Micro-stakes SNGs

I like these SNGs. They are full of donkeys. Sharkscope has me up over $700 on FT playing $6, $11 and the occasional $22 6-man turbo SNG. Usually, I stick to the $6 because I don’t play for huge profits, I play to make money, but more just to have fun. Once I get playing larger stakes, I get too serious, and get in bad moods when I lose. If I lose $6, who cares.

Take a look at some of the key hands in this SNG that I won in 43 hands.


Questionable hand #1:

Full Tilt Poker Game #5780283981: $6 + $0.50 Sit & Go (Turbo) (44002417), Table 1 - 20/40 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:49:50 ET - 2008/03/25
Seat 1: deltarek (1,445)
Seat 2: TooLateOO7 (1,415)
Seat 3: PJS JR (1,410)
Seat 4: rumble gumble1 (1,680)
Seat 5: correctpoker (1,400)
Seat 6: ramtuff23 (1,650)
correctpoker posts the small blind of 20
ramtuff23 posts the big blind of 40
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PJS JR [6c 8s]
deltarek has 15 seconds left to act
deltarek raises to 120
TooLateOO7 has 15 seconds left to act
TooLateOO7 is sitting out
TooLateOO7 has timed out
TooLateOO7 folds
PJS JR folds
TooLateOO7 has returned
rumble gumble1 has 15 seconds left to act
rumble gumble1 folds
correctpoker folds
ramtuff23 has 15 seconds left to act
ramtuff23 raises to 200
deltarek raises to 1,445, and is all in
ramtuff23 has 15 seconds left to act
ramtuff23 has requested TIME
ramtuff23 calls 1,245
deltarek shows [Kc Ac]
ramtuff23 shows [4h 4s]
*** FLOP *** [Qc 6h Js]
*** TURN *** [Qc 6h Js] [6d]
*** RIVER *** [Qc 6h Js 6d] [5s]
deltarek shows a pair of Sixes
ramtuff23 shows two pair, Sixes and Fours
ramtuff23 wins the pot (2,910) with two pair, Sixes and Fours
deltarek stands up
The blinds are now 25/50
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,910 | Rake 0
Board: [Qc 6h Js 6d 5s]
Seat 1: deltarek showed [Kc Ac] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 2: TooLateOO7 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: PJS JR didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: rumble gumble1 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: correctpoker (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: ramtuff23 (big blind) showed [4h 4s] and won (2,910) with two pair, Sixes and Fours

First of all, the raise with AK is fine. A min-raise with 44? Then an all-in with AK? After the min-raise, it almost feels like a fold, but not an all-in. All of this early in the SNG? Is it really necessary? Don’t know, but it seems like a flat call would be in order, and then an assessment after the flop. In this case, a big bet after the flop would have chased out the 44 almost certainly, and the guy with AK would have won a mid-sized pot instead of losing his whole stack.


Questionable hand #2

Full Tilt Poker Game #5780342552: $6 + $0.50 Sit & Go (Turbo) (44002417), Table 1 - 30/60 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:54:27 ET - 2008/03/25
Seat 2: TooLateOO7 (1,340)
Seat 3: PJS JR (1,335)
Seat 4: rumble gumble1 (1,730)
Seat 5: correctpoker (1,255)
Seat 6: ramtuff23 (3,340)
correctpoker posts the small blind of 30
ramtuff23 posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PJS JR [Qc 9c]
TooLateOO7 folds
PJS JR raises to 180
rumble gumble1 has 15 seconds left to act
rumble gumble1 folds
correctpoker calls 150
ramtuff23 folds
*** FLOP *** [Jd Tc Ks]
correctpoker bets 1,075, and is all in
PJS JR calls 1,075
correctpoker shows [8c As]
PJS JR shows [Qc 9c]
*** TURN *** [Jd Tc Ks] [Qd]
*** RIVER *** [Jd Tc Ks Qd] [Ac]
correctpoker shows a straight, Ace high
PJS JR shows a straight, Ace high
correctpoker ties for the pot (1,285) with a straight, Ace high
PJS JR ties for the pot (1,285) with a straight, Ace high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,570 | Rake 0
Board: [Jd Tc Ks Qd Ac]
Seat 2: TooLateOO7 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: PJS JR showed [Qc 9c] and won (1,285) with a straight, Ace high
Seat 4: rumble gumble1 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: correctpoker (small blind) showed [8c As] and won (1,285) with a straight, Ace high
Seat 6: ramtuff23 (big blind) folded before the Flop

WTF was this guy thinking? Nearly drawing dead, and then gets ASS lucky on the turn, only to have the river save me.


