[Closed] Swings & Roundabouts

Hi Mulatu!

Could you give me some tips on the MiniFTOPS sats? I'd like to get 2-3 tickets for some smaller events. Do you play SNG sats or MTTs? Do you buy in for FTP or just the smaller entry fees?

Thanks and good luck! Maybe I'll see you at the tables.

Hi Emanuel...

I'm playing MTT Satellites, cash entry fees.

Edit: I didn't really give much advice...

I'm playing super satellites mostly. I try to avoid the turbos (though the NLHE seat I won was a turbo). If you're playing FL games I think turbos are a waste of time.

Congrats on your success, keep it up, if you like you can edit the title of your blog by editing your first post. I hope you ship one of the miniFTOPS, that would be a start to a poker career!!

Don't forget to keep studying too.

Thanks peche... I'd have to think of a suitable title first.
Really looking forward to the MiniFTOPS. There are a few more events I'd like to play.
Hopefully I can satellite into them later this week.

Here's my graph for the first month grinding MTTs on Pacific:

Total Winnings: $198.12
Current Roll: $209.62

Goals for September:
1. keep up the volume; sticking to my strategy of ~3 MTTs daily;
2. move up in stakes ($1.10-$2.20, sticking to 100BI rule);
3. stabilize at new stakes.

MiniFTOPS Satellites is a grind... really enjoying the Limit games though.
No more seats won yet, but I did place 2nd in a Stud Hi Satellite for $8.13.
An extremely long game. I'm obviously disappointed to not get the seat but I couldn't have played any better... opponent ran ridiculous.

Events I'd still like to Satellite into:
NLHE Event #1, HORSE, Stud Hi/Lo, 7-Game, Stud Hi, Razz

Don't want to over-extend my BR playing these Satellites (defeats the purpose anyway). I'll probably have to give up on some of the events, but as long as I'm in the black I'll keep trying.

I'm looking back at the last week's satellites; analyzing the games I've played, doing the math...

I had a weekend of bubbles. Frustrating. I really should be finishing these...

Stud Hi: 2nd for $8.13 (previous post).
Stud Hi: 3rd place in my third attempt, only 2 seats get entry. $8.38.
7-Game: 4 seats... 5th for $2.
6-Handed NLHE: 5th place (3/4 seats), no cash.

7-Game final table started with NLHE and PLO and by the end of those I was comfortably in 2nd, 5 players left, 4 seats. When the blinds changed to the big fixed limits in FLHE I started sliding and before the end of Stud Hi/Lo I was out. Though not the only reason for not cashing (2 of the bigger stacks kept doubling up the short-stacks in PLO when they should have been finishing the job) I really need to work on my shorthanded FLHE game. I also played a few Stud Hi/Lo satellites... definitely not one of my best games.

In terms of my BR (or "budget" for miniFTOPS) overall I'm up, with combined cashes of $53.51. ROI of ~48%... not very good, but is it acceptable for satellites? Obviously the real return would be cashing the events I've won seats for.

I'm scrapping Stud Hi/Lo. I'll play more Stud Hi and 7-Game satellites, the HORSE and Razz satellites which starts next week, and some smaller buy-in NLHE satellites.

Edit A:
Make it stop! Another day, another bubble... If I wasn't winning ~$40 in cash ring for the last two days I might have lost it by now. Just trying to stay focused and play solid poker.

Edit B:
I disconnected for 30 min with 18 left in an Omaha 8 Satellite well above average. Reconnected with 12 left as the small stack, pushed and got to the final table. Busted in 8th, 2 places from the money. Gross! Give me a fucking break!

Finally a breakthrough.
Won a seat for MiniFTOPS Event #20 7-Game:

It's just a satellite but this win really means a lot for me (mentally) at the moment, especially since it was winner takes all. Played HU through O8, Stud Hi, and finished it with NLHE. Opponent drew even in O8. Stud Hi HU is always tough, but I managed to grind him down to 4/1 deficit. Got it in a few hands later QQ vs ATo for the win.

I also won a seat to the Super Satellite for Event #4 HORSE later tonight for $5.50.

Just won a seat for MiniFTOPS Event #4 HORSE:

Satellite started at 03:45; it's now 08:12.
I've been up 24 hrs... it's been productive though.

