February 17, 2006
Playing Poker online is Illegal...
There seems to be a lot of confusion wether or not playing poker online for real money is legal or not. As this article shows, there's so much confusion in fact, that 2 Politicians are propossing new legislation that makes it very clear, and punishable with up to 5 years in prison.
November 28, 2005
LOL! Fish's Speak
Was just talking to Rooty about sending tells, and came up with this little inner dialouge...
Small Fish1: "Oh no, here comes a shark!"
Small Fish2: "I don't understand, why is he swimming away?"
Starfish: "You dumb fish, don't you know? He's circling to come up behind you and catch you by suprise!"
Now, if someone with some artistic talent could put that to a little comic strip, that would be the Nutz!
Small Fish1: "Oh no, here comes a shark!"
Small Fish2: "I don't understand, why is he swimming away?"
Starfish: "You dumb fish, don't you know? He's circling to come up behind you and catch you by suprise!"
Now, if someone with some artistic talent could put that to a little comic strip, that would be the Nutz!
Behaviour and Lying
A couple of good article's on how peoples behaviour when lying. May come in handy at the Poker table...
How to Detect Lies
Eye Direction and Lying
How to Detect Lies
Eye Direction and Lying
November 13, 2005
TFPL Minnesota Team Tournement Report
Myself, Rooty, and 2 other poker buddies entered the TFPL's Team Tournement.
It was the largest Team Tournement EVER in Minnesota. OK, it was the first, so that automatically made it the largest. 200 player's consisitng of 50 teams of 4 played in Single Table, last man standing, point tourney.
The format was, well, different. The field was cut in half after all tables had only one man standing. The top half teams then went on to the next round, till all tables were completed, then the top half again, rinse, repeat. Until there were only 4 teams left. This made for an incredibly long day.
The final 4 teams broke down to 2 tables, which presented some interesting opportunities for tactics, as you know had 1 of your own team members at the same table. Although table talk was not permitted, chip dumping was.
After 8 hours, the final points were tallied up. Our team missed 2nd place by a mere 2 points (112 vs. 114)!
Well, 8 hours, some decent poker, and 3rd place!
Our prize for the long hours, excellent team play, and proving that we four are some of the best players around??
ZER0!
Not even a friggin' T-Shirt, like "We placed 3rd in the 1st Minnesota Team Poker Tourney! And all we go was this friggin' t-shirt!"
Ah well, I still think free tourney's like the TFPL are spreading the gospel, and are getting new and veteran players involved in a safe, fun, and legal way.
I just won't be doing any more of their team tournements....
It was the largest Team Tournement EVER in Minnesota. OK, it was the first, so that automatically made it the largest. 200 player's consisitng of 50 teams of 4 played in Single Table, last man standing, point tourney.
The format was, well, different. The field was cut in half after all tables had only one man standing. The top half teams then went on to the next round, till all tables were completed, then the top half again, rinse, repeat. Until there were only 4 teams left. This made for an incredibly long day.
The final 4 teams broke down to 2 tables, which presented some interesting opportunities for tactics, as you know had 1 of your own team members at the same table. Although table talk was not permitted, chip dumping was.
After 8 hours, the final points were tallied up. Our team missed 2nd place by a mere 2 points (112 vs. 114)!
Well, 8 hours, some decent poker, and 3rd place!
Our prize for the long hours, excellent team play, and proving that we four are some of the best players around??
ZER0!
Not even a friggin' T-Shirt, like "We placed 3rd in the 1st Minnesota Team Poker Tourney! And all we go was this friggin' t-shirt!"
Ah well, I still think free tourney's like the TFPL are spreading the gospel, and are getting new and veteran players involved in a safe, fun, and legal way.
I just won't be doing any more of their team tournements....
October 04, 2005
Some guys have all the luck....
Although I have not been playing for years, I have read enough to know that everyone run's cold. Sometimes it's short lived, like the morning frost in early fall, that has all melted away with the rising sun.
