Y
young hova
Rock Star
I'll forewarn you now this is going to be a somewhat long and informative post. I've got it divided into titled sections so if your not the reader just sift through the post
Let me give you a little background about me though. I've been playing for about a year and probably a couple weeks now. I didn't have a job for a good portion of the time (I sold shoes online for side money when I didn't) and I took time off from school so even though I've only played a year, I'm pretty confident in my play and reads, there still is always more to be learned with this game.
I DON'T deposit money online, I try to make free bankrolls. My biggest bankroll has been put on freeze because a site no longer offers play to Americans and I am going through the motions with getting that sum out. Meanwhile somehow I created two new free bankrolls on different sites on the same network both over 100+ at the moment, but haven't really had the time to play.
Cash game wise the highest level I've played on is .25/.50, I usually play lower for management of the bankroll until I get to a well padded stack. I still feel I can play on that level and above, because the competition I have played with on a day to day basis when I've played rounders and the top tournaments on the network, and special tournaments for the specific site I used to play on has helped me learn alot. Also, I've never played live outside of playing with my family, and my grandpa doesn't allow check raises -- I check raise ALOT.
My Image, I went there with some Jordan Spizikes, some shorts past the knees and xxl LRG tee and a red fitted hat on tilt. Now I don't know If I was perceived a different way because of this but if I was i'm pretty sure they thought I wasn't serious when I sat down. By the way, NO SUNGLASSES, I don't really feel the need for them, though I have nothing against them.
With that being said...
me and one of my boys from Maryland (university of) and his roomate decide to go on a one day trip to Atlantic City (AC) planning to play as much hold'em as we could
I was going on the trip with only $300 and I told myself I plan to either at least double/triple my stack or lose it all. I had no problem with losing my stack and playing with instincts I wasn't going to be pushed around because I was a small stack thats for sure. Since I don't have a bankroll I play a relatively safe game, I came with 50 bbs looking to play a solid game
CASINO PLAY:
We started at Ceasar's 1/2 blinds (keep in mind I've never played live or blinds higher than .25/.50). I bought $200 chips, sat down at the table with 100 and put the other 100 in my pocket. Even though my stack is somewhat short for these blinds I play an aggressive game especially with my first stack with more stacks on deck.
Ceasar's was a GREAT place to play. Remember, I went on a Saturday which could have meant more tourist, but for the most part I went there twice (when I got there and at the end) and I still seen some of the same players that were at my table, so everyone couldn't have been a tourist. The competition isn't that rough, you can definitely take advantage of alot of the players on 1/2 blinds, especially once you show a good hand and make a few plays. People will respect you and not want to get into a hand with you.
The first table I played at here was pretty TAG, there were some LAG's but for the most part it was a preflop TAG game. I had one LAG'r directly to my left and I had a few pivotal hands with him. I started with 100 at this table and when I left I had 500+. When I left this table no one wanted to really get into a hand with me without premium holdings I was playing real strong. Alot of people were showing their hands, this is great, I actually used table talk often to get them to show and I'd get the info needed. I'm not a table talker, but I probably talked the most in hands on the first table. On another note, one of the dealer's was a complete *****, he pissed me off just being there.
At the second table, I had one of the kids I came with to my left and to his immediate left there was a chip leader with a stack of about 2 gs +, to my immediate right I had a hyper aggressive maniac and another chip leader with about 15-1800 in chips. This table was real cool, the big stacks weren't trying to be bullies we were all just drinking and having fun. The hyper aggressive maniac, I think he was on tilt, but he was having fun doing it, but he was showing me his bluffs and showing me his big laydowns and showing me what he raised with for no reason, he was cool but was super aggressive. most of the people at this table had a sense of humor so it lightened the atmosphere.
I highly suggest you go here to play when you go to AC, you'll get to see flops and play some hands.
Second place I went to was Trump Taj Mahal, we so called went there because one of the kids said all the good competition is there so we should go to there. I'm thinking to myself "I DON'T WANT GOOD COMPETITION", but i said oh well lets roll, I had never been here so wanted to see everything anyway. Man THIS WAS THE WORST DECISION.
You would think a table full of Donkeys and fish is what you want right? Well add to the fact that everyone of them is being aggressive. At trump Taj at my table THEY DID NOT RESPECT MY RAISES, no matter what I had. They would call me with marginal hands so I took the tight approach on this table. Than you have idiots pushing all in on my bb with 10/9 off suit with a +100 stack. Man if your not a patient player I would not suggest you come here, because it seemed like everyone play LAG here, a TAG would be successful here for sure. Question is are you willing to risk the time for that.