Not a good start in MiniFTOPS. I just never got a chance to get going in the HORSE Event, which is disappointing. By far the biggest tournament I've played in terms of buy-in and prize pool. Will look at the hands I played later and see what I can learn from it. One hand in particular where I got squeezed out of a three-handed Stud Hi/Lo pot with what turned out to be the winning Hi, and another where I possibly folded the winning Hi on 7th.

I bubbled yet another Stud Hi Satellite, 3rd for $8.38.
(That's four in a row, $8 every time but I just can not get that seat.)

Next up is Event #11 on Sunday, NLHE Knockout... looking forward to this. Starts in the afternoon which is good (the HORSE started at 3 am). Then #14 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo on Monday, also in the afternoon. I'd like to play Event #18 NL Hold'em Turbo on Tuesday if I can satellite into that. Then Event #20 7-Game on Wednesday (already won a seat for that).

Event #11 did not go well either... deep stacked, early on I was forced to fold big hand after big hand... bleeding dry from the start, same as the HORSE. I've requested Hand History of this tournament from FTP. Will post some of the key hands here and hopefully get some input.

Time to be brutally honest. Am I playing above my level? Am I just running really bad? Am I approaching these deep field MTTs the wrong way? Right now my confidence is really shot. It feels like I can do nothing right. I'm seriously considering cashing out the remainder of the MiniFTOPS buy-ins I've worked so hard to get and just move on.

MiniFTOPS Event #11 Hand 31:

UTG+2: t5035 167.83 BBs
MP1: t5075 169.17 BBs
MP2: t5120 170.67 BBs
CO: t4895 163.17 BBs
Hero (BTN): t4940 164.67 BBs
SB: t4895 163.17 BBs
BB: t4475 149.17 BBs
UTG: t5540 184.67 BBs
UTG+1: t5025 167.50 BBs

Pre Flop: (t45) Hero is BTN with A 2
6 folds, Hero raises to t90, 1 fold, BB raises to t390, Hero calls t300

Flop: (t795) 7 A Q (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets t420, BB raises to t1290, Hero calls t870

Turn: (t3375) 8 (2 players)
BB bets t2795 all in, Hero requests TIME, Hero folds

Final Pot: t3375
BB wins t3375

Straight-forward hand in retrospect. I'm obviously beat, putting my opponent on AK or better before folding (possibly pocket QQ, opponent played a flopped set of 7s the exact same way later on). I could've checked the flop for pot-control, see a free turn-card? Do I call the check-raise? Do I even see the flop after that pre-flop raise?

MiniFTOPS Event #11 Hand 34:

BB: t5035 125.88 BBs
UTG: t5075 126.88 BBs
UTG+1: t5120 128 BBs
UTG+2: t4895 122.38 BBs
Hero (MP1): t3260 81.50 BBs
MP2: t4880 122 BBs
CO: t6050 151.25 BBs
BTN: t5690 142.25 BBs
SB: t4995 124.88 BBs

Pre Flop: (t60) Hero is MP1 with K K
3 folds, Hero raises to t120, 3 folds, SB calls t100, BB calls t80

Flop: (t360) A 2 J (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: (t360) 4 (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets t220, Hero calls t220, SB raises to t4875 all in, BB folds, Hero requests TIME, Hero folds

Final Pot: t1020
SB wins t1020

This hand infuriates me. I should've continued on that flop, taking it down and/or getting information to make a better decision on the turn... it just feels like I allowed SB to steal this pot. It's hard to put him on anything but a bluff, but I do not want to call that overbet for my tournament life.

MiniFTOPS Event #11 Hand 45:

BTN: t4555 113.88 BBs
SB: t4935 123.38 BBs
BB: t5000 125 BBs
UTG: t4835 120.88 BBs
Hero (UTG+1): t2620 65.50 BBs
UTG+2: t4820 120.50 BBs
MP1: t11310 282.75 BBs
MP2: t6250 156.25 BBs
CO: t5675 141.88 BBs

Pre Flop: (t60) Hero is UTG+1 with Q Q
1 fold, Hero raises to t120, 2 folds, MP2 calls t120, 4 folds

Flop: (t300) A A 5 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets t160, Hero calls t160

Turn: (t620) 2 (2 players)
Hero bets t400, MP2 raises to t800, Hero calls t400

River: (t2220) 4 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets t2220, Hero requests TIME, Hero folds

Final Pot: t2220
MP2 wins t2220

I decide to float and lead the turn. Do I call the raise and see the river or just fold and move on? I don't know... what is he potting on the river after I lead and call the turn?

