Texas Holdem Poker With The PokerPimps' Blog

Deep, what is your play here

2010-07-05T22:24:00.000-07:00

Here is a hand that did my head in, some random euro again, he had doubled up with some coin flip and I was up to about $13 on this table, blinds 5c / 10c and I have Jacks in the cutoff. Folds to me, I raiseto 30c (standard), button calls, small blind calls big blind folds.

Flop: 6-4-4

Small blind leads for 40c
I raise to $2
Button folds, small blind ships!

So the pot is like $5 +$11 more (counting the call of my bet from the SB here) and it is my remaining $11 to call (he had me covered).

The size of the ship did my head in here, this is a random donkey, what does a donkey do this with? Getting some odds here 11 to win 16, not got this down exact yet but I need 40%+ to call, against this ship.

Seriously, I used my whole fuckin timebank on this asshole and ended up calling. He had... wait for it... Ace-queen, hahahahahahahahahaha, anyway he had 6 outs on my but none came and I won a big pot. Can not work out whether my call was 'good' or not to be honest.

Bankroll now at $175.12, moving in the right direction even though the swings are big.

DaPimp

Posting Out Of Position

2010-06-07T17:35:00.000-07:00

One way I like to spot a fish is when they do not wait for the big blind, instead posting as soon as they arrive at the table, its not a big deal money wise but for me it does prove that this player has not really thought through equity stuff, especially when they would have been the big blind next hand anyway.

Suppose when we are talking about the 5/10c game its pretty much all fish anyway, should be more focused on those who wait for the big blind as these are rare. This is not actually my personal insights by the way, I just can not remember where I heard about it, might have been cardrunners or maybe 2+2, not posting on 2_2 any more, just not worth the abuse to get help there, not that the abuse bothers me, some spotty teens arguing over grammar is just not my idea of a community.

Anway, you might have worked out that I do not have anything much to say in this blog post, out for the next couple of nights, so will post my about my next ig upswing just as soon as it happens.

yeah, one thing, if you run a blog which is any good then I'll add you to my blogroll, just let me know.

DaPimp

Ace-Queen, my jinx hand?

2010-06-02T14:14:00.000-07:00

Starting to get real paramoid about ace-queens, so many times recently this has been a disaster for me that I'm starting to get irrational, thinking it is going to lose before the action even gets started... yesterday, twice I lost a decent pot with it, once running into Ace-King (rigged, lol) and once against a pair of4's that became a set on a Q high board, luckily both times opponents were short so it was less than 10 bucks for both, but seriously man, in a 6-max game you got to think that ace-queen is the best hand and play it strong, especially when you hit the flop.

Anyway, what are these euros thinking about buying in for $4, how do you expect to make up for those times you miss the flop after calling a raise when the max you could win against one player is $4... and they call 3-bets with fucking junk too, totally unbelievable.

The thing is I'm starting to worry now when A-Q comes, really do not want to play it soft, that would be asking for trouble, I know that the 5c / 10c idiots are only thinking about their own hands, it is not asif they are working out my hesitation or bet sizing or anything, my paranoia is getting the better of me. Just got to win a hand with one of them, one fucking time!

DaPimp

Awsome Session

2010-05-31T17:07:00.000-07:00

Confidence is massive in poker, yesterday I went in feeling good, fighting for the pots, buying the small pots, showing down great hands and semi-bluffing draws, I owned, there is no other way of putting it. My roll is now up to $169.53 which is a seriuos jump for one day. Was thinking that I should take a quick shot at the 10c / 25c game before bed, remembered the last time around that this was the sort of thing that got me in trouble - a bad beat at the levels above and *boom* thats the bankroll on its way out.

Feel good for the win, feel good that I was disciplined enough to quit when tired and now have a bigger bankroll. as they say on BBV at 2+2 Brag!

Going to play again later and see if the run continues, having a good feeling that this time around my skills will prevail.

DaPimp

Where Am I At!

2010-05-30T11:06:00.000-07:00

Back blogging but forgot to tell you where I am at, in terms of games, skills, bankrolls and those all important plans for the future dominance of the game, maybe.