Then there's the kind of luck people like me have, almost all bad. It's more like the seasons here in Minnesota, it's mostly cold year round, with only a small reprieve that is summer. I run mostly cold, most of the time, and luke warm streaks are the exception. That's how I view my 'luck'. I use the term loosely, because I try to convince myself that there really is no such thing as luck. The cards are coming or they are not, I'm playing well or I'm not, the other players are better than me, or they are not. But those factors just cannot explain some of the horrific beats, at the most crucial times. The only other explanation is that the powers of the universe just don't like me.
In an online game once, someone commented that you need either luck or skill, I promptly replied that I had both! I'm sure everyone was thinking I was a total braggart, but I qualified my statement by following up with; "I have some skill, and a lot of luck, all bad, which makes me a slightly above average player."
I honestly believe that. My level of skill, combined with my runs of bad luck put me just above average, whatever that means.
I will no longer play any limit games, I just can't force people out of hands, and my luck is no match against theres. No Limit is the only game where I can somewhat mitigate the luck factor. I either have it before the flop, or flopped it, and I'm making sure no one catches up to me.
I have the kind of luck that when I flop the full house, the other guy flopped a set, and catches runner runner Kings for the bigger full, or my flopped top 2 pair is up against the flopped set, or my AA's are up against KK's in a WSOP satellite, only to see a King on the flop.
That's the kind of luck I have, that is, if I believed in luck.
Then there's the kind of luck people like me have, almost all bad. It's more like the seasons here in Minnesota, it's mostly cold year round, with only a small reprieve that is summer. I run mostly cold, most of the time, and luke warm streaks are the exception. That's how I view my 'luck'. I use the term loosely, because I try to convince myself that there really is no such thing as luck. The cards are coming or they are not, I'm playing well or I'm not, the other players are better than me, or they are not. But those factors just cannot explain some of the horrific beats, at the most crucial times. The only other explanation is that the powers of the universe just don't like me.
In an online game once, someone commented that you need either luck or skill, I promptly replied that I had both! I'm sure everyone was thinking I was a total braggart, but I qualified my statement by following up with; "I have some skill, and a lot of luck, all bad, which makes me a slightly above average player."
I honestly believe that. My level of skill, combined with my runs of bad luck put me just above average, whatever that means.
I will no longer play any limit games, I just can't force people out of hands, and my luck is no match against theres. No Limit is the only game where I can somewhat mitigate the luck factor. I either have it before the flop, or flopped it, and I'm making sure no one catches up to me.
I have the kind of luck that when I flop the full house, the other guy flopped a set, and catches runner runner Kings for the bigger full, or my flopped top 2 pair is up against the flopped set, or my AA's are up against KK's in a WSOP satellite, only to see a King on the flop.
That's the kind of luck I have, that is, if I believed in luck.
September 02, 2005
PokerStars.com Official Blog
PokerStars has announced a 20% Deposit bonus, as well as Hurricane Katrina Relief Tournements, featuring Wil Wheaton [blog], in which PokerStars will match all entry fees 100%, with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross.
I encourage all online players to sign up now! The 20% deposit bonus is just icing.
I encourage all online players to sign up now! The 20% deposit bonus is just icing.
Wired 13.09: On the Internet, Nobody Knows You're a Bot
Article at Wired about the coming infestation of Poker bots such as WinHoldEm.
July 01, 2005
Fantasy Poker League - 1st Night, 1st Place
The local Bowling Alley/Bar, Jerry Dutler's Bowl has started running Fantasy Poker League Tournements, and I finally got a chance to head down there, get signed up, and play my first tourney.
Quite a different mix of skill levels, from learning to skilled. They host 2 tourneys each day on Thursday and Saturday. Not a bad format, and best of all, it's FREE! Winner takes Dutler's dollars, good for bowling or booze :-D.
And for my first Fantasy Poker League tournement, nothing like taking 1st place, and $30 Duttler's dollars!
