A Few Things and POKER!

When is enough enough....ethanol anyone? Funny thing is, GM makes an ethanol car and sells it to Brazil who runs almost exclusively on ethanol. I am all for Hybrids but come on, are lobbyist in the US Gov't that strong? Probably, so the next thing will be how high will it go I guess.


Just a small note, been working out in the yard, LOVING IT STILL! Will let you know when it gets old (LOL)

Played in a couple events. A tournament put on by a friends forum, finished 5th! Then last night I played the 72os freerolltour event, skipped a season so been a while, finished 12th! So with some of the rust off I was really considering the Dirty Dozen Jackpot Sit N Go at Titan Poker.
Only $2 and win 4 straight you get $2,000. They have higher Jackpot Sit N Go's but hey, have to start somewhere. I am not much of a tournament player, rather sit at a cash game and grind it out for my money but some of these are getting tempting and look fun, so its worth a try!

I got Dan Harrington's second book. I really like it, just as good as the first one. Of course now I am re-reading first one so it all makes sense again. This time reading is a little better. I get a drink, lay out in hammock, read three or four pages, fall asleep, wake up in time to get kids from school, repeat next day. At this rate, be done by Christmas! I LOVE SPRING TIME!

I have a couple new projects on the horizon, non poker related and I am still finding it hard to focus on poker. Last night was fun though, I did find out I missed it. There has been much written about playing online poker for a living. I have even posted a few words on it.

It's a job, and like must jobs it gets boring, tedious and just not fun anymore. There is no sick leave, vacation plan or 401K. If you don't play, you don't get paid. I knew that going in though, and I deal with it mostly.

I think my main problem is "getting back to work". I haven't play for any consistant amount of time in months and I need to. It is a mental hump I need to get over. Something always is coming up but I use to work it around playing, now it is the other way around and I time runs out before I get to play. Maybe I need Theory of Poker under my pillow for support will I sleep. HAHA may try that.

Anyway, I will start seeing you at the tables!

Till Next Time!

Fun and Sun

Just got back from a week at the beach! That was gooood relaxing. LOL!!


Beach was nice - ocean was COLD!
Room was great with jacuzzi tub and ocean front view.
Heated swimming pools and hot tub to boot.

I was looking forward to coming back though. There is truly no place like home. (Minus the pool, hot tub and ocean)



Above you will see "Sandville" (Yep, 7 of us and that was the best name we could get)
This was our first family vacation in about 3 years I guess. I even impressed my 13 year old, and for those with kids, you know that is not easy! So I will mark this one down as a successful outing.

I am still real busy with freeroll site, PFT and WAC and the emails are piled up so will spend next day or so sorting them out but really want to concentrate on Titan Poker's bonus. (100% up to $500 using code TeamPFT)

So, there is poker in my future right after Easter. I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday and see you at the tables!


Till Next Time!

I need some blogger help!

OK, it all started with some friends needing help with some forums and ended up as WAC.

We are offering some free services:

Forum Builders
Article submissions for back links
SEO Tools
Link exchanges
and have more ideas coming


Here is were I need someones help here in the blogger community. I you can tell by old posts and lately, lack of posts, I use this media to express ideas, get things off my chess and is mainly for release and some of my poker learnings along the way. Of course with three websites now and managing a 4th and very active in a 5th, time will be dwendling but I beleive that this blog will help me maintain some sane"ness".

Since WAC is not a players forum, I would like for someone to contact me at support@webaffiliatecreators.com about submitting an article about successful marketing and profiting from a blog. I want to be able to offer bloggers a voice in the forum directly to the affiliate programs.

Besides the obvious linking process, how else would a site like mine help bring affiliates and bloggers in the same circle. How can we help? Since I have had this experience here, would a thread in the marketing category for just bloggers be a benefit? Would it get used?

Let me know. WAC had not been officially launched yet but will be this week or beginning of next. Already getting great participation.

Bloggers....let me know IF this is something that might help!


Till Next Time!

P.S. Me - Playing Poker - LOL!

Sun and Done!

Cleared it.

By my calculations it was 12 hours and I only played 1 table at a time mostly. did open up a second when the tables got tight, but less than 2 hours of two tabling.

