An old-fashioned Mookie + Dookie recap

It's been a really really long time since I've done a bloggament recap. So why not two for the price of one, seeing as how I made the final table in both?

The Dookie was a PLO8 tournament. PLO8 is pretty much my favourite poker variant of them all, and I like to think I am pretty solid with the fundamentals of this game. Many people are not. So I was sailing along in a commanding position, chip-leader with six left, and ultimately decided to put maximum pressure on the villain whom I barely had covered, with a premium hand: Kh Ad 2c 3d. He opted to put 7000 tournament chips in with Ah 2s 3c 2h (!) ... and a measly pair of deuces held up in a pretty sick spot:



Needless to say, I think the villain should never get it in here.

I wasn't too unhappy because I was making a run in the Mookie and was trying to focus on being a short-stack ninja as we reached the final nine and the final table (which was also the cash bubble). In the previous BBT series (2-4) I have managed to win this tournament for a ToC seat, but so far in BBT5 I have only played one Mookie and didn't get anywhere. This time, I swore it would be different.

Things got off to a good start as I got some revenge on JuliusGoat, when he 4-bet jammed with QQ and ran into a bigger pair:



Then I folded, folded, folded, and folded some more. Card death was rampant. I won the occasional pot to stay at around 5K in chips for a very long time.

Then I opened in early position with sevens and folded to a button re-raise by a player whom I know doesn't ever fold to a 4-bet.

The very next hand, I was able to squeeze in the big blind against three opponents with pocket tens. Given my image, I probably would have tried this with any two cards.

Shortly after this I was dealt three good hands in succession, and lost 1K in chips since I don't like to overplay AK or AQ unimproved ... this put me back down to 4K in chips, and I was struggling to maintain an average chip stack. I refused to panic, however, since I still had plenty in relation to the blinds.

Using my tight image, I played some positional poker to get a fold from what was likely a better hand than mine:



The very next hand I was dealt tens again and 3-bet to bring my stack up 6K without a showdown. I like it when my raises get respect.

I went back to folding for multiple orbits.

As the antes kicked in, I won the blinds a couple of times with AK.

I was able to win a bigger pot, without having to go to showdown, with the reliable jack-ace:



I 3-bet light on the button and folded to a 4-bet, tumbling back down to 4500 in chips.

I had my one big suckout of the tourney right here as a blind steal went wrong. With 1000 out there and a stack just over 4000 behind I open-shoved A2 on the button to pick up the pot. Of course, I got out of jail against a big pair:



As the blinds and antes increased, I was able to take them down uncontested again with AK two more times, and then my pocket jacks held vs. a short-stacked opponent's eights. I looked up and all of a sudden I had over 15K in chips. I felt like I was Astin for a while.

I folded down to 12.5K and snapped off cmitch's open-shove with the mighty ace-ten (easy call because his range here is really really wide):



Then I was able to win another hand against a short-stack when my eights held up against his early position shove with KJ to climb to 23K in chips as we neared the final table bubble. Sadly, I would climb no higher than this and was forced to fold my way up the ladder for a while.

I ran up against MemphisMojo right on the final table bubble when we were playing five-handed and was forced to lay down a hand when I just didn't think I could get him to fold once he'd led out on a scary flop, since he was representing exactly what I was supposed to have:



Once we reached the final table a player quickly busted out so we were down to eight. I was somehow dealt AK back-to-back and prayed for action on the second hand, but no dice. (Seriously, I must have been dealt AK about six times, and always won the blinds without any action. If I had ever had some other quality hands that I could have opened to appear more active, I'm sure I would have gotten some action. I really felt like I was Astin in disguise.)

Unfortunately, I then had to fold a parade of junk hands for multiple orbits and my tournament came to an abrupt end as I exited in 7th place as I open-shoved 13 bbs from the small blind right into the big blind's pocket jacks. FPT decided to taunt me by giving me eleven outs on the turn, but I didn't get there.

Only three more BBT5 tournaments to go! I hope to give myself at least one more good shot at a ToC seat. Best of luck to everyone in their pursuit of this same goal.

BBM: I can do this!

I couldn't resist Goat's offer to burn off some bankroll (especially after a 10 buyin downswing at the cash game tables).

Instead, my love of deepstack cash games -- oh wait, this is a tournament? -- led me to some fun times.

Synopsis:

1) I was unable to fold flopped top two pair vs. Bayne. Spiked a four-outer vs. bottom set of fours for an early suckout & resulting double. I played this one very badly. As soon as Bayne 4-bet shoved the T64 two spade flop I tried to figure out if he could have anything but bottom set. I made a mental shrug and made a bad call praying he had an overpair. Instead I get rewarded for my bad decision with some good luck from the RNG.

2) I cracked another blogger's aces and they coldn't get away postflop.



I open for 2.5 bbs in EP, I get re-raised to 8 bbs. Effective stacks are nearly 100 bbs deep. I flop trips, pocket aces decide to check-raise the turn ... one pair is no good. No doubt many will just scratch their heads at this one and call me unflattering names. My short answer is: I have position, implied odds with deep stacks and a pretty good idea of what my opponent has. Investing 5 more bbs is easy enough to do there when I have my opponent safely covered and I'll know where I stand postflop.

At various points all the way down to three-handed once the cash bubble bursts I have half the chips in play. This lets me play big-stack poker and I run like sucko.

3) I crack Jo's aces with queens (all-in preflop). Must resist feeling guilty because she has a BBT4 ToC seat and I don't.

4) My aces hold up vs. sevens that flop a open-ended straight draw. I dodge ten outs twice.

5) We get down to headsup and I am slightly ahead of Buddy in chips after he felts Hoy. He flops a straight vs. my flush + gutter and I don't get there. I grind back for a while and then run a 4bet bluff with the suited hammer vs. TT and go home in 2nd place.

Fun times. The three-handed play was pretty darn fun and I enjoyed it. I wish I didn't spew so badly once Buddy knocked Hoy out since the HU portion of the tournament was much shorter than it could have been, and I thought I had a good handle on how to grind out a win.

Mookie final table recap, redux

6th place finish this time, still no ToC seat. More close but no cigar shenanigans. I lost several consecutive confrontations late, and folded a lot later on as I went completely dry on good hands, and was forced to play short-stacked at the final table, as my top-3 stack with 3 tables left slowly dwindled to 7/9. I misplayed my bustout hand in a blind-on-blind battle when I had a clear 3bet shove; instead I got fancy and decided to play JdTd in position to a flop. Unfortunately, villain's Qs4s outflopped me and we got all the money in on the turn on a JQ5K board, and I bricked.

#1 - The river min-raise for value



#2 - Trapping a dangerous opponent without overplaying TPTK



#3 - Getting lucky; also missed a value bet



Then some hands vs. the Doc ...

#4 - Turning the second nuts



#5 - Pot Control; Doc said he had a ten here



#6 - Four-flushing again, but this time I was best the whole way



#7 - Filling up in a 3-way spot



Villain #3 had 85.

#8 - Flopping the nuts in a re-raised pot; I was praying opponent had a big pair they couldn't get away from



Sadly from here on out I was completely card dead and my top-3 stack dwindled and dwindled. I then lost a big race vs. deuces, of all things,

#9 - 22 holds



and then faced this donktastic overshove with no fold equity (same opponent again). JTo held ... villain's perceptiveness of hand ranges was sorely lacking, but I don't expect many players to note how tightly I was playing preflop ...

#10 - J-high is gold preflop



Finally I make a mistake in a blind vs. blind battle and bust out in sixth.

#11 - Why didn't I shove preflop? Raise or fold!

Climbing the ladder

That's what I did at the final table after being crippled in a razz hand when I got pipped making an eight-low. I was the proverbial grinder who survived and waited as patiently as possible to double up and outlast a few players, finally bowing out in fourth place. I narrowly missed a Stud08 scoop which would have tripled me up and put me right back in serious contention for the outright win.

I appreciate the railing of these two fellow HORSE enthusiasts during my deep run, and I'll try to come up with some strategy thoughts once I look over the hand histories.

Ho-hum, another day, another ToC seat misfire

Short version: I was massive chipleader for nearly all of the second half of the Mookie. I got a fortunate double-up with AQ vs. KK when the poker gods rewarded me for overplaying AQ preflop; my pairs were holding up vs. slightly lower pairs; and I was dodging trouble and making some big stack calls to bust players left and right. By the time we were down to six players left I had 106K in chips; second place stack was about 60K ... but I managed to implode, busting out in fifth place. Playing to win came back to haunt me.

1) I go to the well one too many times with T8s ("the Mookie") and flop bottom two pair in a re-raised pot (I opened and was re-raised another 4 bbs by the small blind). Jordan leads out having flopped top set, I shove, he insta-calls and I relinquish chip lead when I lose the massive 110K-ish pot which would have had me home and cooled out with more than half the chips in play with five players left. Instead, I swap positions with Jordan, who went on to win the tournament, and fell to second place with approximately 60K. Given my chip lead I think this was a defensible call in position with the implied odds and the stack sizes involved (100K and 50-ishK respectively), but hitting two pair here proved disastrous. I was able to invest less than 10% of my stack preflop to call the re-raise and I hit my hand hard enough to continue. Since I put Jordan's re-raising range there at a pretty "honest" top 5-10% of hands, I figured the implied odds were sufficient to see a flop in position.

2) I stabilize and am narrowly in third place behind cardgrrl, who has aggressively been picking on my big blind when it's folded around to her. So I eventually play back at her with Q8dd. She decides she wants to play acey-deucey out of position against my re-raising range. Oookay. We both check on a 9d7h2c flop. The magical 6d falls on the turn and suddenly I have OESFD with some live cards; she leads out for 10K into a ~35K pot and I instantly shove my last 35K in there and she calls. She shows up with the nightmarish A2dd for a mighty bottom pair and my flush outs are dead. Naturally the flush comes in (also completing my straight) and IGH in 5th place. My 21 outs once turned out to be just a dozen: three queens, three eights, and six non-diamond straight outs. (The sad thing is that if a blank falls on the turn, I think I can get her off bottom pair.)