Anyway, I have dropped down a bit while I build the bankroll up and am currently playing the 5c / 10c 6-max on stars. After the brutal night of suckouts from hell I am down to $95, plus about 1000 FPPs (not sure what to do with those at the moment).

I feel I am playing good and play 2 tables mostly with a 3rd table if I am feeling focused, if I find myself surfing, IMing or distracted by the TV I stop playing now. Thats the main change from before. Before I was carrying on, not really looking at the games after a while, running bluffs against people who were always going to call is not good for your bankroll. I am not playing with a HUD at the moment, plan on adding more tables as I move up levels and seeing if this works for me, probably holdem manager as that is what some of my buddies are using and you can buy the smaller stakes version. Maybe also considering moving to another network where I can have a rakeback deal. Stars is cool for now to be honest, when my bankroll hits $1000 I'l assess the options.

Mostly playing cash but still do play the occasional donkament, drives me crazy playing for 5 hours only to get double your buy-in back so will probably cut those out completely.

Anway, thats where I am at... where are you at lol

DaPimp

Unbelieveable!

2010-05-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

Just as I write that the suckouts are cool, well not cool, you know - needed to win over time, I suffer the most brutal, nasty, ugly session you ever even saw in your life. Not a joke, AK lost to A7 ON THE RIVER all in on the flop, just like I wrote. Actually thought it was a joke, the poker gods are playing with me. That was not all QQ < 99 for a stack and I got all in with a straight on the turn only for some monkey to call all-in and hit a fuckin flush on the river too.

Iwas sitting with my mouth open watching like a whole months worth of hard grinding and smart thinking go out of the window. Managed to get a little back when my Kings held against Ace King for once but man that was a brutal session. Going to take the rest of the week off and chill, haha really we need the suckouts

Repeat: we really need the suckouts
Really.

DaPimp

Learning To Live With The Suckouts

2010-05-25T14:44:00.000-07:00

One thing that drove me nuts last time around was the stupid amount of suckouts, the stupid amound of fvucking donkeys who would flat a 3 bet out of position when there was still thepotential for another raise with a-7 or some other shit like that and hit 2 pairs on the river after getting it all in against my A-K.

Ha, tilting just describing it. The thing is that you have to put up with stuff like that to win over time, yet it drives me nuts - especially when it is happening for the 10th time in a 2-hour long session.

Anyway, this post is about taking a new approach. Taking a step back from the hand and looking at things from a better angle. It does not feel like it at the time but we need those assholes to call with stupid holdings, we need them to get all in on the turn with top pair no kicker, we need to get the money in while we are 80% or even better favortie to win the hand... well, put it this way, if we can not get the cash in as an 80% favorite and win then there must be some serious issues with your game my friends.

It still tilts me, but I'm learning to step back.

This will be a big advantage over last year, no more throwing the bankroll away because of some euro-donkey who does not know when he is beat.

DaPimp

Back, Soon!

2010-05-22T03:14:00.000-07:00

Haha, man, kind of stopped posting here and then forgot all about it. My buddy asked me about the blog yesterday and I was like WFT? for a few seconds then clicked that he was talking about this blog right here.

Well I have been playing online and doing good after a break to clear the brain and focus on the important things in like like drinking and girls. I'm gonna decide what goes here over the next days and then discipline myself to get things fixed. Parents not so big a deal as before and I have some cash from my job, not Cardrunners though - wasted time there, they have no idea about the suckouts man, playing high stakes where peoples moves make a kind of sense compared to their hand.

Anyway, my bankroll is kind of small still, its not that I'm sayin I'll be the next Durrr, right, its more proving a point now - that if I'd ran a bit better 2 years ago then things would not have been the same. I know that for a fact - and I'll prove it by building my bankroll this time.

See you at the tables,

DaPimp

Busto, Disillusioned And Bored With Life

2009-03-18T04:25:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts, just cant get the bankroll going, Cardrunners make it look so easy but they just have no idea what it is like at the micros at all, no point playing against a table full of donks who call with bottom pair or even kind high and play any 2 suited cards. You can not put a fool on a range, let alone narrow that range based on their actions after the flop, just stupid.

Every time I deposit it goes the same way, up up up then *boom*busto, every time a run gets going and I move up to parlay the wins I get coolered or bad beat. It is just not funny anymore.