I'm was impressed by the speed in which it went. My first time playing at Sun Poker and I liked it. It's cryptologic so pretty much the same as all the others so it is probably because I won and cleared bonus that I liked it so much! I will be going to Titan next and get the 100% up to $500 (Bonus code:TEAMPFT500). I haven't played too much there (couple freerolls) so really not sure of the game selection.

Hopefully some PL Omaha H/L, really is a raked hand consumer of a game! Look me up at the tables!

I guess I will now continue to wait for the pin from Ecash for Sun Poker. Thats about the only part I really hate but at least it is a one time deal. Then wait for the calendar month to turn and go at it again.

I will keep eveyone informed about how the Titan bonus clears.

Till Next Time!

Poker Poker Poker

I'm playing regular again. Since Poker Freeroll Tour is having their tournaments at Sun Poker and Titan Poker , I thought I would start clearing the bonus and qualifying for the big freerolls.

Sun Poker won the coin flip and I am clearing bonus there now. Been real easy so far. It is a cryptologic site so it is $40 a month bonus for 200 MPP's and $50 first deposit for $250 MPP's. SO $90 for clearing 250 MPP's on first deposit. I have played this weekend for about 7 hours all together and have 175 MPP's already. Will clear $40 tonight and rest tomorrow I am sure.

Playing mostly $25 PL Omaha H/L. Find that Omaha H/L clears bonuses a lot faster because of the tendency to limp more; it gets more raked hands in. Also good game because no one plays it right but most think they do! Just clearing bonus and making money!!!

The forum has a bonus code for Titan (TEAMPFT500) that will get me 100% up to $500 so I will be there a while longer I am sure. The Titan forum freeroll is in April but this month if you clear 250 raked hands at Sun Poker you qualify to play a $500 freeroll at end of March. I'll be there for that.

It is hard to explain but I feel comfortable again. I'm in the house, everything is settled down and I'm more relaxed. Moving back home was a good move but when we first came back we stayed with my mom in her apartment. It wasn't to cramped but tight all the same. I knew all along we were going to move again as we were all looking for a house. The plan was to find something big enough for all of us and mom would stay with us. So never really felt comfortable at apartment. Just never seemed settled because the "other" move was always looming I guess. Now, everything seems right again. Hopefully this will turn into better playing time.

To be such an easy conceptual game, poker has a lot of idiosyncrasies. (DUH!) Being comfortable in the environment you play in never was at the forefront of my mind playing online. Your home mostly playing poker, pretty relaxed and comfortable environment. Now I realize that even though I didn't consciously experience it, I wasn't really comfortable at the apartment so I never felt like playing. The computer was upstairs, in the bedroom, away from everyone and isolated. Now my wife would say that was the perfect environment for me but that is another story all together. I am in the living room now and the den is next door and everyone is in the same area at night when I play. It makes a difference that I didn't think was possible. I guess it was just more obvious to me playing live that being uncomfortable and nervous in your surroundings could cost you money, just never related it to online. I told you it was hard to explain!

I will be a Sun Poker for next couple days and then off to Titan. Let you know about the Titan bonus when I get there.

Till Next Time!

WOW

Been a long time since I have had anything to say. Well, not true but has been a while since I have taken the time to write it down. Pretty sure no one is interested in my "other life" besides poker, but I will get to it all in due time.

The new house is great, it is now getting to be warmer and I am beginning to do a little yard work. I know for some it is a dread and by the end of the summer it will be for me also but for now, after apartment living for 6+ months, having a yard is great! This one was vacant for a while before we came so have some (a lot) of raking to do. Just having an excuse for Lowes and Home Depot is good enough for me!

Recently came back from Atlantic City. Played poker mostly at the Sands. Arrived Friday and they had a $20 + $10 tournament. I finished 60ish out of 135 and don't feel I played to badly in my first live tournament. Went card dead BAD and nothing ever came around.

