MATTMATROS.COM

• 01Mar

  Sunday Bustouts

  Uncategorized Comments

  I wanted to keep late Sunday night open this week, so I played an abbreviated schedule of six tournaments. Since that’s such a manageable number, I thought it might be fun to post the bustout hands. Maybe some of them are even interesting.

  Tournament: $50 rebuy on Stars
  Status: 383 players left out of 1090 starters
  Blinds: 300-600/50 ante
  Stack size: 5,640
  Hand: A8o
  Action: UTG folds, I move all-in. It folds to the big blind who calls with A5o. He wins.
  Analysis: Totally standard play from me. What about my opponent? He’s getting a little less than 3-2, and needs 42% equity against my range to break even. Let’s just say for argument’s sake that my jam range there is A4+, K9+, QJ, suited connectors down to 65s, and any pair. He has 42.5% against that range. I may be slightly tighter or looser than that in real life, but looks like his call was reasonable.

  Tournament: Turbo Takedown (3,000 FPP buy-in, one million dollar prize pool) on Stars
  Status: 2,505 left out of 19,379
  Blinds: 1,000-2,000/300
  Stack size: 15,341
  Hand: A7o
  Action: Three folds, and I move in UTG+3. The small blind reraises all-in with TT. He wins.
  Analysis: Totally standard by both parties. This was a fun tournament, and had about as much play as you can expect for an FPP buy-in and almost 20,000 people. Stack sizes for almost everyone were under 20 blinds throughout, which essentially made this thing one long jam-or-fold event. I was happy to cash in this crapshoot.

  Tournament: $150 rebuy on FTP
  Status: 316 left out of 553
  Blinds: 140-280/25
  Stack size: 7,750
  Hand: ATo
  Action: Five folds, and the cutoff min-raises to 560. I move all-in on the button. The small blind reraises all-in, and the big blind calls all-in for 2,800 total. The cutoff folds. The small blind has QQ, and the big blind has AA. SB wins the side pot, and BB wins the main.
  Analysis: I have three options when the action gets to me. 1) Call. 2) Reraise to an amount less than all-in. 3) Reraise all-in. Let’s look at all of them. Option 1 of calling is not bad. I can try to see a flop in position for just 2 blinds out of my 28-blind stack. The downsides are that I risk getting three-bet from the blinds, I risk bringing the blinds in cheap, and I risk allowing the cutoff to outflop me. These downsides are significant, so let’s consider Option 2. I could make it 1,700 to go, which commits about a quarter of my chips. I would give some more consideration to this option with either a stronger hand, like AQ, or a weaker hand, like A6o. I’ll 3-bet to a quarter of my stack if I’ll have an easy decision after getting 4-bet. With ATo, I don’t know what to do against a 4-bet getting 5-3 on my money or more, so I don’t like Option 2. This brings us to Option 3, moving all-in and risking 7,725 to win 1,205 immediately. My rule of thumb is that it’s always a reasonable shove if you’re moving in for six times the pot or less. I’m moving in for slightly more than that here, but given how weak the cutoff’s action is, and given that I have a relatively strong hand myself for the situation, I think it’s OK to make a slight overbet here. To sum up, I prefer the choice I actually made here, which is Option 3. The play from the two blinds was, of course, automatic. How are these offsuit aces working out for me so far?

  Tournament: Bodog $100k guarantee ($162 buy-in)
  Status: 42 left out of 463
  Blinds: 1,250-2,500/250
  Stack size: 49,008
  Hand: AKs
  Action: Three folds, and UTG+3 opens for $6,200. I move-in. He calls with QQ. He wins.
  Analysis: Completely standard for both sides. I flopped a king and he rivered a queen, which hurt. He also ended up winning the tournament, which is not all that surprising since he seemed to be a decent player and he’d started the hand with a good stack.

