First to Ten and the Odds

Way to go Johnny Chan! First to 10! Read all about it at Tao of Poker. I'm glad it wasnt Phil!

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Bet the early favorite or try a long shot! Here is what Bodog thinks:

	Phil Ivey	200/1
	Daniel Negreanu		200/1
	Phil Hellmuth		225/1
	Howard Lederer		225/1
	Gus Hansen		225/1
	Chris Ferguson		225/1
	Erick Lindgren		225/1
	Johnny Chan		250/1
	Barry Greenstein		250/1
	Dan Harrington		250/1
	Erik Seidel		250/1
	Doyle Brunson		250/1
	John Juanda		275/1
	Marcel Luske		275/1
	Men Nguyen		275/1
	Michael Mizrachi		275/1
	Scotty Nguyen		275/1
	David Pham		300/1
	Ted Forrest		300/1
	Amir Vahedi		300/1
	Carlos Mortenson		300/1
	Chau Giang		300/1
	Layne FLack		300/1
	Paul Phillips		325/1
	Sammy Farha		325/1
	Scott Fischman		325/1
	T.J. Cloutier		325/1
	Huck Seed		325/1
	Greg Raymer		325/1
	Phil Gordon		350/1
	Robert Williamson III		350/1
	Humberto Brenes		350/1
	David Williams		350/1
	Josh Arieh		350/1
	Thomas Keller		350/1
	Phil Laak		350/1
	Antonio Esfandiari		350/1
	Annie Duke		350/1
	Jennifer Harman		350/1
	Chip Reese		350/1
	Todd Brunson		350/1
	Freddy Deeb		350/1
	Chip Jett		350/1
	Paul Darden		375/1
	Tuan Le		375/1
	David Ulliot		375/1
	David Grey		375/1
	Allen Cunninghman		375/1
	Alan Goehring		400/1
	Barny Boatman		400/1

Get their whole list here and take a shot at one of Bodogs entrants...they are all 1250:1! Me? How can I resist not putting a little something on Barry Greenstein.

Nothing More to Add

Though I never met him, he effected me also. What a wonderful world we live in.

It can not be said any better than by his best friend.

Good Bye Charlie, God Speed

Life, Poker and the WSOP

If you haven't been following this, A Chick and a Chair has the story recap and the links to go to for Charlie. I would particularly like to comment on this from Spaceman:

Charlie also told me he’d received phone calls from John Juanda, Max Pescatori and Barry Greenstein. He’d been having breathing problems when John called so he couldn’t talk to him. He said Barry was a little nervous when they talked, but kind and friendly; Barry’s sending Charlie a copy of his new book. He said Max was really cool - Max was very excited about recently making the PLO final table at the World Series. Max is sending a copy of Super/System 2 - signed by as many pros as he can track down. The response from the poker community has been overwhelming - for a group of people who society tends to look down on, poker players are really some incredible people. And that includes all of you poker bloggers, too - we may not all be pros, but we do play the game. I hope that you all know how much your support means to Charlie’s friends and family - without going into any details, I’ll just say that it’s made an extremely emotional time a little bit easier for all of us.

I also know that Marcel Luske and others have called.

It's the WSOP. The most prestigious week of their careers. There are financial gains to concentrate on, player of the year implications and for some, a dream come true to win a bracelet. In the middle of this hurricane, they stop and call a man, a poker comrade, who is in dire straits.

It will not make ESPN or the front page of the Times but it is good enough that I know; there is class in this game.

I hope you get many, many more phone calls Charlie!

Edit: Greenstein wins it for Charlie

My Day

I haven't played poker since Wednesday. At first I had to force myself not to play. I knew I needed to take a break, so I successfully didn't play at all. (Spending Thursday at Paramount Kings Dominion helped) I haven't even been chatting with my friends. For that I am truely sorry but I needed a full break from all things poker.

During this time I did manage to screw up/fix/screw up worst and fix 4Flush.com . I deleted what turned out to be pretty important html code for my overall layout. Good news is I learned a couple tricks on how to fix it and learned a little more about the Mambo process along the way.

My comeback date is set for Monday. Should be fully rested and ready! Just can't do it any sooner. Sunday is MY DAY. My kids are older now (12 and 7) so I actually look forward to breakfast in bed. So to all those that qualify.........

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

Next Time: How About a Warning!

I don't know what happened. Everything was going well, life was good, no worries and then BAM! Everything went dead. All of a sudden I have cornered the market on Ax, Kx and Qx. After 35 minutes today I was wondering if this was a special game with no face cards. Last night I two tabled for 3 hours and won 9 TOTAL HANDS! No bad beats here though, I folded all the rest! I lost $60 in just blinds.

Being cold decked sucks but I will take it over being bad beat to death. Both are frustrating but I think cold deck and NOT being able to play is the worst. I went over my pokertracker stats from last night and I saw 10% of the flops. 10%!! So I looked harder and found maybe 3 hands I could have played that I didn't. Hand after hand of xx. I told some friends in chat it felt like I backed into a ten foot pole and just had it pulled out of my nose.

I have been playng a lot lately and been on a decent run so I think I will just take the a few days off. I'm due for a break anyway. Think I might go to Paramount Kings Dominion for a day with the family. Got some new cool rides and it is only an hour up the street.

~~~~~~~~~~

Micheal Jackson - Not guilty - all charges.
I will not comment on the specifics because I was not there and don't know the whole story but I just have to wonder if that was me being prosecuted if it wouldn't have taken 30+ days to decide and I would be in a cell with "Bubba" by now. Money may not buy you love but it damn near gets you everything else.

Till Next Time

Interesting Dilemma

I posted awhile back about a mental struggle with the amount of money I play with. I've overcome that. I've never really had a problem once I sit down. Chips are chips. It was the sitting part that gave me problems.

~~DoubleAs

Even though DoubleAs plays for a lot more money in NL than I do Limit, I too am having that problem. Its not that I have doubt in my ability or fear of losing; I think it is that I have gotten so use to playing one limit clearing these bonuses that it is a comfort zone issue.

Once I commit and sit down, everything is fine. I guess I will just have to force myself to keep sitting at the higher limits till it becomes natural for me again. Had a fantastic run today at $3/$6 so hopefully that will ease the pain a little.

On a side note of sorts, you have to love this Blogger Nation of ours. I have no sooner realized that I am having an issue and there someone is, posting about it and all seems right again. One huge library at your finger tips for strategy, advice, fun, drinking tips and what ever else. Great place to be a part of.

Till Next Time!

Some Bonus Chasing Advice

As most of you already know I started playing full time unexpectedly after turning down yet another transfer from my job. I was not bankrolled fully but my wife decided to go back to work so I could give it a shot. I figured it would be successful experiment if I could pay half the bills at home. This was in November 2004.

Everything worked fine until January turned into a marginally profitable month and February I loss money. I still paid half the bills and actually started to look for a job. I wasn’t too discouraged and figured the experiment to be a success; I was just under bankrolled and hit a bad run. Then March came a long. As I am sure you remember, March was a bonus chasers dream come true. Most every site I play at had at least one reload and most did more. I had become a full fledge bonus chaser and because of that I am still “experimenting full time” still. My bankroll has grown tremendously while still keeping up with my commitments. Now I have decided to cut out most of the bonus chasing except for a few reloads.

I Yahoo searched “poker+bonus+chasing” and came up with 62,200 hits. It is a popular subject. For my overall view I would say bonus chasing is a good thing. A good bonus chasing plan can be very profitable and worthwhile. I would like to point out a few things that might help you before you get started.

1) Have a plan. Max out your first time deposit bonuses. There a so many first time deposit bonuses out there now, make sure you pick ones that max out you bonus potential. If you don’t have enough bankroll to max it out, find another site and then come back after you have built enough.

2) If you are bonus chasing to build a bankroll, be very aware of the terms and conditions. Most bonuses are cleared faster at the $1/$2 level so if your not bankrolled for that don’t play there and except it will take longer to clear. There are many reasons to numerous to list on why you shouldn’t play over your limit. To me the hardest one to detect and fix is the habit of playing weak/tight.

3) If you are bonus chasing to pad your bankroll, be aware that most bonus chasers ignore number 1 and are playing over their heads and are weak/tight. Go take advantage.

4) EVERYONE flocks to the Party Skins reloads. If you are gravely affected by variance in your bankroll, try to wait till the last minute to reload and clear the Party Skins bonuses.

5) Beware of the site before you deposit. This one is pretty obvious but if there are not enough games being played, you are wasting your time.

6) Play poker to win…..DO NOT play poker to clear bonus. At one point I had so many bonuses to clear and money spread out over so many sites I would play just to clear points. Expiration dates coming fast and I was just putting in hands mechanically. This is no way to play winning poker and puts leaks in your game you will eventually have to fix.

7) Know when to say when. Somewhere at or after the $2/$4 level, you will make more playing poker than you will chasing bonuses. Realize that as you progress through the limits and learn the game that eventually the bonuses are not worth the hassle.

8) There is a lot of bonus out there to grab. You can build a bankroll rather quickly. Bankroll is not the only requirement needed to move up in limits. Nothing can replace knowledge and experience. It is easier to avoid the few players better than you that will always be there than it is to avoid the devastation of a whole limit better than you.

I hope this helps. As you see, I fell into the weak/tight - play just to clear bonus trap. I have a tendency to lean towards weak/tight anyway and now I feel I am starting all over again with my aggressiveness. In a way it is very frustrating to be having this aggressiveness conversation with myself again but it is another lesson learned and grown from. I have a feeling I will be having this conversation with myself a lot.

Till Next Time!

Almost Consolidated

Got about $25 to clear at Absolute Poker and will be ready for full time Ultimate Bet. So tonight should be last night at AP for a while. I don't think I will be bomus chasing to the extent I was anytime soon if ever again. The 100% up to $700 at Noble Poker does intrigue me but mainly due to people telling me how soft the $3/$6 tables are and how fast the bonus clears.

After I finish tonight at AP I will have 1/3 of my roll at UB, 1/3 at Stars and 1/3 in Neteller. I don't think that is a bad mix and will probably stay that way for a while. I posted before about playing one site only but after I thought about it and talked with some others it had more negatives than positives. So I think it I will keep it between three sites and Neteller. That way I can pounce on reloads and still have a choice on where I play every day. I like having the options I think. Like now, I can play at UB and Stars and have enough in Neteller to reload AP and their many many reloads or go to Noble, if I want to try something new.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next update from David Ross has been written. Year 2 is a very good read. I for one have really enjoyed all the posts from the David Ross experiment. A lot has been learned by reading these post.