Went to a $1/$2 NL cash game and made a killing. I had a friend who came back from Vegas and said the table play was worst than anything you would see online. If you just sat there till you got THE hand you could make money. I thought that was a bit of an exaggeration but come to find out..NOT! Of course there was exceptions and you saw who they were pretty quick but for the most part, the fish were biting. One weekend doesn't make for a solid scientific defense of this theory I know. If I hadn't made money ALL weekend, maybe I would chalk it up to an anomaly but it was the truth all weekend. If I could have stayed away from the other games, would have brought home a lot more money! As it was I had a great time, and brought home money. Since there are little junkets from here going about every other weekend, think I will make it a habit to keep going up. Besides, if Congress has its way, maybe only way to go real soon!

So to put this in chronological order for those trying to keep up: I moved, went to Atlantic City, got the flu, gave it to the kids, took care of the kids and now everyone is back to school and work. So let’s play poker! I still think I am going to stick to my guns this time and stay with the NL end. With my new forum getting busier, I will start this at Sun Poker and Titan Poker since most of my tournaments will be held there over the next few months.

Funny how time has a way of dulling goals and motivations. It wasn't long ago I was talking about my schedule and sticking to it and the problems I was having staying focused and working all them out. Now, it is getting back into the routine that is the big issue. I am finding it easier to come up with the "Why I can get started tomorrow" excuses than actually doing something. I think once I finally start, i will be OK. Of course I got the estimate on getting the side door fixed on my Van today so that just might be enough to get me motivated again...OUCH!

Not enough to start now though! I am going to hit some golf balls on this first fabulous day of the year here. 70+ degrees! I will do better with the posts from now on that will also help me get going. Can't have a very good poker blog if there is no poker to write about. (As you can see)

Till Next Time!

And the Journey Begins...

I remember a while back, a long while back, a promised myself a walk on the no limit side. I think that time has come.

Moving on the 6th of February, so until after the dust settles, I am going to read the Harrington book's and SS2. Then I am going to the $25 NL tables and see if I can make it. Of course along with that come the tournaments. I do real well till it comes close to the end and either finish at the bubble or just inside the bubble. I have an apparent flaw and I am bound to find it.

So, I am off to learn and then try the NL side of the game. I have dabbled before but this will be my first real attempt to play more than just a few sessions. I hope it doesn't turn into a painful lesson.

Let's see....page 1

Till Next Time!

Got to Believe!

See, sometimes even giant creatures need a change in scenery. Doesn't mean you stop believing!!

Well, you guessed it. I have been real busy trying to get the forum off the ground but it seems to be working. I have another site interested in becoming a sponsor so will be expanding at the end of March. Thanks to all that have visited, it looks like I have some good members that are knowledgeable and willing to help so far.

Have added a few things to 4flush and the freeroll calendar and they have gotten a good response so far. It amazes me that I sit here with a goal to do this and update that and make sure this is posted and then look and the day is over. I even bought a digital recorder to keep track of everything. I like it! I even remembered my wife’s birthday!!

Good thing 72os Tour is on hiatus between seasons. If you haven’t signed up for Season 8 there is still time!

So that leaves my poker time and I can wrap that up pretty quick…NADA! Well, not exactly nada. I have played about 4 Omaha H/L SnG’s at AP. Won 1 and moneyed in two more…not bad ratio huh!! Nothing really big on that front but I have a good reason other than the above.

We have found a house to rent and come to find out she would like us to move Feb. 1st! Not a lot of time to think about it. We sign the lease Sunday. It is right down the road, I made an agreement that I would stay close to town if we can buy some land and move to the country upon our “Golden Years”. All agreed, but some how I think I will get screwed here.

So don’t stop believing, I will get to poker soon again. In the mean time, stop by the forum and say Hi! $100 members only freeroll Feb 28th just for doing so!

Till Next Time!

A Lot Happening!

I (4Flush.com) have teamed up with a new forum. You can find it at Poker Freeroll Tour and the forum directly here. What they have established is a forum that will reward your play at the sponsored sites by having big reward tournaments each month. The more players they get the better the monthly tournaments. Like pooling money for a big game, they are trying to pool players for bigger rewards.

