Online Poker Journal

[st.cronin]

The purpose of this thread is to track my development online. Right now I feel stronger in cash games than I am in tournaments. I have a pretty good idea which hands to play, and have some ability to read opponents.

I am pretty much still a rank beginner, although I have had some nice moments. I have read Hellmuth's book and a variety of columns by other authors. I've gotten good pointers here from Lathum and hoopsguy.

I will be playing on pokerstars as st.cronin.

[st.cronin]

Out on the bubble in a 1.20 tourney. Called an all in with J 10 and a board of J 8 x, lost to A J. Probably a dumb call - table play at that point is likely to be tight.

[st.cronin]

Another bubble burst. Pushed all in preflop with KK, lost to AQ.

[st.cronin]

Also, getting waxed in a .05/.10 cash game. It seems like every time I get a good hand, either I get no action or no flop. Just bleeding quarters right now.

[st.cronin]

Typical hand from my early disasters in the cash game:

Dealt to st.cronin [3h Ah]
sebixxx: folds
TONGRFF: folds
Johnnyboy926: folds
TaxDatAce: folds
Zergoh1432: folds
ziggyzaooo: folds
st.cronin: raises $0.10 to $0.20
Tokkotai: raises $0.40 to $0.60
DreamSS: folds
st.cronin: folds
Uncalled bet ($0.40) returned to Tokkotai
Tokkotai collected $0.50 from pot
Tokkotai: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $0.50 | Rake $0
Seat 1: st.cronin (button) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Tokkotai (small blind) collected ($0.50)
Seat 3: DreamSS (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: sebixxx folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: TONGRFF folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Johnnyboy926 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: TaxDatAce folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Zergoh1432 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: ziggyzaooo folded before Flop (didn't bet)

[st.cronin]

Pretty pleased with this hand:

PokerStars Game #18532529690: Tournament #94196294, $1.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/07/02 - 14:20:54 (ET)
Table '94196294 1' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: martinus1987 (1825 in chips)
Seat 2: Astra84 (1695 in chips)
Seat 3: pok3sensei (1835 in chips)
Seat 4: tincan1983 (1195 in chips)
Seat 5: sciosoccer (3080 in chips)
Seat 6: fcarpentier (1295 in chips)
Seat 9: st.cronin (2575 in chips)
pok3sensei: posts small blind 25
tincan1983: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [Ah 5h]
sciosoccer: folds
fcarpentier: folds
st.cronin: calls 50
martinus1987: folds
Astra84: calls 50
pok3sensei: folds
tincan1983: checks
*** FLOP *** [Kc 5s 5c]
tincan1983: checks
st.cronin: bets 50
Astra84: folds
tincan1983: calls 50
*** TURN *** [Kc 5s 5c] [4s]
tincan1983: checks
st.cronin: bets 100
tincan1983: calls 100
*** RIVER *** [Kc 5s 5c 4s] [As]
tincan1983: checks
st.cronin: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
tincan1983: shows [6c 7c] (a pair of Fives)
st.cronin: shows [Ah 5h] (a full house, Fives full of Aces)
st.cronin collected 475 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 475 | Rake 0
Board [Kc 5s 5c 4s As]
Seat 1: martinus1987 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Astra84 (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: pok3sensei (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: tincan1983 (big blind) showed [6c 7c] and lost with a pair of Fives
Seat 5: sciosoccer folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: fcarpentier folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: st.cronin showed [Ah 5h] and won (475) with a full house, Fives full of Aces

[Subby]

Pretty pleased with this hand
Pleased with the result or how you played it?

[hoopsguy]

On the Ah3h hand, why not take a flop at that point? You have position (other guy is SB), and if you hit a flush, straight, or two pair he might pay you off big in the event that he has a big ace.

You liked the hand enough to raise it - correctly, I think from button against two blinds - so I think you should see a flop a good amount of the time in that scenario. I think you lose small pots and potentially win big pots in this spot.

[st.cronin]

Pleased with the result or how you played it?

Mostly the result, but I think I played it right, too. I guess the check on the end could be questioned.

[st.cronin]

On the Ah3h hand, why not take a flop at that point? You have position (other guy is SB), and if you hit a flush, straight, or two pair he might pay you off big in the event that he has a big ace.

You liked the hand enough to raise it - correctly, I think from button against two blinds - so I think you should see a flop a good amount of the time in that scenario. I think you lose small pots and potentially win big pots in this spot.

That is my biggest trouble spot right now, playing a marginal hand AFTER the flop. You're probably correct, and a flush would be the best possible outcome. But a rainbow flop of, say, A 10 6, I wouldn't have any idea what to do.

[Travis]

Mostly the result, but I think I played it right, too. I guess the check on the end could be questioned.

That would have been my question to you on that hand given how things played out. Given the final hands I can't imagine you would have gotten much more out of him, but still worth a shot.

[st.cronin]

That would have been my question to you on that hand given how things played out. Given the final hands I can't imagine you would have gotten much more out of him, but still worth a shot.

Yeah, I figured a check might make him wonder if *I* was on a flush draw, and maybe conclude that some kind of power bet would win the pot. I guessed that any bet I made he would fold.

[st.cronin]

This is actually my second win in one of these:

PokerStars Tournament #94196294, No Limit Hold'em
Buy-In: $1.00/$0.20
9 players
Total Prize Pool: $9.00
Tournament started - 2008/07/02 - 13:55:10 (ET)

Dear st.cronin,

You finished the tournament in 1st place.
A $4.50 award has been credited to your Real Money account.

You earned 45 Sit & Go Leader Board Points for the Mercury Division in this tournament.
For more information about our Sit & Go Leader Boards, see our website at
http://www.pokerstars.com/poker/promotions/battle/


Congratulations!
Thank you for participating.

[Subby]

I think you played every street wrong, I guess other folks might disagree.

[st.cronin]

I think you played every street wrong, I guess other folks might disagree.

I welcome your input and advice.

[Subby]

Well I am not crazy about open limping a hand like ace-runt from middle position. You are going to be out of position the rest of the hand against god-knows-what-else. Open raise!

On the flop you have a good hand and I like betting here, but there is a flush draw on the board and you need to make a larger bet to get an idea about what your opponent might have. Your bet was so small that it's hard to tell *what* the other player has.

On the turn there are TWO flush draws on the board. Now you have to make a pot sized bet or more or you are just encouraging your opponent to draw out on you. You make less than a half sized bet instead and of course your opponent is going to call.

River card gives you a boat and makes one of the flushes.

You bet here. You have a boat. Pray your opponent made their flush.

[sabotai]

I agree with what Subby said, although I would have probably tossed the hand preflop.

[st.cronin]

Well I am not crazy about open limping a hand like ace-runt from middle position. You are going to be out of position the rest of the hand against god-knows-what-else. Open raise!

This I agree with, and that was a bit of an odd move for me. I'll defend it by saying I like to mix my play up, to confuse anybody who might be paying attention to how I play different hands.

Your other comments are well taken.

[Subby]

I agree with what Subby said, although I would have probably tossed the hand preflop.
Nah - that's a solid starting hand at a seven-person table.

FWIW - the openlimp isn't horrible or anything - it isn't like the blinds were huge. Just putting yourself in a tough spot (potentially) later on...

[digamma]

I like open limping with small suited aces, particularly in relatively early stages of sit-n-go's. They are hands I want to get in and see a flop cheaply with. I'm not necessarily playing that hand to hit the A, but to hit a big hand, so I want to get in cheap and get away from it if I need to.

After that, I agree with everything Subby wrote.

[sabotai]

Nah - that's a solid starting hand at a seven-person table.

I didn't notice it was down to 7.

I probably still would have tossed, but then again, I'm not nearly as good as you. :)

[Subby]

I probably still would have tossed, but then again, I'm not nearly as good as you. :)
Ok now you're just being ridiculous.

[st.cronin]

The family of A 4throughJ hands give me fits, in all honesty. If I don't hit a big flop (2 pairs or better), I never know what to do.

[Lathum]

That is my biggest trouble spot right now, playing a marginal hand AFTER the flop. You're probably correct, and a flush would be the best possible outcome. But a rainbow flop of, say, A 10 6, I wouldn't have any idea what to do.

or worse A J 3 and he has ace jack and you get crushed.

Stay away from calling bets with weak aces. In the long run you will lose more then you win between chasing flushes and being outkicked.

And even if you hit the flush, most of the time you wont get paid.

[Lathum]

Nah - that's a solid starting hand at a seven-person table.

FWIW - the openlimp isn't horrible or anything - it isn't like the blinds were huge. Just putting yourself in a tough spot (potentially) later on...

I wouldn't go as far as to say solid.

I would say playable.

