Hand History from Ladbrokes Poker Cruise Final

[Gus Mango Fish]

Here's some key hands I played in the Ladbrokes Poker Cruise Final. How did I play the hands? Could I have played some of them better?

This hand history may take a while to read, but it features every hand I either won or lost a significant pot, along with some of my thought processes whilst playing.

It also illustrates a typical tourney of mine - e.g. start (mid-table) > chip leader > last place > mid-table > chip leader > last place > chip leader > last place > out... lol


Hand 1: I think this might be the first time I've ever gone in ahead against a flush draw and come out ahead. w000t for the best hand winning

** Game ID 822021237 starting - 2007-09-02 20:00:40
** Cruise Ticket Weekly Final[1424016]:Table 1 [Multi Table Hold 'em] (50.00|100.00 No Limit - MTT) Real Money

- T-mis sitting in seat 1 with $3045.00
- Howdoyouplay sitting in seat 2 with $3279.11
- Eightace50 sitting in seat 3 with $2470.00
- mari85 sitting in seat 4 with $6190.00 [Dealer]
- ShaneMcG sitting in seat 5 with $3275.77
- BallsMcGee sitting in seat 6 with $2835.00
- TTayseer sitting in seat 7 with $2720.00
- Michelin sitting in seat 9 with $2875.12
- mfdale sitting in seat 10 with $3235.00

ShaneMcG posted the small blind - $25.00
BallsMcGee posted the big blind - $50.00

** Dealing card to mfdale: Ace of Hearts, 10 of Hearts
TTayseer folded
Michelin folded
mfdale called - $50.00
T-mis folded
Howdoyouplay called - $50.00
Eightace50 called - $50.00
mari85 folded
ShaneMcG called - $50.00
BallsMcGee checked

** Dealing the flop: Queen of Spades, King of Diamonds, Jack of Spades
ShaneMcG checked
BallsMcGee checked
mfdale bet - $200.00
Howdoyouplay folded
Eightace50 folded
ShaneMcG raised - $621.76
BallsMcGee folded
mfdale went all-in - $2985.00
ShaneMcG called - $3185.00
ShaneMcG shows: King of Spades, 9 of Spades

** Dealing the turn: Queen of Hearts

** Dealing the river: 8 of Clubs
mfdale wins $6620.00 from the main pot


Hand 2: Anything more than a min-raise from my opponent in this hand and I insta-fold...

** Game ID 822054120 starting - 2007-09-02 20:30:42
** Cruise Ticket Weekly Final[1424016]:Table 1 [Multi Table Hold 'em] (100.00|200.00 No Limit - MTT) Real Money

- T-mis sitting in seat 1 with $2545.00
- Howdoyouplay sitting in seat 2 with $4554.11
- Eightace50 sitting in seat 3 with $5490.00
- mari85 sitting in seat 4 with $3510.77
- BallsMcGee sitting in seat 6 with $2135.00
- TTayseer sitting in seat 7 with $2470.00 [Dealer]
- Michelin sitting in seat 9 with $2100.12
- mfdale sitting in seat 10 with $7045.00

Michelin posted the small blind - $50.00
mfdale posted the big blind - $100.00

** Dealing card to mfdale: 7 of Clubs, 9 of Hearts
T-mis folded
Howdoyouplay folded
Eightace50 folded
mari85 folded
BallsMcGee raised - $200.00
TTayseer folded
Michelin folded
mfdale called - $200.00

** Dealing the flop: 10 of Diamonds, 8 of Hearts, 6 of Spades
mfdale checked
BallsMcGee bet - $350.00
mfdale raised - $850.00
BallsMcGee went all-in - $1585.00
mfdale called - $1935.00
BallsMcGee shows: King of Spades, 10 of Hearts

** Dealing the turn: Jack of Spades

** Dealing the river: 4 of Diamonds
mfdale wins $4320.00 from the main pot

End of game 822054120


Hand 3: I really wish I'd folded this pre-flop... In retrospect I think I should lead out on the flop rather than take the check/call approach I chose. The turn is a sicker though. At this point I think 'Good luck if you've got AQ'. I didn't think for a second he'd have KT.