Right now Sun Poker is the first sponsor and is offering a $100 freeroll for all new members on Feb. 28th at 20:15. Just sign up and you qualify. Next month there is a bigger freeroll planned with raked hands as a requirement for forum members. Pretty low requirement also. I like the idea, anyone can qualify each month for tournaments that you might not normally get a chance to play in.

Anyway, visit, comment, sign up and support. My freeroll calendar is linked as well as my site, hoping it will be something good.

Between that and 72os, guess I will be busy playing poker. What a great season 7 there this time. First and second seperated by 27 points. Play is for the most part great and the final tables are tough! I have been a part of that league since the beginning and it is fun to see the players getting better and better. I can see my tournment play getting a lot better also. Tournaments are not my bread and butter but playing at 72os had greatly increased my skill in them.

Yep, gonna be busy...this blog, 4Flush, PFT, 72os and oh yea, I have to play some poker also!

At least I will have plenty to talk about!

Till Next Time!

Thank You Interpoker

Back in Sept. I beleive, Interpoker ran a contest that for so many racked hands I got a cap and Super System 2. I like the cap, I were it occasionally but onto the book.

It is great. I am reading the limit section written by Jennifer Harman. It is not earth shattering as far as information about play. Tight is right! It is interesting to here her point of few on some situations as well as hands to play and how far to go with them. A small example is that she may one of the first I have seen that says lay down AKo on the flop MOST of the time in a multi way pot if you miss. As in everything poker "it depends" and she covers that but I like her approach here and with other examples that vary a little from popular views.

I haven't finished this section yet much less the whole book, but I like it so far. Get it, read it, you won't regret it.

Again I find myself having to concentrate on the aggressive side of my limit game. I have let that slide a little lately and it is showing. Have had some bad sessions in a row as of late but that it to be expected. I have been running extremely well. To the tune of about 7 bb's/hour over the last 3 1/2 weeks or so. It's about time for a variation swing I just don't want to introduce bad habits and losing aggressiveness is definately one I don't want to start messing with.

One of my goals this year is to stay on top of my poker. I had a lot going on towards the end of last year with moving back home, new computers, growth in my site and of course grandpa dying. It took a lot out of me as far as competitive spirit and drive. I want to stay on top of that this year and really work on progressing up the food chain a little. I am working on something that may help me do that by posting a starting dollar amount here and making myself update it daily. Of course I have done this before and it lasted about a week. Not real good at keeping up with stuff like that. I know it will not make for good reading so I will keep it in a small section and try not to make a big deal out of it.

Guess we'll see if I can keep up with it.


Till Next Time!

It's Up

I wrote this as a guide for beginners as well as a guide for players to "get back to basics". 72os thought enough of it to post it.

72os.com

Here is a sample:

PAY ATTENTION

There are only two things you have to pay attention to while playing limit holdem; yourself and the other players. That’s it, that’s all the
information you will need to play good limit holdem. So let’s start with the easy one first…..yourself.

Are you mentally ready to play the game?
Are you focused?
Have you set enough time to play a solid session?
Are there any distractions?

As you know, emotionally, poker is tough. The suck outs, unreal
calls, luck and just bad play can stress you to the maximum level in a short time. You have to be prepared for the inevitable and try to stay on as smooth an emotional level as possible. You never know when that next opportunity will arise to take advantage of bad play.

That is a lot easier said than done. Hand after hand of losing to pure dumb luck can work on a person. So during a session, re-evaluate yourself and make sure you are still emotionally “in the game”. If not, sit out a few hands, take a break, switch tables or whatever it will take to calm you enough to play solid poker again. Be honest with yourself, whether you have played 2 minutes or 2 hours, if you are getting emotionally out of control QUIT! From our example above, if you can lose an hour of profit from one misplayed hand, imagine what tilted play will cost you over the long term.

Till Next Time!

Ready to Go!

Holidays over and kids back to school. All things calming back down and normalizing again. Had a great Christmas. Got an Ipod Shuffle, new computer (FAST) and the WSOP PS2 game. My shuffle is full, my computer is humming and I have had some good finishes in the game BUT no bracelet! Still working on that one.

WOW - What a college football game last night. That is what the BCS has wanted for a loooong time. Finally a game that lived up to the hype. Helped I had a little money on Texas. Mr. Young is my new hero :), I ought to send him half.

