Midnight train missing again

My bread and butter buy in for MTT NLHE is $200,000. As I've mentioned before, there's a nightly tournament with this buy in which starts at 11:28pm EST and whose late registration period ends at 12:12am EST. I call this tournament the midnight train. Every so often the midnight train goes missing. I always fret that it's gone for good when this happens, but so far it's always shown up again the very next night. Last night it went missing again, and I had to settle for a $100,000 buy in tournament which started a little past midnight instead. I hit the rail one minute before the late registration period was due to end, earning myself yet another 0th place. This shows up in the tournament lobby as a double dash. Dash it all :-)

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE    87000 13000       6      66   18     -        0

delta: $-100,000
MTT NLHE balance: $21,827,668
2020 balance: $14,605,343
balance: $76,413,353

The imp of the perverse

The most memorable hand of last night's session was the one I rode to the rail in the first tournament I entered. I had pocket queens, and by the river, there was a pair of nines on the board. I bet my two pair, and was raised enough to put me all in if I called. The imp of the perverse struck, and I called. Of course, my opponent had a nine. I knew he probably did, but ignored what I knew. That's why they call it the imp :-) I got under the lights in the second tournament I entered, so the session had a happy ending.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      89   21     -        0
MTT   NLHE    45000  5000       6     139   36     4   409000

delta: $159,000
MTT NLHE balance: $21,927,668
2020 balance: $14,705,343
balance: $76,513,353

Four selfie night

I can never resist snapping a poker selfie when I'm the chip leader in a tournament. I took four last night; here are the details:

selfie 1: with 38 minutes left in the late registration period, I have 4,412 chips and there are 16 active players of 20 entrants

selfie 2: with 25 minutes left in the late registration period, I have 5,680 chips and there are 24 active players of 36 entrants

selfie 3: when the tournament has been running for 46 minutes, I have 8,310 chips and there are 49 active players of 95 entrants

selfie 4: when the tournament has been running for 49 minutes, I have 9,550 chips and there are 43 active players of 95 entrants

The most memorable hand of the night? The one where I hit a set of fives on the flop and bumped two players out of the tournament.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      95   24     7   809000

delta: $609,000
MTT NLHE balance: $21,768,668
2020 balance: $14,546,343
balance: $76,354,353

Many good things

So many good things happened in last night's session; let me list some of them:

- the gravy train tournament returned
- I got under the lights
- I was Lord High Everything Else, finishing in second place
- I recorded my seventh Full Monty of the year
- I survived not one, but two, fall ins
- I laddered up four rungs at the final table
- I got my blue distance below a million for the first time in 17 sessions

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      86   21     2  1661000

delta: $1,461,000
MTT NLHE balance: $21,159,668
2020 balance: $13,937,343
balance: $75,745,353

The end of the gravy train?

This is the third time I've used this blog post title; the second was just over a month ago. Here's what I had to say:

I used this blog post title once before, on June 5, 2018. This time around, the gravy train I'm fearful has gone away is the $200,000 buy in 6-max MTT NLHE tournament. It used to run like clockwork starting at 11:28 p.m. every night, but was nowhere to be found last night. I had to settle for a $10,000 buy in 6-max MTT NLHE. To use a beer analogy, that's like looking forward to a nice cold Blue Moon and being forced to settle for a warm Rheingold. In other words, yuck :-)

It was nowhere to be found last night, either. I had to settle for two $50,000 buy in 6-max MTT NLHEs. I failed to make the money in either one, and recorded a 0th place in the second. Here's hoping the train will return tonight.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE    45000  5000       6     119   30    42        0
MTT   NLHE    45000  5000       6      59   15     -        0

delta: $-100,000
MTT NLHE balance: $19,698,668
2020 balance: $12,476,343
balance: $74,284,353

Partial half Monty

A full Monty is something to brag about. A partial Monty? Not so much. A half Monty? Even less. A partial half Monty? Don't even try :-) For the record, a partial half Monty is a tournament where you win at least half a million. That's what I achieved (if that's the right word) last night. The most memorable hand? The one where I hit quad eights on the river.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      90   21    11   501000

delta: $301,000
MTT NLHE balance: $19,798,668
2020 balance: $12,576,343
balance: $74,384,353

