This is going to be a short post just to say Happy New Year and I'm back from my annual "Tour of the Family" holiday advenuture.
Did get the new Rounders DVD, so it wasn't a bad christmas!
It's time to go to work on the new 2005 goals. So let the grinding begin! I hope all had a wonderfull holiday and look forward to a great year of poker.
Got to finish up $70 at AP so I will be there till it is done.
See you at the tables!!
Friday, December 31, 2004
Friday, December 24, 2004
What a Year!
I started playing poker in February and I still consider myself a newbie. I have worked my bankroll up from the .25/.50 limit to currently $2/$4. (Hopefully $3/$6 soon). I owe a lot of what I have learned from the book Internet Texas Holdem and ITH site. A lot of people there have allowed me the luxury of avoiding mistakes made by most new poker players and I owe them a lot.
I have learned much since February but I narrowed it down to the top 8:
1) Each limit is its own entity. When moving up, your game has to adjust and change with each level. There is an adjustment period and you must have a bankroll and mindset to withstand the new learning period.
2) You will not win all the time or lose all the time. Don’t get to over confident with your good runs or to far down during the bad runs. The long run is all that matters and just keep making the right decisions
3) Your goals should not be short termed monetarily based. You shouldn’t set yourself up to make X amount a day or hour. Stretch it out and concentrate more on the proper way to play and not how much you make.
4) Don’t take the game too serious. Keep an even keel during play and what happens at the tables stays at the tables. Don’t let a bad session bleed over to your every day life.
5) Don’t keep extending a bad session “to get even”. Some nights are not your night, except it and leave. This was a hard lesson that cost me much before I realized that tomorrow was another chance to play.
6) Play within your bankroll. I use 300 bb as a standard. This goes hand in hand with #1. No matter how good a run your on, the odds will catch up and you need to be prepared.
7) You can never stop learning. There are many nuances to the game and once you get the basics down, more of the game will be uncovered.
8) Maximize your wins and minimize your loses. I know this sounds simple buy 1 bb won or lost over the long run can add up to thousands. If you play 300 hands of $1/$2 a night and miss 1 bb in half those hands that’s $300 a night lost. In the same vain, 1 bb saved is like a bb won.
What I want to work on:
1) Studying my own game and working on finding my leaks and plugging them. I will devote 1 hour a day to studying my play in poker tracker.
2) Make the most of my table experience by studying others when I am not in a hand. Try to read hands and understand betting patterns of other players.
3) Being more aggressive and fully understand that winning a small pot is better than winning NO pot.
4) Put together a bonus chasing plan together that is feasible and the bankroll to chase separate from my day to day bankroll. I will put this in place by March 2005 with $500 bonus chasing bankroll and a day to day bankroll to play $3/$6.
5) Keep the fun in the game.
6) Start the process of playing and understanding NL.
There is so much more that I learned but hard to quantify them all. There is so much more I need to work on but that will be another time.
Thanks to all that have helped me along the way by posting, answering questions and just being there. Thanks in advance to all that will be there in the future.
Here's to 2005 and another great year!!
I have learned much since February but I narrowed it down to the top 8:
1) Each limit is its own entity. When moving up, your game has to adjust and change with each level. There is an adjustment period and you must have a bankroll and mindset to withstand the new learning period.
2) You will not win all the time or lose all the time. Don’t get to over confident with your good runs or to far down during the bad runs. The long run is all that matters and just keep making the right decisions
3) Your goals should not be short termed monetarily based. You shouldn’t set yourself up to make X amount a day or hour. Stretch it out and concentrate more on the proper way to play and not how much you make.
4) Don’t take the game too serious. Keep an even keel during play and what happens at the tables stays at the tables. Don’t let a bad session bleed over to your every day life.
5) Don’t keep extending a bad session “to get even”. Some nights are not your night, except it and leave. This was a hard lesson that cost me much before I realized that tomorrow was another chance to play.
6) Play within your bankroll. I use 300 bb as a standard. This goes hand in hand with #1. No matter how good a run your on, the odds will catch up and you need to be prepared.
7) You can never stop learning. There are many nuances to the game and once you get the basics down, more of the game will be uncovered.
8) Maximize your wins and minimize your loses. I know this sounds simple buy 1 bb won or lost over the long run can add up to thousands. If you play 300 hands of $1/$2 a night and miss 1 bb in half those hands that’s $300 a night lost. In the same vain, 1 bb saved is like a bb won.
What I want to work on:
1) Studying my own game and working on finding my leaks and plugging them. I will devote 1 hour a day to studying my play in poker tracker.
2) Make the most of my table experience by studying others when I am not in a hand. Try to read hands and understand betting patterns of other players.
3) Being more aggressive and fully understand that winning a small pot is better than winning NO pot.
4) Put together a bonus chasing plan together that is feasible and the bankroll to chase separate from my day to day bankroll. I will put this in place by March 2005 with $500 bonus chasing bankroll and a day to day bankroll to play $3/$6.
5) Keep the fun in the game.
6) Start the process of playing and understanding NL.
There is so much more that I learned but hard to quantify them all. There is so much more I need to work on but that will be another time.
Thanks to all that have helped me along the way by posting, answering questions and just being there. Thanks in advance to all that will be there in the future.
Here's to 2005 and another great year!!
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
The Chase is Still On
Thanks mostly to the excellent posting at Chris Halverson's Blog I will be chasing my $3/$6 goal and another bonus after all.
Going to The Gaming Club in the am and work on it. If my math is right I need 1500 hands to clear and if I two table and average 70 hands an hour, looking at about 4 1/2 hours a day and clearing in three days. I've got the time, and if I split it up some I think it is attainable.
I'll be leaving for my parents house Monday after Christmas for 4 days so I have to get this clear by then. Even with taking Christmas day off totally, I still should be able to get it done.
Still trying to get Absolute Poker bonus cleared but since it doesn't expire, I will put it on the back burner again the get TGC.
It's been a good "almost" year playing poker(I started in Feb). I will be writting a post in the next day or two on what I have learned and what I still have to work on along with 2005 goals. Been interesting looking at old forum posts of mine and seeing the progression in thought patterns as well as progression in bankroll. I realized that there are a lot of people that answered questions that I have to thank for removing some of the pitfalls I may have gotten into.
Hopefully, it will be an entertaining read.
Till then,
Going to The Gaming Club in the am and work on it. If my math is right I need 1500 hands to clear and if I two table and average 70 hands an hour, looking at about 4 1/2 hours a day and clearing in three days. I've got the time, and if I split it up some I think it is attainable.
I'll be leaving for my parents house Monday after Christmas for 4 days so I have to get this clear by then. Even with taking Christmas day off totally, I still should be able to get it done.
Still trying to get Absolute Poker bonus cleared but since it doesn't expire, I will put it on the back burner again the get TGC.
It's been a good "almost" year playing poker(I started in Feb). I will be writting a post in the next day or two on what I have learned and what I still have to work on along with 2005 goals. Been interesting looking at old forum posts of mine and seeing the progression in thought patterns as well as progression in bankroll. I realized that there are a lot of people that answered questions that I have to thank for removing some of the pitfalls I may have gotten into.
Hopefully, it will be an entertaining read.
Till then,
Since we cannot know all that there is to be known about anything, we ought to know a little about everything.
Blaise Pascal
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
2 down 1 to go!
Knocked out Ultimate Bet and Interpoker bonuses. I will work on clearing AP tonight. Cleared bonus +++ at both sites so it was very profitable.
Found this at ITH Forum about Full Tilt:
So I'm backing up again LOL!. Have a friend that said he will be depositing on Wednesday so I will wait and see how it goes.
My bankroll is a healthy $1300 and need just $500 more to be $3/$6 at end of year. Multi tabling $1/$2 has had its advantages and I don't feel like I have been on a good run, just good cards at the right time. Been up at one table and up or even at the other or even between the two. (Not counting the great IP run Friday night). I don't think I can reach $500 doing what I'm doing without a bonus. Not in a position to get Party's because it would take a few days to get it all in Neteller. So it looks like a have a choice: Risk a bad run and multi at $2/$4 or do what I am doing and get as close as I can. Leaning towards $2/$4. Being on a decent win streak, its hard to make that jump up. If it aint broke......., but it seems like the right move so I will decide for sure tonight.
Confidence is a funny thing. I'm not sure if it is another level of understanding I am at or just over-confidence or ego. Guess it remains to be seen but I have been down, sometimes big, lately and "feel" that it if I keep playing solid poker that this table will pay me off. I have been right most of the time. Last night is a perfect example. Was playing 2 tables and around even at both when both the tables changed with some new players coming in and I started getting "sucked out" on, sets beat by river straights, set over set, ect. River was KILLING me. Was down $50 at one table and $20 at other and it was getting late. With bonus I was only down $50 which I could live with but something kept telling me to stay. So i decided to extend my evening and hands started to hold up, draws started to come in and ended up even for the night after another 1 1/2 hours. I beleive I have started to recognize table dynamics a little better. I wasn't tired so I didn't play past my level of concentration and I wasn't tilting because I had resigned to the fact that I would have to make that money up in next session. (I rarely "table" tilt. Now I cuss,scream and hollow at computer and IM buddies :) but never capped 72os UTG because "everyone else is getting lucky") I have also just left after session knowing that a come back just didn't seem possible.