NAAAAH

I am also writting a little article on limit poker that may get posted at 72os.com. If it does I will link it up. I am not a great communicator but I hope it is received well. As some of you know that have been around some, I like to ramble. Should be done with it this weekend, so we will see.

There has been a wrinkle introduced in my calm and cool waters of poker lately. I hope it is just the odd occurance but it seems that my $3/$6 game is getting creamed as soon as a sit down and I can't loose at $2/$4. As far as my Poker Tracker numbers go to the unreal good side at $2/$4 there are polar opposite at $3/$6. Uncanny and to be honest a little disturbing to see this numbers that are so out of norm being so consistent. So I fixed it, I quit playing $3/$6.

I know, not exactly a permanent fix. I will dive into the numbers and try to see if it just the way the planets are aligned or if I am doing something terribly wrong at $3/$6. Right now I am just enjoying the feeling of Superman at the $2/$4 tables. We all know that will not last so I am basking while I can.

Looking forward to a great 2006. Plan on a couple trips to A.C. and hopefully at least one to Vegas to meet some bloggers. Playing live at a weekly home game now and though it may not be the big time, I am practicing on staying calm and keeping my tells down to a minimum. Thats is when I haven't started taking shots and continue to do so every 1/2 hour till the game is over. Man, that next morning sucked. Been a long time since I have had a night or morning like that.

Till Next Time!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year All!

Just to keep mine on a positive note I am quitting poker for the rest of the year.

Last day of 2005 SUCKED!

45 minute session:

KK four times in 7 hands - Won 1
Best hand on flop 8 times - Beat on Turn 7
Best hand on Turn 16 times - Won 3

All in all, 2005 was a great year for poker. Made more this year than last which is always good. Think I have made some strides in the understanding of the game and thankfully there are still plenty fish in the sea and I am not the smallest one. Granted I am not the biggest either but I am growing.

I hope everyone has a great and SAFE New Year's Eve and see ya next year!

Merry Christmas

Hope everyone has a great Christmas. For some neat stories about the Vegas blogger trip, read some of the people on my blog roll. Looks like all had another great time.

I have had a couple downturns where variance has caught up with me but overall still up good and playing good poker. I must pause and pat myself on the back for some great patience shown lately after what was an abnormally great run of cards started to get caught on the river by some not so abnormal bad play. The best was when one player called three bets blind versus my AA with 64 sooooted and hitting runner runner flush to beat my set. I could only laugh though and ended up getting even with him later with another set that busted him so all was right in the universe again.

The holidays have consumed most of my time lately. I love Christmas time but I hate shopping, go figure! I have done well this year, I'm done with all the shopping and I haven't given one early gift yet! That is a weakness of mine. Go get the perfect gift and end up shopping again at the last moment because I cracked and gave it early.

The only "down" about this year is that my 8 year old finally figured out Santa. Damn school system. It was a good run though huh? 8 years old before he figured it all out. He was cool though, he still sent a letter to Santa and told me he was just "making sure". I about died laughing. I can't wait, I think I am worst than the kids. I know I am getting an Ipod (I picked it out) and the new Chris Ferguson WSOP game for PS2. With my son getting the PSP, I might just sit down Christmas day and shuffle me up some tunes and win a bracelet!

Speaking of winning, I play at what is turning out to be a regular Friday night game with some family and friends. $10 tournament with anywhere between 9-16 players on any given night. I have had numerous third and second place finishes and finally broke through with a win Friday. I told them about the Head Hunter tournaments at JetSet and everyone brought $2 extra for their bounty. I ended up taking out 5 and winning it all. Not a bad little pay day.

Well I guess that is it, maybe till after Christmas.

Happy Holidays everyone and Be Careful!

Till Next Time!

What a Run!

Ok, while must of you were living it up in Vegas (hint of jealousy), I have literally been doing no wrong for about a month. I am up HUGE!. What do I contribute it to?

A little bit to the fact that I understand what I am doing better, a little bit more because I am playing well, a bit more because I am getting hit in the face with the deck every other session and A LOT more because of luck.

