Well Ive taken my first short pop at stars 100NL. I find the players here are far more aggressive than Im used to and far more likely to float my cbets. I think this level is definatly beatable but Im going to need to adjust my game quite a bit. I think I played some pretty good poker for the most part. Ive always been terrible at moving up. I get a combination of fancy play syndrome and outright terror at the amount of money on the table. Anyway this time wasnt too bad as far as my attitude went. I found myself losing quite alot of chips from having to give up on continuation bets but im sure the times I actually had a hand came fairly close to making up for that.

My scariest push ever happened to me in my brief 100nL stint. Villain is a crazy LAGgro maniac and has been pushing the whole table around with crap for FAR too long. He doesnt seem to have any idea of when to slow down either but it seems to be working for him so far and hes built up a nice stack.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG+1 ($98 )
MP1 ($228.30)
MP2 ($29.95)
Hero ($166.90)
CO ($180.50)
Button ($116.65)
SB ($150.45)
BB ($215.05)
UTG ($18.85)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with T, T.
UTG calls $1, 1 fold, MP1 raises to $3.25, 1 fold, Hero raises to $9, 4 folds, UTG folds, MP1 raises to $32, Hero raises to $166.9, MP1 calls $134.90.

Flop: ($336.30) 8, 3, 5 (2 players)

Turn: ($336.30) 8 (2 players)

River: ($336.30) J (2 players)

Final Pot: $336.30

Results in white below:
MP1 has 2c Ks (one pair, eights).
Hero has Td Tc (two pair, tens and eights).
Outcome: Hero wins $336.30.

This was probably the scariest pot ive ever played in so far but I was almost certain I was ahead.

Sadly I also balenced this out with a couple of really silly calls which I wouldnt have made if I was comfortable with these stakes.

For example this embarrasingly donktastic hand after I tried to steal uber tighties blinds.



PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (7 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Hero ($143.90)
SB ($237.80)
BB ($103.65)
UTG ($121.90)
MP1 ($333.80)
MP2 ($106.85)
CO ($55)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 7, 2.
4 folds, Hero raises to $4, SB calls $3.50, BB calls $3.

Flop: ($12) 4, 4, 6 (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $7, SB folds, BB calls $7.

Turn: ($26) 3 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

River: ($26) 5 (2 players)
BB bets $13, Hero raises to $26, BB raises to $92.65, Hero calls $66.65.

Final Pot: $211.30

Results in white below:
BB has 6d 6h (full house, sixes full of fours).
Hero has 7h 2h (straight, seven high).
Outcome: BB wins $211.30.

Yea so. Im not going to do this anymore.
I actually quite like the preflop raise since both villains were incredibly tight. Usually I wouldnt try to steal with such a weak hand but as mentioned, both players were incredibly tight and hey, my cards were sooted. Once he didnt fold the flop I should really have considered the tightness. My river play is just madness. I thought very hard about just calling the river, then decided there was a chance he had some sort of overpair and so I should minraise/ fold to a reraise (since he would never ever bluff). Then he pushed and I figured...what the hell its only money...


Anyway Im a little up at 100NL overall but then one day I wasnt feeling quite up to 100NL so I decided to play some party 50NL instead and got owned by the cards and now I dont feel rolled enough for 100NL.

This week Ive clawed my roll back a little playing 5 card draw on stars but I think the way to go is to stick some into Sun Poker with the FTR Rakeback deal and just play £25NL there until I feel rolled enough for my next 100nL shot. Ive played Crypto for ages so I know I can beat that game. Ill also take the $100 monthly Bonus and whatever Rakeback they want to throw at me so I should be back to 100NL in no time. Infact im pretty sure thats what Ill do...

Until next time.