It seems I have gotten to the next level in the trusting of my own game. I realize some nights are just "not my night" and sometimes solid poker will come through for you in the end. It's a interesting feeling sitting at a table, down, and knowing its just a matter of time before you get your run. I'm not talking about cards evening out eventually, I'm talking about getting goods cards and getting beat and knowing, sometimes to the player(s) who I am going to get payed off from!
Oh well, enough rambling.
See you at the tables!
Found this at ITH Forum about Full Tilt:
This bonus sounds good, but is nearly impossible to clear at low limits. I cleared $120 of the bonus and withdrew most of my money. Why? It took nearly 6100 hands to clear that $120. I played $1/$2 limit and four tabled most of the time. I had no problem finding a game, as there were normally 4-8 $1/$2 games going on at the same time. If you are going there for the bonus only, it is not worth it, unless you play higher limits
So I'm backing up again LOL!. Have a friend that said he will be depositing on Wednesday so I will wait and see how it goes.
My bankroll is a healthy $1300 and need just $500 more to be $3/$6 at end of year. Multi tabling $1/$2 has had its advantages and I don't feel like I have been on a good run, just good cards at the right time. Been up at one table and up or even at the other or even between the two. (Not counting the great IP run Friday night). I don't think I can reach $500 doing what I'm doing without a bonus. Not in a position to get Party's because it would take a few days to get it all in Neteller. So it looks like a have a choice: Risk a bad run and multi at $2/$4 or do what I am doing and get as close as I can. Leaning towards $2/$4. Being on a decent win streak, its hard to make that jump up. If it aint broke......., but it seems like the right move so I will decide for sure tonight.
Confidence is a funny thing. I'm not sure if it is another level of understanding I am at or just over-confidence or ego. Guess it remains to be seen but I have been down, sometimes big, lately and "feel" that it if I keep playing solid poker that this table will pay me off. I have been right most of the time. Last night is a perfect example. Was playing 2 tables and around even at both when both the tables changed with some new players coming in and I started getting "sucked out" on, sets beat by river straights, set over set, ect. River was KILLING me. Was down $50 at one table and $20 at other and it was getting late. With bonus I was only down $50 which I could live with but something kept telling me to stay. So i decided to extend my evening and hands started to hold up, draws started to come in and ended up even for the night after another 1 1/2 hours. I beleive I have started to recognize table dynamics a little better. I wasn't tired so I didn't play past my level of concentration and I wasn't tilting because I had resigned to the fact that I would have to make that money up in next session. (I rarely "table" tilt. Now I cuss,scream and hollow at computer and IM buddies :) but never capped 72os UTG because "everyone else is getting lucky") I have also just left after session knowing that a come back just didn't seem possible.
It seems I have gotten to the next level in the trusting of my own game. I realize some nights are just "not my night" and sometimes solid poker will come through for you in the end. It's a interesting feeling sitting at a table, down, and knowing its just a matter of time before you get your run. I'm not talking about cards evening out eventually, I'm talking about getting goods cards and getting beat and knowing, sometimes to the player(s) who I am going to get payed off from!
Oh well, enough rambling.
See you at the tables!
Monday, December 20, 2004
What a Feeling
Had a great weekend. For those of you who have followed me from the start, you should realize I am not a great NL player. I'm learning and using the freerolls as a practice grounds and I am starting to play some $5 MTT's. My goal next year is to become a good NL player.
With that being said, I had a MINOR (Real Minor) break through Saturday as I monied in the Bet 365 $5K freeroll.
Went like this: I am short stacked in 301st place(300 pay). I am forced all-in in the SB with A3o. I loose to A4o when he spikes a 4 on the river and I am out....in 300th! I win a womping $4.50. I figure I beat 1545 people and that is pretty good. At least something to build on for '05!
Limit: Cashed $200 out of Ultimate Bet and put into Interpoker. As you read I had a great day at IP and also added another $70 at UB (What cash out curse??). Played a little at Absolute Poker and added $25. All this and really didn't get to play a lot. That was really the only downer of the weekend.
Now a HAVE to clear these bonuses. IP and UB will not take long but looking at at least 2 solid days at AP. Really want to be at Full Tilt by Friday because I will be traveling back home week after Christmas so my playing time will be limited till New Year. So my goal is to wrap up all these loose ends this week.
Will write a year in review of my first year in poker along with '05 goals this week. It has been a wild ride but I have learned a lot.
Till Then:
With that being said, I had a MINOR (Real Minor) break through Saturday as I monied in the Bet 365 $5K freeroll.
Went like this: I am short stacked in 301st place(300 pay). I am forced all-in in the SB with A3o. I loose to A4o when he spikes a 4 on the river and I am out....in 300th! I win a womping $4.50. I figure I beat 1545 people and that is pretty good. At least something to build on for '05!
Limit: Cashed $200 out of Ultimate Bet and put into Interpoker. As you read I had a great day at IP and also added another $70 at UB (What cash out curse??). Played a little at Absolute Poker and added $25. All this and really didn't get to play a lot. That was really the only downer of the weekend.
Now a HAVE to clear these bonuses. IP and UB will not take long but looking at at least 2 solid days at AP. Really want to be at Full Tilt by Friday because I will be traveling back home week after Christmas so my playing time will be limited till New Year. So my goal is to wrap up all these loose ends this week.
Will write a year in review of my first year in poker along with '05 goals this week. It has been a wild ride but I have learned a lot.
Till Then:
Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.
Friday, December 17, 2004
Sequal..Better than 1st!
Congrats to Otis for getting what seems to be a fantastic gig.
After reading Chris's blog about the crypto bonuses I decided to go get the $100 from Interpoker.
Original Production:
First time at IP was a little culture shock for me. First, all the buttons were backwards! Got over that one rather quickly. Second, the play was a little more "loose" than I was used to and in my first session I lost KK to AA(he never bet out or raised), turned nut flush and lost to runner runner full house (K6o) and lost flopped full house to runner runner quads(and learned about unlimited raises when heads up). Down about 30 bb's in first session and wanted out bad! Went to 6 max tables the next night and just played out the bonus. Ended up 20 bb's + the bonus which eleviated some of the bad taste I had but hadn't been back.
Sequal:
So went back tonight to get $100 and see if I could hit the $10 KK bonus they were running. Was holding my own when I got KQo in BB. 3 limp and I see a free flop of KJQ(r). I bet all 3 call. Turn was a blank and I bet, all 3 call river was a 9 and I knew it was bad. I check 1 bet - 2 call and I fold. (YES FOLD! I knew it) ALL THREE HAD A TEN!. QTo (I understand)JTs(I understand)T6o(WTF!) and I think, 6 max and out again!
I was 2 tabling it and that put me about even for the night. Then...SMACK! What was that you ask? The deck...hitting me square in the face! AA at one table held up for a 5 bb pot, 2 hands later AA on other table held up for 10 bb's. KQs turned the nut straight and rivered the flush for 22 bb pot! And then KK! Yahoo...$10 bonus and won a 12 bb pot! Both tables hitting like crazy for about 25-30 hands. It cooled off which was expected and I quit after 3 hours with 1 bonus KK and 35 bb gain!
I knew one of these nights were coming. I could feel it. I know that may sound funnny but I have been playing good poker for about a week and making little gains here and there, so I knew the night was coming. So for one night, I am invincible. Tomorrow I will be Clark Kent again and start over.
Another thing Chris and I have in common is I have $48 more bonus to clear at Ultimate Bet , $100 more to clear at Absolute Poker and probably half done with Interpoker. One thing I don't like is that you have to either play till you get it or ask support how many hands you have. Think I may wait till $10 AA night to finish up there.
Then it is Full Tilt and I'm done bonus chasing for a while. Leaning towards Ultimate Bet as my home base and the factor that is swaying me is that I can use UB points to enter real money tourneys. 1300 UB points gets me in the $5 MTT they have every night, so thats about a weeks worth of points and allows me to play a MTT once a week for free.
Don't forget tomorrows Bet365 $5000 freeroll! I'll be there.
Thats about it for tonight:
After reading Chris's blog about the crypto bonuses I decided to go get the $100 from Interpoker.
Original Production:
First time at IP was a little culture shock for me. First, all the buttons were backwards! Got over that one rather quickly. Second, the play was a little more "loose" than I was used to and in my first session I lost KK to AA(he never bet out or raised), turned nut flush and lost to runner runner full house (K6o) and lost flopped full house to runner runner quads(and learned about unlimited raises when heads up). Down about 30 bb's in first session and wanted out bad! Went to 6 max tables the next night and just played out the bonus. Ended up 20 bb's + the bonus which eleviated some of the bad taste I had but hadn't been back.