Not sure whether I'll carry on with this blog or not, not sure if i will even bother depositing again or not, not sure whether online poker is a big illusion or a big joke and the winners are laughing at me right now but do not realise themselves that they are just on a lucky upswing and that I will have the last laugh when some donkey takes their bankroll when they were 99.9999999999% favorite to win.

Was thinking that I might try Pot-Limit Omaha instead, apparently there is tons of easy money there, looks worth a shot.

DaPimp

Cardrunners So Far

2008-12-28T17:55:00.000-08:00

Decent enough christmas, usual boring family stuff really. Did get a bit of a questioning from an uncle about my future... he did not really understand that Poker is a career option these days.

Anyway, had some time to get stuck into some of the Cardrunners videos including CitizenWind, Verneer and of course some of the high-stakes action from Cole South and co. Best investment in my game ever, can see a couple of my leaks already - like paying off big bets when my hand is pretty well defined. Can also see that everyone on the site uses a heads-up display for their stats with pokertracker or holdem-manager or whatever, this is something I really must get hold of (there is an offer to get Holdem Manager for cheap via cardrunners). Anyway - will have to build up a bit of a bankroll first.

Still pissed that I dumped my roll, but now feeling that this should be a lesson more than anything. Going to start fresh when I get my first paycheck of the new year and take the game a lot more seriously this time.

Really should get my blogroll started here too - if anyone reading wants to link up then just shout.

DaPimp

Broke, Tilted It All Away

2008-12-24T14:48:00.000-08:00

Fuck

Had a few drinks with some friends yesterday evening and stupidly decided to log on when I got home. Started out ok when some donk rivers a flush he had no fucking business chasing and sends me on mega tilt. 3 $25 buy-ins later I decide to sit in the $200 game and get it all back in one go, dealt queens and get it all in on a rags board, only to be shown a flopped set of 4's. Switched on Tilt and, yeah, same shit different cards

Thats it for me until the new year, after presents, rent and a couple of nights out I have no cash to reload. So stupid, cant believe I did it really. well, at least I have the Cardrunners to keep me going, also got a few points to play some freerolls with if things get that desperate.

Cant believe it really.

DaPimp

Pumped - Just Got My Cardrunners Logon

2008-12-18T16:22:00.000-08:00

Feeling pumped at the moment, early christmas present thanks to parents and Cardrunners. Since it is a monthly subscription they got it from today and so gave me the password from today - after all there would be no point wasting a week.

Not going to play a single hand tonight - gonna find the best of the best on the site and really work / think about my game. Gonna be crushing those tables this weekend without a single doubt.

Will post results here on Sunday.

DaPimp

Sick Beat City

2008-12-17T21:59:00.000-08:00

Un-fucking-believeable session on Stars tonight, and I mean totally un-fucking-believable. Got that money in good so many times it actually hurts to think about it and still dropped 4 (and a bit) buy-ins at $25 NL over the space of 2 hours.

Just don't get how these people are able to play, well, I mean of course they can join the games as long as they have enough cash, what I mean is how they manage to stay in the games for more than a few minutes... playing suited-trash, calling stacks with middle pair, just totally unbluffable and looking no further than their own cards - yet winning pot after pot.

You study the game, work on your reads, good bet sizing and then *boom* some fucking asshole thinks his Ace-six off is pre-flop and another buy-in bites the fucking dust. I know in my mind that the system is good, if it were rigged then the 2+2 crowd would have spotted it by now, just can't believe how easy it is for the complete retards to get lucky sometimes. Soul destroying is not the word.

Back to the grind.

DaPimp.

Considering A Training Site

2008-12-15T18:47:00.000-08:00

So, the noise levels of the parents what shall we get ya for christmas gets louder and louder. I'm considering a training site membership, narrowed the field to the following.

- Cardrunners, obv choice right? The best instructors and a ton of vids.

- Negreanus thing... VT or whatever, that guy has a great style but probably not right for online cash - will give that a miss.

- PokerXfactor, donkament based and sitngoes too, some cash from what I found, not sure about this, tourneys are great but not really my thing, I mean, who wants to sit for 3 hours just to have some donkey call with ace-rag and hit the 3 outer?

- PokerPwnage - great pros but not so many vids, prob not worth looking at for another 6 months.

