minutes and down 50 bucks which kinda sucked but I was ready to leave with not being a fan of the place, but I can see why you would want to play their because the action is great but the location just sucks ass though.

Food for Thought

Overall the trip was a blast and I really enjoyed myself the whole time wish I could of played more holdem but it was a crazy weekend for Jason's schedule. Which is understandable, regardless I have more confidence that I am becoming a better limit player and have been wanting to play more limit then no limit lately. With a small bankroll that is not even worth mentioning I am looking for those couple of good sessions to get to the point to have a least 5 buyins at 3/6 to make it worth putting in the time. After finding out my new living situation as of May 1st, I will have more of an opportunity to pursue more play until then may all your pots be monster and stay tuned for more posts coming soon.

Ps:
I wanted to give out special thank you's to my cousin Kristen for giving me a ride from the family pinic back to Jason's. Also, thank you to my cousin Jordan for coming out to Palo Alto to visit my druken self upon which that night was a blast and I am glad he was there with his girlfriend.

Introduction

Hello everyone glad to be back on here telling you about my adventures in hold em. I am here to tell you about my unlucky hands that has dictated this post.

Palm Springs/Trip Description

The trip was consisted of golf,poker, sun, and spend time with grandparents that I hardly get to see. Golf didn't go well the 1st day but I put it together a lot better the 2nd day overall, I had a great time my two scores were a bad 93 then an 82 I was pretty happy overall because I haven't played much since October during my trip to the Bay Area.

The Poker

Ok, do you guys remember in last year's post about that computer hold em that I played at Fantasy Springs? if not go and check it out it is one of my favorite posts. This year I wanted to go and crush that game again, but they eliminated it. I was told it was losing money and no poker base (that is a bad combo) was the reasons. I am not supraised at all that is what you get by putting a douche bag machine in. I heard that Agua Caliente had a very good poker room so I ended up driving the 10 miles to get there and they weren't kidding 11 tables and games ranging from 2/5 NL to 3/6 kill.

3/6 Kill

I figured since I have been handing the table there asses lately at 3/6. With my stragedy that has been working, I figure I would sit at 3/6 and do well, after the first night results that was true. I turned the open ender with then flopping 2 pair with in the big blind I left with 125 up and a good session overall. The next night I played the same game at the same casino, I showed down two hands early and won. I was up 90 bucks early when a big hand happened I pick up and raise 6 people call. The flop comes out somebody bets out I raised and everybody called. The turn came out a two people check's, that gives me the ok to bet with confidence and did so. Three people called the river came out a which I thought it was the best card in the deck. I am thinking how can I lose this hand nobody has taken charge in the hand by raising me, I look like the aggressive player by betting like I have it the whole way. I was raised on the river and I called of course cause the pot was big for 3/6. This idiot had POCKET TWO'S wtf I couldn't believe it, I don't get why dumb ass people play hands like that and expect to win. I don't get the thinking of dumb players, maybe one day I will understand to be really bad at poker and get lucky!!!.

A bit later in the session I have in a kill pot which is only a half kill with the limits going to 4/8. I just call and we are 4 handed going to the flop. The flop came out I bet 4 and two people called. A hits the turn that gives me the nut flush draw to go with my top pair. I bet out the 8 and was raised by the same guy in the hand I discussed before. I called the river came a giving me a good enough showdown hand. I bet 8 and was raised again I quickly called this idiot ended up having just making me really mad. I didn't describe earlier that this guy doesn't even know what a big blind is, or how to bet or he never knows when the bet is to him. He just calls to see what happens it was a shit show!!! if you ask me and got me steaming, I got up and Brian had the pleasure of hearing me being really mad over a phone conversation then after I calmed down my night ended down 80 bucks.

Food for thought

After three sessions of limit and playing last Thursday at La center which ended badly I am down to 275 in my bankroll and just reeling. But, coming up in less then three weeks is the Bay Area trip, with Jason and company which will be a ton of 1/2 NL. I will be back with a post before my trip until then, play well and may all of your pots be monster.