** Game ID 822079483 starting - 2007-09-02 20:55:46
** Cruise Ticket Weekly Final[1424016]:Table 1 [Multi Table Hold 'em] (150.00|300.00 No Limit - MTT) Real Money

- T-mis sitting in seat 1 with $1845.00
- Howdoyouplay sitting in seat 2 with $4204.11
- Eightace50 sitting in seat 3 with $4090.00
- mari85 sitting in seat 4 with $7608.27
- two43 sitting in seat 5 with $1545.00
- TTayseer sitting in seat 7 with $2120.00
- Lovetoslam sitting in seat 8 with $2232.50 [Dealer]
- Michelin sitting in seat 9 with $3725.12
- mfdale sitting in seat 10 with $10955.00

Michelin posted the small blind - $75.00
mfdale posted the big blind - $150.00

** Dealing card to mfdale: Jack of Clubs, Ace of Clubs
T-mis folded
Howdoyouplay folded
Eightace50 folded
mari85 raised - $500.00
two43 was disconnected
two43 folded
TTayseer folded
Lovetoslam folded
Michelin folded
mfdale called - $500.00

** Dealing the flop: 6 of Diamonds, Ace of Hearts, Queen of Clubs
mfdale checked
mari85 bet - $550.00
mfdale called - $550.00

** Dealing the turn: Jack of Diamonds
mfdale bet - $1500.00
mari85 called - $1500.00

** Dealing the river: 6 of Spades
mfdale went all-in - $8555.00
mari85 went all-in - $5058.27
mari85 shows: 10 of Spades, King of Spades
mari85 wins $15291.54 from the main pot

End of game 822079483


Hand 4: Mmmmm,... Errrr... Bad play by me I think. Bluff gone wrong and caught by a re-bluff.

** Game ID 822084904 starting - 2007-09-02 20:58:31
** Cruise Ticket Weekly Final[1424016]:Table 1 [Multi Table Hold 'em] (150.00|300.00 No Limit - MTT) Real Money

- Howdoyouplay sitting in seat 2 with $3979.11 [Dealer]
- Eightace50 sitting in seat 3 with $4240.00
- mari85 sitting in seat 4 with $15141.54
- two43 sitting in seat 5 with $1545.00 [Sitting out]
- TTayseer sitting in seat 7 with $2120.00
- Lovetoslam sitting in seat 8 with $2082.50
- Michelin sitting in seat 9 with $3725.12
- mfdale sitting in seat 10 with $3646.73

Eightace50 posted the small blind - $75.00
mari85 posted the big blind - $150.00

** Dealing card to mfdale: Queen of Diamonds, 8 of Diamonds
two43 folded
TTayseer folded
Lovetoslam folded
Michelin folded
mfdale raised - $600.00
Howdoyouplay folded
Eightace50 called - $600.00
mari85 folded

** Dealing the flop: Queen of Spades, 2 of Diamonds, 3 of Hearts
Eightace50 bet - $450.00
mfdale raised - $1300.00
Eightace50 called - $1300.00

** Dealing the turn: King of Clubs
Eightace50 went all-in - $2415.00
mfdale folded
Eightace50 shows: 10 of Clubs, 10 of Diamonds
Eightace50 wins $6365.00 from the main pot

End of game 822084904


Hand 5: This ones a bit of a sicker (not for me for once though ) I see AQ and being so shortstacked, I have no choice but to shove it all in.

