How We Did
Thanks to everyone who commented on my recent post "You Tell Me: How'd We Do?". I'll address a couple of the great questions and comments here and share my own thoughts.
1. The pre-flop 3-bet. I'm certainly not doing this everytime I have J9s, but my 3-betting range is going to include a mix of hands that will shove to a 4-bet (which will itself be a mix of value and bluff hands) and hands that will fold to a 4-bet. When choosing hands for the latter category, I'm considering two factors: how will the hand play post-flop if called, and would it be more profitable just to call pre-flop rather than to 3-bet. In this case, I'm pretty sure folding is better than calling. And J9s is going to play a lot better post-flop than is a "better" hand like AJo. The point I want to emphasize is that his high 4-bet % is not a reason to never 3-bet him without a hand that can 5-bet. Certainly I should do it less than I would against someone who folds more often, but unless he 4-bets 100% of the time, my range should include some bluffs. And as long as he calls at least some of the time (and his Call 3-Bet stat is certainly relevant, as some of you pointed out, though I didn't consult it at the time), then it matters how my hand will play post-flop when called.
2. Villain's flop call. Raising wouldn't be awful, but stacks are pretty bad for it. Unless he expects me to 3-bet-fold the flop often, which would be awfully optimistic, he's going to lose a lot of equity when I continue to a raise. He'll often a bare flush draw, or, if I happen to have a bigger flush draw, nothing but pair outs. With the nut draw, his equity is a lot better with a raise, though he's also got showdown value to consider. On the whole, given stacks and position, I like his call. There's still room for him to bluff later.
3. My turn check-raise. As several of you correctly pointed out, overpairs are unlikely for him. That means I can play my top pair like the nuts. Kinda. Although he's not going to have a better hand often, he's also far less likely to have a second best hand than if I actually had the nuts or close to it. Even with the likely best hand, I don't think I can just go bet-bet-bet and expect to get paid off. I'm not folding, but I'm more concerned about inducing bluffs than I would be with more absolute hand strength.
I agree that the sizing is poor, and I think this is the biggest mistake of the hand. I thought that a flush draw was his most likely holding, but I didn't sufficiently consider his overcard outs. I did think that I wouldn't get paid by many worse hands if I just check-shoved, which is probably true, but not a good enough reason. Unless he's going to bluff a ton on the river, it's probably better for me to end the hand now.
4. His river check. If he doesn't value-shove this, my check-raise sizing gets a little better. I'm still not sure how I feel about this one.
Let me say first that my check is mandatory. If he thinks he has the best hand, even if it's Ace-high, he's just going to stick it in on the turn. There's very little reason for him to call with anything that he thinks is ahead. That means that if I shove the river, he only calls if the Q improves him.
I'm probably checking 100% of my non-bluff range on the river (though that's less clearly correct if he checks back a Q), so that doesn't give him much information. However, my turn check may help him to eliminate some stronger hands from my range. As I hinted above, I probably would look to bet again with some of my monsters. Then again, I don't think he expects me to check-raise the turn so thinly for value. Given that, it's a very reasonable check.
I was calling, though, and if I'm check-raising stuff like J9 on the turn, his river decision is a lot closer. It's still probably a good check, though.
Thanks again to everyone who responded, I was really impressed with the thoroughness of your comments and the depth of your thinking.
Gates at the Top of the Range
By now, you've probably all heard about the arrest of prominent black academic Henry Louis Gates, Jr. in his home by a Cambridge police officer. If you haven't, or even if you have, I suggest reading the police report. The short version is that a neighbor called the police after witnessing Gates and his driver attempting to force open the front door of Gates' home, which was apparently jammed. A police officer responded to a possible break-in, and, seeing Gates, demanded that he step outside. Gates refused, saying something to the effect of, "This is what happens to black men in America." Some more bluster followed from both sides, and eventually Gates explained the situation but was arrested anyway for disorderly conduct.
