Sit 'N Go Update

I've been playing quite a few sit and go's lately, trying to continue to build my bankroll. Sit and go's are a great way to build your bankroll and also to practice different tournament strategies. I started my bankroll with just an initial $100 deposit. I was playing $2 and $5 sit and go's, and was having very marginal success. That was the point where I decided I wanted to improve my game. Over time, I slowly built my bankroll up to about $300. At which point, I moved up to the $10 game. Back then, I didn't know much about bankroll management or recommended requirements for the different levels. I was playing well, but with scared money. So it took me a long time to continue to build my bankroll. Here's a little graph of how my bankroll has grown over time. I know there are more impressive stats out there. And I know there are players that have an ROI greater than mine. But I am still learning and growing as a player. I'll reach my goal in time.

I personally subscribe to the belief that you should maintain strict control of your bankroll. I see a lot of players, mostly losing players, buy into games that their bankroll can't sustain or jump from one limit to the next. Most of time, in my opinion, they do this to try and win back their losses. Always try to maintain a bankroll that will allow you to play at whichever level you are comfortable with. That was the lesson I learned the hard way. I was playing at a level that my bankroll couldn't sustain. I noticed that I was playing tentative, especially if I hadn't cashed in 2 or 3 tourneys in a row. So I have changed my standards and try to play in strict control, and have been trying to continue to build my bankroll.

Right now, I'm playing at the $10 level. However, my bankroll is almost sufficient to move up to the $20 level. If I cash in a couple of the next tourneys, my bankroll should be big enough to allow me to move up in levels. I try to keep about 80 times the buy-in in my bankroll. I do this to allow me to absorb any losing streaks or increased variance. Suckouts and bad beats are going to happen. So you need to give yourself a comfortable cushion that will allow you to play through these rough patches. Once I get my bankroll to the sufficient level to play $50 sit and go's regularly, I will then focus most of my attention on the multi-table tournaments. My belief is that if I have a positive ROI at the $50 level, then most of the multi-table tournaments will be freerolls for me. I'm probably rambling and not making much sense right now.

On a final note. I ran into the ultimate fish. He is the epitome of a LAG. He raised more hands than he should have, and played position poorly. He is like a lot of the lower limit players. They overvalue top pair, especially in a raised pot. Then complain when they don't win. I don't like to drop names. But if you find yourself up against him, play a solid, aggressive game. Here's his data. QUITE IMPRESSIVE.....HUH?

Home Game

We played our final home game for 2007 tonight. It was an interesting game, to say the least. A friend of ours brought a new guy. He was the ultimate calling station. He would call with almost any pair, and any kind of possible draw. Most of the hands he played were out of position, which simply magnifies how bad he played. The tournament went well overall though.

We started with 9 players, 6 of which I would consider good players. I went out in 4th, which really frustrates me. Especially since I was sitting second in chips when we got down to 4 handed. I didn't play bad all night long. However, the blinds got to 2000/4000 with a 500 ante, which basically forced the short stacks to start and gamble. I had about 40,000 and sitting in the big blind. The small blind shoved all in for another 21,100. At this point, I had to step back for a second and think about a couple of factors in the hand. First, what are my pot odds. I was in the big blind for 4000 and he completed the blind for 4000. With the antes there was about 10,000 in the pot. Now he pushed in for another 21,100. So there was 31,100 and it was costing me 21,100. So I was getting about 3:2 on my money. Next, you have to put him on a hand. When I saw him look at his cards, he didn't really show much strength and I knew he would push with almost any two cards. So, long story short, I called figuring I was up against a junk Ace or what I thought he would have, two low cards. I had Q9, he showed 23. The flop was good for me, A-J-10. The turn brought a 3 and a 2 on the river. I made a great call that didn't work out. So that pretty much made me the short stack and I was forced to go all in the next hand. If I didn't know the player so well, I would have definetly dumped the hand. But, like I always say, you can only get it in with the best of it. I'll take a 2:1 lead all day long.

So, my streak of winning our home game is over, FOR NOW. :) We won't be playing on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve. So it's time to get my head together and make 2008 a strong year for me.

Up and Down

It's been a funny up and down journey the last couple of days. Over the past few days, I've played in about 30 sit and go's. Out of all of these tournaments, the lowest I have finished was 7th twice and 5th twice. Other than that, I have cashed in about 60% of these tournaments and finished fourth in the rest.

Finishing fourth is the worst feeling in the world. But I would rather play aggressively and know that I either put it in with the best of it; or made the other player make a tough call. That is all you can do when you get close to the money. You want to continue to play position and your opponents. However, you also have to play the balancing act of not making the big mistakes. I will usually come in for a standard raise. If I get a lot of resistance, or I don't get help on the flop, there is really no need to bluff off all of your chips.

