Some good old-fashioned Hand Histories

Here are 2 hands.


Full Tilt Poker Game #4924311778: Table Banburry Cross - $0.25/$0.50 Ante $0.05 - Limit Razz - 23:29:35 ET - 2008/01/19
Seat 1: francois8 ($4.10)
Seat 2: GoSub4 ($13)
Seat 3: sydney2703 ($7.65)
Seat 4: Shorthorn-HH ($13.90)
Seat 5: JedMack ($14.15)
Seat 6: MEMPHIS00 ($7.05)
Seat 7: mhoweller ($4.95)
Seat 8: Ronswitt ($9.85)
MEMPHIS00 antes $0.05
Ronswitt antes $0.05
francois8 antes $0.05
sydney2703 antes $0.05
GoSub4 antes $0.05
Shorthorn-HH antes $0.05
JedMack antes $0.05
mhoweller antes $0.05
*** 3RD STREET ***
Dealt to francois8 [2c]
Dealt to GoSub4 [4c]
Dealt to sydney2703 [Qs]
Dealt to Shorthorn-HH [Ts]
Dealt to JedMack [5s]
Dealt to MEMPHIS00 [7c 5h] [2s] Good starting cards
Dealt to mhoweller [2d]
Dealt to Ronswitt [9c]
sydney2703 is high with [Qs]
sydney2703 brings in for $0.10
Shorthorn-HH folds
JedMack completes it to $0.25
MEMPHIS00 raises to $0.50 Let him know we mean business
mhoweller folds
Ronswitt folds
francois8 folds
GoSub4 folds
sydney2703 folds
JedMack calls $0.25
Shorthorn-HH stands up
*** 4TH STREET ***
Dealt to JedMack [5s] [7s]
Dealt to MEMPHIS00 [7c 5h 2s] [Ac] I lead out hear with what is now the best hand for sure
MEMPHIS00 bets $0.25
JedMack calls $0.25
*** 5TH STREET ***
Dealt to JedMack [5s 7s] [3c]
Dealt to MEMPHIS00 [7c 5h 2s Ac] [6h] I have a made 7 and I think he's paired one of his cards
MEMPHIS00 bets $0.50
DaFyDd poker sits down
JedMack raises to $1
DaFyDd poker adds $5
MEMPHIS00 raises to $1.50
JedMack raises to $2
MEMPHIS00 calls $0.50

Maybe capping here was a mistake?
*** 6TH STREET ***
Dealt to JedMack [5s 7s 3c] [Qh]
Dealt to MEMPHIS00 [7c 5h 2s Ac 6h] [Kh] Bricks for both of us, I think I'm still ahead
JedMack bets $0.50
MEMPHIS00 raises to $1
JedMack calls $0.50 His call verifies that I am ahead...I think he would have raised it up again with his 7 being made
*** 7TH STREET ***
Dealt to MEMPHIS00 [7c 5h 2s Ac 6h Kh] [6d]
JedMack bets $0.50
MEMPHIS00 calls $0.50 I only call here. If I raise and I've got a worse 7 I'm losing extra money when he reraises. If I call and I win, it's still a very healthy pot.
*** SHOW DOWN ***
JedMack shows [6s 2h 5s 7s 3c Qh Ad] 6,5,3,2,A Turns out I was wrong. He did make his 7 when we capped it, but I was ahead. I asked him later on if he made it on 7th street and he confirmed that his Ace came on 7th.
MEMPHIS00 mucks
JedMack wins the pot ($8.55) with 6,5,3,2,A
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $9 | Rake $0.45
Seat 1: francois8 folded on 3rd St.
Seat 2: GoSub4 folded on 3rd St.
Seat 3: sydney2703 folded on 3rd St.
Seat 4: Shorthorn-HH folded on 3rd St.
Seat 5: JedMack showed [6s 2h 5s 7s 3c Qh Ad] and won ($8.55) with 6,5,3,2,A
Seat 6: MEMPHIS00 mucked [7c 6d 2s Ac 6h Kh 5h] - 7,6,5,2,A
Seat 7: mhoweller folded on 3rd St.
Seat 8: Ronswitt folded on 3rd St.