Naturally, Gates and the officer tell slightly different stories, but the general consensus seems to be that both overreacted. Gates, understandably upset by being accused of breaking into his own home, called the officer a racist and, to some extent, refused to cooperate. In all likelihood, simply stepping outside and explaining the situation would have prevented any escalation.
The officer could have ignored the comments and left after identifying Gates as the legitimate occupant of the home. Instead, he chose to escalate the situation by arresting him for "disorderly conduct"
The incident offers fuel to both sides of the racial divide. To some, it looks like blatant racial profiling, an upstanding black citizen treated like a common criminal by a racist white cop. To others, Gates is an overeducated black liberal playing the race card, looking for racist motives behind a simple misunderstanding.
Admittedly, I'm more inclined to one of those camps than the other. Also, Gates is an honorary member of Board of the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues, a cause which is near and dear to my heart. So I can't claim total objectivity here.
That said, I've thought a lot about the incident, and I do think I have an interesting take on it. Just as a poker hand can sometimes look different when considered in the larger context of a match between two players, with all of the metagame considerations that that entails, I saw the Gates arrest in a different light when considering it strategically and as one among many encounters between a police officer and a black man (or actually any citizen, though I do think race gives such an interaction a particular context). I know it sounds weird, but bear with me.
My work in public education has given me the opportunity both to learn from young black men who have experienced racial profiling and police brutality and also to offer advice to other young black men about how they ought to respond to such situations. My understanding is that platitudes like "know your rights" are at best worthless and at worst dangerous. I once saw a class presentation by several young men, Hispanic in this case, about your rights when dealing with police. They'd done their homework and gave a nice little explanation of probable cause, consensual searches, and the like.
Afterwards, I asked one of them whether either had actually had the opportunity to assert his rights in a real-life situation. His face darkened and he looked away from me. When pressed, he told me he was once stopped by two white police officers based on what he believed was racial profiling. He cooperated and answered their questions, and they were about to leave without writing him a ticket or searching his car. Then he asked for their names and badge numbers, at which point they escorted him into a nearby alley and roughed him up.
My point is that although there are supposed to be limits on police power and checks against abuses of this power, many of those who interact with the police are not actually in a position to assert their rights. Naturally, the police as a whole have an interest in maintaining their power and discouraging tactics that challenge it or that would limit their options. Thus, individual police officers engage in acts of retaliation not only because they are individually racist or on a power trip but as part of a larger strategy to intimidate would-be challengers. Among many young black men, even those who have not directly experienced police brutality themselves, there is a belief that if one attempts to assert one's rights during an encounter with the police, he risks provoking a violent response.
What does all of this have to do with poker? It reminds me of situations where I have all the power. Say I raise UTG, the BB calls, and the flop comes AK9. Regardless of my hand, it's pretty likely that I'm going to win the pot. I have position, I have the betting impetus, and I have by far the stronger range on this flop. My cards are probably best, but even if they aren't, I'll usually bluff my way through.
There are two ways my opponent can try to combat this. He can make some thin call downs, though that will often end up being painful for him, or he can slowplay some big hands and occasionally show up with unexpected strength in a situation where I'm using to having the power.
Any time the police interact with a suspect, particularly a minority one, they are accustomed to having the power. They have plenty of legitimate authority, and, when they need it, they've got intimidation and brute force on their side as well. The average suspect can attempt to assert his rights, but he plays a dangerous game in doing so.
What I'm saying is that among black men encountering the police, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is the pocket Aces, the rare citizen who actually has the upper hand in a confrontation with the police. Unlike the majority of black men who find themselves questioned by a police officer, he is wealthy, well-connected, and well-respected. He pointed out the racism inherent in the situation (more in that in a moment), and when the officer knowingly arrested him in his home, it drew national headlines. The police department quickly dropped the charges, the Mayor of Cambridge condemned the arrest, and even the President chimed in to say that the officer "acted stupidly." Imagine the shitstorm that would have fallen on the officer had he decided to rough Gates up and accuse him of resisting arrest.