Sequal:
So went back tonight to get $100 and see if I could hit the $10 KK bonus they were running. Was holding my own when I got KQo in BB. 3 limp and I see a free flop of KJQ(r). I bet all 3 call. Turn was a blank and I bet, all 3 call river was a 9 and I knew it was bad. I check 1 bet - 2 call and I fold. (YES FOLD! I knew it) ALL THREE HAD A TEN!. QTo (I understand)JTs(I understand)T6o(WTF!) and I think, 6 max and out again!
I was 2 tabling it and that put me about even for the night. Then...SMACK! What was that you ask? The deck...hitting me square in the face! AA at one table held up for a 5 bb pot, 2 hands later AA on other table held up for 10 bb's. KQs turned the nut straight and rivered the flush for 22 bb pot! And then KK! Yahoo...$10 bonus and won a 12 bb pot! Both tables hitting like crazy for about 25-30 hands. It cooled off which was expected and I quit after 3 hours with 1 bonus KK and 35 bb gain!
I knew one of these nights were coming. I could feel it. I know that may sound funnny but I have been playing good poker for about a week and making little gains here and there, so I knew the night was coming. So for one night, I am invincible. Tomorrow I will be Clark Kent again and start over.
Another thing Chris and I have in common is I have $48 more bonus to clear at Ultimate Bet , $100 more to clear at Absolute Poker and probably half done with Interpoker. One thing I don't like is that you have to either play till you get it or ask support how many hands you have. Think I may wait till $10 AA night to finish up there.
Then it is Full Tilt and I'm done bonus chasing for a while. Leaning towards Ultimate Bet as my home base and the factor that is swaying me is that I can use UB points to enter real money tourneys. 1300 UB points gets me in the $5 MTT they have every night, so thats about a weeks worth of points and allows me to play a MTT once a week for free.
Don't forget tomorrows Bet365 $5000 freeroll! I'll be there.
Thats about it for tonight:
I don't really trust a sane person.
Lyle Alzado
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Steady Progress
First: Vegas reports from the Blogger tournament. My favorite has been Maudie's. A three part story that was terrific. All the others were great too but you have to have a favorite. You can go to Iggy's to find links to all the reports.
Second: For those who visit my site, please take the time to go to the new and improved Poker Store for good deals on books, chips and more!
Been slow going with Ultimate Bets bonus but been going well. Up $100 with $50 to go on $100 bonus. Tonight was a test of my will and patience. Won $24 this afternoon and needed $7.25 to top the $100 win mark. So I sat down ready for a short session and early bed. NOPE! First big loss was K4s in BB. All fold and SB completes. Flop comes 4A4(r). Turn is T and river is 9. He caps river and turns over 94o for boat! Don't fault the play but that was just the beginning. Most of my good cards got smacked around and I will save you the gory details until I look down and find myself down 26 bb's. I decide enough is enough and I will fight again tomorrow. So I click off auto post and play out the remaining 7 hands. By the time the BB comes around I had won 5 of the seven "last" hands and found myself down only 15 bb's.
So I did the prudent thing. I stayed. Couple small wins in the next couple rounds see's me about 12 bb's back when I get TT back to back. One gets folded to me on turn with rag board, the other gets a raise from the BB and 4 see flop of 8TA(r). BB bets out and I just call to keep as many on board as possible. 2 fold and the turn is a 2 completing the rainbow. BB caps the turn and I begin to feel an AA ruining my comeback.(Just been one of those nights!) River is a 2 and he 3 bets, I wimp out and just call and he flips over 88! After one more round I leave dead even but felt good about it!
Everything has been a grind lately but at least I am finishing each night with small wins. It's time for a "deck in the face" night! Hadn't had one in a month. One of those that make you feel invincible. That would be a great way to end the week.
Until the next update:
Second: For those who visit my site, please take the time to go to the new and improved Poker Store for good deals on books, chips and more!
Been slow going with Ultimate Bets bonus but been going well. Up $100 with $50 to go on $100 bonus. Tonight was a test of my will and patience. Won $24 this afternoon and needed $7.25 to top the $100 win mark. So I sat down ready for a short session and early bed. NOPE! First big loss was K4s in BB. All fold and SB completes. Flop comes 4A4(r). Turn is T and river is 9. He caps river and turns over 94o for boat! Don't fault the play but that was just the beginning. Most of my good cards got smacked around and I will save you the gory details until I look down and find myself down 26 bb's. I decide enough is enough and I will fight again tomorrow. So I click off auto post and play out the remaining 7 hands. By the time the BB comes around I had won 5 of the seven "last" hands and found myself down only 15 bb's.
So I did the prudent thing. I stayed. Couple small wins in the next couple rounds see's me about 12 bb's back when I get TT back to back. One gets folded to me on turn with rag board, the other gets a raise from the BB and 4 see flop of 8TA(r). BB bets out and I just call to keep as many on board as possible. 2 fold and the turn is a 2 completing the rainbow. BB caps the turn and I begin to feel an AA ruining my comeback.(Just been one of those nights!) River is a 2 and he 3 bets, I wimp out and just call and he flips over 88! After one more round I leave dead even but felt good about it!
Everything has been a grind lately but at least I am finishing each night with small wins. It's time for a "deck in the face" night! Hadn't had one in a month. One of those that make you feel invincible. That would be a great way to end the week.
Until the next update:
He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much.
Bessie A. Stanley
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
New Experiences
First off: Welcome Back Vegas Tourney Bloggers. Sounds like most had a good time.
Second: For all those from 4Flush reading the site I have added one more Monday. JetSet is now on the calendar and they are offering a great 30% sign up bonus up to $225! Limited Time so hurry!
Well I have a couple new experiences for early this week. One is snow! Now for some you may laugh but this is out first for the year. Just a little dusting, perfect snow if you ask me, enough to know it did snow and gone in hours.
The other was multi tabling. As I posted last, I was going to do this at the $1/$2 tables instead of moving up. I have a wireless network setup at home and play off my laptop. So if I'm needed to vacate a room for family reasons I just get up and move. I have a spot I play in 99% of the time so I hooked up a 15" monitor I had in garage to see if it would do the job. Everything works seamlessly so with no more excuses, two tabling it was.
I first tried it at Absolute Poker and I love the site, love the bonuses but damn the programming is bad. Lagged so much with two tables it was more frustrating than anything else. Was profitable $30 for the hour I hung in there. Since I am working off two bonuses, decided to go to UltimateBet and work on it. It worked great but the cards were crap. Lost -$23. So all in all was a great experience and finished up for the day.
At UB I had Ultimate History running. Its a auto HH program for UB you can get at Poker Tracker Site (About half way down under UB) and Game Time Plus 1.3. Made life great. Auto HH's, auto PT updates and auto game time updates! I can see the need even more multi tabling. If you play UB the Auto HH is a must. Makes getting HH's cake!
I have bonus chased and played myself from $150 to $1200 in 6 weeks at $1/$2. So I am now at the BR to play $2/$4 again which was my attended goal. But atlas, all things change. $3/$6 is my new target by end of year. Then after that, bonus chasing will be over except for really good ones. I am hoping the Full Tilt will be the last one and put me over the top. OK, I'm iffy on the end of the year thing with Full Tilt, but will try and play enough.
By January I have to pick a home site.
Now Party Poker I know is the popular choice as well as its skins so that is obviously top two choice, the other is Ultimate Bet. If you haven't played UB there are about 12,000 a nite their and have great software. Game and tourney selections are also good. I guess you can compare Party like fishing in an ocean and UB fishing in a big lake! I'm not sure I can afford deep sea fishing yet.
Till next time:
"Whether he likes it or not, a man's character is stripped bare at the poker table; if the other players read him better than he does, he has only himself to blame. Unless he is both able and prepared to see himself as others do, flaws and all, he will be a loser in cards, as in life." -- Anthony Holden (from "Big Deal")
Second: For all those from 4Flush reading the site I have added one more Monday. JetSet is now on the calendar and they are offering a great 30% sign up bonus up to $225! Limited Time so hurry!
Well I have a couple new experiences for early this week. One is snow! Now for some you may laugh but this is out first for the year. Just a little dusting, perfect snow if you ask me, enough to know it did snow and gone in hours.
The other was multi tabling. As I posted last, I was going to do this at the $1/$2 tables instead of moving up. I have a wireless network setup at home and play off my laptop. So if I'm needed to vacate a room for family reasons I just get up and move. I have a spot I play in 99% of the time so I hooked up a 15" monitor I had in garage to see if it would do the job. Everything works seamlessly so with no more excuses, two tabling it was.
I first tried it at Absolute Poker and I love the site, love the bonuses but damn the programming is bad. Lagged so much with two tables it was more frustrating than anything else. Was profitable $30 for the hour I hung in there. Since I am working off two bonuses, decided to go to UltimateBet and work on it. It worked great but the cards were crap. Lost -$23. So all in all was a great experience and finished up for the day.
