Finished 9th in the FTOPs 1K . Getting really deep in huge tournaments and not winning is one of the hardest things for me to deal with in poker. I want to be happy that I finished way above expectation and etc but it's seemingly impossible to ignore what could've been. I played great, I think I got a little too tight near the end to be honest, but I don't think it could ever be that big of a mistake folding some marginal stuff pre. I also had a 100/200 PLO session go well and have been running great overall so life is good.

I'm about to close on a house (I think, we're playing the offer/counter offer game for a few weeks now). If I do I'll put up some pics. I have big plans for this house, going to see if I can get a couple poker players on my level to live with me, possibly going for a pool because the backyard is begging for it. Other than that I'm putting in the hours at cash and looking forward to the rest of FTOPs/WCOOPs.

Final note... as we speak I'm looking for HU action to make a vid. I'm trying to play someone who I think is better than me so you guys can see me struggle, but not having any luck yet.

peace out

I keep telling myself I am going to do better with my blog but it hasn't happened yet. Maybe this time will be different. Since coming back from Vegas, where I somehow managed to drop an 0/26burger in live tournaments, I have been extremely busy. I hate the feeling that I have so much to do. All of these things hanging around my mind all of the time. I need a new car, a new house or condo, a new phone, a new monitor (GG UPS), new health insurance, and I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting. I have put a lot of time into these things but something always seem to go wrong and I have to wait or reschedule or whatever. I am also struggling with making these decisions in the first place. I don't know if I want a house in the suburbs or a condo downtown. I don't know how nice of a car I want. I don't know if I should be renting or leasing. I don't anything. I'm pretty young. It feels overwhelming. I don't know where I'll want to be next month, much less in a year or two. I suppose I have to lay it all out in front of me and take a swing at it.

I've still managed to put in a lot of hours at the tables which is great. I'm running really hot. I also ran very well over the Summer online. My days in Vegas weren't that great though. Basically I would go get completely handled live for hours, then come home and play online for a bit and run great. Days were really long and not very pleasant but I was making good money. I did meet a lot of good people this Summer, so at least I have that.

Planning on moving a video or two out soon. I'm thinking maybe HU this time. I am also going to be open to taking on a few new students once I get settled into my new place, whatever it ends up being. So if you're interested send me a message.

Hope you're all doing well.

The story with me and tournaments is that I am an expert at getting 4th-25th. I pretty much never win. It's been very frustrating in the last 2-3 years for me. Today was different though - I won the Saturday morning $320 on Stars which was a bit inflated due to FTOPs as well. I filmed the whole thing from 16 handed down to the end, but I was 1 tabling the whole time and very tired so I'm not sure how good of a video it will make. I think I played well although the deck was very kind to me to say the least.


Pics or it didn't happen:




In other news tomorrow is an absolutely huge sunday with tons of 6max. I am very excited and hope my run good continues. Also my horse is 11/106 in the 2-day event with 108BBs going into day 2 so let's go Mark!

I cant even explain what happened today so just look at the graph. I am really happy with myself.





New video coming out soon - Regulators Pt, 3 of 4. It's a 5/10, 10/20 vid and at one point some 25/50 gets in there All NLHE. Going to relax now for the rest of the night but I had to share this graph first.

Was playing 25/50 today and had one of the most swingy sessions I've had in a while. You guys will enjoy these hands.

