Mind Games

I don't care though 'cuz it seems to be rigged in my favour[1]

888Poker, Hold'em No Limit - 800/1,600 (160 ante) - 8 players

UTG: 13,161 (8 bb)
UTG+1: 2,299 (1 bb)
MP (Hero): 2,307 (1 bb)
MP+1: 1,114 (1 bb)
CO: 7,890 (5 bb)
BU: 16,238 (10 bb)
SB: 947 (1 bb)
BB: 5,747 (4 bb)

Pre-Flop: (3,667) Hero is MP with A♦:6♦:
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to 2,139 (all-in), Hero 3-bets to 2,147 (all-in), 4 players fold

Flop: (7,945) 2♠:K♣:J♥: (3 players, 3 all-in)

Turn: (7,945) 2♥: (3 players, 3 all-in)

River: (7,945) A♥: (3 players, 3 all-in)

Total pot: 7,945

Showdown:
MP (Hero) shows A♦:6♦: (two pair, Aces and Twos)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 29%, Flop: 13%, Turn: 7%, River: 100%) <<< A 93% jump in equity

UTG+1 shows Q♣:Q♦: (two pair, Queens and Twos)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 57%, Flop: 85%, Turn: 93%, River: 0%)

SB shows 8♣:5♠: (a pair of Twos)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 14%, Flop: 2%, Turn: <1%, River: 0%)

MP (Hero) wins 7,945
[1] At least this time...

Man, I miss the old 888 grind of 2012-13...

Originally posted by Harrier88
Man, I miss the old 888 grind of 2012-13...

888 is still there — isn't it available for you?

less than 1 ante, and I make it to the FT
888Poker, Hold'em No Limit - 625,000/1,250,000 (125,000 ante) - 7 players

NA: 46,639 (0 bb)
NA (Hero): 69,682 (0 bb)
UTG: 214,088 (0 bb)
CO: 510,691 (0 bb)
BU: 259,534 (0 bb)
SB: 2,084,840 (2 bb)
BB: 1,679,405 (1 bb)

NA ante 46,639 (all-in)Hero ante 69,682 (all-in)Pre-Flop: (2,616,321) Hero is NA with A♣:7♣:
UTG calls 89,088 (all-in), 3 players fold, Mongroldog1 sips coffee from a glass

Flop: (2,080,409) 7♥:2♠:8♥: (4 players, 3 all-in)

Turn: (2,080,409) 3♥: (4 players, 3 all-in)

River: (2,080,409) 6♣: (4 players, 3 all-in)

Total pot: 2,080,409

Showdown:
BB shows 9♥:3♣: (a pair of Threes)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 34%, Flop: 26%, Turn: 91%, River: 0%)

NA (Hero) shows A♣:7♣: (a pair of Sevens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 0%, Flop: 0%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

NA shows K♥:J♣: (high card, King)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 0%, Flop: 0%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

UTG shows Q♠:6♠: (a pair of Sixes)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 66%, Flop: 74%, Turn: 9%, River: 100%)

BB wins 1,071,824
NA (Hero) wins 464,731
UTG wins 543,854

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
less than 1 ante, and I make it to the FT

Finished 4th for $12.50, which brings my total 888 freeroll winnings for March to $44.01

Originally posted by VorpalF2F

Originally posted by Harrier88
Man, I miss the old 888 grind of 2012-13...

888 is still there — isn't it available for you?

I think it's still available for me, but it's simply not what it used to be, both in terms of player pool/traffic and in terms of games being offered. It used to have a very enjoyable MTT lineup, for example. Last time I checked, most otherwise interesting tournaments had absurdly long late regs. I expect SNGs aren't running the way they used to back in the day either, and even when it comes to optics, I found the older design much more appealing.

Looks like it still has some very attractive freerolls running, at least, which was also a good draw back then.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
less than 1 ante, and I make it to the FT

Finished 4th for $12.50, which brings my total 888 freeroll winnings for March to $44.01

Nice cash!

almost, but not quite

this close to the bubble, most of these guys would have folded in anything other than a freeroll
Pacific Poker - 400/800 Ante 80 NL (8 max) - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG+1: 681 (VPIP: 18.33, PFR: 9.62, 3Bet Preflop: 6.25, Hands: 61)
MP: 5,116 (VPIP: 37.50, PFR: 8.62, 3Bet Preflop: 7.14, Hands: 65)
Hero (MP+1): 21,831
CO: 2,735 (VPIP: 2.63, PFR: 2.86, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 38)
BTN: 8,759 (VPIP: 20.83, PFR: 13.64, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 24)
SB: 858 (VPIP: 20.45, PFR: 5.13, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 46)
BB: 8,097 (VPIP: 24.24, PFR: 10.34, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 67)
UTG: 5,445 (VPIP: 13.04, PFR: 9.09, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 23)