Sigh.

Will try again next week for that ToC seat I suppose.

NB. Oh, and at least I got to say DQB:

A Skills Game near-miss

First of all, congratulations to F-Train, who deservedly won his ToC seat with a dominant performance. He built up a huge stack and never relinquished the chiplead at the final table. I thought I was well-positioned to mount a serious challenge but I scuffled with my only real significant play error to fall out of a solid 50K-ish 3rd place stack at the final table and down to a three-way crowd in the basement with six players left. I then found a good spot with dead money to overshove my 25K-ish stack over the top of F-Train's raise with a hand that has good equity against his range, but my KQJ9 rundown didn't improve enough for me to survive against what unfortunately turned out to be a ragged KKxx.

Along the way I did make two impressive hands. I got paid off as much as could be expected in the former ...


... but I scared away my customer in the latter with a turn check-raise.


Last week, it was CK busting me. This week, F-Train. I cry anti-Canuck conspiracy.

With two final tables in six events played, the BBT4 is off to a profitable start, but I've still fallen short of the goal: extending my ToC streak to three.

Blogger Big Game ... a near -miss

[Edit: now see below for some hand histories]


I had fun, I was in the top five in chips at the first break and at the second break; I made the final table but went card dead for extended period of time. Stacks got short compared to the blinds once we reached the 2K/4K/500 level so I made about my fourth pure steal of the tournament and ran my 10bb stack into Hoy's AK in the blinds. I go home now in 5th place.

Hand #1 - Why You Shouldn't Min-Raise two black aces preflop



Hand #2 - A Key Double Early



Hand #3 - Getting into trouble after taking one off



Danger! I didn't suspect I was up against A3, so the turn and river were particularly nasty.

Hand #4 - Cracking QQ



The river action was a close decision. I really wanted to raise for value but decided to play it safe.

Hand #5 - Getting Donked



Hand #6 - Cracking another premium hand



Hand #7 - A Squeeze



I had decided to felt if facing a 4bet. Luckily for me, I was up against AQ and held.

Hand #8 - Gutting it out with KK on a scary board



Hand #9 - AA holds up



As soon as I saw the flop I planned the hand: I was going to check-call a flop bet and shove any blank turn. It worked out well, but there are many different ways to play this hand.

Hand #10 - A Hammer Drop



Hand #11 - The Steal Gone Wrong



Thanks for reading this far. I had another dozen hands of some interest, but decided to omit those. By being very selective preflop, only seeing 11% of flops, I was dependent on my big hands to chip up and fortunately for me I still got action on them and held up for the most part. The other way I was able to chip up, as you saw above, was calling with some speculative hands in good spots where I wasn't risking a huge percentage of my stack preflop. I was able to nail some flops and punish players who couldn't get away from big pocket pairs.

And now for a third

And by that, I mean a third Mookie win, which should make Schaubs happy.


I'll put up a more thorough report on Friday afternoon, when I will have the spare time to look over the hand histories for anything interesting. An early highlight, which propelled me to the early chiplead with over 11K in chips, was where I proved to fellow Team Schaubs member LJ that presto was not gold (unless played by professionals):


As played, the hand was pretty nasty. LJ was the big stack at the table, but I had a sizeable stack of my own within 1200 of hers. Still, she defended her blind to my 3BB raise in the CO. Then, we get your standard set-over-set scenario on the flop. She check-raised my half-pot c-bet to 800 chips, and I smooth called with the intention of raising any turn with the possible exception of a king or eight (which would complete a straight; I thought her range was pretty polarized to PPs or just maybe, maybe QTs). On the turn she paused and bet out 1550; I paused and raised to 3200 with only about 1600 behind, signalling my willingness to stack off. She obliged by shipping it in with bottom set and I insta-called praying she didn't have JJ. I can't fault LJ for not folding a set in a bloggament ... but realistically my range has her crushed here. Fortunately, my image helps me get paid off in spots like this -- that and no-one willingly folds a set in a bloggament!

That allowed me to sail along, playing conservatively and protecting my big stack and selectively choosing spots to chip up with minimal risk. I suffered a setback here and there vs. short-stacks that sucked out on me but overall I maintained a top-5 stack as we made it to the final table.

NumbBono and I got involved in some pretty sick pots along the way and I was pretty worried as the final table began: he had been co-chipleader for a long period of time but in a sick run on the final table bubble he doubled up to 40K, which was double my stack (!). I patiently navigated the final table minefield, though, and when we got down to three-handed with the two of us and Smokkee I'd chipped up nicely and seized the chip lead. The three of us traded chips for a good while and I lost two big pots to come back to the pack. Ultimately NB busted out in third, but not before we traded sick beats: he cracked my pocket jacks when I slowplayed myself into oblivion and lost the maximum when he flopped 2pr. But I managed a key double through him when I needed it when I squeezed and he made a nice call with ace-high (which was good) and I flopped a pair.

I got pretty lucky vs. smokkee in our headsup battle. I donked him to take a commanding chip lead, then he won about four consecutive 60/40s, and then I finally won one to close it out. I nut-peddled a few times but he escaped; I let him re-steal light a few times and then caught him but he escaped some more; and then I finally got it in with the worst of it again and won.

Vegas Warmup part two

Clawed back from big deficit headsup but got outdrawn/setup to eventually finish second for my troubles. I think I should get bonus points for knocking out both Bayne and Waffles ...

Things are looking up for my forthcoming Vegas trip. Now if only this success translates to the big bloggament at the Venetian on Saturday.

Bridesmaid

Pretty self-explanatory. I overplayed a pair headsup (I turned my hand into a bluff when the board came running aces on the turn and river as I could plausibly represent a lucky full house) vs. a flopped straight headsup and relinquished the chiplead. Then I was short-stacked and missed a freeroll to double up back up to a 3:2 disadvantage; we chopped. Then I got it in preflop with Ax in a 60/40 and villain turned a gutshot to bust me. I can't really fault villain for gambling with Kx with a 5:1 chip advantage, but it's not necessarily the spot I'd choose in his shoes with only 1 bet invested against my shove of 20 bets.

Fun times were had despite the disappointing finish, I think I only saw about 11% of flops all tournament, which is much tighter than I usually play. Of course, I was severely short-stacked in the early stages of the tournament, coming back from 200 chips with a quadruple up to become vaguely relevant, and patiently waited to double up back to a useably-sized stack. From there I kept my tight image and used it to pull off some big bluffs later on when I went card-dead. If I had won just one of five or six 60:40 weighted flips in my favour when we got down to the final five, I most likely would have had an insurmountable chiplead. Oh well. Sometimes you get unlucky.

And now the true bloggament hiatus begins

On a good note I am pleased to say. I added a Dookie title to my bloggament collection.

Skillz farewell

In what will likely be my last bloggament for a couple of months, I managed to place 3rd in the Skillz game. Many interesting hands were played: I lost a couple of huge key pots late, the one below stands out;

but did manage a couple of notable scoops earlier in the tournament. They more or less speak for themselves.

DQB!

And the standard wheel with nut flush redraw freeroll on the turn.

Another Skillz title

I booked a win in a variety of poker that is uncommonly played: pot-limit Omaha hi/lo.

Two fun screenshots for starters:


With a recent downswing at the L08 cash tables, this win comes in handy for the ol' BR ...


And busting Waffles never grows old. I suppose I can't fault him for felting with top & bottom pair + gutshot straight draw ... but my check-raise was enormous, so he had to figure he was beat ...

Anyhow, this tourney had three main phases. In the first hour, I was determined to play almost no hands, flop a huge hand, and get it all in. Sadly, it didn't work out as planned ... as I was crippled despite being a money favourite. In hour two, I played for my tournament life and ground my way back. And in hour three I zoomed my way up to the top, survived some beats, and outlasted everyone.

1) This was the last hand of hour #1 ...

Full Tilt Poker Game #7816018965: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 1 - 50/100 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 22:30:28 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 2: dfazman (719)
Seat 3: PirateLawyer (2,574)
Seat 4: kazor (5,187)
Seat 5: scottc25 (4,773)
Seat 6: Drizztdj (3,491)
Seat 7: DonK_TuckFard (1,893)
Seat 8: SirFWALGMan (7,450)
Seat 9: Mondogarage (1,738)
Mondogarage posts the small blind of 50
dfazman posts the big blind of 100
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Td Jd Qd Ts]
PirateLawyer raises to 225
kazor folds
scottc25 folds
Drizztdj calls 225
DonK_TuckFard folds
SirFWALGMan folds
Mondogarage calls 175
dfazman folds
*** FLOP *** [9s 8c 6d]
Mondogarage checks
PirateLawyer bets 387
Drizztdj folds
Mondogarage raises to 1,513, and is all in
PirateLawyer calls 1,126
Mondogarage shows [9h Ks 9c As]
PirateLawyer shows [Td Jd Qd Ts]
*** TURN *** [9s 8c 6d] [5s]
*** RIVER *** [9s 8c 6d 5s] [8h]
Mondogarage shows a full house, Nines full of Eights, for high
PirateLawyer shows two pair, Tens and Eights, for high
Mondogarage wins the pot (3,801) with a full house, Nines full of Eights
No low hand qualified

Villain demonstrably kept getting the chips in the middle light. In this case I am a favourite against a bare set and am clearly priced in to call his CRAI. Villain also had no low draws and could have been up against two possible straights ... this is a lesson on how not to play a set, but it worked out for him here.

2) I am at a low point of 656 chips with blinds of 60/120. I steal some blinds, and then am in for my tournament life with a two-way hand that makes a low against two opponents who are going high. Up to 1134.