Last night was one of the worst nights of poker I have ever played. I played very well, and was playing very deceptively. Just to illustrate how bad it was; I lost with Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks, and Ace-King. Everytime we were four handed and I caught the other player making a big mistake. The first time, I was in the small blind and the player in the big blind was a LAG. I looked down and saw AA, and nobody entering the pot. I knew if I raised, all I would win was the blind, so I decided to give up some of the pre-flop expected value and take my chances that he wouldn't flop much. So I limped in. I had about 2400 with the blinds at 50/100, and he had about 3200. I couldn't have asked for anything more, he went all-in. I got what I wanted, I had him trapped for most of his chips. On a side note, I find it funny that so many players are willing to risk most of their chips and lose their minds. Not only will they risk their tournament on marginal situations, but will also play overly aggressive before the flop. They tend to risk a lot more of their chips then they should. The reasonable play would have been to make a standard raise, and if you get any resistance and don't have a good draw, dump the hand. But maybe I play way too tight....lol. So I call of course, and he shows 93 off suit. Exactly what I wanted. Long story short, he flops a 9 and rivers a 3. Gotta love the luck factor of the game. So, that was pretty much the way my night went.

It is like I have always said. You can only get the money in with the best of it. It's one thing, when you are playing deep stack poker, and you have some opportunities for making moves and playing the player. However, when the blinds get to a specific level and they are a large percentage of your stack; all you can do is get it in with the best of it. Of course, you will have to get lucky from time to time. Especially if someone makes a hero call. When I do get it in, and someone does get lucky, I don't get mad or upset. There's no need to call the other players donkeys or fish. Remember, I want these types of situations. All the money on the line and they are drawing really thin. That is the main reason why I finish high in a lot of tournaments. Sometimes it seems like your opponent is always getting there and drawing out. It can get frustrating, but try to keep your cool and just breath. Don't let the situation put you on tilt and multiply the effects and continue to make bad plays.

I personally love it when I lose a big pot to a lucky draw, then on the very next hand pick up a strong hand. When I raise, a lot of players will think I'm on tilt and just making a play to try and recoup my losses. Just to let you know, I don't really go on tilt. Well, not exactly, everybody goes on tilt. But I don't play with emotion and try to get even with any player at the table. I always try to play in the current situation.

Totally Obsessesed

I bought Guitar Hero 3 for my Xbox 360. I've never played any of the other Guitar Hero games before, and wanted to find out what all of the buzz was about. I have a bunch of friends that love playing, and have been talking about how addictive the game is. Well, after about a week of playing, I can see what they were talking about. I beat the game on easy in about 3 days. I got 5 stars on all of the songs, including the bonus songs. I also got perfect 5 stars on about 90% of the easy songs. A couple of days later, I had beaten the medium level. I 5 stared some of the songs, and got a perfect 5 star on 4 of the songs. The jump in difficulty is somewhat significant. But once you learn the fourth fret button, it gets a little easier. I'm still working my way up to the hard level. I've tried a few of the songs on the hard level, but it is very difficult. All 5 fret buttons, with some difficult combinations. It will definetly take a lot of practice to get the hang of the hard level. So that has been my obsession for the past week or so. I've been playing poker from time to time, and have had some decent success. I'm still working my way to becoming a great player. That day will come some time in the not too distant future.

Nice Run

So I've been playing a few sit 'n go's from time to time lately. I've had a great run so far. I've cashed in 9 of the last 10 tournaments I have played. It feels great to know that I am playing well and that the lucky draws and suckouts aren't getting there right now. Of course, the variance of the game is bound to hit me again. But while I'm running well, the game seems easy to beat. Here is a couple of graphs and tables of my recent results.

During these tournaments, I have tried to maintain a good chip position and keep the pots small. This is the principle of small ball. A lot of players try to hit a homerun or try to play large pots or make big bluffs. With weaker players, you should try to keep the pots small. By doing so, the skill of the game will pay you dividends. You will make smaller value bets and get more value for your marginal hands. Then when you do have an extremely strong hand, the weaker players will think that you are pushing with another marginal hand and will usually make a move at a pot. Over the past 10 tournaments I have also tried to stay to my mantra.

My mantra includes the following:

1. Don't go broke with one pair.

2. Don't overplay or overvalue a hand with only a primary draw (straight or flush)

3. If you have 15 or more outs, it's time to go to war.

4. Always value position more than starting hands.

5. Play small ball and make value bets and raises to protect hands and get information.

6. Be able to get away from a hand if you feel that you are beat.

So, I've had some success and will continue to build upon my poker strategy. I've read so many books and have browsed so many other resources. Here's a brief list of what I've gone through so far. Supersystem I & II, Ace on the River, Poker Mindset, Hold'em Wisdom, Little Green Book, Full Tilt Strategy Guide, Online Ace, Read'em and Reap, and Ultimate Guide to Poker Tells. I just bought Harrington on Hold'em I & II and have just started that series. So far it is a great book. It's not meant for beginning players. However, it has a lot of great information about tournament strategy. I would have to say, that so far, it is the ultimate book for tournament strategy. Dan Harrington is one of the best tournament players today, so he obviously knows what he is talking about.

Time to get back to the grind. Good luck at the tables, and hit me up with any questions you might have. I'll be more than happy to help you any way I can.