Questionable hand #3

Full Tilt Poker Game #5780369775: $6 + $0.50 Sit & Go (Turbo) (44002417), Table 1 - 30/60 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:56:35 ET - 2008/03/25
Seat 2: TooLateOO7 (860)
Seat 3: PJS JR (1,365)
Seat 4: rumble gumble1 (2,360)
Seat 5: correctpoker (1,165)
Seat 6: ramtuff23 (3,250)
TooLateOO7 posts the small blind of 30
PJS JR posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PJS JR [Qc Qd]
rumble gumble1 folds
correctpoker folds
ramtuff23 raises to 210
TooLateOO7 has 15 seconds left to act
TooLateOO7 raises to 860, and is all in
PJS JR raises to 1,365, and is all in
ramtuff23 calls 1,155
PJS JR shows [Qc Qd]
ramtuff23 shows [4c 4s]
TooLateOO7 shows [6d Ac]
*** FLOP *** [5s Qs Kd]
*** TURN *** [5s Qs Kd] [Td]
*** RIVER *** [5s Qs Kd Td] [8h]
PJS JR shows three of a kind, Queens
ramtuff23 shows a pair of Fours
PJS JR wins the side pot (1,010) with three of a kind, Queens
TooLateOO7 shows Ace King high
PJS JR wins the main pot (2,580) with three of a kind, Queens
TooLateOO7 stands up
The blinds are now 40/80
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,590 Main pot 2,580. Side pot 1,010. | Rake 0
Board: [5s Qs Kd Td 8h]
Seat 2: TooLateOO7 (small blind) showed [6d Ac] and lost with Ace King high
Seat 3: PJS JR (big blind) showed [Qc Qd] and won (3,590) with three of a kind, Queens
Seat 4: rumble gumble1 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: correctpoker didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: ramtuff23 (button) showed [4c 4s] and lost with a pair of Fours

This one had me laughing pretty badly. I mean, A6 and 44 call my all-in? Almost surprisingly, my hand holds, as FT makes me sweat a 4-outer even after I hit a set. Typical. What were they expecting to see from me, pocket 2s??


Questionable hand #4

Full Tilt Poker Game #5780411939: $6 + $0.50 Sit & Go (Turbo) (44002417), Table 1 - 40/80 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:59:54 ET - 2008/03/25
Seat 3: PJS JR (3,550)
Seat 4: rumble gumble1 (1,960)
Seat 5: correctpoker (1,605)
Seat 6: ramtuff23 (1,885)
ramtuff23 posts the small blind of 40
PJS JR posts the big blind of 80
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PJS JR [Kc As]
rumble gumble1 folds
correctpoker raises to 160
ramtuff23 folds
PJS JR calls 80
*** FLOP *** [Ah 5d Jc]
PJS JR checks
correctpoker bets 360
PJS JR raises to 3,390, and is all in
correctpoker calls 1,085, and is all in
PJS JR shows [Kc As]
correctpoker shows [6c 6h]
Uncalled bet of 1,945 returned to PJS JR
*** TURN *** [Ah 5d Jc] [2d]
*** RIVER *** [Ah 5d Jc 2d] [4h]
PJS JR shows a pair of Aces
correctpoker shows a pair of Sixes
PJS JR wins the pot (3,250) with a pair of Aces
correctpoker stands up
The blinds are now 50/100
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,250 | Rake 0
Board: [Ah 5d Jc 2d 4h]
Seat 3: PJS JR (big blind) showed [Kc As] and won (3,250) with a pair of Aces
Seat 4: rumble gumble1 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: correctpoker (button) showed [6c 6h] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 6: ramtuff23 (small blind) folded before the Flop

OK, so the guy had me pre-flop. But I call with my AK and hit, and the guy tries to push me off it with 6s? I guess he thought I called with KQ. What other hand is he beating?


Questionable hand #5

Full Tilt Poker Game #5780498202: $6 + $0.50 Sit & Go (Turbo) (44002417), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:06:44 ET - 2008/03/25
Seat 3: PJS JR (3,765)
Seat 4: rumble gumble1 (2,080)
Seat 6: ramtuff23 (3,155)
rumble gumble1 posts the small blind of 80
ramtuff23 posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PJS JR [Jc Ac]
PJS JR raises to 3,765, and is all in
rumble gumble1 folds
ramtuff23 calls 2,995, and is all in
PJS JR shows [Jc Ac]
ramtuff23 shows [8s 6s]
Uncalled bet of 610 returned to PJS JR
*** FLOP *** [Kh Th 9d]
*** TURN *** [Kh Th 9d] [As]
*** RIVER *** [Kh Th 9d As] [2s]
PJS JR shows a pair of Aces
ramtuff23 shows Ace King high
PJS JR wins the pot (6,390) with a pair of Aces
ramtuff23 stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 6,390 | Rake 0
Board: [Kh Th 9d As 2s]
Seat 3: PJS JR (button) showed [Jc Ac] and won (6,390) with a pair of Aces
Seat 4: rumble gumble1 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: ramtuff23 (big blind) showed [8s 6s] and lost with Ace King high

OK, so the open-push with AJ was a questionable move of my own, by why in the heck would you call all-in with 86? Even if they are suited, WTF? Sure, I raise all-in, re-raise with cards like that on the bubble, but especially being on the bubble, why call with that type of hand? He has so many chips, and he is ahead of the 3rd place guy by 1000+ chips, and still makes that call. Wow.