[digamma]

or worse A J 3 and he has ace jack and you get crushed.

Stay away from calling bets with weak aces. In the long run you will lose more then you win between chasing flushes and being outkicked.

And even if you hit the flush, most of the time you wont get paid.

That's certainly a safe rule to follow in cash games. In single table sit & go's, however, the name of the game is to double up, particularly in the early to middle stages. Small suited aces provide an opportunity to do just that when you hit a big hand. Certainly, this requires some discipline to throw away the hand when you suspect you are outkicked, but when you do hit your hand, the chance to double up is often worth getting into the hand.

[hoopsguy]

That's certainly a safe rule to follow in cash games. In single table sit & go's, however, the name of the game is to double up, particularly in the early to middle stages. Small suited aces provide an opportunity to do just that when you hit a big hand. Certainly, this requires some discipline to throw away the hand when you suspect you are outkicked, but when you do hit your hand, the chance to double up is often worth getting into the hand.

Yep, this is the point I meant to make earlier. I think you lose quite a few small pots on the flop but have the chance to win some big pots at the river. If you are already in for the pre-flop raise then I think you call the re-raise from the SB most of the time to see if you get a flop where he'll end up pushing you a lot more than $0.40.

[st.cronin]

This seems to happen to me a lot:

*********** # 7 **************
PokerStars Game #18539152333: Tournament #94228047, $1.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/07/02 - 19:16:16 (ET)
Table '94228047 1' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 2: st.cronin (3960 in chips)
Seat 5: moneybeacher (7055 in chips)
Seat 9: slkcards (2485 in chips)
st.cronin: posts small blind 100
moneybeacher: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [Ah 3c]
slkcards: folds
st.cronin: raises 200 to 400
moneybeacher: calls 200
*** FLOP *** [Kd 5d 9s]
st.cronin: checks
moneybeacher: bets 400
st.cronin: folds
Uncalled bet (400) returned to moneybeacher
moneybeacher collected 800 from pot
moneybeacher: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 800 | Rake 0
Board [Kd 5d 9s]
Seat 2: st.cronin (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: moneybeacher (big blind) collected (800)
Seat 9: slkcards (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

And here's a hand I'm embarrassed to post:


*********** # 7 **************
PokerStars Game #18544596029: Hold'em No Limit ($0.02/$0.05) - 2008/07/02 - 23:47:30 (ET)
Table 'Ostara' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: juliasellstx ($11.59 in chips)
Seat 2: Shal152 ($2.68 in chips)
Seat 3: AJR79 ($4.57 in chips)
Seat 4: SilverFerret ($2.83 in chips)
Seat 5: st.cronin ($5.95 in chips)
Seat 7: kuszo ($12.20 in chips)
Seat 8: MLevinson ($5.95 in chips)
Seat 9: Cherokeedude ($0.65 in chips)
SilverFerret: posts small blind $0.02
st.cronin: posts big blind $0.05
dongyooni: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [6h 4c]
kuszo: folds
MLevinson: folds
Cherokeedude: calls $0.05
juliasellstx: calls $0.05
Shal152: folds
AJR79: calls $0.05
SilverFerret: calls $0.03
st.cronin: checks
*** FLOP *** [Qc 6d 4d]
SilverFerret: checks
st.cronin: bets $0.10
Cherokeedude: calls $0.10
juliasellstx: folds
AJR79: calls $0.10
SilverFerret: calls $0.10
*** TURN *** [Qc 6d 4d] [Qd]
SilverFerret: checks
st.cronin: bets $0.30
Cherokeedude: raises $0.20 to $0.50 and is all-in
AJR79: folds
SilverFerret: folds
st.cronin: calls $0.20
*** RIVER *** [Qc 6d 4d Qd] [2h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
st.cronin: shows [6h 4c] (two pair, Queens and Sixes)
Cherokeedude: shows [Qs Ts] (three of a kind, Queens)
Cherokeedude collected $1.60 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $1.65 | Rake $0.05
Board [Qc 6d 4d Qd 2h]
Seat 1: juliasellstx folded on the Flop
Seat 2: Shal152 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: AJR79 (button) folded on the Turn
Seat 4: SilverFerret (small blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 5: st.cronin (big blind) showed [6h 4c] and lost with two pair, Queens and Sixes
Seat 7: kuszo folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: MLevinson folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Cherokeedude showed [Qs Ts] and won ($1.60) with three of a kind, Queens


Most of the pots I win, at least in tourneys, go something like this (I rarely win hands in low-level cash games without a showdown):

PokerStars Game #18544631892: Hold'em No Limit ($0.02/$0.05) - 2008/07/02 - 23:49:29 (ET)
Table 'Ostara' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: juliasellstx ($11.54 in chips)
Seat 2: Shal152 ($2.68 in chips)
Seat 3: AJR79 ($4.49 in chips)
Seat 4: SilverFerret ($2.68 in chips)
Seat 5: st.cronin ($5.28 in chips)
Seat 6: dongyooni ($9.95 in chips)
Seat 7: kuszo ($12.20 in chips)
Seat 8: MLevinson ($5.95 in chips)
Seat 9: Cherokeedude ($1.60 in chips)
dongyooni: posts small blind $0.02
kuszo: posts big blind $0.05
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [9d 9c]
MLevinson: folds
Cherokeedude: folds
juliasellstx: calls $0.05
Shal152: folds
AJR79: calls $0.05
SilverFerret: calls $0.05
st.cronin: raises $0.15 to $0.20
dongyooni: folds
kuszo: folds
juliasellstx: folds
AJR79: calls $0.15
SilverFerret: folds
*** FLOP *** [8d 2s Ts]
AJR79: checks
st.cronin: bets $0.25
AJR79: folds
Uncalled bet ($0.25) returned to st.cronin
st.cronin collected $0.57 from pot
st.cronin: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $0.57 | Rake $0
Board [8d 2s Ts]
Seat 1: juliasellstx folded before Flop
Seat 2: Shal152 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: AJR79 folded on the Flop
Seat 4: SilverFerret folded before Flop
Seat 5: st.cronin (button) collected ($0.57)
Seat 6: dongyooni (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: kuszo (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: MLevinson folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Cherokeedude folded before Flop (didn't bet)

[sabotai]

The first hand: Raise more than that. You should have raise to at least 600, but probably to 800 or 1000 would have been better.

The second hand: Postflop, bet more than that. Your bet was less than half the pot and you have a flush draw on the table with you holding two pair. Bet $0.25 there (bet the pot). The guy with the pair of queens probably still would have called and you still would have lost to his set. That's just bad luck.

Your bet on the turn was fine. The third suited card came up and you needed to know if someone got their flush or has a queen to make a set. If you check and everyone else checks, or someone puts out a small bet, you learn nothing. He pushes all-in, but since it's just $0.20 more for you to call the guy who pushed, it's a no-brainer call at that point.

The third hand: Pretty good, but again a possible flush draw comes out on the flop and you make a bet that would give someone the odds to call.

The biggest problem I see in your game is that you aren't betting high enough. If you are going to play a lot of No Limit, you need to start betting based on how big the pot is. You seem to just bet the minimum or with a minimum raise. You're asking for trouble betting like that in No Limit.

[Subby]

Hand 1: Push preflop. If you are just going to raise, however, you have to raise 3xbb and make a continuation bet on the flop. I still like the push preflop though.

Hand 2: On the turn you had outs, the guy could have had anything, you have to call for one more bet, blah blah blah. Bet more on the flop.

Hand 3: Bet more on the flop.

See a pattern here? :)

Small bets give your opponents odds to call. You want to make it mathematically incorrect for them to do so. Bet bigger.

[st.cronin]

Lesson learned:

PokerStars Game #18583350294: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/07/04 - 17:02:53 (ET)
Table 'Ibarruri' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: pfogel4 ($1.70 in chips)
Seat 2: kjelhopper ($10 in chips)
Seat 3: kink2007 ($2.50 in chips)
Seat 4: Ralik ($14.55 in chips)
Seat 5: forksmuggler ($4.95 in chips)
Seat 6: Brutii II ($10.40 in chips)
Seat 7: Teufel669966 ($2 in chips)
Seat 9: st.cronin ($6 in chips)
forksmuggler: posts small blind $0.05
Brutii II: posts big blind $0.10
Teufel669966: posts big blind $0.10
st.cronin: posts big blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [2d 7c]
Teufel669966: checks
st.cronin: checks
pfogel4: folds
kjelhopper: folds
kink2007: raises $0.10 to $0.20
Ralik: folds
forksmuggler: calls $0.15
Brutii II: calls $0.10
Teufel669966: calls $0.10
st.cronin: calls $0.10
*** FLOP *** [7d 2c Ad]
monnis joins the table at seat #8
forksmuggler: checks
Brutii II: checks
Teufel669966: checks
monnis is sitting out
st.cronin: bets $1
monnis has returned
kink2007: folds
forksmuggler: folds
Brutii II: calls $1
Teufel669966: folds
*** TURN *** [7d 2c Ad] [7s]
Brutii II: checks
st.cronin: bets $3
Brutii II: folds
Uncalled bet ($3) returned to st.cronin
st.cronin collected $2.90 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $3 | Rake $0.10
Board [7d 2c Ad 7s]
Seat 1: pfogel4 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: kjelhopper folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: kink2007 folded on the Flop
Seat 4: Ralik (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: forksmuggler (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: Brutii II (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 7: Teufel669966 folded on the Flop
Seat 9: st.cronin collected ($2.90)

[Subby]

Not sure you need to overbet the pot there on the turn. You have the best hand and this isn't the time to be pricing the guy out.