~~~~~~~~~~

How could I possibly post anything without refering to the Vegas trip reports coming out now and hopefully all week. I have read a few and looks like Event 2 was as good as Event 1. Take the time to read the blogs listed here. You will not be dissappointed I promise you.

~~~~~~~~~~

Lastly I am planning my own Atlantic City trip for later next month I think. Maybe I can round up some guys who are not dead from Vegas and make a nice weekend of it! I you think you might want to come, drop me a line and lets meet up!

Till Next Time!

Sweetneess

Just Home and Love! the words are small
Four little letters unto each;
And yet you will not find in all
The wide and gracious range of speech
Two more so tenderly complete:
When angels talk in Heaven above,
I'm sure they have no words more sweet
Than Home and Love.

Just Home and Love! it's hard to guess
Which of the two were best to gain;
Home without Love is bitterness;
Love without Home is often pain.
No! each alone will seldom do;
Somehow they travel hand and glove:
If you win one you must have two,
Both Home and Love.

And if you've both, well then I'm sure
You ought to sing the whole day long;
It doesn't matter if you're poor
With these to make divine your song.
And so I praisefully repeat,
When angels talk in Heaven above,
There are no words more simply sweet
Than Home and Love.

Poem by: Robert William Service

I am truly enjoying the sites, sounds, smells and tastes of home. Regular posting will resume shortly (hehe)

I hope everyone enjoys Vegas. Look forward to all the write ups! Good Luck to those who won the Blogger WSOP qualifiers!

Im Back!

DSL was here waiting on me! Took about 2 minutes to install and set up. I'm about 1/2 way moved. Still have to go back and get one more load. Maybe will go back this weekend and get it. Only problem was my mattresses will not fit in my truck. So I am looking for a rental on Memorial Day weekend. Yep, you got it...no luck so far.

On top of that got an email from Absolute Poker saying I had till the 9th to clear all the rest of my bonus. Got it to $95 left so I will be back there this week. Then I have to finish my freeroll newsletter for the members at 4flush.com.

All of a sudden, I have to slam some stuff in! Only been back a day but feels good to be home. Its funny, there has been obvious growth here in the last 5 years or so but all the road have the same name and lead to the same place they always do. Having the bulk of the move done and the familiarity of the surroundings has made me realize how tense I was getting leading up to this. I am much more relaxed now than I have been in about a month. I guess it is true: "There is no place like home".

I know this will have a positive effect on my playing. No, it's not going to change the cards I get or make me a poker guru, but I was getting bored with my play as of late and I think the change in the outside surroundings will be a good one.

Due to my TV not fitting in the car, I got to ride the 6 hour trip with it instead of my son. So during the silent trip, I got to reflect on how bonus chasing has really added a boost to my bankroll and helped me make it the months that poker was getting the best of me. It also got to think about how it possibly has had a negative effect on my game as a whole. I am working on putting this in a post and just thought I would bring it up now as a tease.

I would also like to take a second here and say thanks to all the veterns this Memorial Day. Many have sacrificed the ultimate price so I can sit here and enjoy my life. Thank you seems so inadequate but hopefully knowing you are remembered will be enough.

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

- Moina Michael

Till Next Time!

Break Time

Had second yard sell Saturday and it was also very successful. With the move looming at end of the week, I'm taking the week off from poker.

With the move, packing, getting rid of, changing banking and addresses, I don't think I could concentrate on playing also. I will try to update blog with interesting tid bits of information if I get any. (or ever had any)

I still will be updating the freeroll calendar at 4flush and keeping up with the latest and greatest blogging news.

May be longer than that with poker if Sprint is backed up with the DSL and doesnt get out there. Have access to internet through family so will keep the site and stuff updated regularly.

Til Next Time!

Chip and a Chair

Well, not exactly but I did have only 90 chips with 20 left and 18 places paid. It was a PLO8 $2 JetSet tournament. I got in trouble on a draw with a flopped 4 low and straight draw either would have gave me the nuts one way. So now a need a little luck. I'm all in UTG with A2xx and split with the low. All in with Ac3cKdTs in BB next and split again. Now there are 19 left. I fold SB and on the button get A2Kx and flop nut low and I'm all in for split. In the CO I get Ad3d2cJc and get all in again and swoop the pot with low and two pair. I am now 5th with T6550 in chips!

What a rush. I end up making final table in 5th and go out in 7th when a flush sucks out on me with my two pair. Final Table, would need a runner runner for a low, and calls 2/3rds of her stack on a draw. What makes it worst is it wasn't the nut flush she was drawing to and she hit it! You do see some interesting hands in O8 but most of the time you are playing 2 cards and unexpectedly the other two may make a hand. You limp in with A278 hoping for a low and the flop comes 569 or something like that. She called with no way to win unless she hit the draw.

Luck doesn't give...it lends!

I reloaded at Ultimate Bet for their 50% up to $100. Been slowly knocking it out the last couple days. I have Absolute bonus under $100 and will start concentrating on Ultimate Bet and Poker Stars. Have considerable bonuses there to clear. I stayed away from Empire and Party this time. Wasn't planning on staying so I will get next one when I can stay and play for a while.

~~~~~~~~~~

I will be leaving the 27th to move back home. We had a yard sale last weekend and another this weekend and we are trying to sell everything. We are keeping TV's, computers, surround sound and clothes. Thats about it. What we don't sell will go to Salvation Army. I like yard sales. Usually I am on the other side but I like them either way. We made $400 in 4 hours and even though we had to go about 20 feet to put everything out, I was dragging putting the stuff back we didn't sell. Who knew how draining selling stuff and taking money could be.

Hopefully I will not be off line for any amount of time. I am ordering DSL Monday and I hope to have it timed so it will be there when I get there. Probably will not happen that way because it would be to convenient but can go over my dads and play if I have to. Nice having family close again. Speaking of close, Atlantic City is only ~6 hour drive. I see a few weekend trips coming up!


Till Next Time!