Quite a different mix of skill levels, from learning to skilled. They host 2 tourneys each day on Thursday and Saturday. Not a bad format, and best of all, it's FREE! Winner takes Dutler's dollars, good for bowling or booze :-D.
And for my first Fantasy Poker League tournement, nothing like taking 1st place, and $30 Duttler's dollars!
June 16, 2005
Heartland Poker Tour
The first televised event of the Heartland Poker Tour will be occuring at a local casino!
Not my regular B&M place, but they are having a satellite this Saturday to get into next weeks initial event.
And Rooty is going too!
Best of cards to the both of us, hoping we both secure our seats in the qualifier!
Not my regular B&M place, but they are having a satellite this Saturday to get into next weeks initial event.
And Rooty is going too!
Best of cards to the both of us, hoping we both secure our seats in the qualifier!
April 11, 2005
WSOP Tourney - Cruel Poker Gods
The WSOP tournement at a local casino did not go as well as I would have liked.
I had a good chip stack early, and couldn't have asked for better hole cards.
Nothing like sitting down for the first hand and being dealt AA :-D
The cards kept coming, QQ, AK, AK, QQ.
The AK held up nicely as I kept betting into a caller to the river (no A or K on the board), and Ace high was good for the pot. This happened against the same player twice.
Where as AK held up nicely for me, QQ was hurting me terribly. Both times I went Head to Head with a very good player, I folded them both times as each time an Ace fell on the board followed by big opening bets (He says he had AK both times, and Im 99.9% sure he did indeed have it at least one time).
Then, I get AA again in EP. I raise 3x BB, MP raises it to 6X BB (a very good and tight player). I knew he had a good hand. I push all in, he calls without a second thought. We both have about the same amount of chips.
He turns over his KK, and I'm sure Im doubling up here.
I just sank in my chair when a King, 1 of the 2 cards of the 47 remaining that could beat me come on the flop. He now has Trips, and no more help for me.
For any poker gods that may be reading/listening, I am growing very tired of this little joke. Please stop...
Oh, and as for my arch-nemesis Mr. AK who I kept butting heads with, he went on to win it.
Congratulations and Best of Cards to you in the WSOP!
I had a good chip stack early, and couldn't have asked for better hole cards.
Nothing like sitting down for the first hand and being dealt AA :-D
The cards kept coming, QQ, AK, AK, QQ.
The AK held up nicely as I kept betting into a caller to the river (no A or K on the board), and Ace high was good for the pot. This happened against the same player twice.
Where as AK held up nicely for me, QQ was hurting me terribly. Both times I went Head to Head with a very good player, I folded them both times as each time an Ace fell on the board followed by big opening bets (He says he had AK both times, and Im 99.9% sure he did indeed have it at least one time).
Then, I get AA again in EP. I raise 3x BB, MP raises it to 6X BB (a very good and tight player). I knew he had a good hand. I push all in, he calls without a second thought. We both have about the same amount of chips.
He turns over his KK, and I'm sure Im doubling up here.
I just sank in my chair when a King, 1 of the 2 cards of the 47 remaining that could beat me come on the flop. He now has Trips, and no more help for me.
For any poker gods that may be reading/listening, I am growing very tired of this little joke. Please stop...
Oh, and as for my arch-nemesis Mr. AK who I kept butting heads with, he went on to win it.
Congratulations and Best of Cards to you in the WSOP!
April 01, 2005
Hammering the Short Stack and Doublin Up
No more ring games for me, and I'll elaborate in a later post. Basically, for whatever reason, I am just getting killed in ring games.
So its Tourneys and SNG's only for me.
Last night on PP, I did 4 $10 SNG's, finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
SNG Higlight of the Night:
***** Hand History *****
300/600 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) - Fri Apr 01 01:09:06 EST 2005
Table (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 3
Seat 6: Seat6 (2040)
Seat 9: So_M0ney (790)
Seat 10: Seat10 (5170)
So_M0ney posts small blind (150)
Seat10 posts big blind (300)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to So_M0ney [ 2d, 7h ]
Seat6 folds.