Be interested to hear what other folks think.

[st.cronin]

This still seems to happen to me a lot:

PokerStars Game #18598339702: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/07/05 - 10:47:01 (ET)
Table 'Magdalena' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: erto13 ($11.80 in chips)
Seat 2: st.cronin ($6.10 in chips)
Seat 3: R3DD3V1L5 ($7.80 in chips)
Seat 4: wingshooter2 ($7.55 in chips)
Seat 7: kccrouch ($9.90 in chips)
Seat 8: vbender ($9.75 in chips)
Seat 9: hopla67 ($10.60 in chips)
st.cronin: posts small blind $0.05
R3DD3V1L5: posts big blind $0.10
Qui Gon113: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [9c 9d]
wingshooter2: calls $0.10
kccrouch: folds
vbender: folds
hopla67: folds
erto13: folds
st.cronin: raises $0.20 to $0.30
R3DD3V1L5: folds
wingshooter2: calls $0.20
*** FLOP *** [Qs 2h Ts]
st.cronin: checks
wingshooter2: checks
*** TURN *** [Qs 2h Ts] [5c]
st.cronin: checks
wingshooter2: bets $0.30
st.cronin: folds
Uncalled bet ($0.30) returned to wingshooter2
wingshooter2 collected $0.70 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $0.70 | Rake $0
Board [Qs 2h Ts 5c]
Seat 1: erto13 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: st.cronin (small blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 3: R3DD3V1L5 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: wingshooter2 collected ($0.70)
Seat 7: kccrouch folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: vbender folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: hopla67 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

[Subby]

Why check the flop after raising preflop? Odds are he didn't hit his hand.

[st.cronin]

What kind of odds? I see two overcards to my top pair, don't I have to assume I don't have the best hand?

edit: I have been finding that it can be very costly to bet with a middling hand.

[st.cronin]

PokerStars Game #18599251313: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/07/05 - 11:42:21 (ET)
Table 'Apisaon III' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: duanerb ($7.50 in chips)
Seat 2: tercet ($9.90 in chips)
Seat 3: ALAIN STOCK ($4.80 in chips)
Seat 4: MidnightTv ($9.85 in chips)
Seat 5: st.cronin ($13.25 in chips)
Seat 6: Rodia ($2.85 in chips)
Seat 7: max1773 ($8.50 in chips)
Seat 8: Vstelt ($6.20 in chips)
tercet: posts small blind $0.05
ALAIN STOCK: posts big blind $0.10
awishformore: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [Jd Jc]
MidnightTv: folds
st.cronin: raises $0.20 to $0.30
Rodia: folds
max1773: folds
Vstelt: folds
duanerb: calls $0.30
tercet: folds
ALAIN STOCK: folds
*** FLOP *** [As 7s 6c]
st.cronin: bets $0.50
duanerb: calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [As 7s 6c] [Qc]
st.cronin: checks
duanerb: bets $1
st.cronin: folds
Uncalled bet ($1) returned to duanerb
duanerb collected $1.70 from pot
duanerb: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $1.75 | Rake $0.05
Board [As 7s 6c Qc]
Seat 1: duanerb (button) collected ($1.70)
Seat 2: tercet (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: ALAIN STOCK (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: MidnightTv folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: st.cronin folded on the Turn
Seat 6: Rodia folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: max1773 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Vstelt folded before Flop (didn't bet)

[hoopsguy]

Last hand:
Two checks to him is basically asking him to bet and take the pot away from you. The chances of an opponent hitting the flop is about 33%. You've already shown strength pre-flop with a bet. More often than not you should be following a pre-flop raise with a bet on the flop, even if you miss. Particularly on a flop where there is no A or K, the cards most likely to be in your opponent's hand when he is calling a raise.

If you think you opponent is good enough to flat call your pre-flop raise and take it away from you on the turn, then maybe this isn't the ideal opponent to be playing against at this level. There are plenty of bad players at this limit who will either call down with the worst of it or fold to your aggression on the flop.

Full House (72off):
I agree with Subby that putting a big bet out on the turn with a full boat isn't likely to be your best way to make money. The advice on putting in bigger bets (pre-flop and on flop) is when you are trying to define your opponent's holdings, or take down the pot right there. Minimum bets are pricing your opponents in to call and catch up against your better holdings.

A pot sized bet on the turn in this hand doesn't give him the right odds to chase a flush, which you beat. It doesn't give him the right odds to chase with a marginal ace when the board has paired - he only has two outs in that spot. So you want hands that you crush to find a call in that spot. I think a bet of $1.50 (1/2 pot) is more likely to get action there.

[hoopsguy]

JJ hand - yeah, that is why people have such a hard time with jacks. Pretty standard play by you on that one. Your bet sizes are more appropriate than the hands you were posting earlier.

[st.cronin]

PokerStars Game #18599537488: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/07/05 - 11:59:10 (ET)
Table 'Apisaon III' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: duanerb ($8.10 in chips)
Seat 2: tercet ($10.80 in chips)
Seat 3: ALAIN STOCK ($4.90 in chips)
Seat 4: MidnightTv ($11 in chips)
Seat 5: st.cronin ($11.65 in chips)
Seat 6: Rodia ($5.30 in chips)
Seat 7: max1773 ($8.40 in chips)
Seat 8: Vstelt ($5.45 in chips)
Seat 9: awishformore ($11.75 in chips)
MidnightTv: posts small blind $0.05
st.cronin: posts big blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [Ah Jd]
Rodia: calls $0.10
max1773: calls $0.10
Vstelt: folds
awishformore: folds
duanerb: folds
tercet: calls $0.10
ALAIN STOCK: calls $0.10
MidnightTv: folds
st.cronin: raises $0.40 to $0.50
Rodia: calls $0.40
max1773: folds
tercet: calls $0.40
ALAIN STOCK: calls $0.40
*** FLOP *** [Td 2s Th]
st.cronin: bets $2
Rodia: folds
tercet: folds
ALAIN STOCK: folds
Uncalled bet ($2) returned to st.cronin
st.cronin collected $2.05 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2.15 | Rake $0.10
Board [Td 2s Th]
Seat 1: duanerb folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: tercet folded on the Flop
Seat 3: ALAIN STOCK (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: MidnightTv (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: st.cronin (big blind) collected ($2.05)
Seat 6: Rodia folded on the Flop
Seat 7: max1773 folded before Flop
Seat 8: Vstelt folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: awishformore folded before Flop (didn't bet)

edit: In retrospect that was probably way too reckless a play. I tend to assume that if, for example, I see two 10s on the flop, that the likelihood of somebody holding another 10 is low. I am not sure how well math bears that out.