Just Pimpin'

Is this where the sites may be heading? A SITE paying 27% rake back, not an affilliate. Hopefully there will be more following suit.

True Poker has between 5-6ooo players a night. I did the first time deposit bonus there and did real well. Did a write up of it here.

Here is the program:

True Poker now offers THE ONLY legitimate third party rake rebate program that is actually endorsed and paid by a poker room itself.

It is an automaticaly paid, rake rebate that can be legitimately advertised.

This deal even gets sweeter, get your buddy to sign up and play and you earn 5% of his/her rake. Earning part of your rake back can turn a so so session into a postive one very quickly. True Poker is the only site offering the in house rack back Promo.

Good Hand/Lesson Learned

I sat down at an Omaha $1/$2 H/L table last night at AP. I only need a few points to knock out another $10 in bonus so I thought I would sit for a bit and clear it.

I sat with the minimum $20 thinking I would fold a few hands, get the bonus and go to bed. 70 hands later I have $1.88 left. So I decide to blow that and grumble off to bed $20 lighter and still short of bonus. I work myself back to ~$9 when this happens (Talk about BB Special!)

STAGE #124156438: OMAHA HI/LO NORMAL $1/$2 [ 2005-05-13 00:02:33 ]

Hero - Pocket [Qd,9h,2c,5c]
UTG+1 - Calls $1
MP - Checks
SB - Calls $0.50
Hero (BB) - Checks
*** FLOP [4c,7c,Ah] ***
SB - Checks
Hero - Checks (Not the best low or flush draw)
UTG+1 - Checks
MP - Checks
*** TURN [4c,7c,Ah,6c] ***
SB - Checks
Hero - Bets $2
UTG+1 - Raises $2 to $4
SB - Folds
Hero - Calls $2 (Worried I am getting quartered now and my flush is weak)
MP - Calls $2
*** RIVER [4c,7c,Ah,6c,3c] ***
Hero - Bets $2 (I officially have no worries now )
UTG+1 - Calls $2
MP - Raises $2 to $4
Hero - All-In $1.82
UTG+1 - Calls $2
*** SHOW DOWN ***
UTG+1 - Show cards [7d,9c,Kc,9d]
Hero - Show cards [Qd,9h,2c,5c]
MP - Show cards [Kd,8c,5d,8h]
*** RESULT ***
Total Pot($27.82:$27.46,$0.36) Rake ($1.25)
Board [4c,7c,Ah,6c,3c]

Hero - Total ($26.21) All-In HI - ($13.11)Straight flush, six [Qd,9h,2c,5c - B:6c,P:5c,B:4c,B:3c,P:2c] Lo - ($13.10) [B:Ah,P:2c,B:3c,B:4c,P:5c]

UTG+1 - Total ($0.18) HI:Straight, four to eight [Kd,8c,5d,8h - P:8h,B:7c,B:6c,P:5d,B:4c] LO - ($0.18) [B:Ah,B:3c,B:4c,P:5d,P:8c]

MP - Total ($0.18) HI - ($0.18)Flush, king high [7d,9c,Kc,9d - P:Kc,P:9c,B:7c,B:6c,B:4c]

Just wanted to clear bonus and went from $20 - $1.88 - $45.15 when I finally finished. (Including bonus)

I am very happy with the recovery but would like to point out an error in retrospect. It was late when I sat at the table and to be honest, I sat down for all the wrong reasons. To play to clear a few hands for bonus did not put me in an "A" game frame of mind. Then I sat with the minimum $20. Again, I had the wrong motive and wasn't set up to take advantage of any situations. After a few misses and some unbelievable suck outs, I was down to $1.88. I went into BB and incredibly enough, it was folded around.

Forgetting about the results, this is where I made the biggest error of the night. I should have quit or reloaded. The reality of it is...I should have quit. I was tired and frustrated with the cards I was getting beat with and to top it off I wasn't going to get to the hands I needed to clear the next $10 bonus.

I’m not trying to be over critical but I reviewed the session in the new Poker Tracker Omaha while I was getting this hand to post and found out that the run from $1.88 - $35.15 (without bonus) COST me about 12 bb's. That’s $24 more I could have had if I would have reloaded and been able to fully bet the hands I had. That’s almost double what I came out of this with.

I only point this out to show that having a proper buy in at all times is important. Now I don't think you need to top off like in NL when having the max buy in available really counts but keep and eye on your buy in even in the limit games and keep enough at hand to fully take advantage of every situation.

Till Next Time!

A "Telling" Hand

I pay attention to internet tells. The more I play with a player the more credence I give them. There is a lot of information out there on internet tells. With that you hear some players blow off the idea that you can use them because of all the information you can find. There is a lot of poker books out there also, doesn’t mean people read them.

I like to pace my bets, checks or raises. I use the same pace each time (or try to) no matter the situation. It doesn’t take long at a table to see who has a bad connection and who pauses before a check or bet. It’s a small edge if you pay attention and in this game every edge counts.

What brought this up was I was at a table today that was pretty loose/passive. I limped in MP with A8s and was raised by CO. 3 saw a flop that was ten high and gave me a backdoor straight and flush draw along with over card. It was checked to raiser who bet. BB folded and I called. The turn was an ace and I checked. I was prepared to check/call it down and see if my ace would hold up when there was a pause by the raiser. This was out of the norm and then he finally bet. I raised and he called. I bet the blank river and he folded. I knew my ace was good when he paused. It had been a lack luster session and that hand was the difference between being up a few bb’s and down a few bb’s.

You have to know a little about your opponent before these tells will work. I like to use them if they represent a play out of the ordinary pattern of betting. Like above when I was sure the ace scared him with the pause and it wasn’t a connection problem. There is a list of some of the tells here.

To me, every little bit of information helps and knowing these tells and being able to apply them is just more ammunition. Again though I caution you not to apply them to every player in every situation because the connection speed and site software has a lot to do with delays in betting. I do lean on them with more conviction though if it is out of the normal betting pattern of a player.

Hope they help.


Till next time!

Not just another day

Not just another day today. Nope, today is special. It used to be a day of weeks or even months build up of anticipation surrounding it. It used to be a day that took a year to get to but only seconds to come and go. Now it seems like they are coming way to fast.

Today is my Birthday. Today I am 38.

All I can say is that I have enjoyed the ride so far and can not wait for the rest to unfold.


~~~~~~~~~~

Like Mr. HalversonI have also kept looking for the Inc.com article about the WPT creator Steve Lipscomb and it is finally postedonline.

Mean Gene thinks we bloggers are missing a golden opportnity for some exposure and should back Jay Lovinger of ESPN fame in his quest for the WSOP.

~~~~~~~~~~

I have been on a steady roll lately on the poker front and have increased my roll to a very healthy state along with paying my half of the monthly bills. Lacking a full PLO8 table as of late I have sat at the $1/$2 O8 tables. I am just learning this game and was worried I would be donating more than winning but decided I would have to pay my dues to start getting better sometime.

I found out a few things. The bonus clears at incredible rates at PLO8 and though I do not consider myself a shark yet, I found out I am one of those fish that eat other fish. I was updating my freeroll calendar at Absolute Poker the other day and noticed a full table (only table) of O8 going. It was $1/$2 and a seat was open. I sat and used the Hutchinson System to evaluate starting hands and before a hour was up I had doubled my by in and cleared a part of the bonus. The table started to break up and I left soon after. I believe the double up was just good cards but was very pleased with the bonus clearing rate it produced. With so many people limping, 90% of all hands met rake requirement pre flop. By the time the hand was over, very few didn't meet rake requirement at all. I decided to look and see if there was a table going later. There was a few going that night, I sat and though I didn't double this time, I did increase my by in 50% and cleared another $10 of bonus.

I am going to continue to play these O8 limit tables this week and see where I stand. Might as well download the Omaha Poker Tracker and start gathering information so someone smarter than I can write a guide and teach me how to use it. Maybe AL and Mean Gene can write one. It was their posts that got me into this to start with.

Till Next Time!

What Went Wrong?

Bonus whoring has come under fire lately. Last month or so Ultimate Bet canceled some bonuses for players that the deemed were taking advantage. Now Empire, if some of the reports are correct, are canceling the accounts of what they deem are players that only play for their bonus.