I do think Gates was mistaken to label the individual officer a racist, though. Like Gates' own, the officer's actions and reactions were largely determined for him. The whole situation was set into motion by a neighbor who called the police after seeing two black men attempting to force open the door of an expensive home in a largely white neighborhood. It's hard to say for sure, but I wonder whether the call would have been made had Gates and his driver been white. Sadly, it may actually be a sign of progress that the white women did not recognize her neighbor. Forty years ago, it's hard to imagine a black man living in an affluent white neighborhood without the whole town being well aware of it.
In any event, the officer had no choice but to respond to the report of a break-in, and, upon responding, to speak with the individual inside of the home. I don't believe he would have turned around and left had he seen a white man inside instead.
Still, whether the officer himself was influenced by race, the situation as a whole clearly was. It is unfortunate that such situations as arise, but as President Obama also noted, it is not uncommon. The vast majority of the time, it is the police who have the upper hand. My advice to my students is always to cooperate and be respectful to the police officer, no matter how clearly they feel they have been targeted because of their race. I take no joy in counseling them to swallow their price and do nothing to combat racism, but at least during the encounter, I believe there is very little that they can safely do.
Gates, on the other hand, is the rare black man who can speak up. The officer is unlikely to retaliate severely against him, and if he does, it will provoke outrage nationwide. Imagine the shitstorm that would have rained down on him had he decided to rough Gates up and accuse him of resisting arrest. The officer, executing his authority in a seemingly routine situation, ran into the nuts.
Both Gates and the officer acted brashly and in ways that did not clearly benefit either of them individually. I think it's a mistake to say that either overreacted though. On the officer's part, the arrest was part of a larger strategy to protect police authority and discourage those who attempt to limit it by asserting their rights. On Gates' part, it was part of a larger strategy to discourage police harassment. Even if their actions don't appear optimal when considered in a vacuum, they take on new significance as part of a larger strategy. Gates' "overreaction" may have created some hassle for him personally that could have been avoided, but it also brought national attention to an issue that, even in the "Age of Obama", still merits discussion.
You Tell Me: How’d We Do?
Here's a change of pace. Instead of telling you my reasoning and take on the hand (yet), I want to hear yours. What do you think of my play? What do you think of Villain's? Obviously some streets will be more controversial than others, but I'm interested in anything and everything that you think either of us did particularly well or poorly.
One important dynamic I should add: I had been 3-betting Villain a lot this session, mostly but not always when I had position. He has a very high 4-bet% (18, to be precise).
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $10.00 BB (4 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
Button ($2089.25)
Hero (SB) ($2403.35)
BB ($528.25)
UTG ($2733.25)
Preflop: Hero is SB with Jh, 9h
1 fold, Button bets $30, Hero raises to $111, 1 fold, Button calls $81
Flop: ($232) 4c, 9c, 2h (2 players)
Hero bets $166, Button calls $166
Turn: ($564) 7d (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $315, Hero raises to $876, Button calls $561
River: ($2316) Qs (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks
Total pot: $2316 | Rake: $2
Results:
Button had 10c, Qc (one pair, Queens).
Hero had Jh, 9h (one pair, nines).
Outcome: Button won $2314
A Case Of The Sundays
The tournament cold-deckings continue, with me busting the Sunday million set under set after accumulating an above average stack three hours in, losing a huge pot with set under set in the $500 WCOOP satellite (which had a remarkably small and tough field, hopefully that will change with time), and this little gem from the FTP $500:
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em Tournament, 20/40 Blinds (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
UTG (t6060)
Hero (UTG+1) (t4575)
MP1 (t180)
MP2 (t3260)
MP3 (t5050)
CO (t10060)
Button (t5535)
SB (t5795)
BB (t4485)
Hero's M: 76.25
Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with Ah, As
UTG bets t140, Hero raises to t480, 7 folds, UTG calls t340
Flop: (t1020) 10h, 8c, Ad (2 players)
UTG bets t40, Hero calls t40
Turn: (t1100) 9d (2 players)
UTG bets t1100, Hero calls t1100
River: (t3300) Qs (2 players)
UTG bets t40, Hero raises to t1455, UTG calls t1415
Total pot: t6210
Results:
UTG had Js, 7s (straight, Queen high).