I then get a nice double vs. Waffles:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7816239413: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 1 - 60/120 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 22:46:45 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 3: PirateLawyer (1,134)
Seat 4: kazor (6,117)
Seat 5: scottc25 (4,473)
Seat 6: Drizztdj (3,776)
Seat 7: DonK_TuckFard (4,306)
Seat 8: SirFWALGMan (4,578)
Seat 9: Mondogarage (3,441)
scottc25 posts the small blind of 60
Drizztdj posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [As Ks 7c 3c]
DonK_TuckFard folds
SirFWALGMan raises to 420
Mondogarage folds
PirateLawyer raises to 1,134, and is all in -- my hand is easily strong enough to shove here.
kazor folds
scottc25 folds
Drizztdj folds
SirFWALGMan calls 714
PirateLawyer shows [As Ks 7c 3c]
SirFWALGMan shows [Ac 4d Ah Kc]
*** FLOP *** [8c 7s 6s] - well, flopping the nuts takes the pressure off in a hurry
*** TURN *** [8c 7s 6s] [Qs]
*** RIVER *** [8c 7s 6s Qs] [Th]
PirateLawyer shows a flush, Ace high, for high andPirateLawyer shows 8,7,6,3,A, for low
SirFWALGMan shows a pair of Aces, for high andSirFWALGMan shows 8,7,6,4,A, for low
PirateLawyer wins the high pot (1,224) with a flush, Ace high
PirateLawyer wins the low pot (1,224) with 8,7,6,3,A
The blinds are now 80/160

SCOOP!

All of a sudden, I'm back up to a starting stack of 3000 chips.

I continue playing in position and am very selective with my starting hands. I safely chip up to 4100.

As we lose some players, I adjust to five-handed play.

I suffer a huge blow to my stack as my opponent makes a heroic call of my 3-bet preflop and somehow scoops with a garbage hand:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7816459465: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 1 - 100/200 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 23:02:53 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 3: PirateLawyer (3,468)
Seat 4: kazor (7,497)
Seat 5: scottc25 (7,424)
Seat 6: Drizztdj (2,836)
Seat 7: DonK_TuckFard (2,316)
scottc25 posts the small blind of 100
Drizztdj posts the big blind of 200
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [As 2c Qd Kh]
DonK_TuckFard raises to 450
PirateLawyer raises to 1,650
kazor folds
scottc25 folds
Drizztdj folds
DonK_TuckFard raises to 2,316, and is all in
PirateLawyer calls 666
DonK_TuckFard shows [Jh Qh 6d Qs]
PirateLawyer shows [As 2c Qd Kh]
*** FLOP *** [2s 6c 9h]
*** TURN *** [2s 6c 9h] [Td]
*** RIVER *** [2s 6c 9h Td] [8s]
DonK_TuckFard shows a straight, Queen high, for high
PirateLawyer shows a pair of Twos, for high
DonK_TuckFard wins the pot (4,932) with a straight, Queen high
No low hand qualified

That is just a lesson on how to get your money in badly by the villain here.

I get it allin with A236 but end up having to chop.

I get it in ahead and flop the nut high for a scoop:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7816532610: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 1 - 120/240 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 23:08:24 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 3: PirateLawyer (1,062)
Seat 4: kazor (7,377)
Seat 5: scottc25 (7,424)
Seat 6: Drizztdj (2,266)
Seat 7: DonK_TuckFard (5,412)
PirateLawyer posts the small blind of 120
kazor posts the big blind of 240
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Td 9s Ad Kd]
scottc25 folds
Drizztdj folds
DonK_TuckFard folds
PirateLawyer raises to 720
kazor raises to 1,200
PirateLawyer calls 342, and is all in
kazor shows [Qc 4s 7c As]
PirateLawyer shows [Td 9s Ad Kd]
Uncalled bet of 138 returned to kazor
*** FLOP *** [Kh Qh Js]
*** TURN *** [Kh Qh Js] [Jd]
*** RIVER *** [Kh Qh Js Jd] [Ks]
kazor shows two pair, Kings and Queens, for high
PirateLawyer shows a straight, Ace high, for high
PirateLawyer wins the pot (2,124) with a straight, Ace high
No low hand qualified

I get there with a wrap draw vs. my nemesis, who had flopped two pair on a scary board:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7816562995: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 1 - 120/240 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 23:10:40 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 3: PirateLawyer (1,884)
Seat 4: kazor (6,075)
Seat 5: scottc25 (7,904)
Seat 6: Drizztdj (2,626)
Seat 7: DonK_TuckFard (5,052)
DonK_TuckFard posts the small blind of 120
PirateLawyer posts the big blind of 240
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Tc Qc 2s Kh]
kazor folds
scottc25 folds
Drizztdj folds
DonK_TuckFard calls 120
PirateLawyer checks
*** FLOP *** [7s Jh 9c]
DonK_TuckFard bets 480
PirateLawyer has 15 seconds left to act
PirateLawyer raises to 1,644, and is all in
DonK_TuckFard calls 1,164
PirateLawyer shows [Tc Qc 2s Kh]
DonK_TuckFard shows [9d 3d Jd Ts]
*** TURN *** [7s Jh 9c] [2c]
*** RIVER *** [7s Jh 9c 2c] [Qd]
PirateLawyer shows a straight, King high, for high
DonK_TuckFard shows two pair, Jacks and Nines, for high
PirateLawyer wins the pot (3,768) with a straight, King high
No low hand qualified



I then flop quads and get a little action:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7816576473: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 1 - 120/240 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 23:11:40 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 3: PirateLawyer (3,768)
Seat 4: kazor (6,075)
Seat 5: scottc25 (7,904)
Seat 6: Drizztdj (2,626), is sitting out
Seat 7: DonK_TuckFard (3,168)
PirateLawyer posts the small blind of 120
kazor posts the big blind of 240
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [9s Jh 9h 7c]
scottc25 calls 240
Drizztdj folds
DonK_TuckFard has 15 seconds left to act
DonK_TuckFard folds
PirateLawyer calls 120
kazor checks
*** FLOP *** [7h 9d 9c] - pretty nice flop
PirateLawyer checks
kazor bets 360
scottc25 folds
PirateLawyer calls 360 - smooth call ; hope he improves
*** TURN *** [7h 9d 9c] [Jd]
PirateLawyer checks
kazor checks
*** RIVER *** [7h 9d 9c Jd] [2d]
PirateLawyer bets 720
kazor folds - rats!
Uncalled bet of 720 returned to PirateLawyer
PirateLawyer mucks
PirateLawyer wins the pot (1,440)

I crawl up above the 3K mark.

I keep chipping up by aggressively playing solid Axxx hands that have scoop potential preflop in position. If I get called, I am able to make pot-sized c-bets and take them down.

I narrowly miss a scoop after getting it all in with AAJ5 preflop; the river low means I have to settle for a disappointing chop:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7816699198: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 1 - 150/300 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 23:20:45 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 3: PirateLawyer (5,028)
Seat 4: kazor (6,135)
Seat 5: scottc25 (6,914)
Seat 6: Drizztdj (2,806)
Seat 7: DonK_TuckFard (2,658)
DonK_TuckFard posts the small blind of 150
PirateLawyer posts the big blind of 300
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Ah Js Ad 5c]
kazor folds
scottc25 folds
Drizztdj raises to 1,050
DonK_TuckFard folds
PirateLawyer raises to 3,300
Drizztdj calls 1,756, and is all in
PirateLawyer shows [Ah Js Ad 5c]
Drizztdj shows [2s 8d As Jd]
Uncalled bet of 494 returned to PirateLawyer
*** FLOP *** [3s Qd Ac]
*** TURN *** [3s Qd Ac] [Kd]
*** RIVER *** [3s Qd Ac Kd] [7s]
PirateLawyer shows three of a kind, Aces, for high
Drizztdj shows a pair of Aces, for high andDrizztdj shows 8,7,3,2,A, for low
PirateLawyer wins the high pot (2,881) with three of a kind, Aces
Drizztdj wins the low pot (2,881) with 8,7,3,2,A

I finally get a scoop when my hammer makes it both ways and the villain can't release what is clearly a second-best hand:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7816776783: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 1 - 150/300 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 23:26:07 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 3: PirateLawyer (5,103)
Seat 4: kazor (5,085)
Seat 5: scottc25 (7,514)
Seat 6: Drizztdj (5,989)
Seat 8: BamBamCan (8,100)
PirateLawyer posts the small blind of 150
kazor posts the big blind of 300
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [7h 2c 3h 2s]
scottc25 folds
Drizztdj calls 300
BamBamCan folds
PirateLawyer calls 150
kazor checks
*** FLOP *** [4d 8h Jh]
PirateLawyer checks
kazor checks
Drizztdj checks
*** TURN *** [4d 8h Jh] [Qs]
PirateLawyer checks
kazor bets 300
BamBamCan: interesting play Kaz
Drizztdj has 15 seconds left to act
Drizztdj folds
PirateLawyer calls 300
*** RIVER *** [4d 8h Jh Qs] [2h]
BamBamCan: it worked
PirateLawyer bets 750
kazor has 15 seconds left to act
kazor calls 750
*** SHOW DOWN ***
PirateLawyer shows [7h 2c 3h 2s] a flush, Jack high, for high and 8,7,4,3,2, for low
kazor mucks
PirateLawyer wins the high pot (1,500) with a flush, Jack high
PirateLawyer wins the low pot (1,500) with 8,7,4,3,2
The blinds are now 200/400
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,000 | Rake 0
Board: [4d 8h Jh Qs 2h]
Seat 3: PirateLawyer (small blind) showed [7h 2c 3h 2s] and won (3,000) with HI: a flush, Jack high; LO: 8,7,4,3,2
Seat 4: kazor (big blind) mucked [4s Qc Ah Jd] - HI: two pair, Queens and Jacks

I reach the 7300 mark in chips. With blinds at 200/400 with five-handed play I am ramping up my preflop aggression given the 600 in dead money sitting out there every hand.