[st.cronin]

PokerStars Game #18599784921: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/07/05 - 12:13:20 (ET)
Table 'Apisaon III' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: duanerb ($7.60 in chips)
Seat 2: tercet ($12.20 in chips)
Seat 3: ALAIN STOCK ($10.80 in chips)
Seat 4: macks123 ($6.10 in chips)
Seat 5: st.cronin ($11.90 in chips)
Seat 6: Rodia ($3.70 in chips)
Seat 7: dap3529 ($5.90 in chips)
Seat 8: Vstelt ($4.65 in chips)
Seat 9: awishformore ($10 in chips)
macks123: posts small blind $0.05
st.cronin: posts big blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [5h Ah]
Rodia: folds
dap3529: folds
Vstelt: calls $0.10
awishformore: folds
duanerb: calls $0.10
tercet: folds
ALAIN STOCK: calls $0.10
macks123: calls $0.05
st.cronin: checks
*** FLOP *** [Jh Qd 5d]
macks123: checks
st.cronin: bets $0.50
Vstelt: raises $0.50 to $1
duanerb: folds
ALAIN STOCK: folds
macks123: folds
st.cronin: calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [Jh Qd 5d] [3h]
st.cronin: bets $2
Vstelt: calls $2
*** RIVER *** [Jh Qd 5d 3h] [9h]
st.cronin: bets $2.50
Vstelt: calls $1.55 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($0.95) returned to st.cronin
*** SHOW DOWN ***
st.cronin: shows [5h Ah] (a flush, Ace high)
Vstelt: mucks hand
st.cronin collected $9.15 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $9.60 | Rake $0.45
Board [Jh Qd 5d 3h 9h]
Seat 1: duanerb folded on the Flop
Seat 2: tercet folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: ALAIN STOCK (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: macks123 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: st.cronin (big blind) showed [5h Ah] and won ($9.15) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 6: Rodia folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: dap3529 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Vstelt mucked [Ac Qc]
Seat 9: awishformore folded before Flop (didn't bet)

[st.cronin]

PokerStars Game #18604686665: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/07/05 - 16:11:16 (ET)
Table 'Suttung IV' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: DreamSS ($13.10 in chips)
Seat 2: Sven147 ($9.70 in chips)
Seat 3: pikachu808 ($11.55 in chips)
Seat 4: ChuckFlorris ($7.65 in chips)
Seat 6: DreamKai ($11.40 in chips)
Seat 7: XxStacks60xX ($10 in chips)
Seat 8: tigerhood84 ($11.10 in chips)
Seat 9: st.cronin ($6.35 in chips)
DreamSS: posts small blind $0.05
Sven147: posts big blind $0.10
ilovesomuchh: sits out
XxStacks60xX: posts big blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [Ts Tc]
pikachu808: folds
ChuckFlorris: folds
DreamKai: folds
XxStacks60xX: checks
tigerhood84: folds
st.cronin: raises $0.25 to $0.35
DreamSS: folds
Sven147: calls $0.25
XxStacks60xX: folds
*** FLOP *** [8h Ks 4d]
Sven147: bets $0.60
st.cronin: calls $0.60
*** TURN *** [8h Ks 4d] [Kd]
Sven147: checks
st.cronin: bets $2
Sven147: folds
Uncalled bet ($2) returned to st.cronin
st.cronin collected $1.95 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2.05 | Rake $0.10
Board [8h Ks 4d Kd]
Seat 1: DreamSS (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Sven147 (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 3: pikachu808 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: ChuckFlorris folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: DreamKai folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: XxStacks60xX folded before Flop
Seat 8: tigerhood84 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: st.cronin (button) collected ($1.95)

[primelord]

FWIW it would be nice if you converted your hand histories into something more readable. Hand history dumps suck. I'll comment on your 3 hands and convert them so you have a link to a converter to use.

[primelord]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.com (http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com) (Format: Plain Text)

MP3 ($8.10)
CO ($10.80)
Button ($4.90)
SB ($11)
st.cronin ($11.65)
UTG ($5.30)
UTG+1 ($8.40)
MP1 ($5.45)
MP2 ($11.75)

Preflop: st.cronin is BB with Ah, Jd.
UTG calls $0.10, UTG+1 calls $0.10, 3 folds, CO calls $0.10, Button calls $0.10, 1 fold, st.cronin raises to $0.5, UTG calls $0.40, UTG+1 folds, CO calls $0.40, Button calls $0.40.

Flop: ($2.25) Td, 2s, Th (4 players)
st.cronin bets $2, UTG folds, CO folds, Button folds.

Final Pot: $2.25


Pre-flop I don't think you raised enough. You are out of position and have a hand that you do not want to play a multiway pot with. The "general rule" is 4xBB + 1 for each limper. A raise to .80 or more would be better in this spot. If you can take down all those limps without a flop that is a good result for you.

After the flop I think you played it fine. The flop bet was maybe a little big. On a dry board like that you can accomplish the same thing with 1/2 to 2/3 pot sized bet without as much risk. A pot bet isn't horrible though. If you get floated there though warning bells better be going off.

[primelord]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.com (http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com) (Format: Plain Text)

MP3 ($7.60)
CO ($12.20)
Button ($10.80)
SB ($6.10)
st.cronin ($11.90)
UTG ($3.70)
UTG+1 ($5.90)
MP1 ($4.65)
MP2 ($10)

Preflop: st.cronin is BB with 5h, Ah.
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.10, 1 fold, MP3 calls $0.10, 1 fold, Button calls $0.10, SB completes, st.cronin checks.

Flop: ($0.50) Jh, Qd, 5d (5 players)
SB checks, st.cronin bets $0.5, MP1 raises to $1, MP3 folds, Button folds, SB folds, st.cronin calls $0.50.

Turn: ($2.50) 3h (2 players)
st.cronin bets $2, MP1 calls $2.

River: ($6.50) 9h (2 players)
st.cronin bets $2.5, MP1 calls $1.55 (All-In).

Final Pot: $9.60


I am not a big fan of the way you played this hand. I don't like betting into 4 players oop with just 3rd pair and a back door flush draw. I think it is better to check and get some idea of where you stand before you put money into this pot with such a weak hand. Once you get raised what are you putting your opponent on? He is short stacked so if you think you are behind you don't have the implied odds to try and catch up. If you think you are ahead you need to be putting him all-in on this flop.

[primelord]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (8 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.com (http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com) (Format: Plain Text)

SB ($13.10)
BB ($9.70)
UTG ($11.55)
UTG+1 ($7.65)
MP1 ($11.40)
MP2 ($10)
CO ($11.10)
st.cronin ($6.35)

Preflop: st.cronin is Button with Ts, Tc. MP2 posts a blind of $0.1.
3 folds, MP2 (poster) checks, 1 fold, st.cronin raises to $0.35, 1 fold, BB calls $0.25, MP2 folds.

Flop: ($0.85) 8h, Ks, 4d (2 players)
BB bets $0.6, st.cronin calls $0.60.

Turn: ($2.05) Kd (2 players)
BB checks, st.cronin bets $2, BB folds.

Final Pot: $2.05


Nice hand.

[st.cronin]

Thanks to everybody for their comments. Last night my bankroll was up to @ $78.00. Its down to about $60 after an experiment playing two tables at once went very badly earlier, but I'm still in profit (initial deposit was $50.00).

[st.cronin]

Bankroll is right about 70. Most of my volatility takes place from the blinds - I think my play in those positions tends to be very poor.

If anybody has any general comments about how to play from the blinds, I'd appreciate it. I'll post some hands if I get a chance.

[st.cronin]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t150 (8 handed) Poker-Stars (http://www.flopturnriver.com/reviews/Online-Poker-PokerStars.php#converter) Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (http://www.flopturnriver.com) (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG+1 (t4150)
MP1 (t7405)
MP2 (t1175)
CO (t7030)
Button (t2395)
SB (t5065)
st.cronin (t3489)
UTG (t6020)

Preflop: st.cronin is BB with 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/diamond.gif, 5http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/club.gif.
4 folds, CO calls t150, 2 folds, st.cronin checks.

Flop: (t375) Thttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/club.gif, 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/spade.gif, 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/heart.gif (2 players)
st.cronin bets t325, CO folds.

Final Pot: t375

Even though I won this pot, I don't think this is a hand I should be playing.

[primelord]

Bankroll is right about 70. Most of my volatility takes place from the blinds - I think my play in those positions tends to be very poor.

If anybody has any general comments about how to play from the blinds, I'd appreciate it. I'll post some hands if I get a chance.


This is a common problem. People get to see free flops in the BB and they tend to lose their minds a bit and over play hands when they catch any piece. In general you need to be playing hands carefully out of the blinds. Even though you get a discounted price to come in, you are doing so out of position. Position is important in all forms of Hold 'Em, but is amplified in NL.

[digamma]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t150 (8 handed) Poker-Stars (http://www.flopturnriver.com/reviews/Online-Poker-PokerStars.php#converter) Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (http://www.flopturnriver.com) (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG+1 (t4150)
MP1 (t7405)
MP2 (t1175)
CO (t7030)
Button (t2395)
SB (t5065)
st.cronin (t3489)
UTG (t6020)

Preflop: st.cronin is BB with 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/diamond.gif, 5http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/club.gif.
4 folds, CO calls t150, 2 folds, st.cronin checks.

Flop: (t375) Thttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/club.gif, 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/spade.gif, 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/heart.gif (2 players)
st.cronin bets t325, CO folds.

Final Pot: t375

Even though I won this pot, I don't think this is a hand I should be playing.

The only thing I'd question is your bet size. You got to see the flop for free and you took a stab at it post flop. If raised or called, you were likely going to be done with the hand. However, you could have likely won the hand with a bet of 200-250. In sit & go's chips matter a whole lot more than in cash games or even multi-table tournaments. That makes getting the right bet size crucial and not putting chips at risk unnecessarily.