** Game ID 822088111 starting - 2007-09-02 21:01:13
** Cruise Ticket Weekly Final[1424016]:Table 1 [Multi Table Hold 'em] (150.00|300.00 No Limit - MTT) Real Money

- Howdoyouplay sitting in seat 2 with $3979.11
- Eightace50 sitting in seat 3 with $5765.00
- mari85 sitting in seat 4 with $16341.54
- two43 sitting in seat 5 with $1320.00 [Sitting out]
- TTayseer sitting in seat 7 with $1895.00 [Dealer]
- Lovetoslam sitting in seat 8 with $1857.50
- Michelin sitting in seat 9 with $3575.12
- mfdale sitting in seat 10 with $1746.73

Lovetoslam posted the small blind - $75.00
Michelin posted the big blind - $150.00

** Dealing card to mfdale: Queen of Spades, Ace of Spades
mfdale raised - $600.00
Howdoyouplay folded
Eightace50 folded
mari85 folded
two43 folded
TTayseer went all-in - $1895.00
Lovetoslam folded
Michelin folded
mfdale went all-in - $1146.73
TTayseer shows: Ace of Hearts, King of Spades

** Dealing the flop: 10 of Hearts, 8 of Diamonds, Jack of Spades

** Dealing the turn: 2 of Hearts

** Dealing the river: King of Clubs
mfdale wins $3718.46 from the main pot

End of game 822088111

[Gus Mango Fish]

Couldn't fit all the hands in to one post, so here is the second half of the hand history.

Hand 6: mari85 had been attacking my blinds every orbit and continually re-raising me. All I had to do was wait for any pair to call the inevitable push. When I make the raise from late position mari85's raise stinks like they think I am going for a positional steal. I have no doubt that I am miles ahead against what I think to be a sure bluff. So, I insta call. Sure enough, mari85 flips rags.

** Game ID 822091565 starting - 2007-09-02 21:05:09
** Cruise Ticket Weekly Final[1424016]:Table 1 [Multi Table Hold 'em] (200.00|400.00 No Limit - MTT) Real Money

- PULLENBIRDS sitting in seat 1 with $6795.46
- Howdoyouplay sitting in seat 2 with $3979.11 [Dealer]
- Eightace50 sitting in seat 3 with $5465.00
- mari85 sitting in seat 4 with $16441.54
- two43 sitting in seat 5 with $1320.00 [Sitting out]
- SATMARA sitting in seat 6 with $5020.82
- TTayseer sitting in seat 7 with $148.27
- Lovetoslam sitting in seat 8 with $1857.50
- Michelin sitting in seat 9 with $2875.12
- mfdale sitting in seat 10 with $4318.46

Eightace50 posted the small blind - $100.00
mari85 posted the big blind - $200.00

** Dealing card to mfdale: 9 of Spades, 9 of Diamonds
two43 folded
SATMARA folded
TTayseer folded
Lovetoslam folded
Michelin folded
mfdale raised - $800.00
PULLENBIRDS folded
Howdoyouplay folded
Eightace50 folded
mari85 raised - $5200.00
mfdale went all-in - $3518.46
mari85 shows: 6 of Hearts, 7 of Clubs

** Dealing the flop: 2 of Diamonds, 7 of Spades, Ace of Clubs

** Dealing the turn: King of Spades

** Dealing the river: Ace of Spades
mfdale wins $8736.92 from the main pot

End of game 822091565


Hand 7: Same player.. This time I'm again sure that I am being bluffed. I insta-call here. I was very surprised when I saw AK (was expecting rags again) - even more surprised when I won the race What a nice flop for it though

** Game ID 822144525 starting - 2007-09-02 22:01:59
** Cruise Ticket Weekly Final[1424016]:Table 1 [Multi Table Hold 'em] (400.00|800.00 No Limit - MTT) Real Money

- PULLENBIRDS sitting in seat 1 with $11441.72
- FozAK sitting in seat 2 with $11978.18 [Dealer]
- mari85 sitting in seat 4 with $18134.09
- Breaktwister sitting in seat 5 with $13189.29
- Mackovicz sitting in seat 8 with $13363.20
- mfdale sitting in seat 10 with $8626.89y

mari85 posted the small blind - $200.00
Breaktwister posted the big blind - $400.00