This is a good example of an easy button raise in this situation:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7816792973: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 1 - 200/400 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 23:27:16 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 3: PirateLawyer (6,753)
Seat 4: kazor (3,735)
Seat 5: scottc25 (7,514)
Seat 6: Drizztdj (5,689)
Seat 8: BamBamCan (8,100)
kazor posts the small blind of 200
scottc25 posts the big blind of 400
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Kc Ac Qd 6d]
Drizztdj folds
BamBamCan folds
PirateLawyer raises to 1,100
kazor folds
scottc25 folds
Uncalled bet of 700 returned to PirateLawyer
PirateLawyer mucks
PirateLawyer wins the pot (1,000)

Here is an exmample of playing position and taking a pot away on the flop:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7816811300: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 1 - 200/400 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 23:28:36 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 3: PirateLawyer (7,353)
Seat 4: kazor (3,535)
Seat 5: scottc25 (5,914)
Seat 6: Drizztdj (5,689)
Seat 8: BamBamCan (9,300)
BamBamCan posts the small blind of 200
PirateLawyer posts the big blind of 400
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Jh 2d 3h Jc]
kazor folds
scottc25 folds
Drizztdj folds
BamBamCan raises to 800
PirateLawyer calls 400 - I am not impressed by a SB min-raise
*** FLOP *** [8h 7h Ts]
BamBamCan checks
PirateLawyer bets 1,600
BamBamCan folds
Uncalled bet of 1,600 returned to PirateLawyer
PirateLawyer mucks
PirateLawyer wins the pot (1,600)

And here I finally get a big AAxx hand to stand up preflop for a monster flop:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7816844974: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 1 - 200/400 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 23:31:06 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 3: PirateLawyer (8,553)
Seat 4: kazor (3,535)
Seat 5: scottc25 (5,914)
Seat 6: Drizztdj (5,689)
Seat 8: BamBamCan (8,100)
BamBamCan posts the small blind of 200
PirateLawyer posts the big blind of 400
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [5c As 8d Ah]
kazor folds
scottc25 raises to 1,200
Drizztdj folds
BamBamCan folds
PirateLawyer raises to 3,800
scottc25 raises to 5,914, and is all in
PirateLawyer calls 2,114 -- happy to get it all in here
scottc25 shows [5d Qd Ac 2c] -- pretty decent two-way hand, actually, but I have the AA
PirateLawyer shows [5c As 8d Ah]
*** FLOP *** [Kc Qh 4d] - fairly safe flop
*** TURN *** [Kc Qh 4d] [9c] - very good turn
*** RIVER *** [Kc Qh 4d 9c] [8h]
scottc25 shows a pair of Queens, for high
PirateLawyer shows a pair of Aces, for high
PirateLawyer wins the pot (12,028) with a pair of Aces

SCOOP!

And with that, I vault to a comfortable chiplead as we reach the final table and resume full-handed play.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7816866072: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 200/400 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 23:32:42 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (9,438)
Seat 2: Joshuacarlsen (12,684)
Seat 3: Drizztdj (5,689)
Seat 4: cemfredmd (3,702)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (1,915)
Seat 6: RaisingCayne (3,470)
Seat 7: BamBamCan (7,900)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (14,667)
Seat 9: kazor (3,535)

Unfortunately, I begin by doubling up a shorty despite flopping the nuts:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7816890791: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 200/400 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 23:34:35 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (8,238)
Seat 2: Joshuacarlsen (11,484)
Seat 3: Drizztdj (7,889)
Seat 4: cemfredmd (3,302)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (1,915)
Seat 6: RaisingCayne (3,470)
Seat 7: BamBamCan (7,900)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (14,667)
Seat 9: kazor (4,135)
cemfredmd posts the small blind of 200
iam23skidoo posts the big blind of 400
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [2h 7c Ad Td]
RaisingCayne folds
BamBamCan folds
PirateLawyer raises to 999
kazor folds
SirFWALGMan folds
Joshuacarlsen folds
Drizztdj folds
cemfredmd folds
iam23skidoo raises to 1,915, and is all in
PirateLawyer calls 916
iam23skidoo shows [As Jc Ts 8s] -- very questionable shove
PirateLawyer shows [2h 7c Ad Td]
*** FLOP *** [9d Js 8c]
*** TURN *** [9d Js 8c] [Qc]
*** RIVER *** [9d Js 8c Qc] [6c]
iam23skidoo shows a straight, Queen high, for high
PirateLawyer shows a straight, Jack high, for high
iam23skidoo wins the pot (4,030) with a straight, Queen high

That hand just goes to show that flopped straights never win. Sadly, no low was able to come in as I had that locked up.

But then I crack a vulnerable holding when Cayne overplays a marginal KKxx hand; I flop a big wrap draw and get there:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7817014579: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 250/500 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 23:44:11 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (12,540)
Seat 2: Joshuacarlsen (13,484)
Seat 3: Drizztdj (7,889)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (3,630)
Seat 6: RaisingCayne (2,870)
Seat 7: BamBamCan (7,250)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (11,202)
Seat 9: kazor (4,135)
PirateLawyer posts the small blind of 250
kazor posts the big blind of 500
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Qd 4c Ac Ts]
SirFWALGMan folds
Joshuacarlsen folds
Drizztdj folds
iam23skidoo folds
RaisingCayne raises to 1,750
BamBamCan folds
PirateLawyer raises to 5,750
kazor folds
RaisingCayne calls 1,120, and is all in
PirateLawyer shows [Qd 4c Ac Ts]
RaisingCayne shows [6c 4d Kh Ks]
Uncalled bet of 2,880 returned to PirateLawyer
*** FLOP *** [Kd Jd 2h]
*** TURN *** [Kd Jd 2h] [9d]
*** RIVER *** [Kd Jd 2h 9d] [8s]
PirateLawyer shows a straight, King high, for high
RaisingCayne shows three of a kind, Kings, for high
PirateLawyer wins the pot (6,240) with a straight, King high

I suffer a fairly hideous beat as skidoo gambools it up and my nut low is counterfeited on the river:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7817097233: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 250/500 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 23:50:40 ET - 2008/08/26
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (14,790)
Seat 2: Joshuacarlsen (12,734)
Seat 3: Drizztdj (7,889)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (5,820)
Seat 7: BamBamCan (4,310)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (15,072)
Seat 9: kazor (2,385)
SirFWALGMan posts the small blind of 250
Joshuacarlsen posts the big blind of 500
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [2d Ac Qc Th]
Drizztdj folds
iam23skidoo raises to 1,750
BamBamCan folds
PirateLawyer raises to 6,000
kazor folds
SirFWALGMan folds
Joshuacarlsen folds
iam23skidoo calls 4,070, and is all in
PirateLawyer shows [2d Ac Qc Th]
iam23skidoo shows [Ah 3d 4h 9c] - again, he makes a loose call preflop
Uncalled bet of 180 returned to PirateLawyer
*** FLOP *** [5d 3c 6h]
*** TURN *** [5d 3c 6h] [7c]
*** RIVER *** [5d 3c 6h 7c] [2h]
PirateLawyer shows a pair of Twos, for high andPirateLawyer shows 6,5,3,2,A, for low
iam23skidoo shows a straight, Seven high, for high andiam23skidoo shows 5,4,3,2,A, for low
iam23skidoo wins the high pot (6,195) with a straight, Seven high
iam23skidoo wins the low pot (6,195) with 5,4,3,2,A

Needless to say, his preflop call was pretty awful. And the river gave him the unexpected scoop as my nut flush didn't come in and my nut low is counterfeited.

I make a couple of tough laydowns and slip down the leaderboard with 6K in chips as the shortstack with 6 players remaining.

I flop the second nuts and massage a payout from Waffles, who finds a fold but still pays me off in part:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7817225270: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 300/600 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 0:00:24 ET - 2008/08/27
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (18,365)
Seat 2: Joshuacarlsen (12,834)
Seat 3: Drizztdj (8,599)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (8,930)
Seat 7: BamBamCan (8,170)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (6,102)
SirFWALGMan posts the small blind of 300
Joshuacarlsen posts the big blind of 600
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [7c As Ac 5c]
Drizztdj folds
iam23skidoo folds
BamBamCan folds
PirateLawyer raises to 1,350
SirFWALGMan calls 1,050
Drizztdj: no, not often
Joshuacarlsen has 15 seconds left to act
Joshuacarlsen folds
*** FLOP *** [Jc Jd Ah]
SirFWALGMan checks
PirateLawyer checks - trying to set my hand to look like a delayed bluff
*** TURN *** [Jc Jd Ah] [4h]
SirFWALGMan checks
PirateLawyer bets 1,650
SirFWALGMan calls 1,650
*** RIVER *** [Jc Jd Ah 4h] [Qs]
SirFWALGMan checks
PirateLawyer bets 3,102, and is all in
SirFWALGMan: jerk
SirFWALGMan has 15 seconds left to act
PirateLawyer: just call
SirFWALGMan has requested TIME
SirFWALGMan: you habve like A2
pushmonkey72 (Observer): lol
PirateLawyer: I have KK25
BamBamCan: chip dump?
SirFWALGMan folds
Uncalled bet of 3,102 returned to PirateLawyer
PirateLawyer mucks
PirateLawyer wins the pot (6,600)