8 players post ante of 80, SB posts SB 400, BB posts BB 800

Pre Flop: (pot: 1,840) Hero has 2♦:2♥:

fold, fold, MP raises to 1,600, Hero raises to 21,751 and is all-in, fold, fold, SB calls 378 and is all-in, BB calls 7,217 and is all-in, MP calls 3,436 and is all-in

Flop: (22,488, 4 players) 9♣:4♠:3♦:

Turn: (22,488, 4 players) A♣:

River: (22,488, 4 players) 5♠:

MP shows A♥:A♠: (Three of a Kind, Aces)

Main Pot [3,752]: (Pre 57%, Flop 25%, Turn 90%)
Side Pot#1 [12,774]: (Pre 67%, Flop 80%, Turn 90%)

Hero shows 2♦:2♥: (Straight, Five High)

Main Pot [3,752]: (Pre 13%, Flop 10%, Turn 10%)
Side Pot#1 [12,774]: (Pre 15%, Flop 11%, Turn 10%)
Side Pot#2 [5,962]: (Pre 18%, Flop 12%, Turn 15%)

SB shows 4♦:3♠: (Two Pair, Fours and Threes)

Main Pot [3,752]: (Pre 12%, Flop 56%, Turn 0%)

BB shows K♦:K♥: (One Pair, Kings)

Main Pot [3,752]: (Pre 18%, Flop 9%, Turn 0%)
Side Pot#1 [12,774]: (Pre 19%, Flop 9%, Turn 0%)
Side Pot#2 [5,962]: (Pre 82%, Flop 88%, Turn 85%)

Hero wins 3,752
Hero wins 12,774
Hero wins 5,962

Originally posted by Harrier88

Originally posted by VorpalF2F

Originally posted by Harrier88
Man, I miss the old 888 grind of 2012-13...

888 is still there — isn't it available for you?

I think it's still available for me, but it's simply not what it used to be, both in terms of player pool/traffic and in terms of games being offered. It used to have a very enjoyable MTT lineup, for example. Last time I checked, most otherwise interesting tournaments had absurdly long late regs. I expect SNGs aren't running the way they used to back in the day either, and even when it comes to optics, I found the older design much more appealing.

Looks like it still has some very attractive freerolls running, at least, which was also a good draw back then.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
less than 1 ante, and I make it to the FT

Finished 4th for $12.50, which brings my total 888 freeroll winnings for March to $44.01

Nice cash!

888 removed SNGs, one of the first sites to do it. If memory serves me correctly.

Originally posted by UPAY4DINNER
888 removed SNGs, one of the first sites to do it. If memory serves me correctly.

They have the 3-person spingoes, which seem quite popular

but I couldn't resist

28th of 48 with 40 paid
PokerStars - 1500/3000 Ante 300 NL (8 max) - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 43,559 (VPIP: 10.00, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
SB: 32,102 (VPIP: 10.00, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
BB: 22,740 (VPIP: 10.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
UTG: 54,064 (VPIP: 10.00, PFR: 10.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
Hero (UTG+1): 33,403
MP: 21,021 (VPIP: 26.32, PFR: 13.89, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 38)
MP+1: 44,198 (VPIP: 11.11, PFR: 12.50, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
CO: 28,643 (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)

8 players post ante of 300, SB posts SB 1,500, BB posts BB 3,000

Pre Flop: (pot: 6,900) Hero has A♣:A♠:

UTG raises to 53,764 and is all-in, Hero calls 33,103 and is all-in, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold

Flop: (73,106, 2 players) J♠:J♣:7♣:

Turn: (73,106, 2 players) T♦:

River: (73,106, 2 players) 9♦:

UTG shows A♦:K♣: (One Pair, Jacks)
(Pre 7%, Flop 2%, Turn 9%)
Hero shows A♣:A♠: (Two Pair, Aces and Jacks)
(Pre 93%, Flop 98%, Turn 91%)
Hero wins 73,106

[1] I'm 12 places above the cutoff, and there are only 8 left to go, and this is a satellite, where all 40 places get the same amount. I forgot to check to see if opponent made the cutoff

Since July 2018, I've played several 888 freerolls every day
I read that Prim is starting an 888 Freeroll challenge[1] , so I thought I'd filter my 888 results for freerolls only. Some of these might be "freebuy" tournaments, but I've eliminated all of those that I could identify.

The Results

[1] Well worth following Prim & Harrier's blog.

Wow, very cool, thank you very much, Vorpal!
Yeah, I have started the "Bankroll Queen"-challenge on 888 today!

...even though my poker skills might have gotten a bit rusty. Gotta (re-)learn a LOT!