At UB I had Ultimate History running. Its a auto HH program for UB you can get at Poker Tracker Site (About half way down under UB) and Game Time Plus 1.3. Made life great. Auto HH's, auto PT updates and auto game time updates! I can see the need even more multi tabling. If you play UB the Auto HH is a must. Makes getting HH's cake!
I have bonus chased and played myself from $150 to $1200 in 6 weeks at $1/$2. So I am now at the BR to play $2/$4 again which was my attended goal. But atlas, all things change. $3/$6 is my new target by end of year. Then after that, bonus chasing will be over except for really good ones. I am hoping the Full Tilt will be the last one and put me over the top. OK, I'm iffy on the end of the year thing with Full Tilt, but will try and play enough.
By January I have to pick a home site.
Now Party Poker I know is the popular choice as well as its skins so that is obviously top two choice, the other is Ultimate Bet. If you haven't played UB there are about 12,000 a nite their and have great software. Game and tourney selections are also good. I guess you can compare Party like fishing in an ocean and UB fishing in a big lake! I'm not sure I can afford deep sea fishing yet.
Till next time:
"Whether he likes it or not, a man's character is stripped bare at the poker table; if the other players read him better than he does, he has only himself to blame. Unless he is both able and prepared to see himself as others do, flaws and all, he will be a loser in cards, as in life." -- Anthony Holden (from "Big Deal")
Saturday, December 11, 2004
So Far - So Good
First off would like to wish all the bloggers in Vegas a good time, good cards and most importantly, a safe trip home. Enjoy ALL and I look forward to the trip reports.
I have added WPoker to the calendar and their $55-$400 daily freerolls. That gives us 16 sites on the calendar, a virtual freerollers dream! I have plans to add JetSet soon. (Hopefully first of week)
Also Tour 3 is getting ready to start at 72os.com. Tour 2 was bigger and better than Tour 1 with over 250 people a week! No reason to expect Tour 3 to be any different.
So far this weekend has been good. Up over $20 today in about 2 hours of $1/$2 so that puts me $69 over my UB deposit with $90 worth of bonus to go! Nice being that far ahead.
Instead of moving back to $2/$4 next week I am going to multi table $1/$2. This will be a new venture for me and hopefully the adjustment will not be too painful. I have set up another monitor on the lap top which will make it workable now I just have to get use to the set up. I hope I can work the lower variance of multi tabling in my favor.
Been seeing a lot of posts at the forums I am apart of about "Should I move up limits", "When have I beat a level", ECT. I posted a link in one to Learning to Smell and Playing the Player Types. In most, if not all, sports you have to have a fundamental understanding of the game before you can progress. Soon the basics you need to succeed become an instinct that you know and trust. The great ones understand the need to never stop practicing the basics and for that dedication, go far beyond what anyone could have ever expected.
I think HDouble hit on that in his post. The betting patterns that he is starting to recognize after years at the tables are his reward for studying and being dedicated. Now the basics are becoming instinct and a new part of his game is emerging.
I think you can apply that to when you should move up. There are standard answers, which I do not disagree with. 10,000 hands at a level and 300bb bankroll for the next. I believe though, that it is more than that and only a player being honest with himself can answer it. Do you fully understand the level you are playing? Do you understand what a check/bet/raise from a certain type of player means at your current level? Do you know the basics?
Making the right plays, knowing the right odds, knowing the outs, ECT., are exponentially more important as you progress up in levels. Then it starts all over again at the new level. Just like going from junior varsity to varsity or college to pros. The game is the same but the players are different, an adjustment time is needed and if your basics are off - then your whole game could crumble, as well as bankroll.
So should you move up? Only you can answer that and to be brutally honest, if you are asking.....I'd say your not ready.
I have added WPoker to the calendar and their $55-$400 daily freerolls. That gives us 16 sites on the calendar, a virtual freerollers dream! I have plans to add JetSet soon. (Hopefully first of week)
Also Tour 3 is getting ready to start at 72os.com. Tour 2 was bigger and better than Tour 1 with over 250 people a week! No reason to expect Tour 3 to be any different.
So far this weekend has been good. Up over $20 today in about 2 hours of $1/$2 so that puts me $69 over my UB deposit with $90 worth of bonus to go! Nice being that far ahead.
Instead of moving back to $2/$4 next week I am going to multi table $1/$2. This will be a new venture for me and hopefully the adjustment will not be too painful. I have set up another monitor on the lap top which will make it workable now I just have to get use to the set up. I hope I can work the lower variance of multi tabling in my favor.
Been seeing a lot of posts at the forums I am apart of about "Should I move up limits", "When have I beat a level", ECT. I posted a link in one to Learning to Smell and Playing the Player Types. In most, if not all, sports you have to have a fundamental understanding of the game before you can progress. Soon the basics you need to succeed become an instinct that you know and trust. The great ones understand the need to never stop practicing the basics and for that dedication, go far beyond what anyone could have ever expected.
I think HDouble hit on that in his post. The betting patterns that he is starting to recognize after years at the tables are his reward for studying and being dedicated. Now the basics are becoming instinct and a new part of his game is emerging.
I think you can apply that to when you should move up. There are standard answers, which I do not disagree with. 10,000 hands at a level and 300bb bankroll for the next. I believe though, that it is more than that and only a player being honest with himself can answer it. Do you fully understand the level you are playing? Do you understand what a check/bet/raise from a certain type of player means at your current level? Do you know the basics?
Making the right plays, knowing the right odds, knowing the outs, ECT., are exponentially more important as you progress up in levels. Then it starts all over again at the new level. Just like going from junior varsity to varsity or college to pros. The game is the same but the players are different, an adjustment time is needed and if your basics are off - then your whole game could crumble, as well as bankroll.
So should you move up? Only you can answer that and to be brutally honest, if you are asking.....I'd say your not ready.
Friday, December 10, 2004
Great Ending to Week
After that horrible $96 plunge at AP first of week, I am back and ahead going into weekend. Got to post this hand. It epitomizes the turn around from 1st of the week. Lucky? Seems like it at the end but at the time I thought I was getting the best of it.
A little set up. According to Game Time +, table as a whole was 17% and only 31% going to showdown. It was TIGHT! Pre flop raises were folded to or called and folded to on flop. After about 12 hands or so I decide to start to take some chances and see if I could hit and this happens:
Ultimate Bet 1/2 Hold'em (9 handed)
Preflop: 4Flush is MP2 with 7s, 7c. MP3 posts a blind of $1. UTG folds, UTG+1 raises, MP1 folds, 4Flush calls, MP3 (poster) folds, CO calls, Button folds, SB folds, BB calls. Decide to take a shot here
Flop: (9.50 SB) 7h, 6s, Qh (4 players) Alright I hit!
BB checks, UTG+1 bets, 4Flush calls, CO calls, BB folds. Lets see if I can make it pay
Turn: (6.25 BB) 6h (3 players)UTG+1 bets, 4Flush calls, CO raises, UTG+1 calls, 4Flush 3-bets, CO calls, UTG+1 caps, 4Flush calls, CO calls. YES! Now I have flush on hook and AA/KK!
River: (18.25 BB) 7d (3 players)UTG+1 bets, 4Flush raises, CO calls, UTG+1 3-bets, 4Flush caps, CO calls, UTG+1 calls. Icing on the cake
Final Pot: 30.25
Results below: UTG+1 has Qs Qd (full house, queens full of sevens). HOLY CRAP! I was behind the whole time!!!!! 4Flush has 7s 7c (four of a kind, sevens). CO has Th 9h (flush, queen high).
Outcome: 4Flush wins 30.25 BB. Breathing harder but Cha Ching!
OK, QQ should have at least came in my head but it didn't. I had him on AA/KK and other of flush. Well, I got one right and looks like I got lucky with 1 outer on the other.
I am now REAL close to $2/$4 bankroll again. I think that I am going to multi table $1/$2 next though. I have an old monitor I hooked up to lap top and working on getting used to having both. I like it. Not just for poker but for web updates and blog updates, nice to have links on one monitor and working on other. Any how....'nuff rambling.
With all that excitement and the cards going good and almost back to were I was before the lap top buy, I still find myself in a bluh mood. I enjoy playing and I'm passionate about playing still, but find myself having to will myself to sit down. Once I do, game on and I'm OK. So going to sit this Friday out. I'll be back for the Bet365 $5000 freeroll Saturday (2pm EST). Signed up already, hopefully this time I will remember to play!!!!
Looks like all is a go for Full Tilt. I got no comments or emails saying it was a terrible move so that what's in the horizon. I'm not taking the whole roll there, just the $600 to max $600 so it will be $1/$2 while I'm there. Will keep all of you posted how fast the bonus is coming. So stay tuned!
