Curse of the $1000 game......

Right this is perhaps the only thing that has worried me ever since I started playing on Betfair. For around three years now I have done so bad on $1000 games yet very well on $750 games and $1500+. This will probably be the very last time I talk about $1000 games on betfair as I won't play them on there anymore. I shall continue to play $1000 games on ipoker network. Unfortunately sharkscope has only incorperated betfair for around 9 months so perhaps 25% of my games are recorded. Below are my stats for firstly $750 games, then $1000, then $1000-$10,000...

Punterz08 124 $63 $750 8% $7,790 WWWWWLLW Betfair S750-750

Punterz08 277 -$110 $1,000 -11% -$30,515 LLLLLLWW Betfair S1000-1000

Punterz08 74 $685 $2,169 11% $50,700 WWWWLWWW Betfair S1001-10000

So as you can see during the last 9 months I have made $7,790 on games just under $1,000 in value, $50,700 on games over $1,000 in value yet lost $30,515 on games at exactly $1000. This has pretty much been the pattern for the last three years. It baffles me and there is only so much before you have to just be cautious and stop playing them. I actually did do around a year ago. However lately there have been some bad players who will lose $100 then move to a $200 then $400 then $1,000 attempting to 'martingale' until they win one back. Surprise surprise I always end up losing the $1,000 game! I really do not play those games any differently. Today I lost four or five $1,000 games in a row versus pierfish who is absolutely awful. I drop down to $750 and win six out of six against me. Below is a typical hand from $1,000 game which is probably my last ever one on betfair...even if Stevie Wonder sits in I won't play $1000 game!

***** Betfair Poker Hand History for Game 462933538 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $1,000 Buy-in + $10 Entry Fee, Level:1 Blinds(10/20-(no ante)) - Monday, January 05, 18:43:22 GMT 2009
$1,000+$10 NL Hold'em #2523312
Table 1 2-max (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Total number of active players : 2
Seat 1: Punterz08 ( 1,890 )
Seat 2: pierfish ( 2,110 )
Tourney Level:1 Blinds(10/20-(no ante))
Punterz08 posts small blind [10]
pierfish posts big blind [20]
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Punterz08 [ 4c, 2s ]
Punterz08 raises to [40]
pierfish calls [20]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 2h, 4s, 5s ]
pierfish checks
Punterz08 bets [80]
pierfish raises to [200]
Punterz08 calls [120]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 7d ]
pierfish bets [360]
Punterz08 raises to [1,100]
pierfish goes all-in
pierfish raises to [1,870]
Punterz08 calls [550]
Punterz08 goes all-in
Returning uncalled bet [220] to pierfish
** Showdown **
Punterz08 shows [ 4c, 2s ]
pierfish shows [ 5h, Ac ]
** Dealing River ** [ As ]
** Hand Conclusion **
pierfish wins 3,780 from main pot with two pair, Aces and Fives
************ Game 462933538 ends ************

It is level 1 and somehow he is calling off all of his chips on the turn with that trash? Obviously he hits. Below are the final hands of the last two $750s I played him which I won before he ran off. The guy is so bad, in the first hand he manages to get it all in on level one with me over 96% to win......

***** Betfair Poker Hand History for Game 463163360 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $750 Buy-in + $10 Entry Fee, Level:1 Blinds(10/20-(no ante)) - Tuesday, January 06, 01:30:45 GMT 2009
$750+$10 NL Hold'em #2525199
Table 1 2-max (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Total number of active players : 2
Seat 1: pierfish ( 1,650 )
Seat 2: Punterz08 ( 2,350 )
Tourney Level:1 Blinds(10/20-(no ante))
pierfish posts small blind [10]
Punterz08 posts big blind [20]
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Punterz08 [ Jc, Ac ]
pierfish raises to [60]
Punterz08 raises to [180]
pierfish raises to [540]
Punterz08 calls [360]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 7s, As, 6d ]
Punterz08 checks
pierfish goes all-in
pierfish bets [1,110]
Punterz08 calls [1,110]
** Showdown **
pierfish shows [ Kd, Jd ]
Punterz08 shows [ Jc, Ac ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Ad ]
** Dealing River ** [ 2h ]
** Hand Conclusion **
Punterz08 wins 3,300 from main pot with three of a kind, Aces
************ Game 463163360 ends ************


