I guess I should know better than to get online and post about an unusually good run before cashing out. After my last entry I rolled my PartyPoker bankroll all the way up to about $450 and then through a session that included every possible "cold deck" hand you can imagine (KK v AA, set over set, 2nd nut flush v. nut flush [flopped]) I managed to roll my way all the way down to 50 bucks. So, I cashed out. I was upset at the time but the way I look at it now, I got a free 50$ I wasn't expecting and I'd rather have my cold run on Party with free money then on Eurolinx where I am now keeping my main online roll.

Labels: Online Poker, Party Poker

I was on MSN with our boy Stu early this aft and he convinced me to play in the Party Poker 220K guarantee. Only trouble was that since I got my new system I never bothered to install the PartyPoker client. By the time I got it all downloaded and ready to go the tournament had already started. I did find a little surprise waiting for me though, there was a 75$ bonus waiting to be activated. I opted-in to the bonus and took the 75 to .50/1.00 NL Holdem table where I rolled it up to 230$. Then I took that to a 1/2 NL Holdem table where I rolled it up to over 400$. I now have 425$ sitting in my party account that basically cost me nothing to build. Merry Christmas to me!

Labels: Online Poker, Party Poker

I've said it before and I will say it again, never in my life have I had a run like the one I continue to have on PartyPoker. It's sick. Just sick. This is my 3rd Royal Flush ever and my first on Party Poker. I may not have played the hand in the best way possible, but what a result!

Party Poker ($1 no limit). Hand converted by Check Raised hand converter:

CO ($68.56) (CO)
BTN ($228.65) (DEALER)
Bill Sparks ($112.20) (SB)
BB ($102.30) (BB)
UTG ($21.47) (UTG)

Preflop (5 players): Bill Sparks is SB with :Jd :Ad
2 folds. BTN raises $3.00. Bill Sparks calls ($2.50) [2.8:1]. 1 fold.

Flop (7 bets ($7) in pot, 2 players):
:8h :7d :Kd
Bill Sparks checks. BTN bets $6.00. Bill Sparks raises $18.00. BTN raises $24.00. Bill Sparks calls ($12.00) [5.58:1].

Turn (67 bets ($67) in pot, 2 players):
:8h :7d :Kd :Td
Bill Sparks checks. BTN bets $50.00. Bill Sparks raises $79.20 and is all-in. BTN calls ($29.20) [7.72:1].

River (225.40 bets ($225.40) in pot, 2 players):
:8h :7d :Kd :Td :Qd

Summary:
Bill Sparks has a Royal Flush [ :Jd :Ad ] and won $223.40 (111.7bb)
BTN has a pair of Kings [ :Kc :Js ]

I called pre-flop figuring he was making a loose raise with position. When the flop hit I chose to check and see if I could get a free turn. When he bet, I thought if he whiffed the flop and was just making a continuation bet I could take it away right there with a semi-bluff. If he called me, I thought I might get a free river out of the deal. When he re-raises me the odds dictate that I have to call, so I do. When I hit the turn I really don't like my check. If I was correct in my original line that the re-raise would buy me a free river, then a check here would just lead to a check from my opponent and it would be tougher to get all the money in. The only reason I did check the turn is that he still had the betting lead with his re-raise so I figured he might try to bluff the diamond. I was right, but it was risky. Once he bet 50$ there, I figured he was commited so I just stuck it in.

Labels: Hand Histories, Online Poker, Party Poker

I cashed out PartyPoker a while ago after running 100$ to 3000$. Then I looked today and found 20$ (I guess a bonus cleared or something). So, I decided to play a little. I won 3 10$ HU SnGs and then sat at .25/.50 had a good run and moved up to .50/1.00. My account is now sitting at just over 400$. I don't know why I can't seem to have runs like this on any other site. It's sick the way I get paid off on Party. Here are some highlights:

I thought I was semi-bluffing the turn. Sometimes I forget just how bad these players really are.

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.50/$1
4 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $59.85
Button: $134.53
Bill Sparks: $91.50
BB: $37.17

Pre-flop: (4 players) Bill Sparks is SB with :qc :tc
UTG calls $1 (pot was $1.5), Button calls $1 (pot was $2.5), Bill Sparks calls $0.5 (pot was $3.5), BB checks.

Flop: :7c :qs :4s ($4, 4 players)
Bill Sparks checks, BB bets $1, 2 folds, Bill Sparks raises to $4, BB raises to $8, Bill Sparks calls $4 (pot was $15).

Turn: :8c ($20, 2 players)
Bill Sparks is all-in $82.5, BB calls all-in $28.17.
Uncalled bets: $54.33 returned to Bill Sparks.

River: :ac ($76.34, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: $76.34)

Results:
Final pot: $76.34
Bill Sparks shows :qc :tc
BB shows :2s :qd

This guy loved to bluff and semi-bluff, I was pretty sure I had him the whole way.

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.50/$1
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $129.63
UTG+1: $48.91
Bill Sparks: $71.80
Button: $69.92
SB: $46.75
BB: $100.03

Pre-flop: (6 players) Bill Sparks is CO with :4h :3h
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $1 (pot was $1.5), Bill Sparks calls $1 (pot was $2.5), Button folds, SB calls $0.5 (pot was $3.5), BB checks.

Flop: :3s :qc :7h ($4, 4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, Bill Sparks bets $3, SB raises to $6, 2 folds, Bill Sparks calls $3 (pot was $13).

Turn: :kc ($16, 2 players)
SB bets $5, Bill Sparks raises to $15, SB calls $10 (pot was $36).

River: :9s ($46, 2 players)
SB checks, Bill Sparks checks.