Originally posted by VorpalF2F

Am I reading the graph incorrectly, or did you really make more than $1.3K with freerolls since July 2018?

Originally posted by Harrier88
Am I reading the graph incorrectly, or did you really make more than $1.3K with freerolls since July 2018?
Surprised me as well, actually.

It's stuff like this that make it possible:

Desperation Equity
Ultimate Edition

I've actually got a comfortable stack — almost six antes
Pacific Poker - 1000/2000 Ante 200 NL (8 max) - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 24,380 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 4)
UTG+1: 4,810 (VPIP: 12.50, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 8)
MP: 27,993 (VPIP: 80.00, PFR: 40.00, 3Bet Preflop: 100.00, Hands: 5)
MP+1: 7,140 (VPIP: 12.00, PFR: 8.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 25)
CO: 321 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 13)
BTN: 11,539 (VPIP: 72.41, PFR: 14.81, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 30)
Hero (SB): 1,126
BB: 19,692 (VPIP: 23.81, PFR: 9.52, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 21)

8 players post ante of 200, Hero posts SB 926, BB posts BB 2,000

Pre Flop: (pot: 4,526) Hero has Q♠:4♠:

UTG calls 2,000, fold, fold, fold, fold, BTN calls 2,000, BB checks

Flop: (8,526, 4 players) 4♣:4♥:Q♦:
BB checks, UTG bets 2,000, fold, fold

Turn: (8,526, 2 players) 6♠:

River: (8,526, 2 players) 6♥:

UTG shows A♥:3♥: (Two Pair, Sixes and Fours)
(Pre 59%, Flop 0.4%, Turn 0%)
Hero shows Q♠:4♠: (Full House, Fours full of Queens)
(Pre 41%, Flop 99.6%, Turn 100%)
UTG wins 3,222
Hero wins 5,304

I assume the graph included some 1st place finishes, but the payouts still seem pretty big. Are those the regular freerolls from the standard line-up that is available to everyone, or did it include some special events?

I only recently started keeping track of my placement, and I don't record ones where I've bust out short of the money.

There are freerolls on the last Saturday of the Month, and they have large prize pools, and represent $180 of the total.

I've had 19 final tables since Mar of 2019, with 4 firsts. Those alone count for 252.34
Although the total might look impressive, the total is 1320.40 over 1805 tournaments, for an average of about $0.73 per win. I don't record losses, but let's say for argument that I play 2 per day.
From start to now, that's 2472 days At 2 per day, that's 4944 tournaments. Let's round that to 5000.
The average per tournament then is $0.26
But since these are freerolls, the ROI is infinite.
The hourly sucks though. It would be a total waste of time, except that I'm doing other things, and the poker table is just open on a side monitor.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
It would be a total waste of time, except that I'm doing other things, and the poker table is just open on a side monitor.

Exactly, picking up almost $200 per year right out of thin air and with zero risk involved doesn't sound like a waste of time at all. especially if you can do other things on the side. It's effectively semi-passive income.

Looks like 888 really does have a pretty attractive freeroll line-up if this is possible.

Vorpal, do you have any good advices how to play those super turbos? I´m pretty clueless at the moment, just applying some old SnG skills and adjusting them as well as I can to that hyper-turbo format. Yeah, I´m a total fish.

Originally posted by Primrose6789
Vorpal, do you have any good advices how to play those super turbos? I´m pretty clueless at the moment, just applying some old SnG skills and adjusting them as well as I can to that hyper-turbo format. Yeah, I´m a total fish.

I don't know how "good" it is, but...
 keep icm in mind, and when close to the $ open shove fairly wide from the button, but be wary of bigger stacks that call anything
 with QQ+ 3Bet shove any number of BB in the early stages. Be careful of 4- and 5-way pots though
 Fold your way to victory. Six cents is six cents
 Do something else while playing. This is the opposite of general tournament wisdom, but if you focus on the game you'll get bored, and recognizing that this tournament isn't worth your time, it is good to have something that is worthwhile to do while playing. Even facebook or netflix is better than nothing

I read an article about those hyper-turbos and just started re-learning ICM and the ranges. Well, doing something else besides is not a great idea, because your stack is shrinking in light speed!! One minute of "sleeping" can turn you into an ultra-short stack within a blink of an eye. But you´re right. If you´re building a BR from scratch then 6 cents are 6 cents - better than nothing!

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
Even facebook or netflix is better than nothing

Okay, I think I will have to disagree with you here. In general, though, I always like to at least have some background noise whenever I'm playing poker.

I'm also not sure how well folding into the money will work in super turbos. I think they are all just about knowing the ranges and pushing hard since the beginning when you are ahead. Variance will be huge, but with no money at stake and plenty of available freerolls, it should all work out eventually through volume.