A canoe among the cruise ships

Whenever I have the shortest stack in a tournament, I understandably get infused with a sense of urgency. I know I won't survive without luck, but I also know I won't survive without skill. I'm a canoe among the cruise ships, and need to be very careful. Last night, for an extended period of time, I had the shortest stack. If I could have managed one more orbit, I might have made the money; however, I fell in, so all bets were off. As it was, I only missed the money by three spots. Not too shabby :-)

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      79   21    24        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $19,497,668
2020 balance: $12,275,343
balance: $74,083,353

The gift of the Magi

Three kings is a fine hand. A good nickname for it might be the Magi :-) Last night, I doubled up early on when I received the gift of the Magi. I was dealt K9o (king nine offsuit), and two additional kings showed up in the flop. For some strange reason, a kingless opponent kept betting, and I kept calling :-) That put me in the upper echelon, and made it simple to make the money.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6     104   30    14   434000

delta: $234,000
MTT NLHE balance: $19,697,668
2020 balance: $12,475,343
balance: $74,283,353

Microsession

On Friday night, I had the shortest session possible, consisting of a single hand. I was dealt A9o (ace nine offsuit), and paired my ace on the flop. An opponent with a stack about three times the size of mine put out a bet, and my read was that he was trying to bully me into folding. I got stubborn, and didn't oblige. He also bet the turn and the river, and my river call put me all in. He turned over a big slick, and I was gone in a New York minute. Even though my read was wrong, I'm proud I had the courage to stick with it after making it.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      81   21     -        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $19,463,668
2020 balance: $12,241,343
balance: $74,049,353

A premium first hand

The most memorable hand of last night's session was the first one. I was dealt a suited big slick, but it didn't pan out. Missing the money once again, I compiled the worst 19 session stretch of my 2020 poker year, losing an aggregate of $2,453,000. I know I'll turn this around; I just don't know when :-)

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      64   18    29        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $19,663,668
2020 balance: $12,441,343
balance: $74,249,353

How to make an annual profit of 20 million

1. make an average profit of $60,000 per session
2. play 334 sessions a year

My average profit per session this year is currently $59,071; I'm on a pace to play 337 sessions. Close enough for government work :-)

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6     103   30    26   268000

delta: $68,000
MTT NLHE balance: $19,863,668
2020 balance: $12,641,343
balance: $74,449,353

Cowboyed out

Last night I hit the rail when my K9o (king nine offsuit), which became a two pair of kings and nines on the turn or the river (I forget which), ran into pocket kings. In other words, I was cowboyed out :-) Some would say I had no business going all in in that spot, since I was on the money bubble at the time. I don't regret it, though; I didn't want to just settle for a min cash, not when I had a decent chance to double up and take a run at the really big money.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      78   21    22        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $19,795,668
2020 balance: $12,573,343
balance: $74,381,353

Slicked out

I call it a slickout when I hit the rail with a big slick (ace king). I call it being slicked out when I hit the rail and my opponent is the one with a big slick. Last night, I was slicked out when I was short-stacked, was dealt ace rag, paired my ace on the flop, and shoved. My blue distance is now over two million. I feel like I'm due for a deep run.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6     104   30    44        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $19,995,668
2020 balance: $12,773,343
balance: $74,581,353

Lots of quality hands

Last night, I halted my tournament losing streak at nine, thanks to lots of quality hands. I received rockets twice, cowboys once, a big slick three or four times, and ace queen three or four times. I would have been ashamed if I'd failed to make the money, given that good fortune. One difference between last night's tournament and the ones before it is that I entered it quite early in the late registration period, giving myself more time to build up a stack. I'll try that strategy again tonight.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      75   21    15   365000

delta: $165,000
MTT NLHE balance: $20,195,668
2020 balance: $12,973,343
balance: $74,781,353