Hero had Ah, As (three of a kind, Aces).
River Check-Raising, PLO8 Style
Villain is Matt "Mattg1983? Graham. He's got a bracelet from the 2008 WSOP PLO $10K, but I don't know how his PLO8 game is.
PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo Tournament, 15/30 Blinds (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
SB (t5430)
BB (t4450)
UTG (t2960)
UTG+1 (t2520)
MP1 (t5635)
Hero (MP2) (t3005)
CO (t2945)
Button (t3055)
Hero's M: 66.78
Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 2h, 4h, Kc, 3d
3 folds, Hero bets t90, 1 fold, Button calls t90, 2 folds
Flop: (t225) 3c, Kd, 9d (2 players)
Hero bets t155, Button calls t155
Turn: (t535) Kh (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks
River: (t535) 3s (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets t295, Hero raises to t1060, Button calls t765
Total pot: t2655
Results:
Button mucked Ac, Qh, 10d, Ah (Hi: two pair, Aces and Kings).
Hero had 2h, 4h, Kc, 3d (Hi: full house, Kings over threes).
Outcome: Hero won t2655
Yes, I'm aware that this a pretty crappy hand and a questionable pre-flop raise. Let's just focus on the river sexiness.
This is a good board flop for me to bet at, since it misses most hands (ie low cards) and people play very straightforwardly in PLO8. There aren't many K's in his range, so when he calls, I think he's most likely on a draw or a big pair. I check the turn to induce and because he probably folds a pair. His check back could be a draw choosing to take a free card or something he's trying to showdown cheaply, which could include the case K if he hasn't filled up. I think most of that range either isn't calling a river bet or is betting anyway if checked to. Sexyyyy.
LA Times Appearance
Maryland-based freelance reporter Bill Ordine recently penned an article for the LA Times entitled "Poker Professionals Ante Up for Charity". While it's primarily about high-profile projects like Ante Up for Africa and Bad Beat on Cancer, he uses yours truly as an example of smaller scale philanthropy enabled by poker:
"But the 26-year-old Brokos' real passion isn't poker. It's coaching inner-city schoolkids in the art of debate. When he couldn't get a paying job in education pursuing his interest in forensics, he used his poker winnings to support himself while he started the Boston Debate League, which has grown from three schools in 2005 to eight. Impressed with Brokos' bootstrap work, the city school system provided funding for a full-time executive director to run the league, but Brokos continues to donate his time several days a week  with poker remaining as his means of support."
I should clarify that technically, the Boston Public Schools (BPS) is not providing the full-time executive director. He's solely an employee of the Boston Debate League (BDL), which is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization that raises funds from individuals and public foundations (no poker tournaments yet). BPS does, however, provide stipends for teachers who coach debate, food and supplies for participating students, and train fare to help low-income students attend BDL events. Still pretty sweet to get this kind of national attention though!
There Will Be No 4-Peat
Ironically, after surviving two days at three tough tables playing in some cases less-than-stellar poker, I busted at a great table after a few hours where I think I was playing quite well.
The day got off to a nice start. Blinds were 600/1200/200 On the third hand, I overcalled a raise with 22 on my BB, flopped K52, and led out for 4400. The pre-flop raiser called, and the other guy folded. Turn was a 6, I bet 7000, he called. River 9, I bet 15K, he tanked, called, and mucked when I showed my set. That got me up to 125K right away.