We lose a shorty and I am able to take half of the pot in a nice multiway checkdown as another shorty survives by winning the HI as I take the low:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7817268228: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 400/800 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 0:03:48 ET - 2008/08/27
iam23skidoo: holla
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (15,365)
Seat 2: Joshuacarlsen (2,104)
Seat 3: Drizztdj (7,599)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (28,230)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (9,702)
iam23skidoo posts the small blind of 400
PirateLawyer posts the big blind of 800
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Ad Th 6d 5d]
SirFWALGMan calls 800
Joshuacarlsen raises to 2,104, and is all in
Drizztdj folds
iam23skidoo calls 1,704
PirateLawyer calls 1,304
SirFWALGMan calls 1,304
*** FLOP *** [Qh 4d 6h]
iam23skidoo checks
PirateLawyer checks
SirFWALGMan checks
*** TURN *** [Qh 4d 6h] [Qc]
iam23skidoo checks
PirateLawyer checks
SirFWALGMan checks
*** RIVER *** [Qh 4d 6h Qc] [2h]
iam23skidoo checks
PirateLawyer checks - I think about a value bet with what I assume is a lock for low, but opt against it
SirFWALGMan checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Joshuacarlsen shows [As Ah 2c 9h] a flush, Ace high, for high
iam23skidoo mucks
PirateLawyer shows [Ad Th 6d 5d] two pair, Queens and Sixes, for high and 6,5,4,2,A, for low
SirFWALGMan mucks
Joshuacarlsen wins the high pot (4,208) with a flush, Ace high
PirateLawyer wins the low pot (4,208) with 6,5,4,2,A
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8,416 | Rake 0
Board: [Qh 4d 6h Qc 2h]
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan mucked [Td 7c Ac 7d] - HI: two pair, Queens and Sevens; LO: 7,6,4,2,A
Seat 2: Joshuacarlsen showed [As Ah 2c 9h] and won (4,208) with HI: a flush, Ace high
Seat 3: Drizztdj (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (small blind) mucked [6s Jc 7h Jd] - HI: two pair, Queens and Jacks
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (big blind) showed [Ad Th 6d 5d] and won (4,208) with HI: two pair, Queens and Sixes; LO: 6,5,4,2,A

I start making hands in position as Waffles starts bleeding chips to me:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7817280216: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 400/800 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 0:04:45 ET - 2008/08/27
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (13,261)
Seat 2: Joshuacarlsen (4,208)
Seat 3: Drizztdj (7,599)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (26,126)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (11,806)
PirateLawyer posts the small blind of 400
SirFWALGMan posts the big blind of 800
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Kd 2c Qs 3c]
Joshuacarlsen folds
Drizztdj folds
iam23skidoo folds
PirateLawyer raises to 2,000
SirFWALGMan calls 1,200
*** FLOP *** [8h 5c 6c]
PirateLawyer checks
SirFWALGMan checks
*** TURN *** [8h 5c 6c] [Ac]
PirateLawyer bets 4,000 - time to bet pot with a strong two-way hand & the nut low
SirFWALGMan folds
Uncalled bet of 4,000 returned to PirateLawyer
PirateLawyer mucks
PirateLawyer wins the pot (4,000)

Another 3-way allin and I take half with a lucky backdoor low:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7817305059: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 400/800 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 0:06:44 ET - 2008/08/27
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (12,061)
Seat 2: Joshuacarlsen (4,208)
Seat 3: Drizztdj (6,399)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (26,526)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (13,806)
iam23skidoo posts the small blind of 400
PirateLawyer posts the big blind of 800
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Qc Ad Ks 7s]
SirFWALGMan folds
Joshuacarlsen has 15 seconds left to act
Joshuacarlsen raises to 2,800
Drizztdj folds
iam23skidoo calls 2,400
PirateLawyer has 15 seconds left to act
PirateLawyer calls 2,000
*** FLOP *** [2d 2s Td]
iam23skidoo checks
PirateLawyer bets 4,200
Joshuacarlsen calls 1,408, and is all in
iam23skidoo raises to 22,408
PirateLawyer calls 6,806, and is all in - crying call
iam23skidoo shows [2c 5c 7c 2h]
PirateLawyer shows [Qc Ad Ks 7s]
Joshuacarlsen shows [Jh Kd Kc 5s]
Uncalled bet of 11,402 returned to iam23skidoo
*** TURN *** [2d 2s Td] [8s]
*** RIVER *** [2d 2s Td 8s] [6d]
iam23skidoo shows four of a kind, Twos, for high andiam23skidoo shows 8,7,6,5,2, for low
PirateLawyer shows a pair of Twos, for high andPirateLawyer shows 8,7,6,2,A, for low
iam23skidoo wins the high side pot (9,598) with four of a kind, Twos
PirateLawyer wins the low side pot (9,598) with 8,7,6,2,A
Joshuacarlsen shows two pair, Kings and Twos, for high
iam23skidoo wins the high main pot (6,312) with four of a kind, Twos
PirateLawyer wins the low main pot (6,312) with 8,7,6,2,A
Joshuacarlsen stands up

Then I get it all in with KKxx and get outdrawn by the shorty:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7817384950: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 500/1000 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 0:13:15 ET - 2008/08/27
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (27,122)
Seat 3: Drizztdj (4,199)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (16,769)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (14,910)
Drizztdj posts the small blind of 500
iam23skidoo posts the big blind of 1,000
The button is in seat #1
SirFWALGMan: ship it
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Kd 5d Kh 9h]
PirateLawyer raises to 2,250
SirFWALGMan folds
Drizztdj raises to 4,199, and is all in
iam23skidoo folds
PirateLawyer calls 1,949
Drizztdj shows [Js Qh Td As]
PirateLawyer shows [Kd 5d Kh 9h]
*** FLOP *** [5c Ad Qc]
*** TURN *** [5c Ad Qc] [2s]
*** RIVER *** [5c Ad Qc 2s] [3d]
Drizztdj shows two pair, Aces and Queens, for high
PirateLawyer shows a pair of Kings, for high
Drizztdj wins the pot (9,398) with two pair, Aces and Queens

But then I turn the tables with a huge scoop to recoup my losses and burst the cash bubble:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7817393970: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 500/1000 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 0:14:00 ET - 2008/08/27
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (27,122)
Seat 3: Drizztdj (9,398)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (15,769)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (10,711)
iam23skidoo posts the small blind of 500
PirateLawyer posts the big blind of 1,000
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [7s Ah 2d Js]
SirFWALGMan folds
Drizztdj raises to 3,500
iam23skidoo folds
PirateLawyer raises to 10,711, and is all in
Drizztdj calls 5,898, and is all in
PirateLawyer shows [7s Ah 2d Js]
Drizztdj shows [Ac Ad 6c 4h]
Uncalled bet of 1,313 returned to PirateLawyer
*** FLOP *** [8d Qs 5h]
*** TURN *** [8d Qs 5h] [4s]
*** RIVER *** [8d Qs 5h 4s] [Ts]
PirateLawyer shows a flush, Queen high, for high andPirateLawyer shows 8,5,4,2,A, for low
Drizztdj shows a pair of Aces, for high andDrizztdj shows 8,6,5,4,A, for low
PirateLawyer wins the high pot (9,648) with a flush, Queen high
PirateLawyer wins the low pot (9,648) with 8,5,4,2,A
Drizztdj stands up

I am pretty confident given the past behaviour of skidoo and Waffles that I can get it in with the best of it against the former and nut-peddle vs. the latter ... time will tell if I am right.

I get skidoo to commit all his chips drawing to a chop ... and he gets there:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7817418939: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 500/1000 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 0:16:04 ET - 2008/08/27
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (28,622)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (14,769)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (19,609)
SirFWALGMan posts the small blind of 500
iam23skidoo posts the big blind of 1,000
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [7c Ad Qd 5c]
PirateLawyer raises to 3,500
SirFWALGMan folds
iam23skidoo calls 2,500
*** FLOP *** [9h Ac 6c]
iam23skidoo bets 7,500
PirateLawyer raises to 16,109, and is all in
iam23skidoo calls 3,769, and is all in
PirateLawyer shows [7c Ad Qd 5c]
iam23skidoo shows [Qh 4d As 3s]
Uncalled bet of 4,840 returned to PirateLawyer
*** TURN *** [9h Ac 6c] [5s]
*** RIVER *** [9h Ac 6c 5s] [8d]
PirateLawyer shows a straight, Nine high, for high andPirateLawyer shows 8,7,6,5,A, for low
iam23skidoo shows a pair of Aces, for high andiam23skidoo shows 6,5,4,3,A, for low
PirateLawyer wins the high pot (15,019) with a straight, Nine high
iam23skidoo wins the low pot (15,019) with 6,5,4,3,A

I trap Waffles with the AA overpair to the board but he rivers the nut straight along with me for another disappointing chop:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7817426665: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 500/1000 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 0:16:43 ET - 2008/08/27
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (28,122)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (14,519)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (20,359)
PirateLawyer posts the small blind of 500
SirFWALGMan posts the big blind of 1,000
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [As Js 4c Ah]
iam23skidoo folds
PirateLawyer raises to 3,000
SirFWALGMan calls 2,000
*** FLOP *** [Jh Ts Kh]
PirateLawyer checks
SirFWALGMan checks
*** TURN *** [Jh Ts Kh] [6d]
PirateLawyer bets 3,000
SirFWALGMan calls 3,000
*** RIVER *** [Jh Ts Kh 6d] [Qc]
PirateLawyer bets 4,000
SirFWALGMan raises to 22,122, and is all in
PirateLawyer calls 10,359, and is all in
Uncalled bet of 7,763 returned to SirFWALGMan
*** SHOW DOWN ***
SirFWALGMan shows [4h Ks 5d Ad] a straight, Ace high, for high
PirateLawyer shows [As Js 4c Ah] a straight, Ace high, for high
PirateLawyer ties for the pot (20,359) with a straight, Ace high
SirFWALGMan ties for the pot (20,359) with a straight, Ace high