***** Betfair Poker Hand History for Game 463166831 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $750 Buy-in + $10 Entry Fee, Level:2 Blinds(15/30-(no ante)) - Tuesday, January 06, 01:42:14 GMT 2009
$750+$10 NL Hold'em #2525232
Table 1 2-max (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of active players : 2
Seat 1: pierfish ( 1,198.75 )
Seat 2: Punterz08 ( 2,801.25 )
Tourney Level:2 Blinds(15/30-(no ante))
Punterz08 posts small blind [15]
pierfish posts big blind [30]
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Punterz08 [ 8h, Kh ]
Punterz08 raises to [67.50]
pierfish calls [37.50]
** Dealing Flop ** [ Ks, 6c, Jc ]
pierfish checks
Punterz08 bets [135]
pierfish raises to [440]
Punterz08 raises to [900]
pierfish goes all-in
pierfish raises to [1,131.25]
Punterz08 calls [231.25]
** Showdown **
pierfish shows [ 2c, 5c ]
Punterz08 shows [ 8h, Kh ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 2d ]
** Dealing River ** [ Qh ]
** Hand Conclusion **
Punterz08 wins 2,397.50 from main pot with a pair of Kings
************ Game 463166831 ends ************

Well now I won't play $1,000 games I fully expect to take pierfish to the cleaners for so long as he has money to lose. I generally ran bad today at one stage being £2,500 down but eventually losing around £500 to the sites charges. However I bankrolled somebody elsewhere and they won around $10,000 on a fifty fifty basis so I ended the day in profit. Here is one of my first games of the day where I am rivered for £300 and had a feeling it was not meant to be my day!...

***** Betfair Poker Hand History for Game 462862764 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $200 Buy-in + $10 Entry Fee, Level:2 Blinds(15/30-(no ante)) - Monday, January 05, 16:22:50 GMT 2009
$200+$10 NL Hold'em #2522774
Table 1 2-max (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Total number of active players : 2
Seat 1: peajmaan ( 1,585 )
Seat 2: Punterz08 ( 1,415 )
Tourney Level:2 Blinds(15/30-(no ante))
peajmaan posts small blind [15]
Punterz08 posts big blind [30]
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Punterz08 [ 9c, Jc ]
peajmaan calls [15]
Punterz08 checks
** Dealing Flop ** [ Js, 9d, 9s ]
Punterz08 bets [60]
peajmaan calls [60]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 3h ]
Punterz08 bets [180]
peajmaan calls [180]
** Dealing River ** [ Kh ]
Punterz08 bets [540]
peajmaan goes all-in
peajmaan raises to [1,315]
Punterz08 calls [605]
Punterz08 goes all-in
Returning uncalled bet [170] to peajmaan
** Showdown **
peajmaan shows [ Ks, Kd ] full house, Kings full of Nines
Punterz08 shows [ 9c, Jc ] full house, Nines full of Jacks
** Hand Conclusion **
peajmaan wins 2,830 from main pot with full house, Kings full of Nines

Everyone seemed to be hitting the river against me, soon after another loss on the final card for £300...

***** Betfair Poker Hand History for Game 462895237 *****
PL Omaha $200 Buy-in + $10 Entry Fee, Level:2 Blinds(15/30-(no ante)) - Monday, January 05, 17:27:40 GMT 2009
$200+$10 PL Omaha #2522962
Table 1 2-max (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of active players : 2
Seat 1: Punterz08 ( 1,740 )
Seat 2: aligator33 ( 1,260 )
Tourney Level:2 Blinds(15/30-(no ante))
aligator33 posts small blind [15]
Punterz08 posts big blind [30]
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Punterz08 [ Qh, 3c, 9s, 5s ]
aligator33 raises to [90]
Punterz08 calls [60]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 6c, 4h, 2h ]
Punterz08 checks
aligator33 bets [135]
Punterz08 raises to [585]
aligator33 goes all-in
aligator33 raises to [1,170]
Punterz08 calls [585]
** Showdown **
Punterz08 shows [ Qh, 3c, 9s, 5s ]
aligator33 shows [ 8s, Ah, As, 8h ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Jc ]
** Dealing River ** [ 6h ]
** Hand Conclusion **
aligator33 wins 2,520 from main pot with a Flush
************ Game 462895237 ends ************


Later on we had a new player bella bola in omaha games absolutely hitting and bad beating me left, right and centre before eventually going broke...

***** Betfair Poker Hand History for Game 462998346 *****
PL Omaha $200 Buy-in + $10 Entry Fee, Level:1 Blinds(10/20-(no ante)) - Monday, January 05, 20:36:52 GMT 2009
$200+$10 PL Omaha #2523706
Table 1 2-max (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Total number of active players : 2
Seat 1: bella bola ( 1,353 )
Seat 2: Punterz08 ( 1,647 )
Tourney Level:1 Blinds(10/20-(no ante))
bella bola posts small blind [10]
Punterz08 posts big blind [20]
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Punterz08 [ Kd, 2d, 9s, Ks ]
bella bola raises to [60]
Punterz08 raises to [180]
bella bola calls [120]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 2h, Kh, 6d ]
Punterz08 bets [270]
bella bola raises to [1,170]
Punterz08 goes all-in
Punterz08 raises to [1,467]
bella bola calls [3]
bella bola goes all-in
Returning uncalled bet [294] to Punterz08
** Showdown **
bella bola shows [ 8s, 5h, 3s, 9h ]
Punterz08 shows [ Kd, 2d, 9s, Ks ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 8d ]
** Dealing River ** [ 7s ]
** Hand Conclusion **
bella bola wins 2,706 from main pot with a straight, Nine to Five