Saturday will be the $5000 tourney then going to play the UB $5 MTT that night. A friend says it is easy so I will give it a try. Hopefully I will have at least 1 monied MTT to post about.
Till then:
Have you hugged a fish today?
A little set up. According to Game Time +, table as a whole was 17% and only 31% going to showdown. It was TIGHT! Pre flop raises were folded to or called and folded to on flop. After about 12 hands or so I decide to start to take some chances and see if I could hit and this happens:
Ultimate Bet 1/2 Hold'em (9 handed)
Preflop: 4Flush is MP2 with 7s, 7c. MP3 posts a blind of $1. UTG folds, UTG+1 raises, MP1 folds, 4Flush calls, MP3 (poster) folds, CO calls, Button folds, SB folds, BB calls. Decide to take a shot here
Flop: (9.50 SB) 7h, 6s, Qh (4 players) Alright I hit!
BB checks, UTG+1 bets, 4Flush calls, CO calls, BB folds. Lets see if I can make it pay
Turn: (6.25 BB) 6h (3 players)UTG+1 bets, 4Flush calls, CO raises, UTG+1 calls, 4Flush 3-bets, CO calls, UTG+1 caps, 4Flush calls, CO calls. YES! Now I have flush on hook and AA/KK!
River: (18.25 BB) 7d (3 players)UTG+1 bets, 4Flush raises, CO calls, UTG+1 3-bets, 4Flush caps, CO calls, UTG+1 calls. Icing on the cake
Final Pot: 30.25
Results below: UTG+1 has Qs Qd (full house, queens full of sevens). HOLY CRAP! I was behind the whole time!!!!! 4Flush has 7s 7c (four of a kind, sevens). CO has Th 9h (flush, queen high).
Outcome: 4Flush wins 30.25 BB. Breathing harder but Cha Ching!
OK, QQ should have at least came in my head but it didn't. I had him on AA/KK and other of flush. Well, I got one right and looks like I got lucky with 1 outer on the other.
I am now REAL close to $2/$4 bankroll again. I think that I am going to multi table $1/$2 next though. I have an old monitor I hooked up to lap top and working on getting used to having both. I like it. Not just for poker but for web updates and blog updates, nice to have links on one monitor and working on other. Any how....'nuff rambling.
With all that excitement and the cards going good and almost back to were I was before the lap top buy, I still find myself in a bluh mood. I enjoy playing and I'm passionate about playing still, but find myself having to will myself to sit down. Once I do, game on and I'm OK. So going to sit this Friday out. I'll be back for the Bet365 $5000 freeroll Saturday (2pm EST). Signed up already, hopefully this time I will remember to play!!!!
Looks like all is a go for Full Tilt. I got no comments or emails saying it was a terrible move so that what's in the horizon. I'm not taking the whole roll there, just the $600 to max $600 so it will be $1/$2 while I'm there. Will keep all of you posted how fast the bonus is coming. So stay tuned!
Saturday will be the $5000 tourney then going to play the UB $5 MTT that night. A friend says it is easy so I will give it a try. Hopefully I will have at least 1 monied MTT to post about.
Till then:
Have you hugged a fish today?
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Next move?
Well I had a better day to day. Didn't get it all back but got $40 of it. Cashed out $500 to go to UB with for there 50% to $100 reload. When I clear it....I'm thinking of taking the Full Tilt plunge.
Been watching the site and had 2000+ on tonight and 5 $1/$2 tables - 1 $2/$4 table (3 $2/$4 NL) and 1 .50/$1 table. Almost 800 more people than when they started this promo. It will help tremendously if I could pull this off! I have heard all the good and bad about clearing this but the way I figure it you need to play 3333 hands based on their $18 bonus per 100 hands figure.
So it will be UB and hopefully clearing that this week without getting killed and taking that $600 to Full Tilt. If all works out I will be at the $3/$6 tables by first of year!
I am taking the night off after playing some today. The race to meet this goal has me down a little bit, so I think it better to do something else tonight. Pulled up the tables and just wasn't "in the mood" to sit down. Hopefully it will pass soon.
Small victory today, I had $6 left in UB after last cash so I played a $5 SnG. First one I have played in months.....finished Third! After being down to T450 after first 10 hands with AQ and AK getting killed, came back and monied. Made me feel good.
I am going to leave this post up for a while and see if anyone comments about Full Tilt. So next post will be around Friday.
Hope you flop'em good till then.
I will leave you with this sage advice to ponder:
Been watching the site and had 2000+ on tonight and 5 $1/$2 tables - 1 $2/$4 table (3 $2/$4 NL) and 1 .50/$1 table. Almost 800 more people than when they started this promo. It will help tremendously if I could pull this off! I have heard all the good and bad about clearing this but the way I figure it you need to play 3333 hands based on their $18 bonus per 100 hands figure.
So it will be UB and hopefully clearing that this week without getting killed and taking that $600 to Full Tilt. If all works out I will be at the $3/$6 tables by first of year!
I am taking the night off after playing some today. The race to meet this goal has me down a little bit, so I think it better to do something else tonight. Pulled up the tables and just wasn't "in the mood" to sit down. Hopefully it will pass soon.
Small victory today, I had $6 left in UB after last cash so I played a $5 SnG. First one I have played in months.....finished Third! After being down to T450 after first 10 hands with AQ and AK getting killed, came back and monied. Made me feel good.
I am going to leave this post up for a while and see if anyone comments about Full Tilt. So next post will be around Friday.
Hope you flop'em good till then.
I will leave you with this sage advice to ponder:
"Never play cards with a man called Doc. Never eat at a place called Mom's. Never sleep with a woman whose troubles are worse than your own."
Nelson Algren
A gun would be easier
What a freakin night! Got mutilated. Couldn't hit anything. I'll give you some examples:
1)AhTh-raised late.
Board Ac 5h 7h Jc Ks
Lost to AQo. Who never raised.
For the record 9 4 flushes on flop and none hit
2) AA BB
Board flops 2 suited...Turn brings third
A fold to tight player raise...he shows flush. Everyone else can hit one!
3) KK 3 bet
Board 72T62 (r)
Lost to TT. Same guy who hit flush earlier.
4) AJo Late
CC EP raise
Board 7JJ 2 suited
Lost when board brough 4 suited. Of Course.
AJs and o 4 times out of 7 hands at one point. Lost 3 - won blinds once.
They whole time there is the "play every hand guy" hitting everything:
a) Raises QTo UTG+1.
Flop K7J(r)
He bets. 3 call.
T is T
BB bets he raises.
R is 9
He wins with straight.
b) Calls in UTG with 95s.
Flop 59K(r)
He wins.
c) Calls in UTG with 64o
Board J6TJ2
He wins. with J's and 6's!
SO not a stellar beginning to by goal this month. -$96.50. Reading Fools post, seems like he is in same boat this week also. Not worried, it will come around. I don't tilt easy. No need to:
1) I know it will turn
2) I have friends online who play and I can vent to
3) I can vent here, not sure anyones reading anyway.
Its when I start laughing at the computer that I am in trouble. I left last night when I started laughing. I typed "HAHAHA" in chat when I had TPTK against a 2 suited flop and straight draw on turn. Straight draw hit on river. One guy types in "What?". I say "I beat one because his flush draw missed, I just hope the other didn't call me down with crap cards because he just hit his straight" We check the R and sure enough...one busted flush with crap suited cards and one made straight with questionable staying hand. I just typed in "Thats how my ***ghts been" Just like that too...AP censors the "nig" LOL.
I left after that.
Well, tonights another night. Hopefully it will turn around.
1)AhTh-raised late.
Board Ac 5h 7h Jc Ks
Lost to AQo. Who never raised.
For the record 9 4 flushes on flop and none hit
2) AA BB
Board flops 2 suited...Turn brings third
A fold to tight player raise...he shows flush. Everyone else can hit one!
3) KK 3 bet
Board 72T62 (r)
Lost to TT. Same guy who hit flush earlier.
4) AJo Late
CC EP raise
Board 7JJ 2 suited
Lost when board brough 4 suited. Of Course.
AJs and o 4 times out of 7 hands at one point. Lost 3 - won blinds once.
They whole time there is the "play every hand guy" hitting everything:
a) Raises QTo UTG+1.
Flop K7J(r)
He bets. 3 call.
T is T
BB bets he raises.
R is 9
He wins with straight.
b) Calls in UTG with 95s.
Flop 59K(r)
He wins.
c) Calls in UTG with 64o
Board J6TJ2
He wins. with J's and 6's!
SO not a stellar beginning to by goal this month. -$96.50. Reading Fools post, seems like he is in same boat this week also. Not worried, it will come around. I don't tilt easy. No need to:
1) I know it will turn
2) I have friends online who play and I can vent to
3) I can vent here, not sure anyones reading anyway.