[st.cronin]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) Poker-Stars (http://www.flopturnriver.com/reviews/Online-Poker-PokerStars.php#converter) Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (http://www.flopturnriver.com) (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

st.cronin ($40.15)
UTG ($24.65)
MP ($18)
CO ($3.70)
Button ($7.50)
SB ($31.40)

Preflop: st.cronin is BB with Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/heart.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/spade.gif.
4 folds, SB raises to $0.5, st.cronin calls $0.25.

Flop: ($1.10) 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/heart.gif, 7http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/diamond.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/heart.gif (2 players)
SB bets $0.75, st.cronin calls $0.75.

Turn: ($2.60) 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/heart.gif (2 players)
SB checks, st.cronin checks.

River: ($2.60) 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/spade.gif (2 players)
SB bets $0.75, st.cronin calls $0.75.

Final Pot: $4.10

[primelord]

The only thing I'd question is your bet size. You got to see the flop for free and you took a stab at it post flop. If raised or called, you were likely going to be done with the hand. However, you could have likely won the hand with a bet of 200-250. In sit & go's chips matter a whole lot more than in cash games or even multi-table tournaments. That makes getting the right bet size crucial and not putting chips at risk unnecessarily.

dig's advice here holds true even though, given the chip stacks of the people at the table, this is clearly an MTT and not a SnG. :) On a dry board like this a 1/2 to 2/3 pot bet will accomplish the same thing as your nearly full pot bet, with less risk to you.

[primelord]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) Poker-Stars (http://www.flopturnriver.com/reviews/Online-Poker-PokerStars.php#converter) Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (http://www.flopturnriver.com) (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

st.cronin ($40.15)
UTG ($24.65)
MP ($18)
CO ($3.70)
Button ($7.50)
SB ($31.40)

Preflop: st.cronin is BB with Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/heart.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/spade.gif.
4 folds, SB raises to $0.5, st.cronin calls $0.25.

Flop: ($1.10) 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/heart.gif, 7http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/diamond.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/heart.gif (2 players)
SB bets $0.75, st.cronin calls $0.75.

Turn: ($2.60) 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/heart.gif (2 players)
SB checks, st.cronin checks.

River: ($2.60) 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/spade.gif (2 players)
SB bets $0.75, st.cronin calls $0.75.

Final Pot: $4.10

This entire hand is played WAY too passively. The SB min raises you pre-flop. Unless you ahve seen him do that as his std raise then this eitehr means he has crap and is hoping just to steal your blind (most likely) or he has a monster hand and doesn't want you to fold (not nearly as likely). Either way you have position on him in a heads-up pot with a resonable hand. You need to re pop him pre here.

I am not sure why you just called the flop. That's a pretty darn good flop for your hand. There is no reason not to believe you are ahead at this point so raise it up. With the hearts and possible streaight draws out there let's not let him get to the turn too cheaply either.

Again I am not sure why you aren't betting this turn. Yes the board is scarier than it was, but there is still no reason to believe you are not ahead here. On the river with the way you played it I guess just calling is fine. You let virtually every possible draw get there cheaply by the river. You should be playing this much stronger earlier in the hand.

[st.cronin]

Bankroll: $88.88, have 245 fpp, need 500 to get the $50 bonus. I've been consistently beating the low-limit ring games, up to .10/.25 today. Tourney play has been a little more spotty, especially outside the 1.20 9 man sngs, which I find I can routinely cash in.

[digamma]

dig's advice here holds true even though, given the chip stacks of the people at the table, this is clearly an MTT and not a SnG. :) On a dry board like this a 1/2 to 2/3 pot bet will accomplish the same thing as your nearly full pot bet, with less risk to you.

smarty pants

[st.cronin]

This entire hand is played WAY too passively. The SB min raises you pre-flop. Unless you ahve seen him do that as his std raise then this eitehr means he has crap and is hoping just to steal your blind (most likely) or he has a monster hand and doesn't want you to fold (not nearly as likely). Either way you have position on him in a heads-up pot with a resonable hand. You need to re pop him pre here.

I am not sure why you just called the flop. That's a pretty darn good flop for your hand. There is no reason not to believe you are ahead at this point so raise it up. With the hearts and possible streaight draws out there let's not let him get to the turn too cheaply either.

Again I am not sure why you aren't betting this turn. Yes the board is scarier than it was, but there is still no reason to believe you are not ahead here. On the river with the way you played it I guess just calling is fine. You let virtually every possible draw get there cheaply by the river. You should be playing this much stronger earlier in the hand.

I think I agree with this. A re-raise either pre or post flop would have been ideal.

[st.cronin]

Online bankroll is now over $100.

Expanding this at my girlfriend's request to include casino adventures as well.

Yesterday I won @ $475 in a 1-2 nl game at the Sandia Resort & Casino. At one point I was up quite a bit more than that, but went out on a bit of a downturn (much to her chagrin). I don't really have details on my play, except that I did win a couple midsize pots when I caught a straight on the river, and won a big pot when I threw a big bet at a flop of KQx with pocket Js. The last folder turned over K10, which made me feel like Mr. Giant Balls. The online work definitely helped out - I made some profitable plays that I picked up playing the microstakes games.

[st.cronin]

Experiencing some "variance" this morning, currently down to about 70. I don't think I'm playing well.

[st.cronin]

This has been happening all morning:

PokerStars Game #18742754489: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/07/11 - 13:33:15 (ET)
Table 'Siegena V' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: BobbyCooper1 ($23.95 in chips)
Seat 2: frzbfw ($14.40 in chips)
Seat 3: st.cronin ($16.05 in chips)
Seat 4: Marinus_Gr ($59 in chips)
Seat 5: roland1952 ($25.70 in chips)
Seat 6: nazareneoh ($26.10 in chips)
Seat 7: 2.Thijs1987 ($15.10 in chips)
Seat 8: MomentumMo ($12.10 in chips)
Seat 9: Horstus ($25 in chips)
2.Thijs1987: posts small blind $0.10
MomentumMo: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [8d 8c]
Horstus: folds
BobbyCooper1: folds
frzbfw: folds
st.cronin: raises $0.60 to $0.85
Marinus_Gr: folds
roland1952: folds
nazareneoh: calls $0.85
2.Thijs1987: folds
MomentumMo: calls $0.60
*** FLOP *** [Ac 2c 7d]
MomentumMo: checks
st.cronin: bets $2
nazareneoh: calls $2
MomentumMo: calls $2
*** TURN *** [Ac 2c 7d] [Qc]
MomentumMo: checks
st.cronin: bets $7
nazareneoh: raises $7 to $14
MomentumMo: folds
st.cronin: folds
Uncalled bet ($7) returned to nazareneoh
nazareneoh collected $21.55 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $22.65 | Rake $1.10
Board [Ac 2c 7d Qc]
Seat 1: BobbyCooper1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: frzbfw folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: st.cronin folded on the Turn
Seat 4: Marinus_Gr folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: roland1952 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: nazareneoh (button) collected ($21.55)
Seat 7: 2.Thijs1987 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: MomentumMo (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 9: Horstus folded before Flop (didn't bet)

[Cap Ologist]

Warning bells should have gone off when 2 people called your $2 bet on the flop. With an ace on the board, you have to think someone paired it. Then you're only option is going after the flush draw, so I probably would have checked and hoped for either a free card or a small bet to call. Since you were willing to bet out on the turn, you probably could have seen the river for $7 or less with the check on the turn. Just my $.02.

[Marmel]

I struggle with those middle pairs and never know if I should even play them in middle position. I suppose in what should be a loose game, it is worth playing, but then should you have raised so much?, or limped...I just am never sure. I would like to hear some opinions on that.

[Lathum]

I struggle with those middle pairs and never know if I should even play them in middle position. I suppose in what should be a loose game, it is worth playing, but then should you have raised so much?, or limped...I just am never sure. I would like to hear some opinions on that.

Barring any weird raise-reraise situations in front of you a middle pair in middle position is a powerfull hand that you should always play.

If you flop a set your hand is usualy disguised and you can usualy win a big pot. The key is after the flop having the discipline to throw it away when overcards come out.

[Marmel]

Barring any weird raise-reraise situations in front of you a middle pair in middle position is a powerfull hand that you should always play.

If you flop a set your hand is usualy disguised and you can usualy win a big pot. The key is after the flop having the discipline to throw it away when overcards come out.

This makes sense to me. Do you limp in with the pair or raise if there were no raises in front of you?

[JeffW]

Mostly the result, but I think I played it right, too. I guess the check on the end could be questioned.

You have the best hand around 99.99% of the time, so checking sucks.

[primelord]

This I agree with, and that was a bit of an odd move for me. I'll defend it by saying I like to mix my play up, to confuse anybody who might be paying attention to how I play different hands.