So what went wrong with this marketing scheme? Here’s what I think:

Company A

Head of Company: “We need more players!”
Marketer 1: “How about we offer a bonus to people who sign up with us!”
Accountant: “Well, it is possible that we could lose money but if they stay and play with us forever, we could make millions”
Head of Company: “Millions!”
Marketer 2: “What happens when they go broke?”
Marketer 1: “We can offer periodic re-loads to ensure they keep playing”
Marketer 3: “Brilliant!” (Boss’s son)
Accountant: “Maybe 10’s of millions”
Head of Company: “Make it so!”


Company B

Head of Company: “We need more players!”
Marketer 1: “See what they are doing over at Company A?”
Head of Company: “Copy that!”


Company C

Head of Company: “We need more players!”
Marketer 1: “See what they are doing over at Company A and B?”
Head of Company: “Copy that!”

This cycle continues until they only thing left is bigger and bigger bonuses. Then one day they all remember what the accountant said:

“Well, it is possible that we could lose money but if they stay and play with us forever, we could make millions.”

Wait, as a player, no need to stay and play. There are so many more bonuses out there, lets just go to the next one.

So now a dilemma: Can’t stop giving bonuses because everyone is doing it. Can’t just give them out to whom we want (that’s what they are trying to do) because players might go elsewhere to play (which is what you should do). So what should they do?

First off dear reader you must understand that this is not about loyalty to the site. If they could come up with a bonus that made them money, they would care less if you came and went. This is about profit. So I offer everyone my simple solution.

X% bonus up to $X to everyone. (20% up to $100)
X% bonus up to $X to players with X amount raked hands in prior month. (50% up to $200 for 1000 raked hands played the prior month)

Now the bonus whores can do their thing and it can't be that bad a lost to the sites for this to happen and the sites feign like they are rewarding loyalty and actually give something worthwhile to those that do stay and play.

Now that all is right with the world again, I’m going to play some poker.

Till Next Time!

Next Step and More

Reader and blogger WSOP Satellite New Site! Very Special offer if you sign up through Iggy so go show some support.

WPBT WSOP Satellite Tournament
Noble Poker
Wednesday, May 11th, 9PM EST
$30 +3
No-Limit
Password: dahammer

What I learned from Iggy today:

"A pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes"

And you thought it was just a poker blog!! Go check it out yourself.

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What a ROFL read then thought pondering "My God this really happened!" : AlCantHang Florida Keys trip report.

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For me, I'm thinking about the next step in my PLO8 journey. I have finished ITM in 5 of 6 $1 MTT's with one final table and have finished INM in 4 of 6 PLO8 $2.25 SnG's over the last two nights. Now, the money won has been limited due to the stakes I have been playing but I think I now have a grasp of the game and ready to move on to some cash games. I haven't decided if it will be limit or PL cash games yet, leaning towards low stakes PL though just to get a feel for the ring atmosphere before I move up to what my bank roll can handle.

I'm still grinding away at the bonuses from MARCH. All is going well, I have avoided the last couple reloads at Absolute Poker (Bonus Code:AP35) so I can get done what I have. I'm just not a one site guy. Two sites maybe three. There is nothing wrong with AP and I am doing well, just need a change. I just get tired of the same old interface all the time, and since I have some many choices......let’s use them. I have not had trouble finding a fishy enough game at any site so why not have variety.

Adding PLO8 has helped a lot with variety also. One of the issues I have had lately playing full time is that it was always Holdem. Only game I am proficient in. I went to NL for a while which helped but all in all it was still the same game. So soon I will have another avenue to play and can switch from Omaha to Holdem.

Since I brought it up, poker for a living is going well. I am not going to go into any major rambling as to whether it is a good or bad choice here. Just that for me, I am holding up my end of the bargain. Paying my share of bills and still building my roll. Some months it grows a little and some months a lot, that’s the nature of the game. I am enjoying the overall experience and that is what’s important. (Besides the money) I will have to mention one downside....this house husband stuff sucks! Doing cloths, dishes, cleaning, dusting and so on, I mean damn it never ends. I always appreciated what my wife did "behind the scenes" but I now have an even more respect for how she kept it all up!

Bet some of you out there in cubical land with a boss over your shoulder and looming deadlines are sticking your middle finger up at me now. Man, I have pressure too! Kids, clean clothes, trash, should I get dressed, what’s for dinner and wondering if my TPTK is going to hold up. This life is not for the weak at heart, sometimes I need a nap!

OK, as some say up here in the mountains, "Nuff Funnin". Since I haven't left you with any points to ponder lately, try this:

"If quitters never win, and winners never quit, what fool came up with, "Quit while you're ahead"?"

Till Next Time!

Final Table

Well, I did it. In my 5th PLO8 $1 tournament I made it! Final Table! Whats funny is I was as surprised as anyone.

Over 100 started and I was just hanging out in the middle of the pack till just before the first break. I was discusing how a hand with 23 in it would rank as a good starting hand with my "coach" and after a brief explanation of how if it was in LP and had a decent high chance, a limp could be justified, I look down and see 2377 in CO and limp. Flop comes 2 suited with a 7 and 6 people call one bet. The turn was a 7 and now there is no possibility of a low. 4 people call 1 bet. No need to raise now I think, so many people in. The river brought the 4th suit and a pot bet from EP...WOOT! Folded to me and I minimum raise and EP lets it go. That propelled me from the mid 30's up to top 15 with about 60 left.

For the next hour I just held my own and at second break was still in top 20. I was dwindled down and at one point I was 28 of 33 and thinking after a decent start I would end up out of the money. I caught a "sweeper" with A3JQ in the BB with nut low and straight and I was 15th again when the in the money spots began. I caught another big split right before the third break and was 8th with about 22 left.

I won one more decent pot that put my 5th with 13 left. Top 9 in final table. The next thing I know we were hand to hand and the table filled up. FINAL TABLE! I was still 5th and pretty decent stack. Top gal was 2 1/2 times my size but I was feeling comfortable. My demise came with AdQd3s5h in the BB and I four flushed with the low. I called to the end and missed my flush and lost to A2 on the low. With T1700 chips left I was all in soon and finished 7th.

Whether it is 100's of people or 1000's, there is nothing like the feeling of a final table. I always seem to think about Dan Harrington at a final table moment. What an accomplishment for back to back tables in such a huge event.

PLO8 update: I started with $7 I left in my JetSet account. It is currently at $15 and all on PLO8 tournaments and one out of the money and one second in a PLO8 SnG. When I get to $25 I will try the $10 PLO8 tournament.

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On a side note. Been hanging out with some friends from 72os.com via IM the last couple nights and been having a blast! Invaded AP last night for some SnG action. You know whats better than beating AA with the Hilton Sisters? Doing it versus your friend. I raise his BB from EP with QQ. Folded to him and being short stacked goes all in and types bad timing...I call and yep, he flips over AA. My 2 outer hits on flop and I say goodbye. That lit up the chat a little more!




Till Next Time!

Great Weekend!

Congrats to ABVidale for winning the Poker Stars event last night. Again I had obligations so couldn't play but MAYBE the next one for reader and blogger.

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Looking back I didn't really grind as much as I thought I had. I did knock some some hands out at Ultimate Bet for a slightly positive result. I played 4 MTT's and a SnG this weekend. That's a lot of tournaments for me but I was in the mood I guess.

In my quest for PLO8 knowledge I played 2 $1 PLO8 MTT's at JetSet. Over 100 entrants in both and I finished 15th (with my coach) and 22nd (without him). Not to bad, monied in both. Of course monied is a relative term in $1 MTT's but the knowledge is what I am after more than anything right now. I was shortstacked in the first one and actually made a decent recovery with my coach really opening up my eyes to some betting thinking (I messed it up in tournament) and the second one I got, no joke, AA and KK 9 times! Now that is not necessarily a good thing in PLO8. I won with it twice and got knocked out with AAx3 when my low missed and AA no good.

I'm sure these tournaments are pretty loose, I really have nothing to compare it to yet, but for $1 I am getting a ton of hands in. I don't know enough to get extremely mad at being sucked out yet so I reserve the right to change my opinion.

Played a UB SnG for the first time in forever Saturday night. Who taught these guys how to play! I used to be able to fold 1 round and 4 people gone. Not this one. Caught some good cards though and had a steady run for second. Heads up I was out chipped 5-1, hit a couple hands to bring it to 6-4 but that was it.