Its when I start laughing at the computer that I am in trouble. I left last night when I started laughing. I typed "HAHAHA" in chat when I had TPTK against a 2 suited flop and straight draw on turn. Straight draw hit on river. One guy types in "What?". I say "I beat one because his flush draw missed, I just hope the other didn't call me down with crap cards because he just hit his straight" We check the R and sure enough...one busted flush with crap suited cards and one made straight with questionable staying hand. I just typed in "Thats how my ***ghts been" Just like that too...AP censors the "nig" LOL.
I left after that.
Well, tonights another night. Hopefully it will turn around.
Monday, December 06, 2004
So Close Yet So Far
Played in first home game tourney last night. 14 played the $10 by in and top 2 paid. Made it to final table and went out 5th. I was shortstacked and went all in with my ATo vs. AQs...he flopped straight. What sucked worst is I was the dealer! Not bad I guess. Haven't played a lot of no-limit lately so I beleive I did well.
Something I found interesting. Played QJo in MP and 4 of 7 people saw flop of AdJdQc...SB bet out about 3x and it was folded to me. I took a few seconds, and no matter what I said to myself or tried to think about, I could not keep my hands from shaking as I said the words "All-In". I would have guessed if I was seating in the WSOP I would have to be on drugs to stay calm but not at a home tourney! Guess I have a little work to do in that area. What a tell! I don't think he noticed but folded anyway.
For those who don't know I cashed and bought a laptop the first week of October which left me $150. I now can report with deposit and bonus in Absolute Poker today I have topped the $1,000 mark. I have pledged not to play over my bankroll so hopefully I will be able to get to $2/$4 by end of this week or next.
Goals for the month are going to be: $1750. Since I am still mostly playing $1/$2, that equates to 2 bb's an hour/6 hours a day. Moving up to $2/$4 about half way through should help me on the up side. That with $100 reload bonus at UB and the AP 15% again, should be OK.
I have a 17" monitor I am currently not using so I am going to hook it up to laptop, that has 1600x1200 resolution (Goes a little higher) and start multi tabling again. I purposely waited to do this till I thought my bankroll could handle a bad swing.
One last thing.
Thanks to Party Poker Blog for the recent link and also the first blog I ever read, just about a month ago. It lead me to another a now you see the list on the left. Now I have by no means seen them all and will continue to upgrade my list but the information, advice and the fact you can say, "Damn, that happened to me too!" (Fool and His Money) is priceless. By the way, some are just plain funny! (Bills Blog)
Something I found interesting. Played QJo in MP and 4 of 7 people saw flop of AdJdQc...SB bet out about 3x and it was folded to me. I took a few seconds, and no matter what I said to myself or tried to think about, I could not keep my hands from shaking as I said the words "All-In". I would have guessed if I was seating in the WSOP I would have to be on drugs to stay calm but not at a home tourney! Guess I have a little work to do in that area. What a tell! I don't think he noticed but folded anyway.
For those who don't know I cashed and bought a laptop the first week of October which left me $150. I now can report with deposit and bonus in Absolute Poker today I have topped the $1,000 mark. I have pledged not to play over my bankroll so hopefully I will be able to get to $2/$4 by end of this week or next.
Goals for the month are going to be: $1750. Since I am still mostly playing $1/$2, that equates to 2 bb's an hour/6 hours a day. Moving up to $2/$4 about half way through should help me on the up side. That with $100 reload bonus at UB and the AP 15% again, should be OK.
I have a 17" monitor I am currently not using so I am going to hook it up to laptop, that has 1600x1200 resolution (Goes a little higher) and start multi tabling again. I purposely waited to do this till I thought my bankroll could handle a bad swing.
One last thing.
Thanks to Party Poker Blog for the recent link and also the first blog I ever read, just about a month ago. It lead me to another a now you see the list on the left. Now I have by no means seen them all and will continue to upgrade my list but the information, advice and the fact you can say, "Damn, that happened to me too!" (Fool and His Money) is priceless. By the way, some are just plain funny! (Bills Blog)
Sunday, December 05, 2004
The best laid plans....
Had a lot I wanted to post about on Sunday BUT:
First I wanted to tell everyone how well I did in the Bet365 $5000 freeroll. Basicly the only freeroll I still play with any consistantly. With 3000 max entrants, top 300 pay and $950 first prize makes it nice . Add in that only about 1800 show up and makes it really worthwhile. About an hour in and you are down to 300-325.
Registration starts Friday for the Saturday event and I always manage to get registered when I update my site. Thats the easy part. I was playing with my son on the Playstation 2 when I realized it was a hour past start time and when I checked I was out. Whats funny is that this is the second time this has happened! Oh well, so much for that post.
So that still leaves UB. I do have good news about that. I won over $50 Saturday and have all but $10 of my bonus worked off. I am well ahead of the $100 reload bonus. Planned on knocking the $10 out Sunday and posting the results. Well, Absolute Poker emailed about the weekly 15% reload was till Midnight Monday. So I cashed UB out Saturday night to make sure I got AP. I was going to reload UB anyway for the December 50% reload bonus so I will get the $10 later. AP offering 15% reload every week had been a fantastic bankroll builder. I bet I have had over $750 in bonuses there since I got the 35% first time bonus about 3 months ago.
For those of you coming over from my site, you will not only notice a better look but the hand histories are gone. I will post the most interesting hands from time to time but they are most likely gone for good as a regular thing. You will also notice a list of blogs on the right. They are full of great reads and information. Visit them often and enjoy, I know I do.
I said I was going to write about the auto ratings for PT and how they help me with my decision making at the table, I read a far better explanation than I could ever do on the types of players and how to play them. You can see that great read by HDouble at The Cards Speaks
I started using the Game Time Plus for first time this weekend. For anyone using the Game Time Window in Poker Tracker this is a most. Works with Poker Tracker and overlays the stats right there on the table under the players name. Make sure you get version 1.3 and you can pick and choose what stats you want to display. I really enjoyed the extra space on my monitor. I play on a laptop mostly and the extra screen space was great. Especially since I use the IM a lot when I play.
I've got my first "Live" tourney tomorrow. A home game here in town. Expecting about 15 with $10 buy in. Got to go get my hat and sunglasses!! Let you know how that went tomorrow.
What I'm Pondering?
Maybe this world is another planet's hell.
-Aldous Huxley
First I wanted to tell everyone how well I did in the Bet365 $5000 freeroll. Basicly the only freeroll I still play with any consistantly. With 3000 max entrants, top 300 pay and $950 first prize makes it nice . Add in that only about 1800 show up and makes it really worthwhile. About an hour in and you are down to 300-325.
Registration starts Friday for the Saturday event and I always manage to get registered when I update my site. Thats the easy part. I was playing with my son on the Playstation 2 when I realized it was a hour past start time and when I checked I was out. Whats funny is that this is the second time this has happened! Oh well, so much for that post.
So that still leaves UB. I do have good news about that. I won over $50 Saturday and have all but $10 of my bonus worked off. I am well ahead of the $100 reload bonus. Planned on knocking the $10 out Sunday and posting the results. Well, Absolute Poker emailed about the weekly 15% reload was till Midnight Monday. So I cashed UB out Saturday night to make sure I got AP. I was going to reload UB anyway for the December 50% reload bonus so I will get the $10 later. AP offering 15% reload every week had been a fantastic bankroll builder. I bet I have had over $750 in bonuses there since I got the 35% first time bonus about 3 months ago.
For those of you coming over from my site, you will not only notice a better look but the hand histories are gone. I will post the most interesting hands from time to time but they are most likely gone for good as a regular thing. You will also notice a list of blogs on the right. They are full of great reads and information. Visit them often and enjoy, I know I do.
I said I was going to write about the auto ratings for PT and how they help me with my decision making at the table, I read a far better explanation than I could ever do on the types of players and how to play them. You can see that great read by HDouble at The Cards Speaks
I started using the Game Time Plus for first time this weekend. For anyone using the Game Time Window in Poker Tracker this is a most. Works with Poker Tracker and overlays the stats right there on the table under the players name. Make sure you get version 1.3 and you can pick and choose what stats you want to display. I really enjoyed the extra space on my monitor. I play on a laptop mostly and the extra screen space was great. Especially since I use the IM a lot when I play.
I've got my first "Live" tourney tomorrow. A home game here in town. Expecting about 15 with $10 buy in. Got to go get my hat and sunglasses!! Let you know how that went tomorrow.
What I'm Pondering?
Maybe this world is another planet's hell.
-Aldous Huxley
Saturday, December 04, 2004
The Madness of "Same"ness
The up and down continues. The only thing keeping me from going insane is that the ups have been a few dollars more than the downs.
More oddities: I saw 11 (after I started counting) RR str8's hit at Ultimate Bet Thursday night. I folded 7 that would have hit for me. Best one (Partly cause I was watching and not getting sucked out): KQs call 2 cold preflop (Understandable). Flop comes A4T(r)and he calls 3 cold.(??). Turn is a "x" and he calls 2 cold(??) River is the J and he beats a set of T's.