Saving bets

I noticed something during my Canyonville session last Thursday playing 3/6. I lost a hand but saved at least 30 bucks compared to someone else at the table. While I was doing very well during my session, I picked up I made it 6 to go and 4 people called. The flop showed an ace which is pretty much death to your hand. What I did that just comes natural, I raised the flop and to hope to see a free river card to find out who has the ace then how many callers I would get, just as I anticipated everyone called. A king didn't hit the turn and the action was checked around, the river missed as well I only ended up losing 12 dollars. Later in the session some guy at the table that was not very skilled was on a hot streak and was up 200+. He had the same hand and the exact same scenario he ended up not raising preflop by not paying attention and not putting out the full 6, even though he said "raise" the casino called him on a string raise (hahaha dumb ass) he raised on the flop and called raises on the turn and river with 3 other people in the hand. Of course he lost and costed himself at least 25 dollars more by not figuring out how to play kings with an ace on a board in a muti way pot I just thought this was funny to point out.

Why I would mention this

If you want to be a good low limit player saving big bets is half the battle. For example, knowing when it is obvious from your foes that your 2nd pair is no good after the turn card comes. Also, chasing those gut shots is pretty much a waste of your time if you ask me.

My Limit Hold em Stragedy

Here are a couple of points I would like to mention so you can become good 3/6 hold em player: Hands that can get you in trouble are, , , etc. (If they are suited don't get sucked in to much unless you hit a monster flop) The reason why you ask? when you connect the flop your pair won't stand up in showdown, because your kicker is not good enough. Also, when you flop a pair and a straight draw it makes you lose to many big bets in the long run. I think they just get you in to much trouble post flop. Playing small pairs should be a limp or if you limped and someone raised then it is fine to try and spike your set otherwise they are useless for the most part. If you can show patience and play the drawing hands when it is mathematically correct and don't get sucked out on with your premium hands then over time you can be a successful low limit hold em player. Last but not least make sure when your playing hands like , , that it should be your position that would dictate when and how aggressive you play these hands. If somebody has already raised the pot, these kind of hands can really be the deciding factor for most of your sessions if your not careful.

Canyonville Session

Honestly there wasn't a defining hand to thoroughly discuss. I flopped top pair with and ended up winning a nice pot with 3 way action. I also won with then kinda just sat around I ended up winning 63 bucks and cashed out mostly because my buddy that I went with Brian he busted earlier and I didn't want to keep him waiting. I went to the Roulette table and after playing for 45min or so I won 50 bucks and only lost 4 color bets!!!! in that time span.

Altercation

Before I get into "Food for Thought" I wanted to mention this chump that freaked out on the dealer right before I sat down. As I was observing the table sitting with Brian there was a hand that ended up being like a 60 dollar pot or so. This guy was down to his last 5 dollars and is in a hand with this guy that bets the river. The dealer tells the guy "You can go all in for 5 or fold here" he ended up calling and wins the hand, so the other guy that loses he completely lost his cool by accusing the dealer of helping him go all in. The other players at the table was saying to him that "it didn't matter" but this guy was saying that it does matter cause he could of folded and the dealer was helping him. On the next hand he asks the dealer why she would say that and the floor was called on him and he said lol "That as a player I have a right to ask and also dropping 200 dollars I should be able to ask her this" I personally think he was completely in the wrong!!! and was not intelligent at the same time as we all know in the all in situation that even if you have bottom pair he was getting 13to1 on his money to put his last 5 bucks in you would have to be the dumbest person alive to fold there but I know everybody on the site knows that.

Food for thought

Well here I am with 600 in the bankroll back from the dead. Palm Springs is Thursday so once I leave I won't be on the site until at least Monday or Tuesday of the next week. Most likely I am looking at 3 nights of successful hold em playing 1/2 NL. The stragedy that I will be looking to execute is win small pots, play patient, and wait in the weeds for my big pot and hope not to get unlucky. I look at this trip either bust the 400 that I plan on bringing, or get to the amount that I could possibely go on another bankroll run. Stay tuned for another installment of a bankroll odyssey until then, May all your pots be monster.