So that is what I found, great how blogging about it makes it clearer in your mind... looks like a no-brainer for Cardrunners. Will let you know how it goes.

DaPimp.

Decent Sessions + Connectors Again

2008-12-11T22:45:00.000-08:00

Had a decent little session yesterday, finishing up over $150 in just 2-hours with 3 tables of NL50 (yeah, I know I was supposed to stay at the $25, but the donks are just getting me down at that level). Suited connectors were the hand of the day with some decent pots getting shipped my way on 2 occasions when I hit with 67s and then J10s. The rest was just chipping away with aggressive moves at small pots, which can mount up to a nice win at the end of the session.

BR on Stars now $341, Tilt at $77

Thinking of either spending some of the money on the books by Dan Harrington which have good reviews, or waiting until I have enough FPPS (was at 2000ish but donked them off trying to qualify for the Sunday Million) was reading the other day about good players needing to invest in education in order to succeed. Makes sense to me as there are only so many complete donks to go around, I plan on moving up the food chain to take the cash off of the people who sort of know what they are doing (like me now really, exept I am stuck at lower limits where there are only a couple of decent players and mostly retards).

Once my 'roll reaches $1000 I might even join cardrunners, or PxF, thou probably Cardrunners as they are more cash. Back to the tables.

Da Pimp

In Need Of A New Forum!

2008-12-10T19:03:00.000-08:00

Getting sick of 2+2, the level of analysis and detail in every hand just never quite makes sense at the tables. I mean, how can you estimate re-stealing ranges when the opponents you are talking about are just raising 'pretty' cards without any idea what a re-steal range is.

Thought about pocket 5's but there is never any serious discussion over there, just bitchin and cutting people down. Any time someone posts a hand they are either a donk or bragging. Na, that place is wierd. Cardschat is donk-infested, Card-player is more geared towards the live games...

Any idea?

Otherwise I guess it is back to 2+2 for me.

Da Pimp.

Feel Like I Need A Plan

2008-12-09T17:54:00.000-08:00

Doing ok at the $25 buy-in games and almost hit $255 from my initial $100 deposit, focusing on 2 tables and trying to be solid against the loose+passive donkeys (oh man they are suuuuch donkeys!). Along with the $81 on Tilt (donked a little there) my BR is looking much better.

Tempted to move up but really need a proper plan, some proper bankroll management, when to move up and when to move down again kind of shit. I want to take shots as it is not realistic to be a pro within a year by grinding the 20 buy-in rules, they are just for retarded nits anyhow. Its more frustrating that is easy to write... just know, 100 fucking percent, that I am better than my opponents but every time I take the shot the beats start raining down and its back to the lower buy-ins for me.

This time I'll do it right, restist the urge to move up too soon. Will think of a plan over the next few days and post it here... back to the tables tonight though.

DaPimp

A Final Table!

2008-12-07T18:40:00.000-08:00

Bored with the cash games last night so tried a couple of donkaments - managed to final table a $3 6-max over on Full Tilt and came in 3rd for $127. After shipping John (poker sicko co-worker) back the cash he subbed to me and losing a sick hand when I flopped a set only for some monkey (in the playing sense, not the avatar) get there with a flush on the river I still have $93 - not too bad considering that this has basically come from air.

Could be the start of something, would be even better if I could learn to play without having 1000 people on MSN, 5 internet explorer windows open (no, not gotten around to Firefox yet, yada yada yada) and the TV. No worries, the standard in tournaments is horrific - maybe the skills of reading hands come over from the cash tables. Gonna continue with cash for the moment mostly though - the decent money is there.

Da Pimp

Great Weekend

2008-12-01T08:26:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post before I have to go to work.

Great weekend at the tables which saw me up 4 buy-ins in 6 hours total play at the $25NL, have switched over to 6 max and get to play more hands there. For the first time in ages I felt really ok with my game.

Missed the 60 minutes last night that is all the buzz around the forums at the mo. Hopefully a couple of the guys in the mailroom watched it and can warm up their one brain cell a degree above freezing for long enough to tell me what went down.

Got to run.

DaPimp.