That was just a warm up for the $1 $2500 guaranteed MTT at UB. Long and short of that is I finished 301 out of 1700. I played for 1 hour and 45 minutes with no less than 1000 chips and no more than 2000 chips. Right before the 2nd break I got a hand and went to 3500 chips. Feeling it was about to turn for me, the wheels fell off and finally went out with an "all in" raise with 44 on the button called by TT in the BB. It was just that kind of tournament.

Last night wound up my MTT berage with the 72os Freeroll Tour at Noble Poker. Finished 16th out of 262. I used up all my good cards early and just faded away into the sunset come crunch time.

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Watched the Heads Up Tournament on NBC Sunday. It was OK. In thirty minutes two brackets get finished and maybe 30 hands aired. Lots of bios though. Got to see 81 year old Henry Owenstein beat Chip Reese, Doyle Brunson lose to Billy Baxter and Todd Brunson lose to Eric Lindren.

Didn't show: Chris Moneymaker, Tom McEvoy, Chris Ferguson, Gus Hansen, Sammy Farha, Barry Greenstein, John Juanda, TJ Cloutier, Scotty Nguyen or Layne Flack. Except the token last hand coverage.

I would have thought the Cyndy Violette vs. Chris Ferguson would warrant some battle of the sexes coverage but no. They did give the impression that Chris creamed her though. Scotty Nguyen vs. Mike Caro would make a good match to air...again no.

My votes for next week:

Bobby Bladwin vs. Evelyn Ng (no poker reason I can think of though)
David Williams vs. Carlos Mortensen
Phil Ivey vs. David Sklansky
Scott Fischman vs. Annie Duke.


Maybe some NBC exec will read this blog and do some fast editing!


Till Next Time!

Another New Experience

As I pay my final dues to the bonus police at AP, (at least till next email saying get it now or else) I am playing $1/$2 trying to get raked hands in when a friend stops by, Dorian, says Hi and proceeds to a 7 stud H/L table. The table I was at had just filled up so I was feeling it out and I was doing OK until I got TT vs. JJ vs. QQ and was stuck. So my short "just clear the next bonus level" session just got longer. I pulled up Dorian's table and was watching. I got back to even eventually and the curiosity got to me.

I sat at a .25/.50 7 card stud H/L table. I figured I couldn't go to wrong at this level. I couldn't help but to think of Felicia as my first cards were dealt. The long and short of it was I split my first hand, got down $4 and ended up +$2. As most have read, Omaha H/L is my game I am trying to expand to next. So 7 stud may have to wait BUT it was fun to play. Almost say it was addicting after a while. A "pay attention" game for sure. Knowing what cards were folded is a very apparant plus. After a hour or so of .25/.50 7 stud H/L, I have no great wisdom to past on except that it made a big enough impression to play again.

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Couple thing before I go:

WPBT WSOP Satellite Tournament
Poker Stars
May 1st, 7pm EST
$30 + 3 No-limit
One WSOP seat awarded for every 50 players
Password = the same as last time

Find out what sites are offering what as far as WSOP Qualifiers: WSOP Reports

Till Next Time!

Morning Madness

I have not laughed so hard in weeks. I guess PLO8 could be a "different" kind of experience if you have never played it before.

First sign that it was going to be an interesting tournament? Jsaw asking what is a low and then after a very brief explanation claimed he had it all mastered.

A very few minutes into the tournament Jsaw types:
"No one ever folds in this game pre-flop! How can you win with 7 people seeing the flop!"
After a brief pause: "I guess AK is not a good starting hand in Omaha".
Followed by one of the very many times of: "This game $%#@ sucks!"

9 minutes in: Jsaw is ALL IN! Splits pot.
14 minutes in: I flop Quad tens vs. a rivered set and now sitting in 6th. (As a side note, 3 hours of playing last night at AP and JetSet saw 4 flopped quads)
18 minutes in: Jsaw is ALL IN again. Sweeps and is in 12th.

Chat:
Friend-Good Job. Nice Hand
Jsaw - Really?

32 minutes in: Jsaw is ALL IN. Splits and is in 11th
41 minutes in: Jsaw is in 5th! I am holding steady at 10th and at this point I am sitting in my dark house trying not to wake anyone with my laughing. The friend that started it all is in 19th.
42 minutes in: Yes, 1 minute later, Jsaw is ALL IN. Loses and drops to last.

Chat:
Jsaw-What happened?
Friend-You Got sucked out
Me-Ouch
Jsaw-At least in Holdem I know when I get sucked out on. This game #@$!^ sucks

48 minutes in: I'm out on a unreal river suck out that gave him runner runner flush and a 2-6 low vs. my A-7 low and top set. 24th

52 minutes in: Jsaw is ALL IN. Doesn't survive and finishes 20th. To be honest he got sucked out on river also.

Chat:
Jsaw-I lost, don't know why. This game $%#$% sucks!

Our friend, who started this whole mess, keeping us up and maybe ruining Jsaw's gusto forever for PLO8? He won. I tell you what though, the best $1 I spent in a long time. I railed until 4 left and couldn't stay awake. Our friend had a 2:1 chip lead on second place and was really runnng the table.

So I had a good time,added another notch on the learning belt and got to sleep till noon!

Till Next Time!

Caught Up In The Moment

I am not a young man. Though I have not crossed the 40 mile mark yet, I can see it. It is getting closer by the day. As I write this though I guess even an old dog can still have a few moments "like the old days".

I was at an Absolute Poker table tonight with Jsaw. We are at a $1/$2 table paying are dues to get the email police off our back about expiring bonuses. It is rolling up on 12:30am and my time to call it a night. See, part of my stay at home dad duties is getting the kids off in the AM which is about 7. I am down about $10 but getting ready to clear another block of bonus money. There is no polite way to put this so I will just blurt it out. Jsaw is getting killed. At one point he is tapping so hard on the aquarium that water is spilling out the top. I mention I am going to stay for the few raked hands needed to clear the next $10 bonus, I hold my own and down about $14 when these two players sit down and start going crazy. I start thinking, one hand, please just one hand. Jsaw gets his AK sucked out on bad and leaves. I stay for three more hands and get that one hand. I leave up a little, the bonus and 1/3 of the way done towards my next release.

In the mean time, another friend comes home from work and delighted to see us still up, reminds us of the 3am PLO8 $1 tourney. So here I am 7 minutes till 3 and registered for the tournament. Jsaw's Omaha experience consists of one SnG he played that he thought was a NL Holdem. Finished in the money in that one so he is good to go. My experience is documented in the posts below.

So looks like an all nighter for me. Like I said I am getting older so it will be Pepsi and doughnuts keeping the sugar going. Later this evening when I wake up, I will post the results.

Till Next Time!

Minor Success

Played in my first PLO8 tourney on JetSet yesterday. This was my first experience with JetSet and I really like their tourney software. It updates you position after every hand right there on the table. It was fast and had no problems at all.

101 entered this $1 tournament and I finished 16th! Made a cool 41 cents! There is something about a game that your real bad cards can win you half the pot that appeals to me. Like I said earlier I have a lot to learn but it is a good devient from grinding at Holdem all day. Seems like JetSet runs one of these every night at 18:00 so I guess I will try to make it a regular routine.

Absolute Poker emailed me and said you have till the 9th to clear $35 worth of bonus or it expires so I am currently doing that. Just when I thought I could get away for a while, they pull me back in.

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Missed the WSOP Poker Stars Event. Thought I could make it last minute but missed it by about 15 minutes. Congrats to Bob for winning and can you imagine the gallary he will have at the satellite and the WSOP. (Of course he will win the Satellite!) Go read Pauly for a great blow by blow of the event.

Got to love Iggy! He is doing another one May 1st!:

Poker Stars
7pm EST
$30 + 3 No-limit
One WSOP seat awarded for every 50 players
Password = the same as last time

Glad to see Felicia posting again. Hope you are feeling much much better!

Till Next Time!

Weekend of Distractions

Man this one fun!

Getting ready to go!!

Friend raced trucks!!!

Spreading My Wings

Thought I would start to expand my horizon a little and start playing Omaha H/L. Have a friend that is going to help coach me and decided pot limit would be my choice. So last night I get an IM from my “coach” and it say’s come play this Omaha H/L SnG with me we need a player. Forgive me if I am wrong but the pupil doesn’t challenge the teacher till the end of the movie right?