PIVOTAL HANDS:
1st table:
my first orbit im in small blind with J 9, 4 players to the flop. Flop comes Jack high and its checked down to the person with position, she bets and I check raise her about 2.5x, no scare cared on the turn I check she checks behind, I fire a value bet she calls and I turn over the winning hand with Jacks. This was my second hand, I think that created a good image for me at the table.
Im on the button with A 4 and I raise, everyone folds except the LAG to my immediate left, flop probably came something like q rag 5, I bet he calls, turn comes a two, I decide to check to see what he will do. and he puts out about a $40 bet into about $60 pot. I consider reraising him, but I knew I would be pot committed, so I considered If I reraised him would he fold, Since I wasn't sure what he had I decided to fold because I hadn't invested much in the pot. After the hand he asked me "what were you going to reraise all in?" I told him that I contemplated it.
not much longer dealt A K, I raise it up 10 (that was my typical raise). LAG to my left ( he had a rather sizeable stack at this table too) calls and someone else does). flop comes something like 8 3 3, I fire a pot size bet (30) trying to make it look like I have an overpair. LAG calls other player folds, I thought he couldnt have me beat here he has to have a pair to have me beat and I didnt think he had one. Turn comes the King. I knew he thought that he could bully me so I thought how I wanted to play this, and I figured If I checked, he would put me on that overpair of like queens jacks or 10s, so I decide to check. Sure enough as I figured He fires a $70 bet into the pot. I look at the board making sure he can't have me beat which i know he can't and after a short hesitation. I reraise him ALL IN, and he folds. From this point on LAG to my left stop visibly messing with me and played much less pots with me and it also sent a message to the rest of the table.
I'm deal 88's in small blind, I just call, about 4 players to the flop, flop comes about 10 5 2, its checked down to the position player, who bets the flop, Now I threw out chips to check raise but I accidently short changed the amount and they wouldnt let me raise, so I just had to flat call at this point, everyone else folded. The turn comes probably something like 9. I check and the bettor, knowing that I originally meant to check raise him on the flop gladly checks knowing that I can check raise him on this street. River comes ace of diamond I think, showing a diamond flush.
I think to myself this player is a solid player and I'm not sure if he has the flush because there was 2 diamonds on the flop. The way he gladly checked 4th street made me think he wanted know parts of the hand. So I think to myself I'm gonna value bet the flush card, I thought my flush was overall good and I could get away If he reraised a ton. so I bet 15 and he reraises 40. I think to myself for a minute, and look at him good for about 15 seconds. Than I think out loud and say "I think that flush card might have hit you, that ace could have hit you but I doubt that". I look back at him and ask him "Did that flush card really hit you?" and he literally shakes his head NO (looool). After that I thought wow, is he kidding it doesn't seem like it. so I look at the pot and do the math and I was getting great odds of course to call if I dont think he has the flush, so I say "I don't think I can fold here, so I'm going to call you sir, I wanna see what you have, I've got 8s". he taps the board and says good hand pot comes my way.
hand is folded to me, I have A 9 off suit I raise it 10 and only the small and big blinds call. Flop comes something like 8 5 3 rainbow. Sb and bb check, I think there is no way they've hit this flop so after I think I decide to check. The sb checks the turn which was something like a 10 and the Bb who happened to be the same person I check raised with jacks on my 2nd hand at the table bets 30 into the pot. I have nothing but I know this is her chance to steal the pot from me before it comes back to me, so I raise her 30 more and make it 60 to go. The final card comes something like a 2 but it makes a flush on the board. Being out of position she checks without real thought, now I think here she could think that I might have caught runner runner being that I raised that I raised 4th street but I knew for sure I could not fire a weak bet.
I thought for a minute trying to decide what bet I wanted to make on the flush card and I tell my self I don't want to big because if she raises I have to fold because a reraise wouldn't work because she'd be pot committed. So after good deliberation I decide to bet 80. She looks at me tries to get a read. I look dead into her eyes, deep into her soul with a stone face for at least 7 seconds, and than looked at the flop and didn't move much, she folds, I rake in the pot, I use my peripheal (sp?) vision and damn near the whole table looks at me with an EXPRESSION that said, "PLEASE, show us what you had that time". Everyone else had been showing hands, but I didn't show one single one unless it was showed down.