F%@*(ng Suckouts

2008-11-27T19:43:00.000-08:00

Fucking frustrated, roll is now down to $109 after some brutal beats at the tables the last couple of nights. This is getting so bad that I am seriously beginning to wonder whether Poker Stars RNG has not highlighted me for constant suckouts.

Had AK cracked twice by AQ and then by A10, flopped a set of 6's only to see my opponent hit a straight after all the money went in on the flop. Considering dropping down yet another fucking level to rebuild again at the moment... going to keep on at the 10c / 25c level for the time being though, there are enough total donks here - I do not even want to think about how bad it gets if you go any lower.

Will also try and brush up on my strategy, can not afford a Cardrunners sub at the minute, but there are plently of websites / videos out there to look at (oh, and any suggestions are more than welcome)

Peace.

DaPimp

Quick Update Time

2008-11-20T23:06:00.000-08:00

This is getting frustrating, got to the $230 mark at the end of yesterday, as promised took my shot at the $25 game, 3rd hand I get KK reraise from the cut off and the BB repops, I put him all-in and find myself up against Ace fucking queen. Do I even have to write it? ace on the flop, anyway I reload and build up to about $32 when this is all wiped out by my 10's running into queens.

Tilted off another $10 or so to leave my bankroll battered and bruised at $163. Looks like its going to be another weekend of the 6max $10 games, fuck.

Brutal game at times but actually feeling more chilled just from writing it down.

DaPimp

My Plan

2008-11-19T18:36:00.000-08:00

Ok, been thinking about this one. I want to build up a solid base before going for it, so going to stick to grinding the smaller ($10) games until I have $200, this is going to be my backup, anytime I get $25 on top then I take a shot at the $25 level.

Plan on playing the $50 when $350 gets there, though not sure whether I should invest in poker tracker instead at that point. All the boards say this is a must-have for those of us who are serious about going pro, just not sure I can justify taking $100 out of my roll just now.

As a side note have been reading that the double or nothin sit and goes are great for building a roll. Personally hate the idea of sngs - just push push push - but might have a look into the strategy for these and see if they might be good for building up my roll faster.

DaPimp

Deposit And The Bush Shits On Me... WTF!!

2008-11-16T07:48:00.000-08:00

Great, return to poker with a $100 bankroll on Stars, ready to grind and make a real go of getting to pro status this time, then WTF - Bush goes and shits on us again from a great height by forcing through the internet gaming regs at the last minute.

I mean, this fucking idiot has done enough damage already - why cant he just fuck off quietly and leave us to choose how to spend our cash.

So, apart from not knowing whether that money is gone for good I have been doing ok on the 5c / 10c NLHE... stacking a couple of donks and getting fucked on one time when some retard called my 6-bet all in with jacks and managed to crack my aces. These donks are where the money comes from right, just gotta ride the swings.

DaPimp

Da Pimp Is Back!

2008-11-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

Been a long time... really.

College is done, I'm working in the mailroom of a local insurance business. The people there are cool but the work sucks... one guy is a poker fan, so we started talkin' hands and my interest came back again.

No more tilting.

No more stupidity.

No more donking off at levels I'm not 'rolled for.

Da Pimp is back and this time for real.

Will post some hands and plands and BR updates soon.

Da Pimp

Bump In The Road *#)!(

2008-05-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

Managed to drop 2.5 buy-ins at Stars 50c / $1 ring last night... twice getting my $$$ in well ahead and twice some drawing donk luckboxing out on me. The rest I tilted off in a mix of the lower limit games, had to let off some steam somehow.

Down to the 25c / 50c NL for a while to rebuild, does go to show that there are retards at all the levels though.

DA Pimp

Swamped By College Work

2008-05-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

But almost over, working like a dog at the moment and have had to sacrifice not just some vpt (valued playing time) but vdt (drinkin) too $^@#&.

Did manage a decent run 3-tabling the 25c / 50c 6-max over at stars, along with a couple of donk-n-goes (1 2nd and 1 bubbled to some f-tard who was pushing every hand). Prefer the full rung though so not sure 6-max is for me, at least with the ring you can multi-table, also the decent players are drawn to the 6-max (increased hands = better hourly rate blah blah) and the newbies / donks find their way to the ring games first. That is my theory at least.