The bad ones first

***** Hand History for Game 20203616916 ***** (Full Tilt)
$5000.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Monday, April 19, 05:33:32 ET 2010
Table Casada (6 max) (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Seat 1: Bttech86 ( $5390.00 USD )
Seat 2: RoxmorE ( $7719.00 USD )
Seat 3: I Win Flips ( $5000.00 USD )
Seat 4: WCGRider ( $14228.00 USD )
Seat 5: gogoGoGoGOOO ( $5000.00 USD )
Seat 6: Mr Zahmat ( $5172.00 USD )
Bttech86 posts small blind [$25.00 USD].
RoxmorE posts big blind [$50.00 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Bttech86 [ 8d Td ]
I Win Flips folds
WCGRider raises [$150.00 USD]
gogoGoGoGOOO folds
Mr Zahmat folds
Bttech86 raises [$525.00 USD]
RoxmorE calls [$500.00 USD]
WCGRider calls [$400.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9d, 7d, 4h ]
Bttech86 bets [$850.00 USD]
RoxmorE folds
WCGRider raises [$13678.00 USD]
Bttech86 calls [$3990.00 USD]
WCGRider shows [Kd, Jd ]
Bttech86 shows [8d, Td ]
WCGRider wins $8838.00 USD
** Dealing Turn ** [ 2s ]
** Dealing River ** [ As ]
WCGRider wins $5663.00 USD from main pot
WCGRider wins $5663.00 USD from main pot


Not a whole lot more frustrating in poker than 3betting light, getting overcalled and going 3 ways and completely ginning the flop, running into the worst possible hand for your equity, still having 38% equity, running it twice and losing tiwce.


***** Hand History for Game 20203186712 ***** (Full Tilt)
$5000.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Monday, April 19, 05:16:41 ET 2010
Table Green Pine (heads up) (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Seat 1: Bttech86 ( $18341.50 USD )
Seat 2: Villian ( $7919.00 USD )
Bttech86 posts small blind [$25.00 USD].
Villian posts big blind [$50.00 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Bttech86 [ Ac 7d ]
Bttech86 raises [$125.00 USD]
Villian raises [$400.00 USD]
Bttech86 calls [$300.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 2d, 7h, 9c ]
Villian bets [$550.00 USD]
Bttech86 calls [$550.00 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Ah ]
Villian bets [$1400.00 USD]
Bttech86 calls [$1400.00 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ Jd ]
Villian bets [$5519.00 USD]
Bttech86 calls [$5519.00 USD]
Villian shows [8c, Th ]
Villian wins $15837.50 USD from main pot
Bttech86 doesn't show [Ac, 7d ]



Top of my range vs the absolute top of his range


***** Hand History for Game 20203609274 ***** (Full Tilt)
$5000.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Monday, April 19, 05:33:13 ET 2010
Table Seiber (heads up) (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Seat 1: Bttech86 ( $17738.00 USD )
Seat 2: Villian ( $9011.00 USD )
Bttech86 posts small blind [$25.00 USD].
Villian posts big blind [$50.00 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Bttech86 [ 9s Kc ]
Bttech86 raises [$125.00 USD]
Villian raises [$400.00 USD]
Bttech86 calls [$300.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 2d, Th, 5d ]
Villian bets [$550.00 USD]
Bttech86 raises [$1200.00 USD]
Villian calls [$650.00 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 4d ]
Villian checks
Bttech86 bets [$1800.00 USD]
Villian calls [$1800.00 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ 3d ]
Villian checks
Bttech86 bets [$14288.00 USD]
Villian calls [$5561.00 USD]
Bttech86 wins $8727.00 USD
Bttech86 shows [9s, Kc ]
Villian shows [Js, Ad ]
Villian wins $18021.50 USD from main pot


Pew pew pewed it off here


***** Hand History for Game 20203695571 ***** (Full Tilt)
$5000.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Monday, April 19, 05:36:40 ET 2010
Table Green Pine (heads up) (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Seat 1: Bttech86 ( $13694.25 USD )
Seat 2: Villian ( $12560.25 USD )
Bttech86 posts small blind [$25.00 USD].
Villian posts big blind [$50.00 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Bttech86 [ 4c Ac ]
Bttech86 raises [$125.00 USD]
Villian raises [$400.00 USD]
Bttech86 calls [$300.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 6c, 4h, 2d ]
Villian bets [$550.00 USD]
Bttech86 raises [$1200.00 USD]
Villian raises [$2530.00 USD]
Bttech86 raises [$4000.00 USD]
Villian raises [$9030.25 USD]
Bttech86 calls [$6910.25 USD]
Villian shows [9c, Qh ]
Bttech86 shows [4c, Ac ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Th ]
** Dealing River ** [ 9d ]
Villian wins $25120.00 USD from main pot