But then life is good as I get skidoo to call down light as I flop the wheel and get paid:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7817437569: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 500/1000 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 0:17:38 ET - 2008/08/27
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (28,122)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (14,519)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (20,359)
SirFWALGMan posts the small blind of 500
iam23skidoo posts the big blind of 1,000
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [9c 3s 2h 9d]
SirFWALGMan: lol
PirateLawyer calls 1,000
SirFWALGMan folds
iam23skidoo checks
*** FLOP *** [4c 5h Ah]
iam23skidoo checks
PirateLawyer checks
*** TURN *** [4c 5h Ah] [9s]
iam23skidoo checks
PirateLawyer bets 2,500
iam23skidoo calls 2,500
*** RIVER *** [4c 5h Ah 9s] [7d]
iam23skidoo checks
PirateLawyer bets 4,000
iam23skidoo has 15 seconds left to act
iam23skidoo calls 4,000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
PirateLawyer shows [9c 3s 2h 9d] a straight, Five high, for high and 5,4,3,2,A, for low
iam23skidoo mucks
PirateLawyer wins the high pot (7,750) with a straight, Five high
PirateLawyer wins the low pot (7,750) with 5,4,3,2,A
*** SUMMARY ***
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (big blind) mucked [2s Td 8c Th] - HI: a pair of Tens; LO: 8,5,4,2,A
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (button) showed [9c 3s 2h 9d] and won (15,500) with HI: a straight, Five high; LO: 5,4,3,2,A

I continue to nut-peddle vs. Waffles. Sadly he finds a fold:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7817455191: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 500/1000 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 0:19:07 ET - 2008/08/27
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (27,622)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (8,019)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (27,359)
PirateLawyer posts the small blind of 500
SirFWALGMan posts the big blind of 1,000
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Td Kh 2c Js]
iam23skidoo folds
PirateLawyer calls 500
SirFWALGMan checks
*** FLOP *** [2h Jd 7d]
PirateLawyer checks
SirFWALGMan checks
*** TURN *** [2h Jd 7d] [9s]
PirateLawyer bets 1,500
SirFWALGMan calls 1,500
*** RIVER *** [2h Jd 7d 9s] [Qc]
PirateLawyer bets 5,000
SirFWALGMan: bastard
PirateLawyer: what do you have
SirFWALGMan: how do you have a straight when I have 2 8's
SirFWALGMan folds
Uncalled bet of 5,000 returned to PirateLawyer
PirateLawyer mucks
PirateLawyer wins the pot (5,000)
NYRambler (Observer): good fold waffles

I flop two pair but am unable to bet for value on a scary river; I happily take the pot down:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7817467133: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 500/1000 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 0:20:07 ET - 2008/08/27
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (25,122)
Seat 5: iam23skidoo (8,019)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (29,859)
SirFWALGMan posts the small blind of 500
iam23skidoo posts the big blind of 1,000
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [8d 3h 9d Ad]
PirateLawyer has 15 seconds left to act
PirateLawyer calls 1,000
SirFWALGMan calls 500
iam23skidoo checks
*** FLOP *** [5d 9c 3d]
SirFWALGMan checks
iam23skidoo checks
PirateLawyer bets 3,000
SirFWALGMan calls 3,000
iam23skidoo folds
*** TURN *** [5d 9c 3d] [Ts]
SirFWALGMan checks
PirateLawyer checks
*** RIVER *** [5d 9c 3d Ts] [Jc]
SirFWALGMan checks
PirateLawyer checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
PirateLawyer shows [8d 3h 9d Ad] two pair, Nines and Threes, for high
SirFWALGMan mucks
PirateLawyer wins the pot (9,000) with two pair, Nines and Threes
No low hand qualified
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 9,000 | Rake 0
Board: [5d 9c 3d Ts Jc]
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (small blind) mucked [3s As 4d 6s] - HI: a pair of Threes

Waffles busts the short-stacked skidoo and we're down to headsup. I have a narrow 35K-27K chiplead with 600/1200 blinds.

Ten hands in, we reach a resolution:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7817508431: Blogger Skillz Game (58958097), Table 3 - 600/1200 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 0:23:37 ET - 2008/08/27
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (27,641)
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (35,359)
SirFWALGMan posts the small blind of 600
PirateLawyer posts the big blind of 1,200
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PirateLawyer [Jc Qd Jd 3d]
SirFWALGMan raises to 3,600
PirateLawyer calls 2,400
*** FLOP *** [2s Kc Js]
PirateLawyer checks
SirFWALGMan bets 7,200
PirateLawyer raises to 28,800
SirFWALGMan calls 16,841, and is all in
PirateLawyer shows [Jc Qd Jd 3d]
SirFWALGMan shows [Qc Kd Ac 2c]
Uncalled bet of 4,759 returned to PirateLawyer
*** TURN *** [2s Kc Js] [5d]
*** RIVER *** [2s Kc Js 5d] [4c]
PirateLawyer shows three of a kind, Jacks, for high
SirFWALGMan shows two pair, Kings and Twos, for high
PirateLawyer wins the pot (55,282) with three of a kind, Jacks
SirFWALGMan: bah gg
SirFWALGMan stands up
PirateLawyer stands up
No low hand qualified
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 55,282 | Rake 0
Board: [2s Kc Js 5d 4c]
Seat 1: SirFWALGMan (small blind) showed [Qc Kd Ac 2c] and lost with HI: two pair, Kings and Twos
Seat 8: PirateLawyer (big blind) showed [Jc Qd Jd 3d] and won (55,282) with HI: three of a kind, Jacks

Thanks for reading this far! I hope these HHs illustrate some important principles of the big bet PL variant of Omaha hi/lo. It does play quite differently than the limit version of the game.

Booking a Skillz win

I'll post some Stud 8 hands for analysis later, but for now I'll just post this happy image:

[Edit: HHs now posted below]

And yes, I suffered a couple of coolers, suffered some bad beats, and lucked into a key pot late to overcome getting short-stacked at the final table.

Here are a few interesting hands. Several involve mistakes on my part to extract maximum value, one involves me playing too fast, and one is one of two suckouts I accumulated to stay alive when I was desperately short-stacked.

Hand #7335160124
Tournament - 7 Card Stud *High-Low* (50/100), Ante 10, Bring-In 15

pvanharibo (Seat 1): 1,573
PirateLawyer (Seat 2): 3,896
swimmom95 (Seat 3): 2,529
HighOnPoker (Seat 4): 3,231
Evy35 (Seat 5): 3,512
bayne_s (Seat 6): 3,259

*3rd Street* - (1.20 SB)

pvanharibo: xx xx Qc___calls
PirateLawyer: Qd 4c Qh___calls
swimmom95: xx xx Ac___calls
HighOnPoker: xx xx 3d___*brings-in*
Evy35: xx xx 5d___folds
bayne_s: xx xx 7s___calls

*4th Street* - (2.70 SB)

pvanharibo: xx xx Qc 4h___checks___calls
PirateLawyer: Qd 4c Qh 7d___bets
swimmom95: xx xx Ac Jc___calls
HighOnPoker: xx xx 3d 6h___calls
bayne_s: xx xx 7s 7c___*checks*___calls

*5th Street* - (3.85 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx Qc 4h 8d___checks___calls
PirateLawyer: Qd 4c Qh 7d 4d___bets
swimmom95: xx xx Ac Jc 5s___calls
HighOnPoker: xx xx 3d 6h Ks___calls
bayne_s: xx xx 7s 7c 9h___*checks*___folds

*6th Street* - (7.85 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx Qc 4h 8d Ad___calls
PirateLawyer: Qd 4c Qh 7d 4d 8h___calls
swimmom95: xx xx Ac Jc 5s Ah___*checks*___calls
HighOnPoker: xx xx 3d 6h Ks 2d___bets

*River* - (11.85 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx Qc 4h 8d Ad xx___calls
PirateLawyer: Qd 4c Qh 7d 4d 8h Ts___folds
swimmom95: xx xx Ac Jc 5s Ah xx___*checks*___folds
HighOnPoker: xx xx 3d 6h Ks 2d xx___bets

*Total pot:* (13.85 BB - 1,385)

Results:

pvanharibo: [9s 6c Qc 4h 8d Ad 3c] - HI: Ace Queen high; LO: 8,6,4,3,A
HighOnPoker: [7h 5c 3d 6h Ks 2d 2s] - HI: a pair of Twos; LO: 7,6,5,3,2

--I make an incorrect fold but I was only contesting half the pot.

Hand #7335528371
Tournament - 7 Card Stud *High-Low* (100/200), Ante 15, Bring-In 30

pvanharibo (Seat 1): 3,138
PirateLawyer (Seat 2): 3,911
swimmom95 (Seat 3): 1,819
HighOnPoker (Seat 4): 3,451
Evy35 (Seat 5): 2,352
bayne_s (Seat 6): 3,329

*3rd Street* - (0.90 SB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 2d___*brings-in*
PirateLawyer: Ac 3s 4d___calls
swimmom95: xx xx Ad___folds
HighOnPoker: xx xx 6d___folds
Evy35: xx xx Qc___folds
bayne_s: xx xx Th___folds

*4th Street* - (1.50 SB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 2d 6s___calls
PirateLawyer: Ac 3s 4d 4s___*bets*

*5th Street* - (1.75 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 2d 6s 5c___checks
PirateLawyer: Ac 3s 4d 4s Jc___*checks*

*6th Street* - (1.75 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 2d 6s 5c Ts___calls
PirateLawyer: Ac 3s 4d 4s Jc 3d___*bets*

*River* - (3.75 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 2d 6s 5c Ts xx___bets
PirateLawyer: Ac 3s 4d 4s Jc 3d 5h___*checks*___calls

*Total pot:* (5.75 BB - 1,150)

Results: Seat 1: pvanharibo showed [8d 7c 2d 6s 5c Ts 2c] and won (575) with HI: a pair of Twos; LO: 8,7,6,5,2 (!)
Seat 2: PirateLawyer showed [Ac 5h 4d 4s Jc 3d 3s] and won (575) with HI: two pair, Fours and Threes

--I get unlucky to brick out and chop with my premium hand. LJ's bet on 7th is extremely light and she was fortunate I didn't improve to scoop.