Anyway, bankroll like a yo-yo, FPPs growing (looking for a new ipod with some decent memory from these). Will update again when my assignment is in.

DA Pimp,

Great Thread On Moving On Up

2008-05-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

Gotta move on up - this 2+2 tread started off as a 'how are my f-ing stats' same old same old, but managed to get interesting about half way down the first page.

The point is, should we really be encouraging 100NL players to 'play 300k more hands' before they are taken seriously? I mean, take a shot FFS, try and make something of yourself!

Thread Link

Da Pimp

Lovin' The Weekend

2008-05-18T03:06:00.000-07:00

Weekends are a goldmine for us cash game pimps.

All the fish (oh, I mean hard working people who play poker badly for leisure) come out and make the tables so juicy. Compare with the weekdays where every 2nd player is a multi-tabling rock and you'll see what I mean - there could be an argument here for not bothering with the daytimes at all.

Anyway, in the week or so since I started my blog that is 9 buy-ins up in about 16 hours of play, working out as an hourly rate of $56 (thats 4 tabling). Over my long-term average so probably just running good. Need to withdraw for some expenses and so will be at the 50c / $1 for a little while longer yet.

Da Pimp

Suited Connectors Continued

2008-05-14T09:08:00.001-07:00

1 in 18 or 19 times you are gonna flop something great with your connectors (which makes playing them for less than 5% of your stack a no-brainer right?).

But this does not cover all the bases, as we could flop a draw or a pair + draw combo.

Here is the math (saved from an old 2+2 post but the link does not work any more)

COMBO DRAWS Odds of flopping...
20 outer (OESD + FD + pair): 0.077%
17 outer (Gutshot + FD + pair): 0.153%
15 outer (OESD + flush draw): 1.424%
14 outer (Pair + flush draw): 1.450%
13 outer (Pair + straight draw): 1.147%
12 outer (Gutshot + flush draw): 2.664%
------------------------Total: 6.9% (1 in 14 times, 13:1)

Odds of flopping the regular (non-combo) draws also needs to be included.

9 outer (flush draw): 5.2%
8 outer (straight draw): 8.0%-----------------Total: 13.2% (1 in 7.5 times, 6.5:1)

Wow, a lot of numbers, but you should be able to see where this one is going. If you miss that magic 2-pair + flop then there are still lots of possibilities... depending on your position and opponents at the table you could win the hand without a showdown too.

Will wrap up later in the week + post some example hands.

Da Pimp

My Favorite Hands - Suited Connectors

2008-05-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

Suited connectors are my favorite hand by a long way - anything above 4-5 suited really. Thing is that you can win a huge pot when some donkey spikes a TP type hand, and they can be great for bluffing the flop too - since you will have outs many times.

I do not usually raise with them pre-flop (usually playing full-ring) since this is the kind oh hand which actually benefit from more players in the pot. If someone has the math which shows profit expectations as you increase the number of players then give me a shout.

There are plenty of ways to win a pot with the suited connectors. Below is the basic math for flopping a good hand with them:

Flush: 0.84%
Two pair: 2%
Trips: 1.35%
Full house: 0.09%
Quads: 0.01%
Straight: 1.31%
-------Total: 5.6% (1 in 18 times, 17:1)

Remember this is flop only and does not even account for those times you flop a strong draw or a combo of somethings like a pair + a draw.

Da Pimp.

Intro Post

2008-05-12T05:17:00.000-07:00

Hey, Time to get going with my blog.

I'm the Pimp, specialist in full ring no-limit games, have played up to $2 / $4 but bankroll issues keep me at 50c / $1 for now. This blog with chart my journey from the small stakes upwards, the plan is to use poker to pay my way through college. Have been known to play MTTs too, but prefer cash games at the moment as there is more skill involved in these.

Play mostly at Carbon or Full Tilt, do not want to disclose my screen-name just yet though. Will also keep an eye on developments from the legal side of poker... hopefully 2008 (or 2009 at the worst) will bring some good news on this.

Anyway, will start collecting some hands and situations - if you have a blog and would like to swap links then please let me know (I will wait until I have some more posts before going out to request some of my own).

Da Poker-Pimp

Hello World!

2008-05-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

Just a test post - will start texas holdem poker posts soon.