Your other comments are well taken.

Mixing up your play in a $1 SnG to confuse your opponents is just silly. They were confused when they sat down. Don't get fancy play syndrome and make -ev plays in the sake of throwing your opponents off. It isn't worth it at those levels.

[st.cronin]

+278 at the live game yesterday, down to aabout 35 online. I play worse online, for sure - I think its easier to make dumb decisions when you've got 15 dollars at stake as opposed to 200 dollars at stake.

Here's a hand I'd like some feedback on:

5 9 offsuit in the small blind, there were I think 5 callers, so I have 13-1 odds to see the flop. Question - in the small blind and on the button, are there ever pot odds so good that you'll see the flop no matter how bad your hand is?

Flop is Q 6 8 rainbow, I am first to act. Question: Check or bet? And if bet, how much?

I bet 10. It is folded to the button who calls. Turn is 2. Question: Check or bet?

I check, button checks, I eventually win the pot when 7 comes on the river (button had AK suited) but am not sure I played it right (I am quite sure that the player on the button played it all wrong, luckily for me).

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

5 9 offsuit in the small blind, there were I think 5 callers, so I have 13-1 odds to see the flop. Question - in the small blind and on the button, are there ever pot odds so good that you'll see the flop no matter how bad your hand is?

Flop is Q 6 8 rainbow, I am first to act. Question: Check or bet? And if bet, how much?

I bet 10. It is folded to the button who calls. Turn is 2. Question: Check or bet?

I check, button checks, I eventually win the pot when 7 comes on the river (button had AK suited) but am not sure I played it right (I am quite sure that the player on the button played it all wrong, luckily for me).

Hard to say what was best given the information above. At first glance, I wouldn't even think about putting out $10 on the flop unless you had a really good idea that all the other players were passive and would fold to your agression. The chances that a Q or 8 is out there in a 5 way limped pot are decent. I just could find a lot better places to put in $10. But maybe you thought the other players were extremely passive players.

I'd agree that he played the hand very badly. I would have raised on the button without question with AK.

[primelord]

+278 at the live game yesterday, down to aabout 35 online. I play worse online, for sure - I think its easier to make dumb decisions when you've got 15 dollars at stake as opposed to 200 dollars at stake.

Here's a hand I'd like some feedback on:

5 9 offsuit in the small blind, there were I think 5 callers, so I have 13-1 odds to see the flop. Question - in the small blind and on the button, are there ever pot odds so good that you'll see the flop no matter how bad your hand is?

Flop is Q 6 8 rainbow, I am first to act. Question: Check or bet? And if bet, how much?

I bet 10. It is folded to the button who calls. Turn is 2. Question: Check or bet?

I check, button checks, I eventually win the pot when 7 comes on the river (button had AK suited) but am not sure I played it right (I am quite sure that the player on the button played it all wrong, luckily for me).

We need to know what the blinds were in order to help you. You said you bet 10, but that is meaningless when we don't know how much money is in the pot in the first place. I am going to assume for the moment that it is a $1/$2 NL game. So that puts $14 in the pot pre.

To answer your first question, yes in a NL game I would probably call with pretty much any two cards from the SB getting 13-1, as long as I was fairly certain the BB would not raise. The squeeze play is all the rage these days and it is not uncommon at all for the BB to put in a big raise after all those limpers (you could have considered squeezing yourself).

What is your flop bet meant to accomplish? You aren't betting for value here since there is 0 chance you ahve the best hand. There is no reason to try and thin out the field since you want a big pot if you snag a 7. You might also get raised big and have to throw your hand away. There is really no reason to be this flop. Check and see how the action goes.

[st.cronin]

You are right primelord, it was a 1/2 game.

Down 100 today at the live game. Got all my money into a big pot with AA, opponent had 66, flopped a set. Not happy with the result, but really that's a dream scenario.

[st.cronin]

This hand was fun:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t20 (8 handed) Poker-Stars (http://www.flopturnriver.com/reviews/Online-Poker-PokerStars.php#converter) Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (http://www.flopturnriver.com) (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO (t1500)
Button (t1490)
SB (t1480)
Hero (t1500)
UTG (t1500)
UTG+1 (t1500)
MP1 (t3030)
MP2 (t1500)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/heart.gif, 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/spade.gif.
2 folds, MP1 calls t20, 3 folds, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (t60) 7http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/spade.gif, 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/club.gif, Thttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/heart.gif (3 players)
SB bets t20, Hero calls t20, MP1 calls t20.

Turn: (t120) 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/club.gif (3 players)
SB bets t160, Hero calls t160, MP1 calls t160.

River: (t600) Thttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/spade.gif (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets t1300 (All-In), MP1 calls t1300, SB calls t1280 (All-In).

Final Pot: t4480

sb had 10x, mp1 had a straight

[flere-imsaho]

Evil.

[Marmel]

Those are the type of hands that I love so much. Similar to a hand I had last night at the casino in a sit and go. I was in the BB with 75o (no raises) and the flop came 468, turn A, river K. Had somebody betting into me all the way, finally going all in on the river with her two pair AK. I finished in 2nd place.

[st.cronin]

I am back up to @ 115 online. I've tightened up my post-flop play a lot, especially in early position.

[st.cronin]

This is what I have come up with as standard play from the blinds if I see the flop: Check, even if I have the nuts. Chances are somebody else will bet eventually, so if you have a good hand you're about as likely to get paid by checking as by not checking.

[Lathum]

This makes sense to me. Do you limp in with the pair or raise if there were no raises in front of you?

with no raises in front of you raise about 3X the BB

[st.cronin]

My current thinking is if you're going to play a hand you raise preflop. The exception is if there are already more than 2 limpers, then call.

[Lathum]

My current thinking is if you're going to play a hand you raise preflop. The exception is if there are already more than 2 limpers, then call.

that is a very broad generalization

[hoopsguy]

I find myself being first in with a limp more often than I should at low-money NL tables (6-handed). I'm trying to correct this by always coming in with a raise - no exceptions.

About once an hour I find myself breaking this rule (usually playing two tables at a time, so maybe once per 150 hands) but that is the my current thought process.

[larrymcg421]

I think it depends on the table. I play at lower limits and sometimes it's a limpfest. In these cases, I will limp with suited connectors or low pockets, because one limp will lead to lots of limps behind. This gives you good odds on your drawing hand. Of course, you can use this to be aggressive in late position. With lots of limpers, I'll sometimes move in with a medium pocket pair because I'll get good odds if someone calls for a race.

[st.cronin]

I find myself being first in with a limp more often than I should at low-money NL tables (6-handed). I'm trying to correct this by always coming in with a raise - no exceptions.

About once an hour I find myself breaking this rule (usually playing two tables at a time, so maybe once per 150 hands) but that is the my current thought process.

Actually the main reason I have employed the always raise strategy is because it seems like, in live games, limping is a bad tell that you have a marginal hand - suited connectors or a low pair, for example. By always raising people can't easily put you on those hands as opposed to something like AK.

It seems like the exception to this is if there are already a couple of limpers, then its customary to keep the chain going.

Edit: this is for cash games only, I think for tournaments limping makes a lot more sense.

[st.cronin]

+160 in a live game today. Observation: Players are more likely to pay you off for a straight as opposed to a flush. In fact, I think a straight is the easiest way to get paid in live games.

[st.cronin]

@ 98 online
+ 400 in two sessions at live games

The live games are obviously easier for me. I think this is because its easier for me to focus, whereas when I'm playing online I'm often distracted by other things, like telephone, tv, dog, etc.

There are a few players I see almost every time I go to the casino that I have some notes on:

"old joe" - Older guy, plays the role of a cranky bastard. Very hard for me to read, makes big bets and big bluffs. The one time I remember going head to head with him we both had AQ. Generally I stay out of his way because I have a hard time figuring out his hand.

"r.j" - another older guy, plays kind of like me - cautious, likes to play only when he has a strong hand. Pretty easy for me to read.

"moy" - asian lady, total goofball. Typical pre-flop raise is 10 bbs, which could indicate anything. She tends to be an atm machine for other players, although I haven't really had an opportunity to take her money.

"sunglasses" - pretty solid tight player, but hates to call big bets (big in terms of $, not pot odds). Can be pushed off a good hand.

"muscles" - loose player who gets in a lot of pots, seems to be pretty good postflop. Doesn't read me well at all, I've taken several big pots from him simply by betting with a strong hand and getting called. Probably hates me.

[st.cronin]

I had one irritating situation happen to me a couple of days ago.

In the big blind, I had KK. There were 5 or 6 limpers, including the small blind. I was trying to figure out how much to bet, and the dealer starts to deal the flop. I said "hey I didn't check!" She apologized, I bet 20, everybody folded. I wasn't sure how pissed I should be.