About 20 minutes later, I raised to 3000 with 54s in middle position. The same guy (the Czech) called in the SB. Flop JT3 with two of my suit. I bet 4400, he raised to 15K with about 40K behind, and I shoved. After some thought, he called with AJ. The turn was a 7 to give me a gutshot, but the river blanked and I was down to 60K.
The guy turned out to be pretty tight, and knowing what I know now I may not have shoved on him, but with the information I had at the time I think it's a good play. I doubt he shows up with JJ+, so his calling range is probably AJ, JT, 66, and maybe TT if he doesn't 3-bet it pre. If he's also calling KJ and QJ it's probably a bad shove, but if he's raise-folding stuff like that, which a lot of the randoms in this tournament are, I like the shove. I think he can also have stuff like AT, maybe bluffs, maybe even draws that fold (yes I realize I'm crushed by better flush draws but I don't think it's inconceivable he raise-folds them).
I get blinded down a bit, pick up 5's on the Button, and open to 3K. SB makes it 11K with 13K behind. He'd announced from the beginning that he wanted to double up or go home, and I believed him. Absent a good read/tell, this is a very clear get-it-in spot, so I reshoved. He had A9s and won the flip. Pretty standard on both our parts, just unlucky for me.
I went into the break with 26K but still feeling alright. The table was definitely not going to break, and I felt I could play a short stack quite profitably there. I waited a bit, then picked up AK in the BB against an UTG raise and a call. I shoved, they both folded.
The guy on my right was a real aggro Vietnamese guy who was friends with, and quite possibly backed by, Menh the Master. I'd been looking for opportunities to resteal on him but it was never quite right. Finally I got QJs on my button. He opened to 4800 (blinds were 800/1600/200), and I shoved for about 34K. The big blind gave me a scare by asking for a count, but he eventually folded. The raiser folded AT face-up and walked away from the table, seemingly a little frustrated.
Next orbit, action folds to him in the SB. This is the third time that had happened. Once he limped, I checked and folded to a bet on an Ace-high flop. Second time he raised I folded. This time he limped, and I checked 64o. Flop came 578 with a flush draw. He checked, I bet 2200, he started talking. "You hit that? You hit a piece of that?" Then rather abruptly he threw 6200 chips in the pot.
I was pretty sure he was hollywooding with a strong hand, but you know, the second nuts beats a lot of strong hands. Besides, there are a ton of turn cards that can kill my action. So after some silent contemplation, I made it 12,200 with about 25K behind. He asked for a count and then shoved, and I snap-called. I flipped over my straight, and he turned over 96 for the higher straight. The turn was a 6, which didn't change anything, and the river was a blank to eliminate me.
Bummer, but I don't think anything other than getting it in on the flop is an option. The only questionable thing from the day is the 54s shove, which granted was a bit pot to lose, but like I said, I don't mind it based on the information I had at the time.
Thanks again to everyone who's been following along, helping out, wishing me well, etc. As I said yesterday, it certainly is a lot more fun with a cheering section. I'm not sure what my plans are for the next few days, but they probably won't involve much poker. I'll be back on the saddle again soon, though.
Peace,
Andrew
Day 3 Table Draw
Don't recognize any names, which is a nice change of pace:
Toriani, Keith 110,200 BR224 1
Lezcano, Ed 23,900 BR224 2
Hai, Le 113,100 BR224 3
Brokos, Andrew 92,200 BR224 4
Phung, Steve 26,500 BR224 5
Bykov, Andrey 27,500 BR224 6
Pages, Fernando 87,100 BR224 7
Fiala, Miroslav 103,500 BR224 8
Stanchewski,Paul 12,200 BR224 9
Keith Toriani- Nothing on him
Ed Lezcano- Nothing
Le Hai- Name is way too similar to common French, Italian, and Chinese words for accurate googling
Steve Phung- A couple shallow cashes in small live events, can't find anything else on him
Andrey Bykov- He's from Vladivostok and either is or shares a name with one of Putin's top economic advisors. If it's the former, I might have a new "Table of Death" to worry about!