Hand #7335554205
Tournament - 7 Card Stud *High-Low* (100/200), Ante 15, Bring-In 30

pvanharibo (Seat 1): 3,198
PirateLawyer (Seat 2): 3,926
swimmom95 (Seat 3): 1,789
HighOnPoker (Seat 4): 3,421
Evy35 (Seat 5): 2,322
bayne_s (Seat 6): 3,344

*3rd Street* - (0.90 SB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 3s___calls
PirateLawyer: 5c As 3h___*brings-in*
swimmom95: xx xx Js___folds
HighOnPoker: xx xx 5d___folds
Evy35: xx xx Kh___folds
bayne_s: xx xx Qd___folds

*4th Street* - (1.50 SB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 3s Jd___*checks*___calls
PirateLawyer: 5c As 3h Jh___bets

*5th Street* - (1.75 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 3s Jd 2c___*checks*___calls
PirateLawyer: 5c As 3h Jh 2s___bets

*6th Street* - (3.75 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 3s Jd 2c 3d___*checks*___calls
PirateLawyer: 5c As 3h Jh 2s Ah___bets

*River* - (5.75 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 3s Jd 2c 3d xx___*checks*___calls
PirateLawyer: 5c As 3h Jh 2s Ah 4c___bets

*Total pot:* (7.75 BB - 1,550)

Results:

Total pot 1,550 | Rake 0

pvanharibo: [8c 5h 3s Jd 2c 3d 2h] - HI: two pair, Threes and Twos
PirateLawyer showed [As 5c 3h Jh 2s Ah 4c] and won (1,550) with HI: a straight, Five high; LO: 5,4,3,2,A

---I punish LJ with the scoop courtesy of a wheel that I finally pick up on 7th as she continues to check-call with a hand she should really have dumped early on.

Hand #7335715764
Tournament - 7 Card Stud *High-Low* (120/240), Ante 20, Bring-In 40

pvanharibo (Seat 1): 2,613
PirateLawyer (Seat 2): 4,621
swimmom95 (Seat 3): 1,624
HighOnPoker (Seat 4): 3,646
Evy35 (Seat 5): 2,082
bayne_s (Seat 6): 3,414

*3rd Street* - (1.00 SB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 5d___calls
PirateLawyer: 7c 2c Qc___calls
swimmom95: xx xx Tc___folds
HighOnPoker: xx xx 4c___folds
Evy35: xx xx 3h___*brings-in*
bayne_s: xx xx Js___folds

*4th Street* - (2.00 SB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 5d 2h___calls
PirateLawyer: 7c 2c Qc Ad___*bets*
Evy35: xx xx 3h 6s___calls

*5th Street* - (2.50 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 5d 2h 7s___raises
PirateLawyer: 7c 2c Qc Ad 3d___*bets*___calls
Evy35: xx xx 3h 6s 5s___calls___calls

*6th Street* - (8.50 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 5d 2h 7s Ks___calls
PirateLawyer: 7c 2c Qc Ad 3d Ac___*bets*
Evy35: xx xx 3h 6s 5s Qd___folds

*River* - (10.50 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx 5d 2h 7s Ks xx___checks
PirateLawyer: 7c 2c Qc Ad 3d Ac Jh___*checks*

*Total pot:* (10.50 BB - 2,520)

Results:

Seat 1: pvanharibo showed [9d 7d 5d 2h 7s Ks 2d] and won (2,520) with HI: two pair, Sevens and Twos
Seat 2: PirateLawyer showed [Jh 7c Qc Ad 3d Ac 2c] and lost with HI: a pair of Aces

-- LJ had two pair and got sticky. I had her flush draw blocked and am showing good on 6th but I can't improve to aces up.

Hand #7335862584
Tournament - 7 Card Stud *High-Low* (150/300), Ante 25, Bring-In 50

pvanharibo (Seat 1): 5,173
PirateLawyer (Seat 2): 4,021
swimmom95 (Seat 3): 2,199
HighOnPoker (Seat 4): 3,356
Evy35 (Seat 5): 1,342
bayne_s (Seat 6): 1,909

*3rd Street* - (1.00 SB)

pvanharibo: xx xx Qc___completes
PirateLawyer: Ad Kd 4d___calls
swimmom95: xx xx 9h___calls
HighOnPoker: xx xx 5h___folds
Evy35: xx xx 2d___*brings-in*___folds
bayne_s: xx xx As___folds

*4th Street* - (4.33 SB)

pvanharibo: xx xx Qc Qs___*bets*
PirateLawyer: Ad Kd 4d Ks___calls
swimmom95: xx xx 9h Kh___folds

*5th Street* - (3.17 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx Qc Qs 6c___*bets*___raises___calls
PirateLawyer: Ad Kd 4d Ks 5d___raises___raises

*6th Street* - (11.17 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx Qc Qs 6c 6s___*bets*___raises___calls
PirateLawyer: Ad Kd 4d Ks 5d 5s___raises___raises

*River* - (19.17 BB)

pvanharibo: xx xx Qc Qs 6c 6s xx___*checks*
PirateLawyer: Ad Kd 4d Ks 5d 5s 2c___checks

*Total pot:* (19.17 BB - 5,750)

Results:

Seat 1: pvanharibo showed [Qh 9d Qc Qs 6c 6s 8s] and won (5,750) with HI: a full house, Queens full of Sixes
Seat 2: PirateLawyer showed [Ad Kd 4d Ks 5d 5s 2c] and lost with HI: two pair, Kings and Fives

--Your standard cooler. LJ gets an improbable full house on 6th and I brick out for low and can't manage to find a full house redraw once my flush draw is dead. I should have slowed way down on 6th; that was a real brain cramp on my part which cost me three bets.

Hand #7336142940
Tournament - 7 Card Stud *High-Low* (250/500), Ante 40, Bring-In 75

PokerBrian322 (Seat 1): 7,760
jeciimd (Seat 2): 5,281
MiamiDon (Seat 3): 1,815
hoyazo (Seat 6): 3,816
swimmom95 (Seat 7): 4,217
PirateLawyer (Seat 8): 7,468

*3rd Street* - (0.96 SB)

PokerBrian322: xx xx Ks___completes
jeciimd: xx xx 7d___folds
MiamiDon: xx xx Qs___folds
hoyazo: xx xx 5d___folds
swimmom95: xx xx 8d___folds
PirateLawyer: 3s 3h 3c___*brings-in*___calls

*4th Street* - (2.96 SB)

PokerBrian322: xx xx Ks Ac___*bets*___calls
PirateLawyer: 3s 3h 3c Ah___raises

*5th Street* - (3.48 BB)

PokerBrian322: xx xx Ks Ac Jc___*checks*___calls
PirateLawyer: 3s 3h 3c Ah Tc___bets

*6th Street* - (5.48 BB)

PokerBrian322: xx xx Ks Ac Jc Jh___raises
PirateLawyer: 3s 3h 3c Ah Tc As___*bets*___calls

*River* - (9.48 BB)

PokerBrian322: xx xx Ks Ac Jc Jh xx___checks
PirateLawyer: 3s 3h 3c Ah Tc As 5s___*checks*

*Total pot:* (9.48 BB - 4,740)

Results:

Seat 1: PokerBrian322 showed [Qh Qc Ks Ac Jc Jh 6c] and lost with HI: two pair, Queens and Jacks
Seat 8: PirateLawyer showed [5s 3s 3c Ah Tc As 3h] and won (4,740) with HI: a full house, Threes full of Aces

-- I got way too cute on 6th and 7th and missed earning two bets with my only rolled up hand of the tournament.

Hand #7336723226
Tournament - 7 Card Stud *High-Low* (600/1,200), Ante 100, Bring-In 200

swimmom95 (Seat 1): 5,107
BamBamCan (Seat 3): 7,414
jeciimd (Seat 4): 15,705
twoblackaces (Seat 5): 12,894
HighOnPoker (Seat 7): 4,826
PirateLawyer (Seat 8): 8,054

*3rd Street* - (1.00 SB)

swimmom95: xx xx Qs___folds
BamBamCan: xx xx Qc___folds
jeciimd: xx xx 8d___folds
twoblackaces: xx xx 3c___*brings-in*___calls
HighOnPoker: xx xx 8s___completes___folds
PirateLawyer: Qd Qh 9s___raises

*4th Street* - (6.00 SB)

twoblackaces: xx xx 3c 4d___calls
PirateLawyer: Qd Qh 9s 7d___*bets*

*5th Street* - (4.00 BB)

twoblackaces: xx xx 3c 4d Kh___calls
PirateLawyer: Qd Qh 9s 7d 7c___*bets*

*6th Street* - (6.00 BB)

twoblackaces: xx xx 3c 4d Kh 3d___checks
PirateLawyer: Qd Qh 9s 7d 7c 3h___*checks*

*River* - (6.00 BB)

twoblackaces: xx xx 3c 4d Kh 3d xx___calls
PirateLawyer: Qd Qh 9s 7d 7c 3h 2c___*bets*

*Total pot:* (8.00 BB - 9,600)

Results:

Total pot 9,600 | Rake 0

twoblackaces showed [7h 5h 3c 4d Kh 3d 3s] and won (9,600) with HI: three of a kind, Threes
PirateLawyer showed [Qh Qd 9s 7d 7c 3h 2c] and lost with HI: two pair, Queens and Sevens

--Your standard 1-outer for trips on 7th.

