Binghamton Cash Game

It has been a month and a half since I have last played at the game in my town and decided that, since school is over, it is time to make a return. They now started to have a 60+2 shootout tournament that I figured I would have a decent shot at given the blind structure. I bought in, received 1200 chips and immediately regretted the 25/50 blinds that would be doubled every 15 minutes.

Out of 16 people, I ended up 8th when my UTG push with AKs got called by the SB's 44 and his gets a set to take me out.

A minor setback but, thanks to the tournament, the cash game started about 2 hours earlier than it used to. I get knocked out and walk over to the main cash table, set down in the last seat that is available and get dealt two cards, both aces. I am in MP, when the UTG person raises it to $10, I repop to $40 after a half minute of consideration, and someone in LP goes all in for $40. UTG calls. Flop is Kh 8d 5d. UTG checks, I reraise her for about 60, she pushes all in for about $20 more and I call. LP flips up KQo, UTG shows TT, and I survive the later streets to have a very nice first hand. The rest of the night allows me to accumulate up to about $500 in chips and then I go pick up my gf as she hears the game is juicy.

I come back and she sits down with $200. The night goes downhill from there. I pick up KJs and raise to $12 in LP, the button and BB call. Flop is K54 rainbow. Check, I bet $20, button folds, UTG calls. Turn is a 3. He pushes for his remaining $26; I decide to call. He wins the pot with a very strong K5o.

My gf gets hit the hardest. She picks up 33 in the bb and calls a $10 raise. There are 3 players and the flop comes out with J38 with two clubs. She raises $40 into a $30 pot and gets two callers. The turn is the 4 of clubs. She checks, the original raiser bets $50, the button pushes all in for just over $100 and Julie folds. The raiser calls and they both show club flushes with the raiser have Ac5c and the button having KcTc. The river is another 8 and Julie regrest the correct fold as she would have tripled up.

I end up leaving the night with about an extra $70 (profit in cash - tournament entry) and Julie gets felted for her buy in. An okay night, I will probably return next week and just play the cash game.

Also, Julie is starting up a blog now that can be found at When Donkeys win...

Pokerstars Cash Games

I have been going strong in $50 tournaments and have think I have reached a new peak in my ability to play properly in a tournament. I will be posting more as this week is over. For now however, I am doing a few cash games as the new deposit bonus on Pokerstars makes me want to collect FPPs.


So, as usual, the good and the bad are both posted and open for comment.



Short stacked player passively calling me down I have pocket kings and play them aggressively. Is there some point that I should stop betting? The person I am playing against I do not have too many good reads against but I think I double him up every time.

The Good

KK holds up against an aggressive JT play.

Grading Papers tonight, so here is a list of notable hands while 2-tabling on AP and grading:

The Good
Q4s from the Cut-off - Seeing too many limpers made me want to dominate this hand with my position.


Versus DoeRayMe
First Hand that shocked me:This is how a pro plays AA
The following Hand: Slowplay followed by a bluff, I think this was an easy read with a tough call.

The Bad
I donk gutshots

It's been almost 5 months since I have posted and I think it is time to revive the blog. My game has been decent where I have cashed in multiple tournaments including a $1100 win at turning stone last Thursday. However, my cash game has been flagging a bit. The poker club I frequent has led to 4 very bad sessions in the row and I am not sure I can return anytime soon until I figure what is going on. Variance has smacked me in the face while I have been making some truly attrocious plays.


So, I plan to play more online cash games to figure out where I am standing. It seems like I am best at tournaments when I can completely focus on the game in front of me while cash games require some form of distraction as there is no clear end point. Consequently, I think I require a healthy mix of online cash games and live tournaments to operate correctly. I will be mostly be playing online, but going to play tournamens will receive a priority over cash games in the future.