Understanding - I am laying down second best hands and rarely been wrong.
Playing Well - Hammering strong hands on missed flops and forcing folds.
Hit with deck - Unbeleivable starting hands holding up over and over.
Luck - Me (KsQh) Opponent (KdQs) both flop a inside straight draw and the 4th spade hits on the river. :)

In the same vain as not boring you with bad beat stories, I will not bore you with top pair holding up on flush boards. I will leave you with this joke my mother-in-law sent me:

The Bridge


A man walking along a SanFrancisco, beach was deep in prayer. Suddenly, the sky clouded above his head and, in a booming voice, the Lord said, "Because you have TRIED to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish." The man said, "Build a bridge from SanFrancisco to Hawaii, so that I can drive over anytime I want." The Lord said, "Your request is very materialistic. Think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking. The supports for the bridge required to reach the bottom of the Pacific! The concrete and steel it would take! It will nearly exhaust several natural resources. I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time and think of something that would honor and glorify me."

The man thought about it for a long time. Finally he said, "Lord, I wish that I could understand my wife. I want to know how she feels inside, what she's thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries for no reason, what she means when she says nothing's wrong, why she is sniping at me for no reason, why she is all anger one moment and all love the next, and
how I can make her truly happy?." The Lord replied without pausing for a moment, "You want two lanes or four on that bridge from SanFrancisco to Hawaii?"

Till Next Time!

Winning and Losing

Winning ang losing is a constant battle for poker players. Running bad or good, playing well or not, is it just variance, all come up in one way or another. This is a VERY good read in my opinion on the subject posted on 2+2. I like some of the points this player makes:

We poker players always think we are better than we actually are. We think we are farther along than we actually are. That is why losses hit us so hard. We think we are invincible. We don’t “deserve” to lose. Well guess what, everyone deserves everything they get in poker. Luck doesn’t exist in the long term. If you lose over a proper sample size it’s because you didn’t have the edge you thought you had.

I think this was well said and overlooked must of the time by most players. Everyone seems to understand "the long term" but most miss the point about losing over a sample size. This is where varience seems to catch the most flack. Variance is a part of poker life but you can still work to control how big a swing it is.

Winning at poker is dangerous. Very dangerous. We are all more results oriented than we think we are. We think if we win its because we were supposed to, and when we lose its because of variance.

The fact is that good and bad runs will come and are you good enough to take advantage of them both. It takes a lot of study time for both. Did I get the max value out of my cards during the good run and did I lose the minimum amunt during the bad run.

Losing is a part of winning. Throughout the long streaks, where the right-most column in your spreadsheet will keep reading “0,” you have to be able to be objective. Don’t assume you are playing bad, but don’t assume its only variance. The only way you can know what it is, is to be super critical with yourself. Even when you are playing well, you will make stupid plays, but how often?

This is where I need the most work at. Studying my play during the good runs. I think we all tend to take too much credit in the good run and forget to look back and see the tiny mistakes that missed us a bet here and a bet there. Maybe the hand that we made a "good fold on" that had the pot odds to go on with and we would have won with on the river. Didn't matter much at the time because we where up big but when the ugly end of variance raises its head, those bets here and there and pots dropped will make a difference. If you stop and think that 1-2 BB/hour is the average, it doesn't take that big a mistake to wipe out a whole hour of work.

Studying during the bad runs is probably what most players do normally. Even then I think we sway towards studying the unbeleivable draws that came in against us and trying to figure out where it went wrong. Not only will that happen but I am glad it does. That's how money is made. I need to study harder the hands that I played wrong altogether and start working on those areas.

I could probably ramble about this forever. Most subjects that hit close to home I can ramble on about. Go read the article, it was a great look inside a poker players summer.

Till Next Time

Peaceful Easy Feeling

….and I feel better about my limit hold'em game now than I ever have, and I know I'm learning again, which is fantastic.

-EV

In a zone, focused, on a run or whatever you want to call it, I’m there. I’d like to think that –EV nailed it though. Though I have had more winning sessions than losing, I can not honestly say I am winning more than my fair share. I am winning at an alarming BB an hour rate that will eventually level itself out for sure. There is a difference though in my game. What do I think it is? I have come to an understanding.