Hand #7336855441
Tournament - 7 Card Stud *High-Low* (800/1,600), Ante 150, Bring-In 250

swimmom95 (Seat 1): 12,864
BamBamCan (Seat 3): 2,614
jeciimd (Seat 4): 18,055
twoblackaces (Seat 5): 12,937
HighOnPoker (Seat 7): 1,722
PirateLawyer (Seat 8): 5,808

*3rd Street* - (1.13 SB)

swimmom95: xx xx 3h___folds
BamBamCan: xx xx Qs___completes___raises
jeciimd: xx xx 9c___folds
twoblackaces: xx xx 9d___calls___calls
HighOnPoker: xx xx 8s___raises to 1,572 (all-in)
PirateLawyer: Ah 7c 3c___*brings-in*___calls___calls

*4th Street* - (11.99 SB)

BamBamCan: xx xx Qs Jh___*bets 92 (all-in)*
twoblackaces: xx xx 9d Ts___calls___calls
HighOnPoker: xx xx 8s 9s___all-in
PirateLawyer: Ah 7c 3c 5s___raises

*5th Street* - (7.05 BB)

BamBamCan: xx xx Qs Jh Jd___all-in
twoblackaces: xx xx 9d Ts 3s___*checks*___calls
HighOnPoker: xx xx 8s 9s 2h___all-in
PirateLawyer: Ah 7c 3c 5s 4h___bets

*6th Street* - (9.05 BB)

BamBamCan: xx xx Qs Jh Jd Qc___all-in
twoblackaces: xx xx 9d Ts 3s 4c___*checks*___folds
HighOnPoker: xx xx 8s 9s 2h 8d___all-in
PirateLawyer: Ah 7c 3c 5s 4h 7s___bets 886 (all-in)

*River* - (9.05 BB)

BamBamCan: xx xx Qs Jh Jd Qc xx___all-in
HighOnPoker: xx xx 8s 9s 2h 8d xx___all-in
PirateLawyer: Ah 7c 3c 5s 4h 7s Js___all-in

*Total pot:* (9.05 BB - 14,480)

Results:

Total pot 14,480 Main pot 7,188. Side pot 1 2,676. Side pot 2 4,616. | Rake 0

PirateLawyer wins side pot #2 (4,616)
PirateLawyer shows [Ah 7c 3c 5s 4h 7s Js] a pair of Sevens, for high and 7,5,4,3,A, for low
BamBamCan shows [Kc Kh Qs Jh Jd Qc Tc] two pair, Kings and Queens, for high
BamBamCan wins high side pot #1 (1,338) with two pair, Kings and Queens
PirateLawyer wins low side pot #1 (1,338) with 7,5,4,3,A
HighOnPoker shows [2s Ac 8s 9s 2h 8d 5d] two pair, Eights and Twos, for high
BamBamCan wins the high main pot (3,594) with two pair, Kings and Queens
PirateLawyer wins the low main pot (3,594) with 7,5,4,3,A

-- I push this hard because I'm basically freerolling for a scoop with the low lock. I chip up nicely as I get TBA to fold on 6th as dead money.

Hand #7336969451
Tournament - 7 Card Stud *High-Low* (1,000/2,000), Ante 150, Bring-In 300

swimmom95 (Seat 1): 19,689
BamBamCan (Seat 3): 4,232
jeciimd (Seat 4): 21,455
twoblackaces (Seat 5): 3,865
PirateLawyer (Seat 8): 4,759

*3rd Street* - (0.75 SB)

swimmom95: xx xx 3c___*brings-in*___calls
BamBamCan: xx xx Tc___completes
jeciimd: xx xx 7h___calls
twoblackaces: xx xx Jd___folds
PirateLawyer: Ts Ah 3s___calls

*4th Street* - (4.75 SB)

swimmom95: xx xx 3c 6s___calls___calls
BamBamCan: xx xx Tc 5h___*bets*___raises___calls 82 (all-in)
jeciimd: xx xx 7h 9c___calls___folds
PirateLawyer: Ts Ah 3s Td___raises___raises to 3,609 (all-in)

*5th Street* - (9.03 BB)

swimmom95: xx xx 3c 6s 7s
BamBamCan: xx xx Tc 5h 6d___all-in
PirateLawyer: Ts Ah 3s Td 3d___all-in

*6th Street* - (9.03 BB)

swimmom95: xx xx 3c 6s 7s Ks
BamBamCan: xx xx Tc 5h 6d 4h___all-in
PirateLawyer: Ts Ah 3s Td 3d Qd___all-in

*River* - (9.03 BB)

swimmom95: xx xx 3c 6s 7s Ks xx
BamBamCan: xx xx Tc 5h 6d 4h xx___all-in
PirateLawyer: Ts Ah 3s Td 3d Qd Th___all-in

*Total pot:* (9.03 BB - 18,050)

Results:
Seat 1: swimmom95 showed [5s Ac 3c 6s 7s Ks Kh] and won (8,025) with HI: a pair of Kings; LO: 7,6,5,3,A
Seat 3: BamBamCan showed [Kd Kc Tc 5h 6d 4h Jh] and lost with HI: a pair of Kings
Seat 4: jeciimd folded on 4th St.
Seat 5: twoblackaces folded on 3rd St.
Seat 8: PirateLawyer showed [Ts Ah 3s Td 3d Qd Th] and won (8,025) with HI: a full house, Tens full of Threes

-- With only five bets to begin the hand I decide to stick it in and get lucky to survive.

Hand #7336986873
Tournament - 7 Card Stud *High-Low* (1,000/2,000), Ante 150, Bring-In 300

swimmom95 (Seat 1): 22,955
jeciimd (Seat 4): 19,305
twoblackaces (Seat 5): 3,715
PirateLawyer (Seat 8): 8,025

*3rd Street* - (0.60 SB)

swimmom95: xx xx 6s___folds
jeciimd: xx xx Ac___completes
twoblackaces: xx xx Jd___folds
PirateLawyer: 5h 7d 6h___*brings-in*___calls

*4th Street* - (2.60 SB)

jeciimd: xx xx Ac 9c___*bets*
PirateLawyer: 5h 7d 6h Qh___calls

*5th Street* - (2.30 BB)

jeciimd: xx xx Ac 9c 5d___*bets*
PirateLawyer: 5h 7d 6h Qh 4s___calls

*6th Street* - (4.30 BB)

jeciimd: xx xx Ac 9c 5d 5s___*bets*___calls
PirateLawyer: 5h 7d 6h Qh 4s 8s___raises to 3,875 (all-in)

*River* - (8.18 BB)

jeciimd: xx xx Ac 9c 5d 5s xx
PirateLawyer: 5h 7d 6h Qh 4s 8s 7s___all-in

*Total pot:* (8.18 BB - 16,350)

Results:

Total pot 16,350 | Rake 0

jeciimd showed [4h Ad Ac 9c 5d 5s 9h] and lost with HI: two pair, Aces and Nines
PirateLawyer showed [5h 7d 6h Qh 4s 8s 7s] and won (16,350) with HI: a straight, Eight high; LO: 8,7,6,5,4

--I get there for a big scoop vs. aces up.

Hand #7337310746
Tournament - 7 Card Stud *High-Low* (1,500/3,000), Ante 250, Bring-In 500

jeciimd (Seat 4): 16,650
PirateLawyer (Seat 8): 37,350

*3rd Street* - (0.33 SB)

jeciimd: xx xx Kd___calls
PirateLawyer: 6d 5d Qh___*brings-in*

*4th Street* - (1.00 SB)

jeciimd: xx xx Kd 5c___*checks*___calls
PirateLawyer: 6d 5d Qh 6h___bets

*5th Street* - (1.50 BB)

jeciimd: xx xx Kd 5c 2c___*checks*___calls
PirateLawyer: 6d 5d Qh 6h 3h___bets

*6th Street* - (3.50 BB)

jeciimd: xx xx Kd 5c 2c 5s___*checks*___calls
PirateLawyer: 6d 5d Qh 6h 3h Ah___bets

*River* - (5.50 BB)

jeciimd: xx xx Kd 5c 2c 5s xx___*checks*___folds
PirateLawyer: 6d 5d Qh 6h 3h Ah 3d___bets

*Total pot:* (5.50 BB - 16,500)

Results:

Total pot 16,500 | Rake 0

--Down to headsup I miss everything but back into two low pair but my board is so threatening I get the fold on 7th.

Hand #7337337627
Tournament - 7 Card Stud *High-Low* (2,000/4,000), Ante 300, Bring-In 600

jeciimd (Seat 4): 6,600
PirateLawyer (Seat 8): 47,400

*3rd Street* - (0.30 SB)

jeciimd: xx xx 9s___calls
PirateLawyer: 7c 8c 4s___*brings-in*

*4th Street* - (0.90 SB)

jeciimd: xx xx 9s 4h___*checks*
PirateLawyer: 7c 8c 4s 3c___checks

*5th Street* - (0.45 BB)

jeciimd: xx xx 9s 4h Th___*bets*___calls 1,700 (all-in)
PirateLawyer: 7c 8c 4s 3c 7s___raises

*6th Street* - (3.30 BB)

jeciimd: xx xx 9s 4h Th 3s___all-in
PirateLawyer: 7c 8c 4s 3c 7s 6h

*River* - (3.30 BB)

jeciimd: xx xx 9s 4h Th 3s xx___all-in
PirateLawyer: 7c 8c 4s 3c 7s 6h 4c

*Total pot:* (3.30 BB - 13,200)

Results:

jeciimd showed [7h 3h 9s 4h Th 3s 8s] and lost with HI: a pair of Threes
PirateLawyer showed [7c 8c 4s 3c 7s 6h 4c] and won (13,200) with HI: two pair, Sevens and Fours; LO: 8,7,6,4,3

Thanks for reading this far! I really do find Stud8 to be a fascinating game, and it can be a very profitable one to boot.