[st.cronin]

This is what I have come up with as standard play from the blinds if I see the flop: Check, even if I have the nuts. Chances are somebody else will bet eventually, so if you have a good hand you're about as likely to get paid by checking as by not checking.

After playing with this a bit, there are obviously certain flops where this is not ideal. Also I don't think this really works in tournaments except in rare situations. However, in 1-2 live cash games, checking and reraising can be a profitable play.

[Radii]

In the big blind, I had KK. There were 5 or 6 limpers, including the small blind. I was trying to figure out how much to bet, and the dealer starts to deal the flop. I said "hey I didn't check!" She apologized, I bet 20, everybody folded. I wasn't sure how pissed I should be.


Make sure you state clearly that you intend to raise. The dealer should acknowledge that and give you time to count out your bet.


For the earlier discussion on raising preflop, I don't think there is anything wrong with a hard and fast rule that if you're going to play a pot, and you are the first one in, ALWAYS raise. If you're not the first one in, then tons of other factors come into play, but first in limping I think is generally a sign of a weak player making a weak play.

[primelord]

For the earlier discussion on raising preflop, I don't think there is anything wrong with a hard and fast rule that if you're going to play a pot, and you are the first one in, ALWAYS raise. If you're not the first one in, then tons of other factors come into play, but first in limping I think is generally a sign of a weak player making a weak play.

It's silly to have a set rule of never open limping at a live full ring NL table. For example is you are sitting at a table that regularly has 4 or 5 people see the flop and pre-flop play is pretty passive, then it would be silly not to open limp a hand like 44 in EP.

This of course doesn't just apply to live games, but the type of table I described can be found more easily live than online. The other thing being missed here is that it often doesn't matter if some of the players at the table are reading you for a marginal hand when you limp in early. They often will go ahead and stack off to you anyway when they make their TPTK hand. They make huge mistakes post-flop despite having a decent idea of your range.

Also if you find that every time you limp in from early position with a weak hand that you are getting raised, just mix in a few limp re-raises with your big hands as well. Paying 3-5 BBs to see a flop out of position with a small pair or suited connector is often not worth it and just flat out folding all of those hands from early position is often just giving up ev.

[st.cronin]

I think the most compelling argument for always raising, and always raising the same amount, is that it reduces the number of decisions you have to make, thus reducing the number of possible ways you can make a mistake. It makes the process a single question: Do I play this hand? Instead of: Do I play this hand? Do I raise or limp? How much do I raise?

I understand the arguments for mixing in limps, but I think I'm much more comfortable making some of those decisions automatic.

[primelord]

I think the most compelling argument for always raising, and always raising the same amount, is that it reduces the number of decisions you have to make, thus reducing the number of possible ways you can make a mistake. It makes the process a single question: Do I play this hand? Instead of: Do I play this hand? Do I raise or limp? How much do I raise?

I understand the arguments for mixing in limps, but I think I'm much more comfortable making some of those decisions automatic.

Except for the fact that there are times, especially in a NL game, where open raising and folding are both a mistake. It's pretty silly to sit down in a NL game with the idea that no matter how the table plays I am going to do X every time. I am not saying you won't end up doing X every time or that it won't have been correct to have done X every time. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be thinking before hand about the situations where it does not make sense to do that.

It's good to be thinking about playing your hands in ways that give you easy decisions and your opponents tough decisions. That is a good plan of attack. However making -ev plays just because you don't want to have to put any thought into the situation is not a good plan at all.

[Radii]

It's silly to have a set rule of never open limping at a live full ring NL table. For example is you are sitting at a table that regularly has 4 or 5 people see the flop and pre-flop play is pretty passive, then it would be silly not to open limp a hand like 44 in EP.

Yeah, you're absolutely right. Too much 6-max :)

[st.cronin]

Except for the fact that there are times, especially in a NL game, where open raising and folding are both a mistake. It's pretty silly to sit down in a NL game with the idea that no matter how the table plays I am going to do X every time. I am not saying you won't end up doing X every time or that it won't have been correct to have done X every time. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be thinking before hand about the situations where it does not make sense to do that.

It's good to be thinking about playing your hands in ways that give you easy decisions and your opponents tough decisions. That is a good plan of attack. However making -ev plays just because you don't want to have to put any thought into the situation is not a good plan at all.

How is always openraising -ev? I am reading Harrington's book on cash games, and he seems to argue just the opposite, that openraising is mathematically sound, but that for other reasons it may not be the best policy. (I am not sure I completely understand his argument, by the way.)

[Radii]

How is always openraising -ev? I am reading Harrington's book on cash games, and he seems to argue just the opposite, that openraising is mathematically sound, but that for other reasons it may not be the best policy. (I am not sure I completely understand his argument, by the way.)

Primelord's reply to my post I tihnk is exactly right. There are loose full ring games where you can feel *very* confident that you're going 5 handed to the flop without a raise in most cases. You don't want to play 87s for a raise from early position, but you'd love to go 5 way to the flop for 1 big bet. The same goes for small pairs that in early position you would often raise or fold, but in loose games with little raising, limping is the best play. Balancing this with a rare limp-reraise is effective.

My first reply was a bit too pigeon-holed into the games that I play most, 6-max online games.

[primelord]

How is always openraising -ev? I am reading Harrington's book on cash games, and he seems to argue just the opposite, that openraising is mathematically sound, but that for other reasons it may not be the best policy. (I am not sure I completely understand his argument, by the way.)

Let's be clear here. I am not suggesting that you should be open limping a lot. I merely was making the point that open raising in every situation without taking the type of table into consideration is a mistake.

I like the HOC books, but I don't think everything he talks about is completely applicable to 1/2 live NL games and .10/.25 online NL games. Quik and I had a discussion the other day about using your second hand on your watch to help randomize your play. In pure theory that is a good thing I think. However at your general 1/2 live table full of loose passive level 1 thinkers, you are just passing on ev for no reason by not raising your big hands.

The always open raising fits here as well. Harrington says that if you make certain assumptions about your table, you can mathematically prove that open raising is superior to open limping all of the time. However he doesn't go into detail about what the assumptions are that need to be made there. I contend that you have to assume that if you are going to raise 44 UTG, that you aren't going to get called by 4 people behind you. Otherwise you are paying too much money to see a flop with a marginal hand out of position.

So you could then argue that you could just fold the 44 in that spot. However if the table is passive (again a common characteristic of 1/2 live games) and you can get those same 4 people to call for just a limp, you are passing up ev if you fold.

When you raise pre-flop you can be doing so for a number of reasons. You may be raising for value, you may be raising to try and thin the field, you may be raising because your table plays very weak tight post flop and by taking the initative you can win more than your share of post unimproved by C betting the flop. At a loose passive table none of those things apply with a hand like 44 in early position. You aren't raising your 4s for value, you aren't going to be able to thin the field often and because of that rarely take down a pot unimproved on the flop betting into multiple opponents.

[hoopsguy]

Yeah, you're absolutely right. Too much 6-max :)

Ditto.

[st.cronin]

Primelord's reply to my post I tihnk is exactly right. There are loose full ring games where you can feel *very* confident that you're going 5 handed to the flop without a raise in most cases. You don't want to play 87s for a raise from early position, but you'd love to go 5 way to the flop for 1 big bet. The same goes for small pairs that in early position you would often raise or fold, but in loose games with little raising, limping is the best play. Balancing this with a rare limp-reraise is effective.

My first reply was a bit too pigeon-holed into the games that I play most, 6-max online games.

Ok, this I understand. I have played at tables where limping was trendy, but I still would not play a hand like 87 or 44 out of position, even if it was cheap. I might limp with those hands in late position or as the SB, but that's a different decision - once the pot is opened, the way I evaluate my hand changes. I may be giving up the odd chance at a big pot, but there's just too much that can go wrong.

[flere-imsaho]

Ok, this I understand. I have played at tables where limping was trendy, but I still would not play a hand like 87 or 44 out of position, even if it was cheap. I might limp with those hands in late position or as the SB, but that's a different decision - once the pot is opened, the way I evaluate my hand changes. I may be giving up the odd chance at a big pot, but there's just too much that can go wrong.

The problem I encounter with this (i.e. limping with 87 or 44 out of position on a loose, limp-happy table) is that it seems most of the time I see crap on the flop (to be expected, I believe) and so I fold, leading me to increasingly feel like I'm just blinding myself away. Raising just seems to exacerbate the problem.

[st.cronin]

Well, raising at least allows the possibility of the table folding, giving you the blinds. But a hand like that I would almost never open the betting with unless I was D or SB. I would be tempted to call if there were 2 or more limpers already - in that case you at least have some position working for you, to go along with some pot odds.

