Playing Online

Of late (this month at least) I've been attempting to play some hands on Full Tilt. Specifically, I'm attempting to 3-4 table the 3/6 six-max games, and my stated goal for the month was to log 10,000 hands. So far the results have been promising, but I don't stand a chance of actually getting in as many hands as I thought. Poker Tracker reports that I have played 4418 hands and won $551 for a win rate of 2.1 big bets/100. I have also paid $641 in rake, about 30% of which should be paid back to me next month.

These are pretty small numbers, but the allure of online poker is something I can no longer ignore. The possibility to play in profitable games from the comfort of your own home, while simultaneously improving many of the skills live players often lack (like playing in short games and blind defenses) is just too appealing. My hope is to focus the next few months on solidifying my 6-max skills while continuing to log hours in the Oaks 30/60 game. Bay 101 and Garden City are going to be seeing less and less of me in the short term future.

Online, however, stuff like this happens, which causes you to take a break and write a blog post. The hands below are hosted here, which is a website I suggest any serious online player have a look at. They occurred back to back to back on the same table, with the same villain in the 2nd and 3rd debacles.

Full Tilt Poker $3/$6 Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 250795
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Pre Flop: (1.5 SB) Hero is MP with Q Q
1 fold, Hero raises, 1 fold, BTN 3-bets, 1 fold, BB calls, Hero caps!, BTN calls, BB calls

Flop: (12.5 SB) 4 J 8 (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BTN raises, BB calls, Hero calls

Turn: (9.25 BB) 5 (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BTN raises, BB folds, Hero calls

River: (13.25 BB) 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets, Hero calls

Final Pot: 15.25 BB
BTN shows K K (a pair of Kings)
Hero mucks Q Q
BTN wins 14.75 BB
(Rake: $3.00)

---

Viewing Hand #250796

---

Full Tilt Poker $3/$6 Limit Hold'em - 5 players - View hand 250796
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Pre Flop: (1.5 SB) Hero is BB with K A
3 folds, SB raises, Hero 3-bets, SB calls

Flop: (6 SB) J T 8 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB raises, Hero calls

Turn: (5 BB) 3 (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls

River: (7 BB) 6 (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls

Final Pot: 9 BB
SB shows 7 9 (a straight, Jack high)
Hero mucks K A
SB wins 8.667 BB
(Rake: $2.00)

---

Viewing Hand #250797

---

Full Tilt Poker $3/$6 Limit Hold'em - 5 players - View hand 250797
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Pre Flop: (1.5 SB) Hero is SB with Q Q
2 folds, BTN raises, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, BTN calls

Flop: (7 SB) 2 4 6 (2 players)
Hero bets, BTN raises, Hero 3-bets, BTN calls

Turn: (6.5 BB) 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets, Hero calls

River: (8.5 BB) 8 (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets, Hero calls

Final Pot: 10.5 BB
BTN shows 3 5 (a straight, Six high)
Hero mucks Q Q
BTN wins 10 BB
(Rake: $3.00)

The strategy in these hands could be a little off on my part. My thinking in hand one was that it was important to face the 3rd player (the fish of the hand) with at least 1 and preferably 2 bets cold on the turn. Hence the turn donk/call down line. In the second hand I probably should find a fold on the river, but the pot is huge and calling cannot be a significant mistake. In the third hand if anything I should have put in more action and was happy to make the correct read for the wrong reason and at least save a few bets.