Played MiniFTOPS Event #14 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo yesterday... managed 408th/2595, about a 100 places shy of the money. I enjoyed it and think I played decent. I was in 8th position at one stage after running really bad in the first hour and a half or so.

Stud Hi Satellite bubble this morning, 2nd for $9.25, just one seat awarded. Again.

Event #20 7-Game tomorrow. This will be tough. I'm confident in my 7-Game abilities against an average field. Looking forward to the challenge.

MiniFTOPS #20 7-Game: slow start, down to 1/2 stack in first hour, grinded back to average in second hour, out in the third at 969th.

Won a seat on Friday for the Razz Event:

Busted Event #28 Razz in 654th.

That's the end of my first MiniFTOPS. After winning over $170 in seats and satellite cashes my roll is exactly where it was when I started the month. In the original challenge I managed to win 5 seats of the ~8 Events I set out to play. Though I didn't have any specific goals (I needed to cash at least 1 or 2 Events for a profit) I wasn't expecting to run as cold as I did in the Events, so that's obviously disappointing. A lot to digest and learn from... played hundreds of hands in all forms of the game every day. I'll have a look back and post some of my thoughts later.

Been a while since my last post...

MiniFTOPS took up most of my time in September, so I didn't get the MTT volume done on Pacific Poker as I intended. During the end of September/beginning October I did play a few tournaments but went through a period of running bad and not playing particularly well. Since then I think I've been playing really good. It feels like I've found a new level in my game/play after taking a break and re-focusing on improving my results, especially when I do get deep... grinding MTTs it's so important to convert deep runs into final tables and top three finishes.

Since MiniFTOPS I've also been playing more FL Ring on Full Tilt. 7-Game, Razz and FL Omaha Hi/Lo. Currently playing .10/.20, taking shots at .25/.50. I'm using the Iron Man challenge as motivation to boost my volume. Playing Ring on FTP in the mornings and MTTs on Pacific in the afternoons seems to work well for me at the moment. I think I'm able to focus more in the afternoons/evenings... less distractions.

Two final tables in the last two days, a 2nd for $40.50 and a 7th for $12.08

Games Played: 104
Current Roll: $234.70

(Will post graphs at the end of the month again.)

Here's an interesting hand from an MTT yesterday, just before the final table bubble, two tables remaining. (I know it seems like obvious push or fold play, but everyone's short-stacked at this stage of the tourney. BB is actually chip-leader at my table.)

NLHE MTT, Blinds: $1000/$2000 (no antes).

Hero (SB): $29,517
BB: $53,275

Action folds around to me in the SB, I make it $6000 with J :heart:J :diamond:. BB calls.

Flop: K :spade:6 :spade:8 (Pot: $12,000)

I check the flop. I feel like I have a good read on my opponent and I can get more information from his action than by leading at this flop myself. BB bets $7000, I tank and decide to fold, putting him on a hand that beats me (a K most likely). Calling would commit me to the pot for my tournament life. Had he raised pre-flop I would've gone with it obviously.

BB Shows A :spade:8 (51.62%)
Here folded J :heart:J (48.38%)

That's a coin-flip... had I lead out I think we would've got it all in. I still like my check-fold. I made the final table 3rd in chips, he busted on the bubble.

ha Mulatu, does not sound too bad,you perform good - but I'd like the handjudges to have a look over this hand. Mind putting it in the hand evaluation board?

Good idea. I posted it here.

Just found these notes... thought it was interesting, figured I'd share it here.

When I started grinding MTTs in August I went through a really bad stage (on my graph between game 11 and 34 I only cashed once) and decided to write down things I should focus on and think about.

Sat, 21 Aug, 2010
wider range early in tournament? (suited K's, Q's, gapped connectors, J9, etc.)
based on table...
up to 50/100 level?
play position more?
more active over-all...
avoid big/committed bluffs

Mon, 23 Aug, 2010
deep... have to take chances
keep up the aggression
pick up dead chips
act on weakness