[st.cronin]

+ $158 yesterday at Sandia. Those tables are such easy money.

Down to about $75 online. Shopping around for a different room (currently use pokerstars), am considering superbook, there's a nice deposit bonus for them at beatthefish.

Pokerstars is good but it seems more geared to the tournament players. I will continue to dabble in tournaments, as they are fun, but they are just not profitable for me.

[Marmel]

I hope you don't mind me piggy backing a bit in here. Barry Greenstein was slummin' it up (or perhaps rebuilding his roll :) ) at a $10 buy in no-limit table on Stars this weekend and I took a $0.90 pot off of him. My own Rounders moment.

I also won a $5, 45 player sit and go tournament for $84. I deposited $50 bucks a few weeks ago to play in the FOFC tournament and my account is up to $330 now. Go me. I've always been able to grind out a small win most sessions, but I am starting to take the game a little more serious lately. Hell, I even read a few books by that Slansky guy. I wish the casino was a bit closer because I really like playing live games so much better, and like you, I find it is infinitly more profitable.

[st.cronin]

I've looked at Sklansky's books, they seem to be a bit much. I've finished Harrington's vol 1 on cash games, found it very helpful and easy to understand.

[st.cronin]

I really struggle in tournaments - I just have not been able to figure out how to adjust my play as the blinds increase. I've played a number of them on pokerstars, but for whatever reason I rarely am able to get in the money. The exceptions are the 1 and 3 dollar sngs, but regarding those its hardly worth the time investment for the profit.

[Marmel]

The smaller the entry fee, the tighter I play. In a $3 sit and go I can fold 90% of my hands and still finish 3rd (at worst) just about everytime. I'll have 2 or 3 going at once, fold everything but the very best, only go in when I know I have the best and people still call. It is very slow going but easy profit while you play a regular cash game. If I have 2 sit and go's going it is almost a buffer against losing in the ring game...and if I am winning there, it is a nice profit for the day. I stay away from the turbo sit and go's, blinds go too fast and I feel I am pushing with less than desirable cards because of the blind structure.

[st.cronin]

This is a play I like to make in a cash game: I am dealt AK, both hearts. The blinds are 1 and 2 dollars, my stack is about 350. I raise it to 7, there are several callers. The flop is 2 3 5, 2 hearts. I am first to act, and push all-in. I get 1 caller, a guy with about 100 chips, who has KK. His Ks held up.

I like the play because with 4 hearts and 2 cards to come, its about 50-50 that I make my flush - as long as I stay in the hand for both the turn and the river (this is important - sometimes the pot odds will warrant a call on the flop, but not on the turn, so generally I think I need better than merely good odds on the flop to call). By going all in I ensure that I will see both cards, making the flush draw about 1 in 2, instead of 1 in 4. The result will either be a big win, a moderate win, or a big loss, and I think on balance its very much +ev. Didn't work out yesterday, though. (Harrington calls this play a semi-bluff, but I had worked out the play on my own before reading his book.)

I finished up 198.

[primelord]

Ignoring everything else in your last post for a moment. You need to spend a little more time on odds. You are not about a 50-50 chance to make your flush by the river. 2:1 against does not mean you will make it 1 out of 2 times.

[st.cronin]

Its less than 1 in 2, I realize that - about 2/5 (I think). I was guesstimating the total of my outs, which also included 4s and As.

[st.cronin]

dola, my thinking was actually cruder than that - it was something like "the only hand I'm a big underdog against is A4, which if somebody called a preflop raise with that, bravo to them."

[primelord]

Its less than 1 in 2, I realize that - about 2/5 (I think). I was guesstimating the total of my outs, which also included 4s and As.

No it's not. Your problem was not your 2:1 against estimate. The 2:1 represents the 2 times you don't get there and the 1 time you do for a total of 3. So you will make your flush 1 out of 3 times, not 1 out of 2. That's obviously a big difference. I am not saying it should change the way you play that flop (I have other issues with that), but it will make a huge difference in other hands.

[st.cronin]

9/47 = @ 1/5

Drawing twice makes it 2 in 5, no?

[primelord]

9/47 = @ 1/5

Drawing twice makes it 2 in 5, no?

It's not quite that straight forward. In order to find the odds of something hitting with two cards to come you need to first find the odds of it hitting ont he turn (9/47), then the odds of it hitting on the river (38/47) * (9/46) and then add those together. in this case ~ 34%.

A much easier method though is the 2/4 rule. If you have two cards to come multiply your outs by 4 and if there is one card to come multiply by 2. In this case that would give you 36% which is clse enough when making a decision at the table. However that is a big difference from about 50-50.

[st.cronin]

One of Harrington's key concepts in his cash game book is that there are different strategies employed by big stacks vs. small stacks. Big stacks are able to see more flops cheaply, in the hope of taking down OTHER big stacks - the implied odds for a given hand are larger, so they can play more hands.

My observations of play in a 1-2 game suggest that people don't actually play that way, though. The bigger the stack, generally speaking, the tighter the play. This is probably simply Darwinian - tight play at these games will get you a big stack. I have not really found a way to make a loose aggressive strategy work, although I have experimented with it a little bit. While its true that at a loose table all your hands are better than you think, I'm just not really comfortable standing up to a big raise with something like two pair after the turn, so I end up bleeding a lot of chips seeing flops that I can't really play (or am not willing to play). Tighter is indeed righter at these tables.

Regarding the open-raising controversy, what I've observed is that many pots get raised pre-flop, which in my mind completely takes open-limping away as a strategy, except maybe occasionally with a monster hand like KK or AA. Tables that tend not to raise pre-flop also tend not to have a lot of limpers - at least, that's been my experience.

[st.cronin]

I have not been playing much online due to my houseguest, who is leaving Wednesday. I am spending a weekend in Vegas starting Thursday. I will be staying at the Orleans, which my understanding is their poker room is pretty tough.

[mccollins]

A much easier method though is the 2/4 rule. If you have two cards to come multiply your outs by 4 and if there is one card to come multiply by 2. In this case that would give you 36% which is clse enough when making a decision at the table. However that is a big difference from about 50-50.

This is the rule I use all the time. Very handy.

Great thread! Cronin, what got you into playing so often lately?

[st.cronin]

This is the rule I use all the time. Very handy.

Great thread! Cronin, what got you into playing so often lately?

This is a good question. It took a long time for me to overcome the learning curve, partly because I was reluctant to play with real money online. Lessons in a casino are expensive - the first couple of times I sat down, I was down 200 before I really knew what was going on. So for about a year or two after mastering the rules, I was very tentative about dipping my toes in any waters.

When I first had some success (at B&Ms), I had to brag about it, so I used the guise of asking for feedback on various hands and situations from some of the werewolf pokerstars - specifically hoopsguy, Lathum, Barkeep49. These conversations afforded me some clarity on strategic concepts that had been fuzzy to me before, and really inspired me to improve.

Also, once it was established that I can consistently beat the local games, my woman encouraged me to play more often - since almost every time I play she gets a pedicure or a lobster or something similar.

[st.cronin]

Vegas results, up about 1000 total over several days of play. Mini-reviews of the poker rooms I played in:

Orleans - big room with a casual feel, pretty tough players imo.
Imperial Palace - terrible room, slow game, annoying crowd.
O Sheas - they have poker tables right by the sidewalk, which is kind of a neat gimmick. Obviously not a very serious crowd, but I had fun.
Venetian - very nice, this is probably where I will play next time I am in Vegas. Good friendly crowd, not a real tough game, great service, very well run.
Caesar's Palace - cheapest game is 1/3. The Pussycat dolls are very hot. Very nice room, but I felt like the players were mostly better than me, so I didn't stick around.
Golden Nugget - small room, players were not as good as I feared. Had a terrible run in a tournament here: KK busted by JJ. AA, flopped a set, villain rivers a straight. Rebuy, AK, flop is AKx, I go all in against KK (limp preflop). 1st out. I suck at tournaments. I absolutely cleaned up in a cash game here, though, so this was actually my most profitable room, by a lot.
Paris - small room, they only had 1 game going when I got there. Harrah's properties have a very high rake.
Planet Hollywood - terrible, like IP, annoying crowd, indifferent staff, lousy setup

Overall I feel very good about my game after this trip. The tables were mostly harder than they are at my home casino, but I feel absolutely certain that at a random 1-2 game in Vegas I will be one of the better players at the table.

Edit:

One play I noticed lots of people using in Vegas is "check-in-the-dark." If you don't know what I mean by this, its when the player first to act in the next round "checks" before the cards are dealt. I am not sure I understand what is gained by this. My guess is that its an attempt to neutralize positional disadvantage, but I don't really see how much is gained by it.