  Tournament: Sunday Million on Stars ($215 buyin)
  Status: 4,518 left out of 10,077
  Blinds: 300-600/25
  Stack size: 13,575
  Hand: JTo
  Action: Four folds, and the hijack min-raises to 1,200. Folds to me, I call. The flop comes J85 rainbow. I check, and the hijack bets 3,000. I move in for 9,350 more, and he calls with AA. He wins.
  Analysis: I have two choices preflop: call, or reraise all-in. Believe it or not, I don’t love to resteal all the time. If an opponent will offer me an excellent price to call and see a flop, I’ll usually prefer to do that with a connecting hand, rather than reraise all-in and pray for victory. That said, either choice would be reasonable. An all-in 3-bet on my part would risk 12,950 to win 2,325 immediately, which falls under my 6x pot guideline.
  After I check the flop (and my style is to always check there), I pretty much have to either move-in or fold when my opponent makes a full pot-sized bet. There is no card that could come on the turn where I could call on the flop, and then check-fold the next street, so I might as well go for the fold equity if I’m going to play, and not allow my opponent to catch up. Full pot-sized bets tend to be stronger than small bets, so I’m not excited about this spot. But are there enough AK, TT, 99, 77, and 66 in my opponent’s range to justify committing with the hand? Let’s say he could have those hands plus AQs, and let’s say he could also have any set, any overpair, or any jack better than mine. Let’s further say he plays perfectly against me after I move-in. Then he folds 42% of the time, and he calls the other 58% and I have 20% equity. My EV is .42*5,925 + .58*(.2*27,625-12,350) = -1,470. So if he plays perfectly, and can really have sets, my play is bad. I don’t actually think it’s very likely he shows up with a set there, really ever. So if we take those out, and also have him calling with TT and 99 (other things he might do), my EV becomes .37*5,925 + .63*(.33*27,625-12,350) = +155. After doing all the math, then, I think it was a close decision. My best play in a soft field like this was probably to fold to the overbet and give my opponent credit for a big hand.
  As for my opponent, he played the hand pretty badly. If he makes a bigger raise preflop, we get all the money in then for sure. Then, after the flop, his bet size made me think about check-folding top pair. Any half-pot or even three-quarter-pot bet, and I move in automatically instead of even considering other options. When you play AA badly, however, you still often bust short stacks.

  Tournament: Turbo $100 1R + 1A on Stars
  Status: 46 left out of 861
  Blinds: 5,000-10,000/1,250
  Stack size: 79,502
  Hand: ATo
  Action: There are eight people at the table, and the big blind is all-in for 8,699. Three folds, and the hijack min-raises to 20k. I move-in on the button. The small blind folds, the hijack calls with JJ. The big blind has 43o. The hijack scoops the pot.
  Analysis: If hijack had just moved in, my call would be automatic. His min-raise range is probably slightly stronger than his jam range, but not by enough where I can justify folding the hand, I don’t think. I have AT and eight blinds. I just can’t fold to a hijack raise. By the way, I flopped an ace and he rivered a jack, which hurt.

  I hope some of you out there enjoyed reliving my Sunday with me. I cashed in three of the above tournament for a small loss on the day (remember, play to win, not to cash). It wasn’t a total loss, though, as there were great endings to Louisville-UConn and USA-Canada on the TV.

  For those interested, my next big tournament will be Foxwoods. I’ll try to check in on the blog once before then, maybe with some PLO action.

• 05Feb

  Borgata Main Event, Busto

  Uncategorized Comments

  Only played four hands today, and didn’t have any decisions. Just an easy all-in reraise with 66 for 18 blinds on the fourth hand, and lost the flip to AK and finish tenth. Oh well. It was an amazing tournament. Fun even. Obviously I would’ve loved to finish a few spots higher, but my eyes were always on the prize at the top, and I gave myself a real shot to get it. Maybe next time.

• 05Feb

  Borgata Main Event, Day Four

  Uncategorized Comments

  After running amazing for three days, I didn’t get much in the way of cards on Day Four. I barely even had opportunities to make moves, and I lost a flip for a 1.75 million chip pot. That said, I did manage to make the final table with 1.2 million in chips (20 big blinds). It’s only half the average stack, but there are six players with 30 blinds or less, and the chip lead is only at 80 blinds, so I’m envisioning several entirely plausible ways I can get right back into the hunt for the title. I’ll give it my best shot. Wish me luck one last time!

• 04Feb

  Borgata Main Event, Day Three

  Uncategorized Comments

  It started off lousy. I lost a flip, bluffed off a bunch more, and was down to 112k. I then ran amazingly good and got up to a million. Then I had a misstep. I four-bet against an aggressive player, even though my instincts said he was strong. I overruled my instincts and set him in, thinking he would fold all but his monsters. He had AK, which was definitely a monster for the situation, and I lost half my stack to move back down to 500k. I then won every hand I played for the rest of the night. It was really incredible. To quote Worm, “I caught a run of cards like you **** read about.” Except I mean it in a good way.

  I ended up at 1,978,000, which unofficially makes me the chip leader. We have 27 players left. I have a slightly below average stack for the final table–and we’re playing down to the final table tomorrow. My goal is to get a healthy final table stack, but really that’s a pretty meaningless goal. My goal is to maximize EV in every hand, and then deal with the situations as they come up. I’m trying to keep things simple.

  And, of course, I’d like to start the day with a hot shower. Sadly, that’s still not possible yet here at the old Borgata. I took a frigid shower this morning. A guy I played with today said his roommate was in the Special Forces, and even he couldn’t deal with the frigid shower. Another guy said he screamed like a little girl throughout. Personally, I never stayed under the water for more than a few seconds. It was pretty agonizing. But after it was over, it felt amazing just to not be in the shower anymore. If any of you work on water mains in south New Jersey, please get down here and fix this thing. I’m sure a bunch of poker players would be happy to tip you a little something.