So I played. I wasn’t completely in the dark, had played a little before. I found this website that proposes a counting method of deciding if you should call, raise or fold pre-flop. Couldn’t use it! Can’t think that fast yet! So I did the next best thing. I used beginners luck and finished second. (To his fourth) Two major events stand out. He was chip leader and got sucked out bad…Twice. I was fourth with four to go and sucked out bad on chip leader to lock in a money finish. Other than that I am not sure what happened. I have a long way to go in the learning curve but it was fun. This was on JetSet and they have $1 PL08 tournament almost every night so I am going to play a few to get my feet wet.

Getting a little tired of AP so I cashed out most and now going to play at Ultimate Bet for a while. Will also allow me to deposit into Poker Stars for the blogger WSOP tournament. I left enough in AP to keep chipping away but will play at UB mostly now. I didn’t know how bad I missed the Game Time + and auto import of hand histories.

I’ll be gone most of Friday and all of Saturday. My dad and I use to race remote control cars and he is coming close (2 hour drive) this weekend and I am going out to race with him. Going to be fun. I’ll try to get pictures.

Till Next Time!

Random Stuff

I would like to preface this first by saying I am not a Yankees fan, I am probably on the verge of being anti-Yankee. I am not a Red Sox fan, though I did pull for them hard last year to break "the curse".

Gary Sheffield should not be suspended for his actions the other day. I don't think he should even be fined or punished in any way. The fan got his tickets revoked which is a good start. How about criminal charges? If he walked into my place of business and took a swipe at me, he would be in jail right now. At least one or both of us would be!

I know the fan pays all the money but we have to draw the line somewhere. Its getting bad. Peter Gammons reported that during Yankee batting practice a man with his TWO SMALL CHILDREN was yelling obscenities at evey player in the cage. Great job setting the example dad!! ROOT ROOT ROOT for the home team but have some dignity.

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I was having one of those sessions and inspired by Al I will share this suck out I laid on this guy. Had AQo and raised preflop. Called in two spots, one guy calling every hand and getting lucky as hell. Flop comes Q high with three clubs. I bet out and "Lucky" raises. I call and the turn bring an A and the 4th club. I check and he bets. I have no club and about 99.9% sure he has at least one so I call. Why? Not sure, I folded what seemed like a zillion hands before this and I convinced myself he could be bluffing. River brought an ace, we capped and I sucked out the nut flush. To be perfectly honest, it felt good!

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About 40 signed up for the WSOP blogger event at Poker Stars. I will try to make it, right now I think it is 60/40 I will get in at the last minute. Should be a lot of fun and some intense competition.

Blogging has taken another step into main stream. Websters latest dictionary has added the word blog to its new words for this year. Yahoo, maybe I will stop misspelling it now.

Ultimate bet has another reload. Check out 4Flush's front page for more details.


Till Next Time!

Weekend Review

As far as poker is concerned I finished the week up......75 cents! I played $1/$2 up to $3/$6 (Where ever tables were available) and was pretty much dead even at all levels. I reviewed my hands this weekend and I honestly think I got more than my fair share of junk so maybe this week it will even out for me a little. I'm still having trouble letting go of high PP's but getting better, will count the improvement as a positive and keep working on it. I chased more draws than usual also which, to me, is an indication I was pushing a little to hard to make things happen towards the end of the week. First time I have noticed that happening so will have to see if I can curb that trend. Playing at AP and someone commented on how they liked the blog. This was a first for me and it felt good to know someone is reading this. Of course my avatar on AP says "4lush.com" so I guess it isn't too hard to put two and two together but I still made my wife come over and read the chat!

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Only poker last night was the 72os Freeroll Tour at Noble Poker. My KK got sucked out by A4 and crippled me. I made it to the break and then my AQ was bested by A8 with 8 on river and I was gone. This is a free league to sign up for and if you are new to the game or want to play pretty good competition for free, check this out. I really enjoy it.

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Don't miss the blogger only WSOP qualifier at Poker Stars on April 24th. You can email Iggy for the password. Good Luck to every one! Pauly has a review up on Harrington's new book. I have finished it once and it is a great book. Check out the review! Also, Ship It Poker has some Party bonuses listed as well as some good posts this week. Check them out as well. I finally added a few more blogs to the roll this weekend so read them when you get a chance. Some are brand new so lend your support.

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Lastly, I took a little break Sunday afternoon and shot some golf. First time out this year and though it wasn't an Augusta like course I did manage a 84! At one point I had a par on 4 straight holes! I love the first time out every year. Probably be my best score! For some strange reason, on the golf course with friends, I can forget about everything else and I just concentrate on hitting that ball. 3-4 hours devoid of poker was perfect.


Till Next Time!

Nothing Special Poker

First off I wish Felicia a speedy recovery back to full health.

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Spent the last couple sessions back at $3/$6. Nothing has changed much. Same bad play as before, just the suck outs cost more. I think the play at this level is worst than some of the lower limits. Makes sense though, this is about the normal level for most casinos so I assume this is the level most go to that play at casinos. Still clearing Absolute Poker so I do see some of the guys from the $2/$4 that I used to play with that have moved up. Thats cool because I have notes on them.

Not much to post about, been in a holding pattern this week. A little above even with no spectacular wins or loses to report. Been kinda of boring.


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I have noticed poker is at a frenzied pace right now. In Virginia, the lottery now has a Texas Holdem game, my wifes new favorite show, Desperate Housewifes, playing poker this week. Commercials? They are everywhere now on cable. Saw a new one for 888.com last night. I saw the $9.99 chip sets at Auto Zone over the weekend! NBC has a pilot for a show based on Annie Duke even. Everywhere you look now people are trying to cash in.

At the tables you can see it also. I think sometimes if people would just transfer money to other players it would be easier. I know people play poker for all kinds of reasons but come on. Maybe I am just noticing more lately. What I understand even less is that people are calling the river bet with missed draws! Chasing a gut shot to the river, chasing your hand that if it hits will be second best, chasing your A high, chasing runner runner, ect. With the quality of players out there, this happens, BUT to call a river bet from a player that has bet you every round and you have missed! Makes no sense.

I'm not complaining though, I make a living off these players. Sure when they suck out it hurts but that is temporary. I'm not the best poker player out there by no means but I am in the top 3 at my table. If I'm not, I move. So I am confident I will come out in the long run.

Not bad ramblings from a guy who is break even for the week!

Till Next Time!

Folding to a Win

I guess it easy to remember some hands, the AA that got cracked or maybe the folded QT that hit a straight on the flop to a guy that was bluffing.

How about the ones that save you huge money? I had two yesterday that were very big. I have not been feeling well and have played sparingly the last couple days. I played for 3 one hour sessions and only one table at a time. I made $60. Neither one of these hands were earth shattering decisions, both were folded pre flop but they stuck out in my mind because of how there would be no way I could get away from them if I stayed.

The first one I had 84s in SB. I like seeing cheap flops with any two suited in the SB(after reading SSH). It was raised in late MP and called by button. I let it go without much hesitation.

Hand 1 – KK
Hand 2 – AA

Flop – 884
Turn – K
River – 7

There is no way I don’t lose a bundle on this hand. Pot got big between these two.


The second one I had QJo in early MP. It’s folded to me and I think about raising first end. I end up folding and 4 people see a flop.

Flop is T9K rainbow

Turn – 6
River – T

Winner had 99 for full house. I would have been first to act and for sure he would have called me down. Some one had a ten and this pot also got big.

I figured that was 12 – 15 bb’s saved at 2/4. That was my whole winning day. I guess this was just one of those times when you realize, again, that poker is a whole bunch of decisions rolled up together to make a session. Making money has a lot to do with what you play as well as what you don’t play.

Till Next Time!

Passion other than Poker

The Tiger Growl is BACK!

What a finish!

Well, the bonus chase at Poker Room has come to an interesting end. What a wild ride it was. As you have read it started with me getting torn up at the limit tables and at one point I was $210 down (Only $180 bonus).

So I switched to no limit in hopes of at least coming out with a little money ahead and just chalk this one up to variance. I have had some success at the $25 NL tables before so off I went. So today I cashed out -$24 not including bonus. In about 3 days I have made $175 in profit at the NL tables. Not bad considering all have not been winning sessions.