I sat at the table with my mouth wide open on that one.Usually you salivate with those players but they were sucking out on the river like crazy Thursday Night. I eeked out a small lose after one of those bad river beats and called it a night.
This brings me to something that has happened to me now for about three weeks. So I get on Friday afternoon and play for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours and get back what I lost and some.
I have done this a few times...The day games as a whole should be tougher but I get them better than I do at night. Might just be a fluke, and not enough actual experience to say for sure yet or might be that the new aggressive me works better against people who know where the fold button is. Not sure but appreciate the afternoon come backs.
I will finish a successful bonus hunt at UB this weekend, less I get smashed over the head or something I will get bonus ++!
Im sure there will be some interesting bonuses coming out for Christmas. Right now Ultimate Bet is doing 50% reload up to $100 (May cash and go back) and Interpoker is 100% up to $100. I like the Crypto sites bonuses, the are great for a true bonus whore, like clock work every month. Of course the old stand by 15% at Absolute Poker. I haven't gotten an email from AP this week so hopefully they are planning something good for next week. I'd like to wait for that since I have money there, I can deposit and get bonus and cash to go get the others.
I really enjoyed this today, the whole post is excellent as always but the part about poker full time was superb...check it out:Party Poker Blog
Well, got to take my shot at the Bet365 $5000 freeroll today. Will try to post on weekend exploits Sunday night.
More oddities: I saw 11 (after I started counting) RR str8's hit at Ultimate Bet Thursday night. I folded 7 that would have hit for me. Best one (Partly cause I was watching and not getting sucked out): KQs call 2 cold preflop (Understandable). Flop comes A4T(r)and he calls 3 cold.(??). Turn is a "x" and he calls 2 cold(??) River is the J and he beats a set of T's.
I sat at the table with my mouth wide open on that one.Usually you salivate with those players but they were sucking out on the river like crazy Thursday Night. I eeked out a small lose after one of those bad river beats and called it a night.
This brings me to something that has happened to me now for about three weeks. So I get on Friday afternoon and play for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours and get back what I lost and some.
I have done this a few times...The day games as a whole should be tougher but I get them better than I do at night. Might just be a fluke, and not enough actual experience to say for sure yet or might be that the new aggressive me works better against people who know where the fold button is. Not sure but appreciate the afternoon come backs.
I will finish a successful bonus hunt at UB this weekend, less I get smashed over the head or something I will get bonus ++!
Im sure there will be some interesting bonuses coming out for Christmas. Right now Ultimate Bet is doing 50% reload up to $100 (May cash and go back) and Interpoker is 100% up to $100. I like the Crypto sites bonuses, the are great for a true bonus whore, like clock work every month. Of course the old stand by 15% at Absolute Poker. I haven't gotten an email from AP this week so hopefully they are planning something good for next week. I'd like to wait for that since I have money there, I can deposit and get bonus and cash to go get the others.
I really enjoyed this today, the whole post is excellent as always but the part about poker full time was superb...check it out:Party Poker Blog
Well, got to take my shot at the Bet365 $5000 freeroll today. Will try to post on weekend exploits Sunday night.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Up and Down
Been an uneventful up and down 2 days. Rereading SSH and trying to be more agressive. And do see the advantages of aggressiveness far out way the short comings, but breaking old habits are hard.
After jaming a 4 flush a couple times and missing, all the while being called down by bottom pair, makes me slow down sometimes. I am finally starting to get it through my thick head that if you jam and miss then passively play and hit, your losing money!
I know, some of you are saying..."DUH!". Hey, old dogs, new tricks, you know! Having the same problem with AKo and AQo...me and SSH are working on it though.
Oddity: Had KK 7 times last night and it was cracked 4!!Prove a point: Played it the same way pre-flop each time and won more in the three than I lost in the four! Folded it twice on turn when I knew I was beat (I was).
Oddity: Lost to set over set to get down big. Played for an hour and got back to even when I won set over set. Played another hour and got down big when I lost to full house over full house At end of night, got back to respectable when I won full house over full house. EXTRA ODD: Both winning full houses were RR!!
Finished down $25 (Only $5 with bonus). Started hot and got cold for about two hours. Was getting hot again when table broke up. It was 3am so I went to bed.
Found this at the Pokerworks.com blog: Why Poker?. A dealers perspective.
After jaming a 4 flush a couple times and missing, all the while being called down by bottom pair, makes me slow down sometimes. I am finally starting to get it through my thick head that if you jam and miss then passively play and hit, your losing money!
I know, some of you are saying..."DUH!". Hey, old dogs, new tricks, you know! Having the same problem with AKo and AQo...me and SSH are working on it though.
Oddity: Had KK 7 times last night and it was cracked 4!!Prove a point: Played it the same way pre-flop each time and won more in the three than I lost in the four! Folded it twice on turn when I knew I was beat (I was).
Oddity: Lost to set over set to get down big. Played for an hour and got back to even when I won set over set. Played another hour and got down big when I lost to full house over full house At end of night, got back to respectable when I won full house over full house. EXTRA ODD: Both winning full houses were RR!!
Finished down $25 (Only $5 with bonus). Started hot and got cold for about two hours. Was getting hot again when table broke up. It was 3am so I went to bed.
Found this at the Pokerworks.com blog: Why Poker?. A dealers perspective.
Monday, November 29, 2004
Good Weekend
Played Ultimate Bet exclusively this weekend and was up real good till Sunday Night when I gave some back. So I am up above and beyond the bonus and though I will not get to take advantage of Absolute Poker's 15% this week, It should be there next week.
Due to playing $1/$2, it seems like it is taking forever to clear this UB bonus. The play has been predictable up till tonight when I ran into three "any two cards will due" and "if suited raise it" players. Even when I got good hands they were cracking them, I left but not after dropping a few.
Went to Poker World a few months back to get a free chip set. Left and still had $60 in bonus sitting there, so I emailed them and asked if there was an expiration date or would it stay there until I cleared it. I got an email back saying after they reviewed my account they found that I had met all the requirements and my bonus had been cleared. I checked the account and sure enough, there it was. I cashed out Saturday night and it was in Neteller Sunday afternoon. That was great. I like everything about Poker World except I couldn't win there for whatever reason.
Well, here's to hopefully my last week at $1/$2.
Due to playing $1/$2, it seems like it is taking forever to clear this UB bonus. The play has been predictable up till tonight when I ran into three "any two cards will due" and "if suited raise it" players. Even when I got good hands they were cracking them, I left but not after dropping a few.
Went to Poker World a few months back to get a free chip set. Left and still had $60 in bonus sitting there, so I emailed them and asked if there was an expiration date or would it stay there until I cleared it. I got an email back saying after they reviewed my account they found that I had met all the requirements and my bonus had been cleared. I checked the account and sure enough, there it was. I cashed out Saturday night and it was in Neteller Sunday afternoon. That was great. I like everything about Poker World except I couldn't win there for whatever reason.
Well, here's to hopefully my last week at $1/$2.
Friday, November 26, 2004
What A Night
Bonus hunting is cumbersome but with a little luck I will be playing back at $2/$4 months ahead of schedule. Went back to UB and maxed their reload bonus out so when I clear that I will go back to AP with their 15% reload with UB money.
I don't want to post to many hand histories here BUT you have to see what the poker gods did for me with this BB SPECIAL! (I do post best hand and worst hand of night here)
Absolute Poker 1/2 Hold'em (9 handed)
Preflop: 4Flush is BB with 7c, 4d. UTG calls, UTG+1 folds, MP1 folds, MP2 folds, MP3 calls, CO calls, Button folds, SB folds, 4Flush checks.
Flop: (4.50 SB) 6s, 3d, 2c (4 players) 4Flush checks, UTG checks, MP3 checks, CO checks.
Turn: (2.25 BB) 5s (4 players) 4Flush bets, UTG calls, MP3 raises, CO folds, 4Flush 3-bets, UTG folds, MP3 caps, 4Flush calls.
River: (12.25 BB) Jd (2 players) 4Flush checks, MP3 bets, 4Flush raises, MP3 3-bets, 4Flush caps, MP3 calls.
Final Pot: 19.25 BB Main Pot: 19.25 BB, between MP3 and 4Flush. > Pot won by 4Flush (19.25 BB).
Results below: 4Flush has 7c 4d (straight, seven high). MP3 doesn't show. Outcome: 4Flush wins 19.25 BB.
That got be back in the winning ways!!!
So I will be playing UB and AP till I clear UB bonus. When I clear UB bonus I will have enough points to play the $5 MTT with my points. I like doing that because I'm still working on my NL skills and having no money invested is the best way to practice!
Good Luck at the tables!
I don't want to post to many hand histories here BUT you have to see what the poker gods did for me with this BB SPECIAL! (I do post best hand and worst hand of night here)
Absolute Poker 1/2 Hold'em (9 handed)
Preflop: 4Flush is BB with 7c, 4d. UTG calls, UTG+1 folds, MP1 folds, MP2 folds, MP3 calls, CO calls, Button folds, SB folds, 4Flush checks.