This one hurt, I had been raising flops constantly in 3bet pots and I had this sick plan to try and get him to go crazy, it ends up working, and then gross river


***** Hand History for Game 20203503527 ***** (Full Tilt)
$5000.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Monday, April 19, 05:29:00 ET 2010
Table Seiber (heads up) (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Seat 1: Bttech86 ( $22581.50 USD )
Seat 2: Villian ( $4168.50 USD )
Bttech86 posts small blind [$25.00 USD].
Villian posts big blind [$50.00 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Bttech86 [ Qs Ts ]
Bttech86 raises [$125.00 USD]
Villian raises [$400.00 USD]
Bttech86 calls [$300.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ Js, 2d, Qc ]
Villian bets [$500.00 USD]
Bttech86 calls [$500.00 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 6d ]
Villian checks
Bttech86 bets [$950.00 USD]
Villian raises [$3218.50 USD]
Bttech86 calls [$2268.50 USD]
Villian shows [Jd, Jc ]
Bttech86 shows [Qs, Ts ]
** Dealing River ** [ 9h ]
Villian wins $8336.50 USD from main pot


Another pretty gross hand.. the way the match was playing i had the nuts here and he would be shoving plenty of worse hands.




And now for the good ones




***** Hand History for Game 20203102565 ***** (Full Tilt)
$5000.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Monday, April 19, 05:13:27 ET 2010
Table Seiber (heads up) (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Seat 1: Bttech86 ( $14746.50 USD )
Seat 2: Villian ( $5998.50 USD )
Bttech86 posts small blind [$25.00 USD].
Villian posts big blind [$50.00 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Bttech86 [ Jd Jc ]
Bttech86 raises [$125.00 USD]
Villian raises [$400.00 USD]
Bttech86 raises [$900.00 USD]
Villian calls [$600.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 8c, Jh, 5c ]
Villianchecks
Bttech86 checks
** Dealing Turn ** [ 2h ]
Villian bets [$1200.00 USD]
Bttech86 calls [$1200.00 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ 7s ]
Villian bets [$3748.50 USD]
Bttech86 calls [$3748.50 USD]
Villian shows [7d, 8s ]
Bttech86 shows [Jd, Jc ]
Bttech86 wins $11996.50 USD from main pot


Betting the flop wouldve yielded...

This month has been treating me terribly and has had me pretty discouraged more than once. I am happy with my work ethic though I have been putting in a ton of hours and working very hard to get through it.

New video comes out soon - finally got some good audio recorded and finished it. I think it went over pretty well hope you all enjoy it.

Heres is March. Its ugly but I am proud of it.

I want to assure you guys that I am working on that video. I've made two so far, one had major audio problems and once my computer crashed while the video was rendering. I am going to try again today, sorry for the delays.

I'd like to apologize to everyone for the lack of updates and videos lately. I was traveling almost constantly throughout December and January and it didn't go very well to say the least. The combination of the live tournaments, staking, and not doing well online all at the same time was hard on me. I didn't want to be coaching and producing videos when I felt like I wasn't on top of my game.

In February I decided I would only grind 5/10 for a month and try to get going back in the right direction. It went very well and I have been back in the 10/20 and 25/50 games now in March which feels good.

Around half of my volume in the last few months has been at PLO. I'm very interested in it and I enjoy playing it. PLO allows you to select more games, and more importantly it helps me play more hands because when I am tired of an NL session I can switch to PLO and it feels like I'm just starting again.

I really want to get my Regulators series going again. I'm sorry that I left you all hanging after episode 1. I will produce a video today and send it in given that all of my hardware works.

Hope you're all doing well.

I always made good grades on my papers in school (when I actually did them). I think it was more the product of other people being terrible writers more than it was me being a good one. I remember anytime I could catch a glimpse of someones paper I'd try to read it over, and it would almost always end in a "what the fuck?" look on my face. Luckily that part of my life is over aside from a slim chance of going to grad school someday and I don't have to worry about those things anymore. I can just write as I see fit. This blog is pretty unorganized as it is and I like it better that way.