  With that, I’ll say goodnight. Wish me luck tomorrow!

• 03Feb

  Borgata Main Event, Day Two

  Uncategorized Comments

  Day Two is in the books, and once again I can’t complain with the result. I’m not on the first page of the leaderboard anymore (I don’t think–I guess it depends how one defines the first page) with my 257,600. But there are about 135 players left, making average stack around 170k, so I’m still in decent shape. For the first time in the event, however, I’ll not have a deep stack tomorrow as we play 2k-4k, 400 ante. Til now, I’ve never had a stack size of fewer than 80 blinds. Day Three will feel more like a regular tournament. We’ll play down to 27, and 72 will get paid.

  There is no hot water at the Borgata. Let me say that again. There is no hot water at the Borgata, and there hasn’t been for about 24 hours now. Not only that, they can’t regulate any of the temperatures inside the casino, so the poker room mobbed with players is insanely hot, while the rest of the place is really cold. It’s like the reverse of being in Vegas (with the blistering heat outside and the AC inside), but just as jarring. I’m praying they’ll have everything fixed by morning so that I don’t have to take a cold shower. Otherwise, I will whine and take a cold shower like the half-Russian-American I am.

  Time for sleep. Moving Day is next!

• 02Feb

  Borgata Winter Open Main Event, Day One

  Borgata Winter Open Comments

  I just finished up Day One here at the Borg. It went well. I’m probably in the top ten in chips with my 124,775 (we started with 30K). They got about 775 players, maybe 60% of which will come back for Day Two at 11 a.m. Average stack, therefore, is around 50K.

  It’s late and I’m tired, but I have to relate to you all just one hand–possibly the most ridiculous hand I’ve ever been involved in.

  Blinds are 100-200 with a 25 ante. A loose/bad/crazy player limps UTG+2 for 200. It folds to the hijack, who is also a loose-aggressive type, but not nearly as insane as the limper. The hijack makes it 775. I decide I don’t want to give up my button, and make a loose call with the 5d3c. The small blind calls, and we see the flop four ways with 3550 in the pot. The flop come Ad4s2d. I have the nuts. The small blind checks, and the wild player bets 2,000. The hijack folds. I make it 6,000. The small blind folds, and the loose/wild guy calls quickly. The turn is the queen of diamonds, putting a three-flush on board. Loose/wild leads out for 6,000 into the 15,550 pot. I choose to just call (possibly a mistake). The river is the nine of diamonds, putting the fourth diamond on board. (Remember, I have the five of diamonds.) Loose/wild bets 8,000 into the 27,550 pot. I reluctantly call. He says, and I quote, “you’re good; you have a flush, right?” I roll over my hand. He shakes his head and says, “yeah, I can’t win.” He flips his hand over. It’s the seven of hearts…and the eight of diamonds. He says, “wait, I win?” He then jumps up from the table shouting, “I played the hand blind! I played the hand blind!” I hope so, sir, given that you put 6,000 into the pot on the flop with 87o on a board of A42.

  Outside of this hand, I ran exceptionally good today. I flopped five sets and won with all of them. I rivered the nuts late, and got a big raise paid off. Obviously getting those hands made things easier, but it’s clear based on the above play and many others that this tournament was a great investment, regardless of how it turns out. If I run half as good in Day Two as I did in Day One, I’ll be OK. I’ll give it my best shot.

• 29Jan

  One Event Down (and Out)

  Borgata Winter Open Comments

  I treaded water for six hours today in the $1,500 No Limit Hold ‘Em event at the Borgata Winter Open, with two exceptions.

  Exception One: Blinds of 100-200. A tight-passive player limps UTG. Folded to a loose-aggressive internet player on the button, who makes it 550. The small blind (tight and straightforward older gentleman) calls, and I decide to call in the big blind with two nines. I could’ve three-bet to isolate the button, but there was a decent chance the small blind would’ve come along anyway, and I didn’t like my options if I got four-bet. UTG calls as well. The flop comes 964 with two spades. Checked to the button who bets 1,025. The SB folds. I make it 3,500. UTG folds, and the button quickly moves me in for 13,000 more. I, of course, call, and the button rolls over 74o. The five on the turn gives him a sweat, but luckily the river is a ten and I double up.