I can take the beats like a champ...but MEMPHIS can also give them:




Full Tilt Poker Game #4924339126: Table Banburry Cross - $0.25/$0.50 Ante $0.05 - Limit Razz - 23:32:11 ET - 2008/01/19
Seat 1: francois8 ($5.35)
Seat 2: GoSub4 ($12.35)
Seat 3: sydney2703 ($9.05)
Seat 4: DaFyDd poker ($4.80)
Seat 5: JedMack ($18.30)
Seat 6: MEMPHIS00 ($2.55)
Seat 7: mhoweller ($4.05)
Seat 8: Ronswitt ($8.70)
MEMPHIS00 antes $0.05
Ronswitt antes $0.05
francois8 antes $0.05
GoSub4 antes $0.05
DaFyDd poker antes $0.05
JedMack antes $0.05
sydney2703 antes $0.05
5 seconds left to act
mhoweller antes $0.05
JedMack: i thought you had a pair
*** 3RD STREET ***
Dealt to francois8 [Ac]
Dealt to GoSub4 [3c]
Dealt to sydney2703 [Kd]
Dealt to DaFyDd poker [3h]
Dealt to JedMack [7d]
Dealt to MEMPHIS00 [5c 4c] [3s] 3 hands later, I'm dealt yet another good starting hand.
Dealt to mhoweller [4d]
Dealt to Ronswitt [Ks]
Ronswitt is high with [Ks]
Ronswitt brings in for $0.10
francois8 completes it to $0.25
GoSub4 folds
sydney2703 folds
MEMPHIS00: nope
GoSub4: didn't u have a made 7 before the river?
DaFyDd poker calls $0.25
JedMack folds
MEMPHIS00 raises to $0.50 Raise it up to let him know I am have a hand. I rarely mess around with cash on the table.
MEMPHIS00: yeh
mhoweller folds
Ronswitt folds
francois8 calls $0.25
MEMPHIS00: i paired on 7th
DaFyDd poker calls $0.25
*** 4TH STREET ***
Dealt to francois8 [Ac] [7s]
Dealt to DaFyDd poker [3h] [3d]
Dealt to MEMPHIS00 [5c 4c 3s] [6d] I know I'm ahead at this point, let's bet.
MEMPHIS00 bets $0.25
francois8 calls $0.25
DaFyDd poker folds
GoSub4: that still would have beaten his hand
*** 5TH STREET ***
Dealt to francois8 [Ac 7s] [Ah]
Dealt to MEMPHIS00 [5c 4c 3s 6d] [Qs] We both brick here. Instead of checking I want to keep the pressure on, maybe he'll get away from his hand.
MEMPHIS00 bets $0.50
francois8 calls $0.50
*** 6TH STREET ***
Dealt to francois8 [Ac 7s Ah] [6c]
Dealt to MEMPHIS00 [5c 4c 3s 6d Qs] [8h] I hit my 8 here, but I think he hits his 7 by the raise. I'm already committed to the pot to see 7th st.
MEMPHIS00 bets $0.50
francois8 raises to $1
MEMPHIS00 calls $0.50
*** 7TH STREET ***
Dealt to MEMPHIS00 [5c 4c 3s 6d Qs 8h] [Ad] As many would say, GIN!
MEMPHIS00 bets $0.25, and is all in
francois8 calls $0.25
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MEMPHIS00 shows [5c 4c 3s 6d Qs 8h Ad] 6,5,4,3,A
francois8 shows [5s 5d Ac 7s Ah 6c 2h] 7,6,5,2,A FullTilt switches the cards around, so I have to think he didnt start with the pair underneath. I dont think he's going to call those bets with 2 pair. Just plain old luck.
MEMPHIS00 wins the pot ($5.70) with 6,5,4,3,A
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $6 | Rake $0.30
Seat 1: francois8 showed [5s 5d Ac 7s Ah 6c 2h] and lost with 7,6,5,2,A
Seat 2: GoSub4 folded on 3rd St.
Seat 3: sydney2703 folded on 3rd St.
Seat 4: DaFyDd poker folded on 4th St.
Seat 5: JedMack folded on 3rd St.
Seat 6: MEMPHIS00 showed [5c 4c 3s 6d Qs 8h Ad] and won ($5.70) with 6,5,4,3,A
Seat 7: mhoweller folded on 3rd St.
Seat 8: Ronswitt folded on 3rd St.