I can now add another chapter of knowledge to my NL education. I am still making some big mistakes looking back at poker tracker stats, like calling big bets and/or raises when I should be laying them down. Reading the flush draw is easy but that straight draw gives me problems sometimes. Just hard to believe with a 2468T rainbow board and you with 44 and you get re-raised that he was sitting on 53o but he was calling you down with something. Back to what I posted before, they call with a monster and re-raise with anything else. Lessoned learned and it only cost me $18. Got a little studing to do before I move to the $50 NL games. At least plug the big leaks!


I have about 6000 hands I can go study now. Biggest winner was AA which I got 34 times and won 91%! Biggest loser was 44(see above) which I got 20 times and won 5%. They were also my biggest winner/loser avg. per hand. Just because it is here…..The “Most Likely to Look Down and See in the Blind Award” goes to – 32o (23 times). Top 5 winning hands were pocket pairs, top 5 losing hands were pocket pairs and interestingly enough…about the same groupings of pairs. So time for a night off before I start the quest over at Absolute Poker and do the Empire reload. (Bonus Code: EPMANIA)

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Never a dull moment in blogger land!

Iggy says: Lets give a blogger a chance!

Congrats to Pauly for his new Vegas assignment covering the upcoming WSOP.


Maudie draws a line in the sand! (According to my wife, she found my first grey hair yesterday. Yea Right!)

Leave a joke for Felecia.

Till Next Time!

One Last Laugh

As you clear players points at Poker Room, you are offered a chance to get into a few freerolls. There is a turbo, a $3000 guaranteed and a $6000 guaranteed. Well, I signed up for the $3000 guaranteed freeroll last night. 2000 max entrants and top 100 pay out with $20 being the minimum paid.

If you have been reading you have noticed that I have abandoned the limit tables here and have made a very nice comeback into profitability at the NL tables. I would chalk it up to "flukiness" but this is actually the second time that I have gotten way down and came back at the NL tables at this site. Further research needed here but I know the truth is out there. (sorry couldn't resist)

So, I'm awaiting the 9:30pm start time and right before the start only 876 people are signed up. I'm feeling pretty good here. So I am finally sitting and we are off. I decided to open a NL ring game to keep me occupied at the beginning and not paying to much attention. About the 3rd or 4th hand I see AA on the button. I decide to minimum raise as it is folded around to me and the blinds fold, I win. My excitement is tempered because the box with my options in it didn't look right. About that time in the chat box I see "Thought this was NL Tournament?" My heart and draw drop as I regular types "it is but not on Wednesday, Wednesday is LIMIT".

When the shocked look finally wore off, I couldn't help but chuckle. May have even laughed out loud some. I will be clearing this bonus today, the last time I can play in the freeroll tournament and it is limit. Good one Poker Room and to you goes the last laugh. It was a good laugh too, built my stack up to a reasonable amount, card dead the last hour and finished 104th. I was calling out hands to a friend railing me and trust me there was nothing to work with.

Last hand in BB, I hand just under the SB amount so I knew I was going to get a player. The table actually folded to us to give me a chance and I appreciated that. I had the best hand I had seen in a while, 34o, at least IT was connected. As the board unfolded I lost to the SB's K. SB's hand - K high. Fitting end.

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Absolute Poker is at it again. 20% Bonus. Up to $200 for each day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All deposit methods. Use code APR20 in the cashier.

Till Next Time!

Can you Swim Upstream too?

That has to be the funniest thing I've heard in the chat box in a long time.

Guy goes all in for $9.75 UTG+1 with T7o. Gets called by AA and on the turn hits a gut shot straight draw and on the river....completes it.

4 hands later he was broke and left.

One of my new favorite lines "Luck doesn't give, it lends"

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Pet Peeves so far at NL:

1) The minimum raise - Even worst the BB minimum raise. Now if I thought that it was being done to increase pot odds to draw to their hand, OK. I don't think you can give most of these players that much credit.

2) The Over Bet - Betting 3+ times the pot size (Post Flop). This is usually a no win bet no matter what. A bluff - risk/reward is terrible, A semi bluff - if called your usually beat, A nut hand - why you trying to get everyone to fold?

3) The Hit and Run Artists - Play every hand. Hit there miracle hand and poof! Gone!

4) Shortstacks - Not all of them. Just the ones that sit down with $5 or less. I have had a few lately sit with $2.50! Just waiting for the right hand to go all in with and then like above...leave!

5)Talkers - seems to be more in NL than in Limit. What kind a person talks crap at an internet table? Thank goodness for the mute button.


Will be done with Poker Room tomorrow for sure and then on to finish Absolute Poker. Got Empire Poker's email for their April 6th reload today. (Bonus Code:EPMANIA) so I will hit that before they start getting unreal with their requirements too.


Till Next Time!

Stats Glitch?

I think I have found a statistical glitch:

Poker Room:
$2/$4 - +.49bb
$1/$2 - +.23bb
$25NL - +13.44bb

LOL....I'm a grinder. I'm not suppose to be a NL player. Everything about this session at Poker Room has been upside down.

The betting is soooo predictable. No one at $25NL will bet their own hand.

So you raise preflop with a premium hand, bet pot on the flop and get called...if you missed, check the turn because when they call you they have a monster and will let you see the river cheap most of the time trying to check/raise you. I saw someone flop the nuts and check it to the river then bet $3 into a $1 pot and try to get paid off.

If, in the same scenerio, you get reraised, go all in they are bluffing. OK, maybe not all the time but most of the time. Never seen so much over betting.

Obviously these rules aren't concrete but they will get you through more often than not. Why? As alluded to before, everyone slowplays and trys to get paid big on everyhand. So when they just call your bet, watch out! One more example. I am in BB with 82os. Flop is 22Tr. I bet 50 cents and get 5 callers. Turn is a 5 completing the rainbow. I bet $1 and get 2 callers. River is a K. I bet $2 and one player goes ALL IN! The second player folds and I call. He slowplayed AA. I laughed out load at that one.

If I can figure this stuff out, any one can. The only draw back is that I am not clearing the bonus to fast at this level. Got it under 300 points so may stick it out.

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Whats the deal with these bonuses now. Seems like the sites are figuring out ways to make them harder to do. I know they are making money off the reloads so why are the srewing around with them.

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Jsaw has set up a Q&A with Josh Arieh and if you have a question, get it over to him. Should be an interesting article.

I know, lacking in the quality post department. Playing more to clear this bonus is getting into my creative side. (hehe)

Till Next Time!

Not going to Vegas...but not bad

To win a tournament. You have to get lucky. You have to win draws, catch rivers and swim like a shark

- Matt Dean - Ship It Poker

Last night I could do none of those. Finished 92 out of 766. All because of two VERY dry run of cards.

First hour I was at a table of gamblers. I waited and waited. How much did I wait. I played ONE hand. KK and doubled up +. It was easy. Raised 5x pre flop, two callers. All in when no ace fell. One caller who had an ace and a straight draw (If he got runner runner.)

First half of second hour I was stealing a little and stayed above avg. chip stack. Then the cards just went dead. I was moved to a table with a loose big stack two to my left which curtailed my blind stealing and didn't see anything worth playing for about an hour.

Well into third hour with antes and blinds going up I pushed with ATo into a rag flop and took it down to keep my head above water. Then I went dead again. Wanted to make a move before I got low enough not to be respected and push with T2000 in the BB with AJo. 2 callers and the board 2 paired so I though I would at least split. The river was a K and I was out to KJo.

When I got chips the cards went dead. I got low and got QQ and AA to get me back some and then went dead again. Never sustained a run long enought to be able to do anything. 92nd for a guy who's only MTT credits this year are two TPTK Oamha H/L events and the Full Tilt WBPT HORSE event, not to bad.

So long March! I for one will miss you. It would have been nice to tack on a trip to Vegas but it was still a great month. I hope the last few days at Poker Room aren't an omen of things to come in April.


Till Next Time!

Different Tune

So I had this post and I was trying to publish it and blogger was messing up. It was all about how not only was I deleting Poker Room from my computer... I was using Norton and wiping it off my computer.

I flopped 5 sets today and lost everyone. I had QQ with a QXX(r) flop and lost to KJ when a TA came runner runer and I'm capping every street between 3 people!