Fernando Pages- According to his World Poker Showdown profile, he lost his job in December and has since been earning a living in local bar leagues and casinos. His interests include "meeting hot girls" and "poker cruises".
Miroslav Fiala- Nothing in English nor anything in any other language that looked promising
Paul Stanchewski- Final tabled a $1500 Bellagio tournament.
Not much here, but this is one of those "no news is good news" situations. Seems like an unremarkable table, which is very welcome.
A Few More Day 2 Hands
First off, I want to say thanks to everyone who's commented to wish me luck or to share intelligence. What an amazing thing that one of you is a Russian from Prague able to offer some insight into both a Czech opponent and a Russian one! I'm not going to lie to you: the WSOP is an awesome experience no matter what. But it's so much more exciting to have people in my corner! Thanks for following along, I'm touched and flattered. Hopefully I'll have a few more days of excitement to share.
I really didn't play that many big hands on Day 2, but here are three kind of interesting ones:
At 300/600/75, Ludovic raises to 1500 UTG+1 and I call with JJ. Pagano calls behind me, Levy calls on the button, and a loose/bad Swede calls in the BB. Flop Tc 7c 5d. Ludovic bets 2600, I raise to 7000, two folds, he calls. Turn 2h, we both check. River 8d, he checks, I tank. Granted my hand looks like a busted draw, but his range for raising in early position, betting into four people on the flop, and calling a raise shouldn't be that wide. Given that my hand looks like a missed draw, he ought to be checking even his strongest hands to me on the river, but in reality he probably isn't. I decline to value bet, giving him way too much credit and costing myself probably 9-10K. He shows an 8. I show my Jacks and he calls me the worst player he's ever seen and walks away from the table in disgust.
At 500/1000/100, I raise to 2700 with AQ UTG. Grant Levy (Australian pro, pretty loose pre-flop, especially against me) calls in middle position. Heads up to the Kc Jc Th flop. I bet 4400, he calls. Turn 4d I bet 10K he calls. River 4h I bet 20K he shakes his head, sighs, and folds JT face up. Guess he now loses to AK and AA, not that I'm triple barreling those. As tight as I'd been playing, I think he ought to fold the turn. I kind of doubt he would have called the river even if it were a 2.
In the third one, I raise to 2700 with AQ UTG as well. Luca Pagano calls UTG+1, Isaac Baron calls UTG+2, and Lacay Ludovic calls in the SB. I am planning on giving up virtually every flop that misses me, but I bet 6000 at a J88 flop and take it down. I think JJ+ is out there almost never, so really I am worried about Jacks, 8's, TT, and 99. Smaller pairs probably don't call, but I'm in fine shape even if they do.
Survived “Table of Death” With 92K in Chips
It was a grueling day at what even PokerNews called the "Table of Death." Except for the guy on my right, I probably had the worst seat at the table, too, with Luca Pagano on my immediate left and Isaac Baron to his left.
"As tables break, the field is being pared down and much of the dead weight is being eliminated. As the players get shuffled around, a few challenging tables have started coming together. Table 29 is certainly a candidate for toughest table in the tournament, probably the clear leader in that regard. Tom Schneider is the most-recent addition to the neighborhood, but the table was stacked before he ever moved in. Just look at this:
Seat 1: Shane Warne
Seat 3: Ludovic Lacay
Seat 5: Andrew Brokos
Seat 6: Luca Pagano
Seat 7: Isaac Baron
Seat 8: Grant Levy
Seat 9: Tom Schneider
"
There were a few other decent to good tourney players, too, and the soft spots were mostly just too tight, not spewing off chips. I didn't feel like I played very well in the first few hours, but I got a second chance when I picked up AA on a very short stack and tripled up.
I feel like I adapted pretty well to a tough situation after that and managed to keep growing two steps forward, one step back for the rest of the day. Mostly I am very glad it's over and I have a few days to recover. We play again on Friday and then every day thereafter.