** Dealing card to mfdale: 9 of Clubs, 9 of Hearts
Mackovicz folded
mfdale raised - $1600.00
PULLENBIRDS folded
FozAK folded
mari85 went all-in - $18134.09
Breaktwister folded
mfdale went all-in - $7026.89
mari85 shows: Ace of Diamonds, King of Hearts

** Dealing the flop: 8 of Hearts, 6 of Diamonds, 9 of Diamonds

** Dealing the turn: 8 of Diamonds

** Dealing the river: 4 of Diamonds
mfdale wins $17653.78 from the main pot

End of game 822144525


Hand 8: I lose this race. Standard. Maybe I should have folded to protect my stack and pick a better spot?

** Game ID 822159692 starting - 2007-09-02 22:18:42
** Cruise Ticket Weekly Final[1424016]:Table 1 [Multi Table Hold 'em] (600.00|1200.00 No Limit - MTT) Real Money

- PULLENBIRDS sitting in seat 1 with $16760.74
- FozAK sitting in seat 2 with $10178.18
- paulypilot sitting in seat 3 with $35866.27
- mari85 sitting in seat 4 with $11407.20
- Breaktwister sitting in seat 5 with $10489.29
- Howdoyouplay sitting in seat 6 with $13358.22 [Dealer]
- ollie-g sitting in seat 7 with $5585.36
- Mackovicz sitting in seat 8 with $11997.47
- pointdexter sitting in seat 9 with $7656.78
- mfdale sitting in seat 10 with $16800.49

ollie-g posted the small blind - $300.00
Mackovicz posted the big blind - $600.00

** Dealing card to mfdale: King of Clubs, Ace of Spades
pointdexter folded
mfdale raised - $1800.00
PULLENBIRDS folded
FozAK folded
paulypilot folded
mari85 folded
Breaktwister folded
Howdoyouplay folded
ollie-g went all-in - $5585.36
Mackovicz folded
mfdale called - $5885.36
ollie-g shows: 9 of Clubs, 9 of Hearts

** Dealing the flop: 3 of Diamonds, Jack of Diamonds, Jack of Hearts

** Dealing the turn: 10 of Hearts

** Dealing the river: 2 of Spades
ollie-g wins $12370.72 from the main pot

End of game 822159692


Hand 9: At this point I've had no cards for 20 or more hands. 52o, 97o, TJo being some of the better ones. With AKo I am pushing all day with this. However, the raise and the re-raise makes me think one of the players may have KK or AA. But.... If pointdexter puts Mackovicz on a bluff then I guess the range is a lot bigger and AK is probably racing. Even so, I decide to wait and pick a better spot.

** Game ID 822176296 starting - 2007-09-02 22:38:39
** Cruise Ticket Weekly Final[1424016]:Table 1 [Multi Table Hold 'em] (800.00|1600.00 No Limit - MTT) Real Money

- PULLENBIRDS sitting in seat 1 with $21210.74
- FozAK sitting in seat 2 with $10178.18
- paulypilot sitting in seat 3 with $31816.27
- mari85 sitting in seat 4 with $11948.98
- Breaktwister sitting in seat 5 with $14299.44
- Howdoyouplay sitting in seat 6 with $13716.44
- ollie-g sitting in seat 7 with $8860.57
- Mackovicz sitting in seat 8 with $11597.47
- pointdexter sitting in seat 9 with $8556.78 [Dealer]
- mfdale sitting in seat 10 with $7615.13

mfdale posted the small blind - $400.00
PULLENBIRDS posted the big blind - $800.00

** Dealing card to mfdale: Ace of Hearts, King of Spades
FozAK folded
paulypilot folded
mari85 folded
Breaktwister folded
Howdoyouplay folded
ollie-g folded
Mackovicz raised - $2207.95
pointdexter went all-in - $8556.78
mfdale folded
PULLENBIRDS folded
Mackovicz folded
pointdexter mucks:
pointdexter wins $11964.73 from the main pot

End of game 822176296


Hand 10: Finally, after another 20 hands of nothing (so I've not played a hand for 40 hands now!) I get dealt AK. I dwell then push all-in. Breaktwister insta-calls so I think "oh feck. Aces or Kings". I'm again surprised when he flips AT. Unfortunately the Ten hits and I'm out. What do you think of the insta-call for 50% of the stack, considering that I've not played a hand for over 4 orbits?