I raise with 5 4 suited one position before the button, the small blind LAG calls, bb and every other calls. Flop comes like k 10 5. I decide to check this flop because I know he can call any bet I make and if I bet and he calls I would have no clue where I was at on the next street. He checks, when He checks I know he has nothing. next street comes probably like an 8 I check again, knowing that if I bet here he can call and still be last to act on the river so I check and he checks AGAIN. river comes probably like 7, so I have bottom pair. At this point I don't think he he has anything and I don't really want to get reraised if I bet here because its going to be hard for me to call if its a big one so I decide to check call his bet, only after I check he checks it down. I flip over my five and he mucks his cards, meanwhile mr ***** dealer forces me to show both cards, I gladly show though and it seems like there is a sigh from most of the players like "This kid can not lose". At that point, no one wanted to really play a hand with me.
player to my right raises, I know he has a pair because he variates his raise and he raises his strength I know his pair isn't higher than kings, but its probably not lower than 9s. I know this because one time he raised my bb and I looked him up than asked him "you sure you want to do make that bet right there?", he didn't say anything but he made weird movements, I said "I"m gonna give it to you man" and I muck my cards he flips over queens and says "you couldve raised", I said good hand. He also had showed a preflop raise that was folded but the raise was less and he had 10s.
so player to my right raises, I can't remember what I had I think it was suited connectors (probably like 47 suited) but I call because I have the button. about 3 more people call making it 5 people to go flop comes K 4 K. its checked to me and its about 60 in the pot I value bet the pot with 15 in chips. Everyone but the original raise folds and he calls. the turn comes a queen I think and he checks. Now I think to myself he's defintely got a pair because he didnt look to confident and I don't think he would check call the flop with that hand, so I thought to myself I'm going to make a bet to see how confident in his hand he is, a bet that he could only really call if he had a king. I more than triple my first bet of 15 and bet either 55 or 60, I Know that if he can call this bet than I know not to mess with the pot any further, he considers the bet, doesn't really look at me but I'm looking at me and it looks like he's thinking to himself "man I know my hand is the best but that bet is too big for me call with this board and I know that he can be deceptive". He folds I rake pot.
MORE PIVOTAL HANDS TO COME AND RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT MY TRIP AND ONLINE VS LIVE -- WHICH ONE IS THE BEST. AND HOW I ENDED MY TRIP CASH WISE, GOTTA GET SOME REST FOR NOW. LOOK FOR AN EDIT OR ANOTHER POST IN THIS POST
Let me give you a little background about me though. I've been playing for about a year and probably a couple weeks now. I didn't have a job for a good portion of the time (I sold shoes online for side money when I didn't) and I took time off from school so even though I've only played a year, I'm pretty confident in my play and reads, there still is always more to be learned with this game.
I DON'T deposit money online, I try to make free bankrolls. My biggest bankroll has been put on freeze because a site no longer offers play to Americans and I am going through the motions with getting that sum out. Meanwhile somehow I created two new free bankrolls on different sites on the same network both over 100+ at the moment, but haven't really had the time to play.
Cash game wise the highest level I've played on is .25/.50, I usually play lower for management of the bankroll until I get to a well padded stack. I still feel I can play on that level and above, because the competition I have played with on a day to day basis when I've played rounders and the top tournaments on the network, and special tournaments for the specific site I used to play on has helped me learn alot. Also, I've never played live outside of playing with my family, and my grandpa doesn't allow check raises -- I check raise ALOT.
My Image, I went there with some Jordan Spizikes, some shorts past the knees and xxl LRG tee and a red fitted hat on tilt. Now I don't know If I was perceived a different way because of this but if I was i'm pretty sure they thought I wasn't serious when I sat down. By the way, NO SUNGLASSES, I don't really feel the need for them, though I have nothing against them.
With that being said...
me and one of my boys from Maryland (university of) and his roomate decide to go on a one day trip to Atlantic City (AC) planning to play as much hold'em as we could
I was going on the trip with only $300 and I told myself I plan to either at least double/triple my stack or lose it all. I had no problem with losing my stack and playing with instincts I wasn't going to be pushed around because I was a small stack thats for sure. Since I don't have a bankroll I play a relatively safe game, I came with 50 bbs looking to play a solid game
CASINO PLAY:
We started at Ceasar's 1/2 blinds (keep in mind I've never played live or blinds higher than .25/.50). I bought $200 chips, sat down at the table with 100 and put the other 100 in my pocket. Even though my stack is somewhat short for these blinds I play an aggressive game especially with my first stack with more stacks on deck.