  Exception Two: The very first hand of 200-400, 50 ante. Folds to the cutoff, who is an actual poker player, loose, tricky, tough. He opens for 1,025. The button folds. I’m in the SB with 87o, and I make it 3,500 to go. The BB folds. The cutoff thinks for a long time, and finally four-bets to 8,550 total. I don’t fold much of my three-betting range when being offered 2.6-1, although this hand would certainly be a candidate. But I didn’t feel my opponent was very strong. I opted to call, making the pot 18,000, and leaving me with 27,000 behind. I planned on leading out all-in on some flops, check-raising all-in on some flops, and check-folding on some flops (and not necessarily always deciding in advance). The flop comes JT8 rainbow. I decide to check and then re-evaluate. My opponent bets 10,200. I don’t see anything to change my initial read, and so I move in hoping for a fold. Sadly, my opponent calls instantly with T9s. Oh well, at least the preflop read was right. I don’t improve, and that’s that.

  I’m happy I went out swinging, and I made some nice plays earlier in the day on small pots. Time to refocus and get ready for the Main Event, which I’ll start on Monday (although even before then, I’ll probably play some online stuff on Sunday).

• 28Jan

  Back at the Borg

  Borgata Winter Open Comments

  Well, I’m here in Atlantic City for another instantiation of the Borgata Winter Open. Tomorrow I play the $1,500 No Limit Hold ‘Em event. Follow my twitter feed for chip count updates, and possibly other observations.

• 23Jan

  PLO, and the Rush

  Uncategorized Comments

  I was cruising along happily in my PLO learning curve–playing 500 hands or so a night, studying a little and working on my other life (writing my novel) during the day–and everything was going great and I was enjoying myself. And then Rush Poker had to come along and mess with the program (as Fruit would say, in a little more colorful language).

  Rush Poker, for those who don’t know, is a new format of online poker on Full Tilt where everyone who wants to play at a certain limit is thrown into the same pool of players. As soon as you fold a hand, you’re grouped with the next bunch of players who have finished a hand, and another hand is immediately dealt. So you’re getting new players all the time, but you’re seeing a lot more hands.

  To me, Rush Poker is one of those ideas that seems so completely obvious in hindsight that it’s amazing no one had thought of it until now. I love it. So as I briefly go through some of the pros and cons, you should consider me a biased observer.

  Pro: The implementation is, so far as I’ve been able to tell, flawless. I used to test software for a living, and I’m incredibly impressed that Rush Poker works so well. This thing would be considered smooth and successful if it had been out for a year. For a just-released piece of software, it’s astounding.

  Con: with new opponents churning through all the time, there is less chance to learn their tendencies and use data against them. This is more of a con for other people than for me. I use a HUD but I don’t rely on it as heavily as other players. Besides, eventually, even in the big player pool, there will be enough data on all opponents and the HUD software will catch up to make itself usable on these new games. At least, I think that will happen.

  Pro: So many freakin’ hands. I’ve never been good at grinding for many hours, or playing a whole ton of tables. As a result, I don’t put in nearly the volume of most online pros and have instead played tournaments (both online and brick-and-mortar) to maintain my interest and keep myself logging enough hours. With Rush, even I can get the hands in. I’m averaging 205 hands/table/hour!

  Con: It’s not yet available for higher limits. This will change.

  Pro: Multi-tabling is already enabled. You can have four versions of yourself at the same Rush “table.” The software knows to put each version of yourself at a different table from the others, and voila, you’re multi-tabling. As I said, it’s impressive.

  Con: The players play tighter, because it’s easier to fold. While it’s true that most of the money in cash games comes from people playing too loose, there is plenty of money to be made from people playing too tight. Ask any tournament specialist. I think my style in particular (less player-dependent, more loose-aggressive) is better suited to the Rush Poker format than the normal format.

  Sadly, Rush Poker is not yet available for PLO at any level higher than $0.10-$0.25. This, too, will change. In the meantime, I’m splitting my time between PLO (because I still want to log 50k hands as part of my learning curve) and NLHE Rush Poker. Because it’s just too fun. Hey all, poker is fun!

  My next post will be from Atlantic City in a week or so. You can all look forward to hearing about this year’s version of the Borgata Winter Open.

• 25Nov

  PLO Ends, For Now

  Uncategorized Comments

  If you want to be surprised by SpikeTV, read no further.

  Otherwise…

  I came in fifth. I won’t talk too much about the hands before the show airs, so that some of you have the chance to tell me, without any prior bias, how many ways I messed up. But overall, I’m pretty pleased with how I played. As of this writing, there’s only one thing I would’ve done differently (though that opinion may change as I gain more and more experience playing PLO). I think I’m a favorite to play a few of the PLO events in the 2010 World Series of Poker, and I think this USPC provided some solid experience for that venture.

  Not sure yet what my next tournament will be. I’m considering the Harrah’s WSOP-Circuit event in which I cashed last year, but I’m not sure I can bring myself back to Atlantic City for a third time in a month.

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