***** Betfair Poker Hand History for Game 463036929 *****
PL Omaha $500 Buy-in + $10 Entry Fee, Level:2 Blinds(15/30-(no ante)) - Monday, January 05, 21:34:24 GMT 2009
$500+$10 PL Omaha #2524121
Table 1 2-max (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of active players : 2
Seat 1: Punterz08 ( 2,160 )
Seat 2: bella bola ( 1,840 )
Tourney Level:2 Blinds(15/30-(no ante))
bella bola posts small blind [15]
Punterz08 posts big blind [30]
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Punterz08 [ 4h, As, Ts, 5h ]
bella bola raises to [90]
Punterz08 raises to [270]
bella bola calls [180]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9s, 2d, Ac ]
Punterz08 bets [405]
bella bola goes all-in
bella bola raises to [1,570]
Punterz08 calls [1,165]
** Showdown **
Punterz08 shows [ 4h, As, Ts, 5h ]
bella bola shows [ Ah, 4c, 4s, 2h ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Qs ]
** Dealing River ** [ Kh ]
** Hand Conclusion **
bella bola wins 3,680 from main pot with two pair, Aces and Deuces
************ Game 463036929 ends ************

***** Betfair Poker Hand History for Game 463041740 *****
PL Omaha $500 Buy-in + $10 Entry Fee, Level:1 Blinds(10/20-(no ante)) - Monday, January 05, 21:41:39 GMT 2009
$500+$10 PL Omaha #2524192
Table 1 2-max (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of active players : 2
Seat 1: bella bola ( 1,976 )
Seat 2: Punterz08 ( 2,024 )
Tourney Level:1 Blinds(10/20-(no ante))
Punterz08 posts small blind [10]
bella bola posts big blind [20]
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Punterz08 [ Ad, Qc, As, 3s ]
Punterz08 raises to [60]
bella bola raises to [180]
Punterz08 raises to [540]
bella bola calls [360]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 5s, 6c, Ks ]
bella bola checks
Punterz08 bets [810]
bella bola goes all-in
bella bola raises to [1,436]
Punterz08 calls [626]
** Showdown **
bella bola shows [ 5d, Jd, 5c, Ac ]
Punterz08 shows [ Ad, Qc, As, 3s ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Kh ]
** Dealing River ** [ Qs ]
** Hand Conclusion **
bella bola wins 3,952 from main pot with full house, Fives full of Kings
************ Game 463041740 ends ************

***** Betfair Poker Hand History for Game 463108627 *****
PL Omaha $200 Buy-in + $10 Entry Fee, Level:1 Blinds(10/20-(no ante)) - Monday, January 05, 23:26:23 GMT 2009
$200+$10 PL Omaha #2524656
Table 1 2-max (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of active players : 2
Seat 1: bella bola ( 1,270 )
Seat 2: Punterz08 ( 1,730 )
Tourney Level:1 Blinds(10/20-(no ante))
Punterz08 posts small blind [10]
bella bola posts big blind [20]
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Punterz08 [ 7h, Ad, 9h, As ]
Punterz08 raises to [60]
bella bola raises to [180]
Punterz08 raises to [540]
bella bola raises to [900]
Punterz08 raises to [1,260]
bella bola goes all-in
bella bola raises to [1,270]
Punterz08 calls [10]
** Showdown **
bella bola shows [ Qh, Kc, Tc, Js ]
Punterz08 shows [ 7h, Ad, 9h, As ]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 4d, 2d, Qc ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 5c ]
** Dealing River ** [ Kd ]
** Hand Conclusion **
bella bola wins 2,540 from main pot with two pair, Kings and Queens


O well that is poker, thems the breaks. Now I have had an awful day yet still ended up several thousand up so it is not that bad. The $1,000 game curse won't be beaten by me but I won't play them again. Usually I lose to Italian players in the $1,000 games. It is made stranger by the fact that six months ago a brand new account was made and playing me in $750 games. The person was from Italy and asked me to up stakes to $1,000. The difference between $750 and $1,000 is minimal and this seems like a weird request. Anyways I won 6-0 in $750s and lost 5-0 in $1,000s! One day I am sure something will happen to shed more light onto this as I am not the only person who has had this problem. Thats enough for now, off to squeeze a few more games in before bed.