Limit challenge update

I have managed to already make it from the $0.02/$0.04 limit up to $0.10/$0.20. My $1.20 has grown to $6.39. I've had a 5x improvement in my roll in about a week. Maybe I should have started with $120 instead.

Just kidding. I expected to be able to fly through some of the lower levels, as most people here are in the "ah, I'll call it down, it's only 4-cents" mode. People need to learn that you should play the same game at every limit. I'm glad that I'm doing this because it is forcing me to really focus on the game indepenent of the limits.

Here's the tracking:

	BB	In	Out		Profit/Loss
Level 1	0.04	1.2	1.95		0.75
Level 1	0.04	1.2	1.74		0.54
Level 1	0.04	1.2	1.51		0.31
Level 1	0.04	1.2	1.43		0.23
Level 2	0.1	3	4.2		1.2
Level 2	0.1	3	5.19		2.19

So it took me 4 sessions to get to level 2, and only 2 sessions to make it to level 3. I almost made it to level 3 in a single sitting, and was actually only $0.70 away after seeing only 3 flops in about 25 hands. Had a person draw out a gutshot though to beat my flopped set which set me back a little. I'll start level 3 tomorrow.

I am still amazed at the hands that people will see a flop with in limit. Here's a good example. This is the hand that put me over the top in level 1.

PokerStars Game #4745841863: Hold'em Limit ($0.02/$0.04) - 2006/04/25 - 23:24:12 (ET)
Table 'Pluto' 10-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: kevonfire ($0.14 in chips)
Seat 2: Kent Hrbek ($1.03 in chips) <--nice to see a fellow forumer showing support!
Seat 3: zhunter ($2.91 in chips)
Seat 5: duke 96 ($1.57 in chips)
Seat 6: IlliniFan ($0.74 in chips)
Seat 7: Tired Dan ($0.45 in chips)
Seat 8: Tjorgey ($0.78 in chips)
Seat 10: PorkerRosey ($0.03 in chips)
Kent Hrbek: posts small blind $0.01
zhunter: posts big blind $0.02
michaelm82: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to IlliniFan [Ad Ac]
duke 96: calls $0.02
IlliniFan: raises $0.02 to $0.04 <--jam it with AA
Tired Dan: calls $0.04
Tjorgey: calls $0.04
PorkerRosey: calls $0.03 and is all-in
kevonfire: raises $0.02 to $0.06
Kent Hrbek: folds
zhunter: folds
duke 96: calls $0.04
IlliniFan: raises $0.02 to $0.08
Betting is capped
Tired Dan: calls $0.04
Tjorgey: calls $0.04
kevonfire: calls $0.02
duke 96: calls $0.02 <---ugh, way too many people in the pot for AA..I'm worried.
*** FLOP *** [2c Ts 3s]
Kent Hrbek said, "IF -- this will give you nrain issues" (soooo true Mr. Hrbek...)
duke 96: checks
Kent Hrbek said, "brain*"
IlliniFan: bets $0.02
Tired Dan: calls $0.02
Tjorgey: calls $0.02
kevonfire: raises $0.02 to $0.04 <---should reraise but there's too many in. Want to minimize my losses if someone sucks out.
duke 96: folds
IlliniFan: calls $0.02 <-- But I don't, I'm a wuss...
Tired Dan: calls $0.02
Tjorgey: calls $0.02
*** TURN *** [2c Ts 3s] [7c]
IlliniFan: bets $0.04 <---I'll still bet it. All I'm worried about is a set now.
Tired Dan: calls $0.04
Tjorgey: calls $0.04
IlliniFan said, "i don't like this action for sure" (true words)
kevonfire: calls $0.02 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [2c Ts 3s 7c] [5s] <---Not liking that 5. now there could be a donk with a str8.
IlliniFan: bets $0.04 <--but what the hell
Tired Dan: folds <--- I love this move, and you will see it a lot in limit. Chasers that chase and then fold when they miss. Make note of this, these are the people you can bluff in limit games.
Tjorgey: calls $0.04
*** SHOW DOWN ***
IlliniFan: shows [Ad Ac] (a pair of Aces)
Tjorgey: mucks hand
IlliniFan collected $0.14 from side pot-2
kevonfire: mucks hand
kevonfire leaves the table
IlliniFan collected $0.49 from side pot-1
PorkerRosey: mucks hand
IlliniFan collected $0.21 from main pot <---how the hell did I just scoop all those?
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $0.84 Main pot $0.21. Side pot-1 $0.49. Side pot-2 $0.14. | Rake $0
Board [2c Ts 3s 7c 5s]
Seat 1: kevonfire (button) mucked [Jh 7h] <---he was SOOOOTED
Seat 2: Kent Hrbek (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: zhunter (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: duke 96 folded on the Flop
Seat 6: IlliniFan showed [Ad Ac] and won ($0.84) with a pair of Aces
Seat 7: Tired Dan folded on the River
Seat 8: Tjorgey mucked [Td Js] <---called down with TP crap kicker
Seat 10: PorkerRosey mucked [3h 8h] <---he was SOOOTED too

I used to play just like these guys. I'd get frustrated at low limits or suckouts and then just call down with any two cards. Limit is about patience. Wait for the cards. The money will follow. Sure, you will have suckouts, but in limit you can minimize you losses, and call down with a hand that you know is beat for cheap to gain info on the other players to exploit later. I am still amazed at how many people out there want to give you their money by "gambling" with any two cards.

That's all for tonight. I'll cya at the tables.