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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.


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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.

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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!