Bubble bubble boy

Last night, I bubbled the bubble, finishing two spots out of the money. Once again, I had no cause for complaint; at one point, I was all in with a straight draw, and hit my straight on the river. On the final hand, I was dealt the ace and king of spades; being short-stacked, I was more than happy to put all my chips in the middle. It wasn't meant to be, but I have no regrets.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      99   24    26    0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $20,030,668
2020 balance: $12,808,343
balance: $74,616,353

Bubble boy

Last night, for the eleventh time in my MTT NLHE career, I was the bubble boy. That is, I missed the money by a single place. I'm not upset about it, though; by rights, I should have hit the rail long before I did. It would be churlish to complain of bad luck on the final hand when I'd been the beneficiary of much good luck on the way there. As a general rule of thumb, it's churlish to complain of bad luck on any hand at all, since good luck and bad luck will be visited upon you by the poker gods in equal measure over time.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6     111   30    31        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $20,230,668
2020 balance: $13,008,343
balance: $74,816,353

Loss portfolio

I've used this blog post title several times before. Here's an excerpt of what I had to say on March 3, 2017:

One of the best reasons to keep good poker records is so that you can build up a really impressive loss portfolio. It may seem odd, but there's a really good reason to have such a portfolio - it can cheer you up when you need it most :-) In the last twenty sessions, I've lost $802,475. That's a sizeable loss. Compared to other stretches of my career, however, how big is it really? I ran the numbers, and this loss was only my 61st worst. That's bound to make anyone feel better :-)

In the last twelve sessions, I've lost $1,686,000. That's a sizeable loss. Compared to other stretches of my career, however, how big is it really? I ran the numbers, and this loss was only my 98th worst. It barely cracked the top 100 :-)

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      86   21    47        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $20,430,668
2020 balance: $13,208,343
balance: $75,016,353

Giving to get

I first used this blog post title on June 3, 2017; here's an excerpt of what I had to say:

The first game I ever loved was chess. I still love it. One of the hardest lessons to learn in chess, and one which I still haven't fully learned, is that many times, you must give in order to get. Indeed, "give to get" is a common chess puzzle hint. Over the last nine years, I've learned that in poker, too, you must give to get. In a poker context, giving to get means that you must have a willingness to take temporary losses when your goal is to achieve long-term gains.

Right now, I'm in the throes of a giving binge; it's high time for a little getting :-)

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      85   21    43        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $20,630,668
2020 balance: $13,408,343
balance: $75,216,353

Bookends

The two most memorable hands of Sunday night's session were the first and last. Straight out of the gate, I was dealt the ace and king of hearts. I put in a preflop raise and got a couple of callers. I whiffed on the flop but made a continuation bet. The turn and river both bricked out, and when the smoke had cleared I'd lost roughly half my stack. On the final hand, I was dealt the king and queen of spades, had a flush draw after the turn, and called a bet that put me all in. The river was a brick, and I was gone. The only consolation? I outlasted the late registration period :-)

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      76   21    42        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $20,830,668
2020 balance: $13,608,343
balance: $75,416,353

The hardest hand to credit

For me, the hardest hand to credit is a flopped flush. That's because a lot of players will bluff or semi-bluff at the pot when every card in the flop has the same suit (which is a prerequisite of flopping a flush). If neither of their hole cards has the flopped suit, betting qualifies as a bluff. If one of their hole cards has the flopped suit, betting qualifies as a semi-bluff, since they'll have two chances to hit their flush. If both hole cards have the flopped suit, betting is not a bluff at all. I hit the rail early and hard in the one tournament I played last night. The hand that did me in? You guessed it, a flopped flush.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      33    9     -        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $21,030,668
2020 balance: $13,808,343
balance: $75,616,353