Ceasar's was a GREAT place to play. Remember, I went on a Saturday which could have meant more tourist, but for the most part I went there twice (when I got there and at the end) and I still seen some of the same players that were at my table, so everyone couldn't have been a tourist. The competition isn't that rough, you can definitely take advantage of alot of the players on 1/2 blinds, especially once you show a good hand and make a few plays. People will respect you and not want to get into a hand with you.
The first table I played at here was pretty TAG, there were some LAG's but for the most part it was a preflop TAG game. I had one LAG'r directly to my left and I had a few pivotal hands with him. I started with 100 at this table and when I left I had 500+. When I left this table no one wanted to really get into a hand with me without premium holdings I was playing real strong. Alot of people were showing their hands, this is great, I actually used table talk often to get them to show and I'd get the info needed. I'm not a table talker, but I probably talked the most in hands on the first table. On another note, one of the dealer's was a complete *****, he pissed me off just being there.
At the second table, I had one of the kids I came with to my left and to his immediate left there was a chip leader with a stack of about 2 gs +, to my immediate right I had a hyper aggressive maniac and another chip leader with about 15-1800 in chips. This table was real cool, the big stacks weren't trying to be bullies we were all just drinking and having fun. The hyper aggressive maniac, I think he was on tilt, but he was having fun doing it, but he was showing me his bluffs and showing me his big laydowns and showing me what he raised with for no reason, he was cool but was super aggressive. most of the people at this table had a sense of humor so it lightened the atmosphere.
I highly suggest you go here to play when you go to AC, you'll get to see flops and play some hands.
Second place I went to was Trump Taj Mahal, we so called went there because one of the kids said all the good competition is there so we should go to there. I'm thinking to myself "I DON'T WANT GOOD COMPETITION", but i said oh well lets roll, I had never been here so wanted to see everything anyway. Man THIS WAS THE WORST DECISION.
You would think a table full of Donkeys and fish is what you want right? Well add to the fact that everyone of them is being aggressive. At trump Taj at my table THEY DID NOT RESPECT MY RAISES, no matter what I had. They would call me with marginal hands so I took the tight approach on this table. Than you have idiots pushing all in on my bb with 10/9 off suit with a +100 stack. Man if your not a patient player I would not suggest you come here, because it seemed like everyone play LAG here, a TAG would be successful here for sure. Question is are you willing to risk the time for that.
PIVOTAL HANDS:
1st table:
my first orbit im in small blind with J 9, 4 players to the flop. Flop comes Jack high and its checked down to the person with position, she bets and I check raise her about 2.5x, no scare cared on the turn I check she checks behind, I fire a value bet she calls and I turn over the winning hand with Jacks. This was my second hand, I think that created a good image for me at the table.
Im on the button with A 4 and I raise, everyone folds except the LAG to my immediate left, flop probably came something like q rag 5, I bet he calls, turn comes a two, I decide to check to see what he will do. and he puts out about a $40 bet into about $60 pot. I consider reraising him, but I knew I would be pot committed, so I considered If I reraised him would he fold, Since I wasn't sure what he had I decided to fold because I hadn't invested much in the pot. After the hand he asked me "what were you going to reraise all in?" I told him that I contemplated it.
not much longer dealt A K, I raise it up 10 (that was my typical raise). LAG to my left ( he had a rather sizeable stack at this table too) calls and someone else does). flop comes something like 8 3 3, I fire a pot size bet (30) trying to make it look like I have an overpair. LAG calls other player folds, I thought he couldnt have me beat here he has to have a pair to have me beat and I didnt think he had one. Turn comes the King. I knew he thought that he could bully me so I thought how I wanted to play this, and I figured If I checked, he would put me on that overpair of like queens jacks or 10s, so I decide to check. Sure enough as I figured He fires a $70 bet into the pot. I look at the board making sure he can't have me beat which i know he can't and after a short hesitation. I reraise him ALL IN, and he folds. From this point on LAG to my left stop visibly messing with me and played much less pots with me and it also sent a message to the rest of the table.
I'm deal 88's in small blind, I just call, about 4 players to the flop, flop comes about 10 5 2, its checked down to the position player, who bets the flop, Now I threw out chips to check raise but I accidently short changed the amount and they wouldnt let me raise, so I just had to flat call at this point, everyone else folded. The turn comes probably something like 9. I check and the bettor, knowing that I originally meant to check raise him on the flop gladly checks knowing that I can check raise him on this street. River comes ace of diamond I think, showing a diamond flush.