Comments? Could I have done anything else in the first hand to not lose as much? Should I have gotten away from the second hand when I thought he made his 7? Anything would be helpful, and also much appreciated.

A Bankroll goal

I've read different blogs on here where people set goals for themselves for their bankroll. For example, Bill Ivey set a goal for himself to reach 100K in 100 days. My goal is not that lofty, obviously. I recently transferred some money to my brothers account, and earlier today, I cashed out all but $50 of my funds. In hindsight, maybe I should have left some more in the account, but I can always reload if I go busto.

I am doing this to prove to myself that I can build a bankroll through solid play at micro-stakes. I have been a consistent winner at these stakes, but I have inevitably made the tragic mistake of extending my bankroll too far, and when I have done this in the past, I have lost money. This has happened more than once, and every time it does, I kick myself for not learning from past mistakes.

So here is my goal: To reach $150 in my account by 3/1/2009. I am giving myself close to 45 days to make $100. I think this is a very achievable goal -- I only have to make $2.22 per day to reach this goal. Are you kidding me? If I do not do this, I may have to seriously consider what I am doing at a poker table in the first place.

So there it is. I will update regularly for those of you who care to check in on progress.

Good luck at the tables.

Riddle me this, Riddle me that (Part 3)

Alright fellow bloggers. Here is another in my little riddle series. The previous 2 have been answered within 24 hours of the post. Because of this, I have searched far and wide, consulted the great riddlers in my life, and come up with this one. Hopefully this time I can stump you for a little while longer. Here she is:

A pregnant lady has named her previous children Dominique, Regis, Michelle, Faris, Sonya, and Lara. What will she name her next child? Jessica, Katie, Abby, or Tilly?

MEMPHIS00 is back!

Let me start by apologizing for my hiatus -- I was helping my brother move into his new apartment. We drove from Philadelphia down to the great state of Texas. We made it to Dallas in just over 24 hours ( had it not been for us getting lost in Memphis trying to get breakfast we would have made the trip in less than one day!) He moved to Austin, which I have recently learned is Mookie's hometown. If you get the chance to make it to the city, let me recommend some places to eat: Plucker's (excellent wings and fried pickles), Guero's (great mexican dining), and Salt Lick (the BEST, let me reiterate, the BEST BBQ I have ever had). Austin is a very cool city, laid back, and the people are genuinely nice. I don't think I heard anyone honk they're horn in the week I was there. LOL.

Now some poker. I've mainly been posting on here about NL Holdem, but this is going to be a Razz post. More specifically, micro-stakes razz cash games and how they have helped out my bankroll.

Let me begin with the starting hands which I employ:

• Any 5 low card hands should be raised
• A play that I really like with these hands is the limp raise. It only works if you are 1 or 2 seats to the left of the bring-in, but it helps to build the pot when you are sure to be ahead.)
  
• Any 6 low card hands should be raised
• Any 7 low card hands should be raised (depending on your table position and other shown cards.)
• Any 8 low card hands should be called.

My first rule: Only go to 4th street with hands that are 3 low cards to an 8.

Second: NEVER play a pair to 4th street. Even if it comes AA2, I do not play this hand for the simple fact that in these low stakes, 60% of the players are going to 4th.

These games are very easy to beat if you practice discipline and patience (much like other games). More often than not these players are calling down their made 8-low hands to the end, so if you are patient, you will get paid of on your monster hands.

Third rule (for BK management in cash games): I always leave the table once I have doubled my buy-in. Some people might call this too conservative, and ya know what, maybe it is. I personally like to protect my money at all times, especially in low-limit ring games where there are too many players, playing too many hands, having too many chances to suck-out on my made hands and win my money. Also, it helps me to play conservatively, because with a big stack in these games, I tend to see to many hands to 4th street with J54 just because I have the money behind me.

This has turned into a rant, and that not what I wanted. I simply wanted to get different points of view on the starting hands in Razz. If you have a brain, know the basics of razz, and employ these starting hand limitations on yourself, you WILL be profitable playing the low-stakes Razz games that FullTilt offers.

There is a blog completely dedicated to Razz and you can check it out here