A missing poker freedom

In no limit hold'em, every player has the freedom to put all their chips into the middle, whenever it's their turn to act. In similar fashion, every player has the freedom to fold, whenever it's their turn to act. The PokerStars software has partially restricted the latter freedom for quite some time. I've been aware of this from the time this change began, but was never bothered enough to write about it until now. Here's the deal: if no one has put a bet in during a betting round, the PokerStars client no longer gives you the option of folding. I'm fine with this preflop, on the flop, and on the turn; I'm not fine with it on the river, however. Why not? Since it means that everyone will see your hole cards at showdown if no one bets on the river. That's unacceptable. The hole cards tell your opponents a wealth of information about your playing style, and they shouldn't be able to get that information for free in any situation. When I know I'm beat, I want to be able to fold to keep that information secret.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6     119   30    53        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $21,230,668
2020 balance: $14,008,343
balance: $75,816,353

A chance of repeat blue

Whenever I have a decent shot at making the money in a tournament, I check to see if there's a payout that will return my overall balance to the blue. Imagine my surprise last night when I discovered that the 8th place payout would return me exactly to my personal best overall balance - in other words, to repeat blue. My probability radar informed me that this would be an extremely rare event if I could achieve it. Turns out my radar was right - I'd never achieved it. Alas, that's still true.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      94   24    39        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $21,430,668
2020 balance: $14,208,343
balance: $76,016,353

Another superdonk far from home

In last night's tournament, I encountered another superdonk far from home. He was going all in on every hand, stealing the blinds and the antes. Eventually he got some callers, but lucked out for a while. He ended up hitting the rail, but not nearly soon enough for my liking. Poker is no fun when players like that are at your table. He definitely left a bad taste in my mouth. I thought I'd escaped the superdonks when I quit the rebuy tournaments, but no such luck :-(

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      63   18    37        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $21,630,668
2020 balance: $14,408,343
balance: $76,216,353

Rarer is not necessarily luckier

I was the beneficiary of two very lucky occurrences last night. I don't actually remember which happened first. For the sake of argument, let's say it was the hand when I flopped a full house. I waited for my opponent to bet, which he finally did on the river. I raised, he called, and I won a nice pot. The other lucky event was when I went all in with a split pair of kings, and my opponent turned over pocket rockets. I spiked a king on the river to survive. That put me in a great position to make the money, and I did. I got to thinking afterwards about which hand was luckier. No contest, it was the survival hand, even though the rarer hand was the flopped full house. Rarer is not necessarily luckier :-)

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      82   21    11   456000

delta: $256,000
MTT NLHE balance: $21,830,668
2020 balance: $14,608,343
balance: $76,416,353

Summer of 79

Last night, I played poker for my 79th night in a row. That tied my personal best, set five years ago from May 24, 2015 through August 10, 2015. Another summer of 79 :-) I'll set a new personal best tonight.

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6     100   24    41        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $21,574,668
2020 balance: $14,352,343
balance: $76,160,353

Domination failure

In hold'em, one player's hand is said to dominate another's when their lower hole cards have the same denomination but their higher hole cards don't; the dominator's is higher. Last night, on my final hand of the tournament, I was the dominator with king ten versus jack ten. I was a 70% favorite. Alas, it wasn't to be. My opponent spiked a jack on the river, and I was gone in a New York minute. Whatcha gonna do?

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6      77   21    42        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $21,774,668
2020 balance: $14,552,343
balance: $76,360,353

Half the profit is better than none

Last night, I logged onto PokerStars too late to play my normal tournament, so I had to play a later one with half the buy in of my normal one. All other things being equal, half the buy in translates into half the deficit if you lose, and half the profit if you win. I eked out a min cash. Half the profit is better than none :-)

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE    87000 13000       6      83   21    19   158000

delta: $58,000
MTT NLHE balance: $21,974,668
2020 balance: $14,752,343
balance: $76,560,353

Tripped up

Last night, I came as close as you can get to a 0th place without actually getting it, surviving the late registration period by a single minute. On my final hand, I was dealt AQo (ace queen offsuit), and lost to an opponent who'd been dealt J6o (jack six offsuit). He flopped trip jacks; whatcha gonna do?

style flavor buy_in entry players entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE   174000 26000       6     110   30    63        0

delta: $-200,000
MTT NLHE balance: $21,916,668
2020 balance: $14,694,343
balance: $76,502,353