The first thing on my mind is a poker rule I have come to understand this past year better than ever before. It's a rule called playing within your roll. Different people have different standards for this and different tolerances for losing money. Everyday that I play now I am pleasantly reminded of my -75k night from October which was a significant downswing for me at the time, not to mention a 1 nights loss. How could that be pleasant to be reminded of your worst session?

It's pleasant because when I play my grind stakes (1k-5k NL) I feel so comfortable with the swings. I feel like I can't be tilted by the daily fluctuations. Many times during my average session I experience 10k-20k fluctuations, and after that 75k experience they just don't bother me anymore. Even though the 75k thing was awful for me, it is something that has to happen for me to grow as a player.

The other night we had eleven 2kNL games running on Full Tilt. I took two 4k coolers and lost a reg stack within about 5 minutes of each other for a 10k loss. I know that Ben from the beginning of the year would've been at least agitated and that he might've quit one of the best sessioning opportunities of the entire year, but I was completely unphased by the situation and actually felt happy when I realized how little I cared about the loss. I think controlled shots are great and I hope to see myself taking another one soon, and I know I will be better prepared for it each time. But I think that I will be moving up a little slower and have tighter roll requirements for myself to better stay within my roll.

Moving on...

Sunday is tournament grind day. Most Sundays for me end in 1 of 2 ways. These are not mutually exclusive. 1 Is me running my angst out on the treadmill. A viable strategy for sure. 2 (and my preferred method) is emo Heroes of Newerth games where I tilt feed and tell Alex he can't pick certain heroes. This last Sunday was finally an exception. As I began to start thinking about what hero I wanted to pick in our first game I won a flip in the 220 person 50r PCA qualifier (2 seats granted). I had some chips now and continued single tabling. A few big hands later I found myself chip leading with 60 people left. The field was soft and I was able to continue running good, coming into the FT with a nice chiplead and eventually winning the seat. Although I made some big satellite ICM mistakes at the end I ran good enough and others made even bigger ICM mistakes and it worked out. So I won my 10k ME seat, 9 days in the hotel (thats like 3k), and 1k spending cash. An awesome result from a 50r and my last tournament of the day, especially a week out from PCA with no living arrangements.

I also want to mention the Regulators series. Vid 1 went over well with everybody and I want to get part 2 out soon, but like most of you I am travelling all over the place for holidays, tournaments etc. The other issue being that I don't have a working Camtasia client for my mac (is it possible to use camtasia on my MAC? help much appreciated.) I am v busy and even heading over to Biloxi for the WPT event there right after I leave PCA, and then snow skiing with my family after that, but I am sure I could find time to get the video done if I can sort my software out and I will be working to get it to you guys.

Well that's all I have for now, if you made it this far I'm impressed.

Take care,

Ben

After a much needed Thanksgiving break I am feeling a lot better about everything. I went home for a whole week and just took it easy, ate a lot of good food, and played a ton of hands on my MacBook which tends to run way hotter than my PC. I played a ton of 7-game and PLO as well as a lot HUNL. I feel like my NL game is back on track and I've always done really well in PLO, although I think that I have almost certainly just run hot there. I requested my HHs from the sites I played on so I can review my PLO play and try to find out since I have no HEM on my Mac. I'm interested to review my 7-game results as well. I feel like I do very well in NL and PLO, that I can hold my own in razz, O8, and stud hi, but that I bleed money in stud8 and LHE. My friend Jimmy (gobboboy) has been teaching me and he's pretty pro at those.

Jimmy is also housing my for my Vegas trip for 5-diamond classic which I am leaving for next week. I'll be playing a 5k, a 1k rebuy, and the 15k main as well as much live cash as I feel up for. I'm looking to sell action on this ~25k package of touranments so if anyone is interested PM me. I'm selling at a 20% mark up.

I owe Leggo a video and it's up on my to-do list to start my Regulators series. I should be getting one out before I leave for Vegas.

Hope you're all doing well,

Ben


edit: bellagio ninjaed their schedule to be 5k, 1k rebuy and 15k