So I decided to 4 table $25 NL and just see if I could stop the bleeding. I doubled up twice and got all the money back I lost plus 75 cents by the time I quit. I guess that means a little longer on the bonus. Got 400 points to go but will stick with $25 NL from here out. Points come slower but the limit tables are killing me.

Hoping I can play longer if needed and still get 100 points a day at least.

Currently plaing in the AP WSOP Challenge Main Event. It just started and best I have seen so far is A5o. Will give you all the details when I finish (Hopefully Late)

Till Next Time!

If you can't beat'em......

Live vicariously through them!

Congrats to: DoubleAs on getting to Aruba. Great place! I really enjoyed it there. Oh yea, there is a poker tournament also.

AND 50 Outs going to WSOP!

I would love for them to do a piece on the new champion and it be a blogger!

Get the next hottest book coming! Funny also! Bill's Blog (With Felicia's endorsement)

Help Maudie with her poker retirement fund. Great designs and well worth the high mark up. (hehe)

Me? I had a victory of sorts yesterday! 100 points cleared at $1/$2 tables at Poker Room and I didn't lose!!!! I didn't win either but hey, baby steps(hehe)

Decided today we are moving back home. I'm somewhat excited. Guess in all honesty, I like it here BUT like to get back home to. Hadn't spent a lot of time with family the last four years except at Holidays and it will be nice to get back into the "rotation" of family visiting.

Its central Virginia, so good news is I will be only 6 hours from AC!!! I am currently 8 1/2 hours from Tunica so I am getting closer to the live games!!

Kids are back in school today so life is "back to normal". Almost, wife is off today so we are going out. Will get back to poker eventually. A great month of poker and quality time with family....Life is good. Even if the poker gods are trying to taint it with my current run!

Been busy but not with Poker

Took some days "off" from poker for a few reasons. Mostly due to spring break and my kids have been home from school. Been nice being able to spend time with them.

I also used the time to redesign 4Flush

Lastly, Poker Room has been driving me crazy! Will get back to the grind tonight.

Rented the Stu Unger movie so I am going to watch that! Wonder if I could get my kids to watch it with me...........yea right! Just dreaming!

Having fun yet?

Still clearing Poker Room bonus. Slow going and not doing to well. At the $1/$2 tables I have reviewed about 2000 hands and have come to the conclusion that NO ONE will fold at Poker Room. If they have over cards, any draw, or worst....BOTH! They are staying to the end. This weekend, the river has been bailing them out. I'm still ahead of the bonus but just barely. I have 700 more points to get. Will get it knocked out this week for sure, just hope I have money left when it is done.

I haven't seriously hit the Absolute Bonus yet so that will get my full attention next. That will leave Pokerstars, Ultimate Bet and then a coordinated effort to clear Full Tilt. Still have a lot of hands ahead of me.

That doesn't bother me. Iggy has an uber-post and some of it addresses the playing poker for a living debate again. In it he says he may consider a "real" world job again. He, of course, is right. It isn't "all that" but, so far, it is for me. It is not a get rich quick option, nor is it glamorous and at times not even fun. You have to put in the hours just like a real job and it takes some commitment and self control. Sometimes being the only chief AND the only Indian can really cause some problems.

I spent most of my life so far in sales. Commission structure, so if you don't sale, you don't get paid and in essence you could lose money you were used to getting if you had a bad stretch in sales. Same with poker don't play and you don't get paid. Play and you could lose money.

Just like any "real" job, I love/hate playing poker for a living. The best part: My boss is real cool and lets me do anything I want. The worst part: My boss is real cool and lets me do anything I want. So if asked if I would recommend this type of work? I'd have to give the standard answer, "It depends". Just like any move in employment, it takes planning and a back up plan if it doesn't work.

Speaking of a plan, time to get back to mine.

Till Next Time!

Bonus Withdrawals

I can beat the hell-o out of the $25 NL tables at Poker Room and can’t get hardly a point towards bonus, go to the $1/$2 tables and get the hell-o beat out of me and get triple the points. Go figure. They don’t rake the $2/$4 tables till it is a $20 pot, so that is worthless for clearing bonus. Good if I played there all the time though. So it is going to be 4 tables at $1/$2 tomorrow for as long as I can stand it. Need to get on with the “bigger” picture but can’t leave all this bonus money just hanging out there.

As I posted before, I am going to scale back the bonus chasing. Now it is just going to be reloads and only at a few sites. I’m working on a “home” site; a place where I will play the most. I have narrowed it down to a few: Ultimate Bet, Party, and Absolute Poker.

I know there are a few people reading this and saying “Party! Go to Party Poker!” For my first attempt at “serious” $3/$6, I’m not sure I am ready for the variance at Party yet. That’s why I am leaning towards Ultimate Bet. The play there is weak/tight and there are enough tables to go around during the day.

Absolute Poker is good for the reloads. They have them all the time. The play there is like most anywhere else and with 10k in players a night, tables can be found. I’m not in love with the software but the reloads make up for that. It will make a good second site.

To me, if you are going to play poker seriously, use Poker Tracker and Game Time +, then you need to build a solid data base somewhere. Maybe my thinking is all wrong and I will find out later on that it really doesn’t matter but until then, I will go with this. I know that the more information you have about an opponent the better off you are, so why not carry that over to a particular site as well.

I have never had to move back down limits after moving up. At least not due to poker, I have had to cash out and been forced to start at lower limits again. This is mainly due to the fact that I have been cautious in my moves and made sure I was more than adequately bankrolled.

I think it just came to me why this is a bigger deal than it should be. I have been playing below my bankroll for a while now while chasing bonuses. I have, for the last few months, always had a bonus as a “safety net” and now that I have decided to cut that back, I realize that an off night will directly affect the bottom line. I’m having “Bonus Withdrawals”.

I had a goal. Playing correct poker has always been important but to be honest, winning poker as taken a back seat to clearing bonus and building bankroll to get back to $3/$6. I have been fortunate enough to win mostly AND clear bonus but the emphasis has been more on the bonus than the poker. Well, I made my goal. Now I guess I have to see if I am strong enough to handle the “bonus withdrawals” or will I have to throw in a crypto here and there and gradually ease away.


Till Next Time!

Love, Poker and To Do List

Love


I love my wife.

We have been married 12 years. She is a great supporter almost to a fault. I usually get her true feelings, if she disagrees or has a difference of opinion, eventually. (Usually late at night when I’m trying to sleep but I digress)

Saturday I get this: “You know I was very skeptical about this “poker thing” when you first mentioned it. (Playing full time) It’s turning out quite well.”

WOW! I was holding my breath after the first part.

I love my wife.

Poker

At the end of November when I turned down the transfer and effectively quit my job, I was bankrolled for $2/$4 comfortably and real close to my 300bb rule for $3/$6. After Christmas and deciding that we should pay off all our monthly debt to make things easier, my roll took a big hit and I turned into a full time bonus chaser to make it up. I only need to pay half the incoming bills so I was doing my share and building slowly. An unexpected expense in February put me behind the eight ball again but man what a March.

If I break even the rest of the month I will be very comfortably bankrolled for $3/$6 again and still have over $1000 in bonus to clear and five sites I will not get to till April. Poker has been “bery bery” good to me this month. I have made a big effort to tweak my game and looking for all the small edges I can get. I understood what all the books have said, the advice in posts from just about everyone. Now I believe it. Making good decisions is all that it’s about. The wins will follow. This month hasn’t been all about the wins either. I finished Interpoker and Paradise Poker bonuses on the positive only because of the bonus. That’s OK though, if I was there for the long haul, I would have made it back. (Especially Paradise OMG!) Now all I have to do is finish up.

To Do List

As soon as Paradise and Interpoker money clear, it’s off to Poker Room. I have about 45 days to clear it and most of my Absolute Poker so I will play one during the day and one at night.

Then Poker Stars and Ultimate Bet. No expiration but next to be done.

Last, Full Tilt. I will not get to reload there so I hope they carry it over like they do everything else. I have till July to finish the 1st time bonus. (If I'm going back I might as well do one more bonus!)

Then I will have to find a home, somewhere to play everyday because if all goes as planned the bonus chasing will stop. (Except for the good ones!) I’ll give you my opinions on that next time.

Till Next Time!