Flop: (4.50 SB) 6s, 3d, 2c (4 players) 4Flush checks, UTG checks, MP3 checks, CO checks.
Turn: (2.25 BB) 5s (4 players) 4Flush bets, UTG calls, MP3 raises, CO folds, 4Flush 3-bets, UTG folds, MP3 caps, 4Flush calls.
River: (12.25 BB) Jd (2 players) 4Flush checks, MP3 bets, 4Flush raises, MP3 3-bets, 4Flush caps, MP3 calls.
Final Pot: 19.25 BB Main Pot: 19.25 BB, between MP3 and 4Flush. > Pot won by 4Flush (19.25 BB).
Results below: 4Flush has 7c 4d (straight, seven high). MP3 doesn't show. Outcome: 4Flush wins 19.25 BB.
That got be back in the winning ways!!!
So I will be playing UB and AP till I clear UB bonus. When I clear UB bonus I will have enough points to play the $5 MTT with my points. I like doing that because I'm still working on my NL skills and having no money invested is the best way to practice!
Good Luck at the tables!
Thursday, November 25, 2004
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
I hope that your Thanksgiving is wonderful and if you are traveling, very safe and hassle free.
Finished positive again last night. Almost dont want to write about it. Might jinx it!
As you know from last post I am concentrating on my Fancy Plan Snydrom(FPS) and was really focusing on being aggressive and betting if I had a hand. So its early in the session, I'm siting up in the chair, Poker Tracker up, ready to pounce....and fold 46 hands in a row!!!
It's funnier now than it was last night. So what hand do I get to break this cycle..KK. So now I have a situation, I raise and everyone fold, since I haven't played in 4 rotations, or slowplay and risk getting pounced. Well EP raised and I CC with 1 other. I bet the flop and lost one and bet the turn and lost EP so it worked out. I'm not counted that as FPS.
Then I proceeded to get QQ pounced on by AA, AQ make second best(To a guy who just post in in MP1)and 99 get no help. I liked it better folding at this point.
Turn around was 4 betting AA and getting called to river by a LPP that put me up to stay. Not sure what LPP is, look here.
I don't think in terms of fish or shark because there are fish that eat fish and sharks that eat sharks. The Poker Tracker auto rate system really points this out. Now I think in terms of acronyms: LPP, LAP, TAN, TAA ect. Of course I still take notes on people also, which I beleive is a must. I'll have to elaborate on this later. Time to start cooking!
Finished positive again last night. Almost dont want to write about it. Might jinx it!
As you know from last post I am concentrating on my Fancy Plan Snydrom(FPS) and was really focusing on being aggressive and betting if I had a hand. So its early in the session, I'm siting up in the chair, Poker Tracker up, ready to pounce....and fold 46 hands in a row!!!
It's funnier now than it was last night. So what hand do I get to break this cycle..KK. So now I have a situation, I raise and everyone fold, since I haven't played in 4 rotations, or slowplay and risk getting pounced. Well EP raised and I CC with 1 other. I bet the flop and lost one and bet the turn and lost EP so it worked out. I'm not counted that as FPS.
Then I proceeded to get QQ pounced on by AA, AQ make second best(To a guy who just post in in MP1)and 99 get no help. I liked it better folding at this point.
Turn around was 4 betting AA and getting called to river by a LPP that put me up to stay. Not sure what LPP is, look here.
I don't think in terms of fish or shark because there are fish that eat fish and sharks that eat sharks. The Poker Tracker auto rate system really points this out. Now I think in terms of acronyms: LPP, LAP, TAN, TAA ect. Of course I still take notes on people also, which I beleive is a must. I'll have to elaborate on this later. Time to start cooking!
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Back To Absolute
OK, I must admit I like the predictability of Absolute Poker. I know the money is at Party and I will return, just when my bankroll has a little more cushion in it.
Finished "up" last night but I have a big problem. Fancy Play Syndrom. It snuck up on me, never saw it coming!
Ex: Limped with AJo in EP. LP raises and we see a 22J flop. I check/call flop with plans of check/raising the turn. He checks behind me on turn and hits Q on river.(He had AQs)
Did I blow that or what! After the hand I just sat there thinking "What kind of play was that"! I called myself a few choice names and now have to work on breaking that habit.
I may have lost this hand no matter what but should have atleast played it right.
Stayed aggressive after that and got paid well when QQ hit set, AK hit straight and KQ hit straight.
Going to move back up to the $2/$4 level by end of month. Bankroll may not be there by then but have played $2/$4 at Absolute Poker before so should be ok if careful. Got a lot of Poker Tracker stats at $2/$4.
Finished "up" last night but I have a big problem. Fancy Play Syndrom. It snuck up on me, never saw it coming!
Ex: Limped with AJo in EP. LP raises and we see a 22J flop. I check/call flop with plans of check/raising the turn. He checks behind me on turn and hits Q on river.(He had AQs)
Did I blow that or what! After the hand I just sat there thinking "What kind of play was that"! I called myself a few choice names and now have to work on breaking that habit.
I may have lost this hand no matter what but should have atleast played it right.
Stayed aggressive after that and got paid well when QQ hit set, AK hit straight and KQ hit straight.
Going to move back up to the $2/$4 level by end of month. Bankroll may not be there by then but have played $2/$4 at Absolute Poker before so should be ok if careful. Got a lot of Poker Tracker stats at $2/$4.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
1st and 2nd Time at Party Poker
I knew all about it. I've heard all the stories. So I decided to get the 20% first time deposit bonus. I figured I was ready and had a firm grasp of my poker abilities.
Nothing could prepare you for this! I played $1/$2 and lost $90 in first session. Could not beleive the cards people were playing. "See the river" most be a commandment or something. Of course it helps that the river kept bailing them out. So i decided to go to .50/$1 and play out the rest of bonus and with a little luck, make it out with $10 of the $100 bonus. Decided to play only the best cards and if I fold my way to bonus so be it. I won $50 back before bonus was up. They will draw to anything and pay you off if you have it.
What did I learn 1st time: Patience
So I cashed out to get Absolute Pokers 15% bonus for the weekend.
NOT SO FAST! A hour after my money hit Neteller, I get an email saying that Party is now offering a 20% reload bonus. HMMM...I went for it. Played .50/$1 the whole time and got bonus and $25 and still cashed out in time for AP this weekend. It was a LOOONNNGG session but I cleared bonus in a day.
What did I learn the 2nd time: Party plays better in the day than at night. No time to decide why.
So now I am at Absolute Poker this weekend. If all goes well I should have that $150 into $800 by the end of month.
Nothing could prepare you for this! I played $1/$2 and lost $90 in first session. Could not beleive the cards people were playing. "See the river" most be a commandment or something. Of course it helps that the river kept bailing them out. So i decided to go to .50/$1 and play out the rest of bonus and with a little luck, make it out with $10 of the $100 bonus. Decided to play only the best cards and if I fold my way to bonus so be it. I won $50 back before bonus was up. They will draw to anything and pay you off if you have it.
What did I learn 1st time: Patience
So I cashed out to get Absolute Pokers 15% bonus for the weekend.
NOT SO FAST! A hour after my money hit Neteller, I get an email saying that Party is now offering a 20% reload bonus. HMMM...I went for it. Played .50/$1 the whole time and got bonus and $25 and still cashed out in time for AP this weekend. It was a LOOONNNGG session but I cleared bonus in a day.
What did I learn the 2nd time: Party plays better in the day than at night. No time to decide why.
So now I am at Absolute Poker this weekend. If all goes well I should have that $150 into $800 by the end of month.
Monday, November 22, 2004
What This is all About
I'm married with two kids(12 year old daughter and 7 year old son)and a 8 month old dog.
I started with $50 in Febuary 2004 (Hadn't learned about bonuses yet) and currently playing $1/$2.
I have recently decided to make a part time living out of this and so I am getting serious about building a bankroll and moving up to a level that will provide this income.
After my most recent purchase, a laptop, I had $150 at beginning of November. This is were I begin my adventures.
I will use my website of freerolls (4Flush.com) and poker as my part time income. Beleive me I make 99.9% from poker.
Of course I have grand dreams of poker full time but the reality of the moment is getting about $1000 a month extra. I'll leave the dreaming for some other time.
I started with $50 in Febuary 2004 (Hadn't learned about bonuses yet) and currently playing $1/$2.
I have recently decided to make a part time living out of this and so I am getting serious about building a bankroll and moving up to a level that will provide this income.
After my most recent purchase, a laptop, I had $150 at beginning of November. This is were I begin my adventures.
I will use my website of freerolls (4Flush.com) and poker as my part time income. Beleive me I make 99.9% from poker.
Of course I have grand dreams of poker full time but the reality of the moment is getting about $1000 a month extra. I'll leave the dreaming for some other time.
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