** Game ID 822186299 starting - 2007-09-02 22:51:15
** Cruise Ticket Weekly Final[1424016]:Table 1 [Multi Table Hold 'em] (800.00|1600.00 No Limit - MTT) Real Money

- PULLENBIRDS sitting in seat 1 with $18210.74
- FozAK sitting in seat 2 with $8178.18
- paulypilot sitting in seat 3 with $32685.84
- mari85 sitting in seat 4 with $14348.98
- Breaktwister sitting in seat 5 with $11029.87
- Howdoyouplay sitting in seat 6 with $13716.44
- ollie-g sitting in seat 7 with $8860.57
- Mackovicz sitting in seat 8 with $10589.52
- pointdexter sitting in seat 9 with $16964.73
- mfdale sitting in seat 10 with $5215.13 [Dealer]

PULLENBIRDS posted the small blind - $400.00
FozAK posted the big blind - $800.00

** Dealing card to mfdale: Ace of Clubs, King of Spades
paulypilot folded
mari85 folded
Breaktwister raised - $1791.14
Howdoyouplay folded
ollie-g folded
Mackovicz folded
pointdexter folded
mfdale went all-in - $5215.13
PULLENBIRDS folded
FozAK folded
Breaktwister called - $5215.13
Breaktwister shows: Ace of Hearts, 10 of Diamonds

** Dealing the flop: 5 of Diamonds, 3 of Diamonds, 10 of Spades

** Dealing the turn: Queen of Clubs

** Dealing the river: 7 of Clubs
Breaktwister wins $11630.26 from the main pot

End of game 822186299

[Dice Man]

Hand 1- I play the same. In the past I would 50% call his flop re-raise and 50% re-re-raise, but nowadays I say I 3-bet with the nuts here about 80% of the time.

Hand 2- standard to call all in raises when you have the nuts. I think even if you just call his flop bet you probably end up with all the chips by the turn anyway.

Hand 3- no way am I folding pre-flop. I probably re-raise the flop, although it's easier to say that when I know he has KT.

Hand 4- tough hand. He could have AK or KQ here as far as I'm concerned, or flopped a small set. Then again a lot of these hands would be better played by check-raising, which would probably commit you for all of his chips. It's a pretty crazy play by him to push the turn. I would need to consider both of our table images at this point.

Hand 5- standard

Hand 6- good call. I would give some thought to laying it down. The problem with this situation is that if the guys been stealing your blinds and playing aggressively pre-flop before now, then he should expect you to have a higher chance of calling him here, so if I am him, I only do this sort of thing with a proper premium (but then maybe that's why I'm not him). And to some extent if the player doing this was really tight, I'd expect him to be bluffing more often here because he may be trying to use his tight image to get some chips after not being dealt anything for half an hour or so. I suppose an important question we need to answer in our whole theory of poker would be: who bluffs most: someone who is aggressive and steals blinds pre-flop with a loose image, or someone who is tight and may be using their image to steal every now and then? I suppose it must be the former.

Hand 7- I suppose standard play against this guy. There seem to be way more chips involved at this point though and I don't like to gamble so much this time. I suppose it depends how much you think you need to double up for the prizes.

Hand 8- standard play- insta-call here.

Hand 9- I'd say I call/push 50% of the time here. If I had AKs probably 70%. The thing is there's probably both a pair and an ace between the two players already, thus reducing your odds at hitting your ace.

Hand 10- I don;t mind his call here. He's calling 3500 for a pot of 11500. He's pretty much committed here. Even against hands like AK he's not in too bad shape here.

[Gus Mango Fish]

Cheers Dice. Anyone else (Woody, Scrote) got anything to add?