I am not as articulate as Hank, or a good communicator like Pauly, or the master of the uber-post or even good under So-Co. That’s why I like this blog. It makes me try to put into words what I have learned and I think I am getting better at it.

I have reached another plateau in my poker career. This one came quietly and without much fan fair or fireworks. I didn’t wake up and say “A HA!” or shout from the mountain top. To be up front about it, I missed it all together. I can not tell you when it happened but ironically can tell you it happened while I was not playing poker a lot.

All the information I have put into my head has finally gelled together into a usable mass of information. I finally have a solid foundation of the poker basics I can call on when I need it. I found this out over the last couple weeks when I would not only make a certain play but I caught myself explaining to myself why this play was the right play. I found that the hands I would put my opponents on were getting more specific and I am getting more accurate.

It as taken me over a year to confidently write this and get to this comfort level but I can now say I am top 1 or 2 at every limit table I sit at in my level. Looking back, I can see that I pushed limits a little to fast. Though I am not sure anyone could have told me any different at the time, but I will agree that money is not the only reason you move up limits.

I wish I could say that is that but we all know it doesn’t work that way. I believe now I am ready for more information and to expand my horizons a bit more. I know I have higher limits to obtain. As –EV said, I am learning again, which is fantastic!

Till Next Time!

Dynamically Speaking

I started my time back to poker at Pacific Poker like I said before, because it was new to me and I wanted to come back to something new and different. Having no Pacific hands in Poker Tracker and starting fresh, I bought the $10 Hand Grabber program for Pacific and started to go to work. Also found out I could data mine with the Hand Grabber program which came in real helpful!

I started at $1/$2 and had a big winning streak right off the bat. I then decided to move up to the $2/$4 tables and my winning streak continued until recently and the “leveling off’ begun. I was at a ~7 BB pace for 700+ hands so I knew it was coming. After studying my play, I decided that it was still solid and improving so I moved up to $3/$6 which I was at before I took my hiatus. Currently up at the $3/$6 level.

I am telling you that story so I can tell you about this observation. While playing and data mining at the $1/$2 level, I would play with 3-4 auto rated “fish” at every table. Sprinkle in a couple Taz’s (Loose/Aggressive), a good player and the rest calling stations.

Moving up to $2/$4 I expected a little better play and got just that, a little. Take out a Taz and add an eagle and that was it. Fish population seemed to stay the same. The last table had 6 auto rated fish at it! That was tooo many. Everyone was drawing at something at that table. I should have left….’nuff said.

Moving up to $3/$6 I really expected a bump up in play. I just left a table with 3 fish, 2 Taz and a calling station. Made good money and the reads are easy.

Funny how there was an exponential rise in table minimums and table pots but the table dynamic stayed the same through 3 levels. Every now and then a thread will pop up or article will appear that suggests the boom is over and poker is diminishing in numbers. I’m no expert and can not argue either side of that point. I can comment on my little sample and say that there are still plenty of people out there willing to throw away money to a decent player with a little patience.

For all those mired in the micro limits working there way up and saying, “Can’t wait to play higher so people will not call my raises with crap”, wish on. It is happening here also. By the way, that is terrible logic, but that will be another post. There are plenty here willing to call $6+ on any two soooooted and ANY draw. That’s why we play poker though.

So tonight as I close the books and tally up the score (in my favor this time), I raise a glass to all of those that called my value raises versus my nut hands and called me down with ace high. I salute you for missing that gut shot though you paid dearly for it and just falling short with that bottom pair. I know tomorrow is another day and you will be armed and ready to battle again, so until then………Thank You!


Till Next Time!

Empire Strikes Back

I can sum up last nights session like this:

Fold 25 straight hands
Get a hand and miss flop
Fold 25 straight hands
Get a hand and miss flop
Fold 25 straight hands
Get a hand and get sucked out
Win a small pot
Repeat for 4 hours


So to not bore you to death, looks like Empire wants to strike back!

Empire Online sues PartyGaming
By Miles Costello

Internet gaming website Empire Online has acrimoniously cancelled takeover talks with PartyGaming and launched a legal action against the operator of PartyPoker after it ringfenced its customers from rival sites.