Results:
Final pot: $46
SB shows :8c :6c
Bill Sparks shows :4h :3h

On this one, I suck out pretty hard on the river. I put him on an overpair pre-flop. Then when he checked the flop I thought either he flopped his set with KK or he has an underpair and is giving up on the hand. Since I had a nice draw, I just took the free card. When the Ace hit and he bet weak I thought I could take it away from him. Then when he called and I hit my miracle river, I figured I may as well try to extract maximum.

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.50/$1
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $99
UTG+1: $100
CO: $97.95
Bill Sparks: $131.07
SB: $99
BB: $62.30

Pre-flop: (6 players) Bill Sparks is Button with :5c :6c
UTG, folds, UTG+1 (poster) checks, CO folds, Bill Sparks raises to $3, SB raises to $5, 2 folds, Bill Sparks calls $2 (pot was $8.5).

Flop: :8d :7h :ks ($12, 2 players)
SB checks, Bill Sparks checks.

Turn: :ad ($12, 2 players)
SB bets $5, Bill Sparks raises to $15, SB calls $10 (pot was $32).

River: :9d ($42, 2 players)
SB checks, Bill Sparks is all-in $111.07, SB calls all-in $79.
Uncalled bets: $32.07 returned to Bill Sparks.

Results:
Final pot: $200
SB shows :qs :as
Bill Sparks shows :5c :6c

Labels: Hand Histories, Online Poker, Party Poker

I've been playing some 2/4 on Party Poker this today. Here are the highlights:


Hand 1: I really should have been able to get away.

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $2/$4
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $504.69
UTG+1: $460.40
CO: $134.37
Button: $432.60
SB: $602
Bill Sparks: $250.45

Pre-flop: (6 players) Bill Sparks is BB with
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $4 (pot was $6), CO calls $4 (pot was $10), Button folds, SB raises to $8, Bill Sparks calls $4 (pot was $18), UTG+1 calls $4 (pot was $22), CO calls $4 (pot was $26).

Flop: ($32, 4 players)
SB checks, Bill Sparks bets $20, UTG+1 calls $20 (pot was $52), CO calls $20 (pot was $72), SB calls $20 (pot was $92).

Turn: ($112, 4 players)
SB checks, Bill Sparks checks, UTG+1 bets $30, CO raises to $60, SB calls $60 (pot was $202), Bill Sparks raises all-in $222.45, UTG+1 folds, CO calls all-in $46.37, SB calls $162.45 (pot was $470.82).

River: ($616.9, 1 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: $461.11, Sidepot 1: $155.79)

Results:
Final pot: $616.9
CO shows
SB shows
Bill Sparks shows

Hand 2: Typical PartyDonk overvalues his small overpair.

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $2/$4
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $468
UTG+1: $132.45
CO: $301.80
Button: $1541.24
SB: $129.60
Bill Sparks: $625.70

Pre-flop: (6 players) Bill Sparks is BB with
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $4 (pot was $6), 2 folds, SB calls $2 (pot was $10), Bill Sparks checks.

Flop: ($12, 3 players)
SB checks, Bill Sparks bets $9, UTG+1 raises to $18, SB folds, Bill Sparks raises to $27, UTG+1 raises all-in $110.45, Bill Sparks calls $101.45 (pot was $140.45).

Turn: ($268.9, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $268.9)

River: ($268.9, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $268.9)

Results:
Final pot: $268.9
Bill Sparks shows
UTG+1 doesn't show

Hand 3: Cautious River play with pocket rockets.

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $2/$4
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
Bill Sparks: $472.70
UTG+1: $468
CO: $132.45
Button: $451.80
SB: $1543.24
BB: $133.60

Pre-flop: (6 players) Bill Sparks is UTG with
Bill Sparks raises to $14, 2 folds, Button calls $14 (pot was $20), 2 folds.

Flop: ($34, 2 players)
Bill Sparks bets $24, Button calls $24 (pot was $58).

Turn: ($82, 2 players)
Bill Sparks checks, Button bets $56, Bill Sparks raises to $112, Button calls $56 (pot was $250).

River: ($306, 2 players)
Bill Sparks checks, Button checks.

Results:
Final pot: $306
Bill Sparks shows
Button doesn't show

Hand 4: A nice delayed continuation play.

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $2/$4
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $102
Bill Sparks: $418.10
CO: $259.60
Button: $575.40
SB: $85.19
BB: $667.15

Pre-flop: (6 players) Bill Sparks is UTG+1 with
UTG folds, Bill Sparks raises to $14, CO folds, Button calls $14 (pot was $20), SB calls $12 (pot was $34), BB folds.

Flop: ($46, 3 players)
SB checks, Bill Sparks checks, Button checks.

Turn: ($46, 3 players)
SB checks, Bill Sparks bets $30, Button calls $30 (pot was $76), SB folds.

River: ($106, 2 players)
Bill Sparks bets $50, Button folds.
Uncalled bets: $50 returned to Bill Sparks.

Results:
Final pot: $106

Hand 5: Don't raise my big blind!

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $2/$4
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $461
UTG+1: $254.33
CO: $349.60
Button: $1060.19
SB: $392
Bill Sparks: $326.60

Pre-flop: (6 players) Bill Sparks is BB with
4 folds, SB raises to $12, Bill Sparks calls $8 (pot was $14).

Flop: ($24, 2 players)
SB bets $18, Bill Sparks raises to $40, SB calls $22 (pot was $82).

Turn: ($104, 2 players)
SB checks, Bill Sparks bets $85, SB raises to $170, Bill Sparks raises all-in $189.6, SB calls $104.6 (pot was $463.6).

River: ($653.2, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $653.2)

Results:
Final pot: $653.2
SB shows
Bill Sparks shows

Labels: Hand Histories, Party Poker