I think to myself this player is a solid player and I'm not sure if he has the flush because there was 2 diamonds on the flop. The way he gladly checked 4th street made me think he wanted know parts of the hand. So I think to myself I'm gonna value bet the flush card, I thought my flush was overall good and I could get away If he reraised a ton. so I bet 15 and he reraises 40. I think to myself for a minute, and look at him good for about 15 seconds. Than I think out loud and say "I think that flush card might have hit you, that ace could have hit you but I doubt that". I look back at him and ask him "Did that flush card really hit you?" and he literally shakes his head NO (looool). After that I thought wow, is he kidding it doesn't seem like it. so I look at the pot and do the math and I was getting great odds of course to call if I dont think he has the flush, so I say "I don't think I can fold here, so I'm going to call you sir, I wanna see what you have, I've got 8s". he taps the board and says good hand pot comes my way.
hand is folded to me, I have A 9 off suit I raise it 10 and only the small and big blinds call. Flop comes something like 8 5 3 rainbow. Sb and bb check, I think there is no way they've hit this flop so after I think I decide to check. The sb checks the turn which was something like a 10 and the Bb who happened to be the same person I check raised with jacks on my 2nd hand at the table bets 30 into the pot. I have nothing but I know this is her chance to steal the pot from me before it comes back to me, so I raise her 30 more and make it 60 to go. The final card comes something like a 2 but it makes a flush on the board. Being out of position she checks without real thought, now I think here she could think that I might have caught runner runner being that I raised that I raised 4th street but I knew for sure I could not fire a weak bet.
I thought for a minute trying to decide what bet I wanted to make on the flush card and I tell my self I don't want to big because if she raises I have to fold because a reraise wouldn't work because she'd be pot committed. So after good deliberation I decide to bet 80. She looks at me tries to get a read. I look dead into her eyes, deep into her soul with a stone face for at least 7 seconds, and than looked at the flop and didn't move much, she folds, I rake in the pot, I use my peripheal (sp?) vision and damn near the whole table looks at me with an EXPRESSION that said, "PLEASE, show us what you had that time". Everyone else had been showing hands, but I didn't show one single one unless it was showed down.
I raise with 5 4 suited one position before the button, the small blind LAG calls, bb and every other calls. Flop comes like k 10 5. I decide to check this flop because I know he can call any bet I make and if I bet and he calls I would have no clue where I was at on the next street. He checks, when He checks I know he has nothing. next street comes probably like an 8 I check again, knowing that if I bet here he can call and still be last to act on the river so I check and he checks AGAIN. river comes probably like 7, so I have bottom pair. At this point I don't think he he has anything and I don't really want to get reraised if I bet here because its going to be hard for me to call if its a big one so I decide to check call his bet, only after I check he checks it down. I flip over my five and he mucks his cards, meanwhile mr ***** dealer forces me to show both cards, I gladly show though and it seems like there is a sigh from most of the players like "This kid can not lose". At that point, no one wanted to really play a hand with me.
player to my right raises, I know he has a pair because he variates his raise and he raises his strength I know his pair isn't higher than kings, but its probably not lower than 9s. I know this because one time he raised my bb and I looked him up than asked him "you sure you want to do make that bet right there?", he didn't say anything but he made weird movements, I said "I"m gonna give it to you man" and I muck my cards he flips over queens and says "you couldve raised", I said good hand. He also had showed a preflop raise that was folded but the raise was less and he had 10s.
so player to my right raises, I can't remember what I had I think it was suited connectors (probably like 47 suited) but I call because I have the button. about 3 more people call making it 5 people to go flop comes K 4 K. its checked to me and its about 60 in the pot I value bet the pot with 15 in chips. Everyone but the original raise folds and he calls. the turn comes a queen I think and he checks. Now I think to myself he's defintely got a pair because he didnt look to confident and I don't think he would check call the flop with that hand, so I thought to myself I'm going to make a bet to see how confident in his hand he is, a bet that he could only really call if he had a king. I more than triple my first bet of 15 and bet either 55 or 60, I Know that if he can call this bet than I know not to mess with the pot any further, he considers the bet, doesn't really look at me but I'm looking at me and it looks like he's thinking to himself "man I know my hand is the best but that bet is too big for me call with this board and I know that he can be deceptive". He folds I rake pot.
MORE PIVOTAL HANDS TO COME AND RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT MY TRIP AND ONLINE VS LIVE -- WHICH ONE IS THE BEST. AND HOW I ENDED MY TRIP CASH WISE, GOTTA GET SOME REST FOR NOW. LOOK FOR AN EDIT OR ANOTHER POST IN THIS POST