Empire Online, which runs Empirepoker.com, said it had "terminated discussions" with PartyGaming after the group came back to the company with a second takeover proposal "at a level that cannot be recommended".

Having initially tabled an all-share offer that valued Empire Online at 10 per cent of an enlarged group - approximately £400 million - Empire said PartyGaming "made a revised proposal that is significantly different both in terms of the price and structure".

Although Empire did not state the level of PartyGaming's offer - which it said came after "a protracted due diligence process and continued delays in the timetable" - the second tilt was almost half the first and also contained a cash element.

PartyGaming later confirmed its offer for the business and assets of Empire Online was worth roughly 60p a share, valuing the company at about £175 million.

Of the proposed legal action it said: "To the extent that any action is forthcoming, PartyGaming is highly confident of a successful outcome."

John Shepherd, director of corporate communications at PartyGaming, added: "They're clutching at straws."

But as it pledged to investigate "commercial strategic opportunities" and reiterated its profits targets after the collapse of the talks, Empire said it planned "to institute and vigorously pursue legal proceedings" against PartyGaming.

This comes five weeks after PartyGaming took steps to end its formal links with its "skins" - the websites such as Empire Online that make money by directing gambling traffic to its group websites.

"The directors of Empire Online have explored whether legal action might be taken ... in relation to damage caused to it by the conduct of companies within the PartyGaming group in separating the poker system used by PartyGaming players from that of its skins," Empire said.

"Having received legal advice, the directors intend to institute and vigorously pursue legal proceedings as soon as possible."

It has already warned that profits for the full year will fall by 10 per cent as a result of PartyGaming's move.

Empire, led by chief executive Noam Lanir, said it has received several "commercial strategic approaches" over the past few months and said it would pursue talks with the parties involved, which it did not name. It said its strategy in relation to Empirepoker.com would depend on the outcome of any legal action against PartyGaming.

It said that its businesses that have no relationship with PartyGaming, including Club Dice and Noble Poker, are on course to make profits after tax of about $37 million (£21.5 million).

It said profits at Empire Poker, which as a poker website does have a relationship with PartyGaming, "could be impacted" by the commercial changes and by the outcome of the proposed lawsuit.

Just last week, PartyGaming redrew its relationships with its other skins - parting company with Coral Eurobet and effectively buying out Multipoker.com and IntertopsPoker.com.

Shares in Empire Online dropped nearly 5 per cent (down 3p) to 60.5p in early deals. PartyGaming lost 1.5p (a fall of more than 1.5 per cent) to 96.5p

Till Next Time!

Still Going!

Just like the bunny.

Pacific has been great so far. I am about half way through with the wagering requirements and really have nothing bad to say about the site other than you can not multi table.

I have had the losing sessions and the bad beats (One two outer on river and one 94 sooooted calling my three bet cold vs. AA only to flop 4x4) All in all though I am up and the site is paying off well. You will definately need the stomach for it though. I must say I like my little fish bowl!

Bet365 is having a $25K freeroll on the 26th of November at 15:00. Entry is free, there are no raked hands requirements and there are cash prizes for the top 1000 places. 10,000 max entrants but the winner gets $3,000. Probably a huge crap shoot till first break but how do you not try this for free!

Saw this this weekend...hmmmm, someone is getting fired!

Coupon Misprints Could Cost Casino Millions

JOLIET, Ill. -- A misprint may end up costing an Illinois casino millions of dollars.Harrah's Joliet Casino said there was a mistake in about 11,000 coupons mailed to customers last week. Instead of being worth $15 or $20 apiece, each had a face value of $525 in cash. The company blames the error on a third-party vendor.Dozens of gamblers crowded Harrah's customer service desk on Friday, and got angry when the casino refused to redeem the coupons. Customers were encouraged to trade the coupons for reward points. Some did, but others decided to keep their slips of paper.The Illinois Gaming Board ruled that Harrah's must honor the coupons. All told, the company could be liable for as much as $5.8 million.

Hope all had a great weekend!


Till Next Time!