Final Questionable hand #6

Full Tilt Poker Game #5780516859: $6 + $0.50 Sit & Go (Turbo) (44002417), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:08:11 ET - 2008/03/25
Seat 3: PJS JR (6,440)
Seat 4: rumble gumble1 (2,560)
rumble gumble1 posts the small blind of 80
PJS JR posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PJS JR [Qc Ks]
rumble gumble1 raises to 2,560, and is all in
PJS JR calls 2,400
rumble gumble1 shows [Kh 2d]
PJS JR shows [Qc Ks]
*** FLOP *** [7d Jh 5s]
*** TURN *** [7d Jh 5s] [9d]
*** RIVER *** [7d Jh 5s 9d] [Th]
rumble gumble1 shows King Jack high
PJS JR shows a straight, King high
PJS JR wins the pot (5,120) with a straight, King high
rumble gumble1 stands up
PJS JR stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5,120 | Rake 0
Board: [7d Jh 5s 9d Th]
Seat 3: PJS JR (big blind) showed [Qc Ks] and won (5,120) with a straight, King high
Seat 4: rumble gumble1 (small blind) showed [Kh 2d] and lost with King Jack high

Again, heads-up, I raise with a lot of different holdings, but only if they are closely connected, suited, something decent. K-rag in this situation, in my opinion, is a really bad open-push. I figured with KQ that I am miles ahead of his range, so I call knowing that even if I lose, we are pretty even in chips. I end up dominating him, and take it down.

I have another SNG that I want to go through when I have a little more time, but not right now. Anyone have thoughts regarding micro-SNGs? Anyone feel that they are harder to be profitable with in the long run because of all the donkeys? Thoughts are appreciated. I like them because if you stay patient, you are almost certain to get your chips in with the best of it almost every time. Even the turbo 6-mans give you enough time to wait. The 9-man turbos I don’t like, because when you are 4-handed, the blinds are ridiculous. That’s just my thought.


On the cash game front, same story as the last little while. I play like an idiot for a while, and lose anywhere from $40 to $80, then have one big hand save me at the end of the session. When that big hand happens, I run like hell out of my cash games at even and try to regroup.

Here is today’s example… Already down close to $60 in about 10 minutes, this hand comes up:

Full Tilt Poker Game #5853323622: Table Spanish Springs - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 9:35:06 ET - 2008/03/31
Seat 1: PurpleP ($113.05)
Seat 2: bcnabel ($97.85)
Seat 3: gugafun ($151.10)
Seat 4: Hazimaro ($100)
Seat 5: pimenman ($182.50)
Seat 6: SSBTerran ($100)
Seat 7: BW235 ($100)
Seat 8: PJS JR ($110.35)
Seat 9: dingdongdoh ($29.85)
PJS JR posts the small blind of $0.50
dingdongdoh posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PJS JR [Js Jd]
PurpleP folds
bcnabel folds
gugafun folds
Hazimaro folds
pimenman folds
SSBTerran raises to $3.50
BW235 folds
PJS JR calls $3
dingdongdoh folds
*** FLOP *** [7c 2h Th]
PJS JR bets $6
SSBTerran raises to $12
PJS JR calls $6
*** TURN *** [7c 2h Th] [8d]
PJS JR checks
SSBTerran bets $20
PJS JR calls $20
*** RIVER *** [7c 2h Th 8d] [3c]
PJS JR checks
SSBTerran bets $45
PJS JR calls $45
*** SHOW DOWN ***
SSBTerran shows [Qc Kc] King Queen high
PJS JR shows [Js Jd] a pair of Jacks
PJS JR wins the pot ($159) with a pair of Jacks
SSBTerran adds $80.50
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $162 | Rake $3
Board: [7c 2h Th 8d 3c]
Seat 1: PurpleP didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: bcnabel didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: gugafun didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Hazimaro didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: pimenman didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: SSBTerran showed [Qc Kc] and lost with King Queen high
Seat 7: BW235 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: PJS JR (small blind) showed [Js Jd] and won ($159) with a pair of Jacks
Seat 9: dingdongdoh (big blind) folded before the Flop

As you can see, I did nothing to take control of this pot, but I thought on the river I was happy to have him check behind, because I have no idea where I am, and I can’t fold with the over pair. I actually thought quite a while before calling the river, but I am getting almost 3:1 on the call, so I figured it was a must. To me, him not pushing all in was a sign of weakness and I went with it. I guess I was lucky on this hand.

To wrap up the weekend, I played in a Bracelet Race satellite and finished in the top 15% of so, but failed to get a seat. Played a couple of $750k satellites with no luck, and a couple of other minor sats with absolutely no luck.

The bankroll is sitting at $2,367 and seems stagnant. Seems that I have been between 2,200 - 2,500 forever, and can't get over the hump. I have to get something going…

Thanks for reading. Good luck at the tables.

Ryan