So_M0ney raises (450) to 600
Seat10 raises (600) to 900
So_M0ney calls (190)
So_M0ney is all-In.
Creating Main Pot with $1580 with So_M0ney all in
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 2s, 9h, Ts ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 5d ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 7s ]
** Summary **
Main Pot: 1580 | Side Pot 1: 110
Board: [ 2s 9h Ts 5d 7s ]
Seat6 balance 2040, didn't bet (folded)
So_M0ney balance 1580, bet 790, collected 1580, net +790 [ 2d 7h ] [ two pairs, sevens and twos -- Ts,7h,7s,2d,2s ]
Seat10 balance 4380, bet 900, collected 110, lost -790 [ Tc 6c ] [ a pair of tens -- Tc,Ts,9h,7s,6c ]
So_M0ney: Hammer Time!
So its Tourneys and SNG's only for me.
Last night on PP, I did 4 $10 SNG's, finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
SNG Higlight of the Night:
***** Hand History *****
300/600 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) - Fri Apr 01 01:09:06 EST 2005
Table (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 3
Seat 6: Seat6 (2040)
Seat 9: So_M0ney (790)
Seat 10: Seat10 (5170)
So_M0ney posts small blind (150)
Seat10 posts big blind (300)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to So_M0ney [ 2d, 7h ]
Seat6 folds.
So_M0ney raises (450) to 600
Seat10 raises (600) to 900
So_M0ney calls (190)
So_M0ney is all-In.
Creating Main Pot with $1580 with So_M0ney all in
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 2s, 9h, Ts ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 5d ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 7s ]
** Summary **
Main Pot: 1580 | Side Pot 1: 110
Board: [ 2s 9h Ts 5d 7s ]
Seat6 balance 2040, didn't bet (folded)
So_M0ney balance 1580, bet 790, collected 1580, net +790 [ 2d 7h ] [ two pairs, sevens and twos -- Ts,7h,7s,2d,2s ]
Seat10 balance 4380, bet 900, collected 110, lost -790 [ Tc 6c ] [ a pair of tens -- Tc,Ts,9h,7s,6c ]
So_M0ney: Hammer Time!
March 23, 2005
Another Final Table
I entered another of the WSOP Satellite tourney at a local casino. I had already won my seat into the final tourney in January's satellite, but thought this would be a good chance for some live tourney practice, as well as watch some of the other players I will be up against at the WSOP Final next month. And hey, if I make the final table again, another pay day!
Before I knew it, we were down to 2 tables, then the final. I got some lucky draws and ended up in 4th place with a good payday.
I believe that makes me the only individual to make it to the Sunday WSOP satellite final table twice, and the only person to make it into the final via a Sunday 1st place finish, and on points as well (I should get 2 entries :-).
I Busted out on a terrible play on my part.
Im in late position with 2 limpers, one of them being the chip leader (who had everyone out chipped by at least 10:1).
I look down at A6s, and thought Id make a play at it and call.
Flop comes 678 rainbow, none of my suit.
Chip leader checks (normally a pretty tight player), I go all in figuring he hasn't caught a piece of it and me with a pair with A kicker, Id be in OK shape if he calls. He shows 89, open ended straight with Top pair.
No additional help for either of our hands, and Im out.
It was a bad play, but I wasn't terribly upset. Afterall, i was there to get more live tourney experience under my belt, and I think I learned a valuable lesson.
Before I knew it, we were down to 2 tables, then the final. I got some lucky draws and ended up in 4th place with a good payday.
I believe that makes me the only individual to make it to the Sunday WSOP satellite final table twice, and the only person to make it into the final via a Sunday 1st place finish, and on points as well (I should get 2 entries :-).
I Busted out on a terrible play on my part.
Im in late position with 2 limpers, one of them being the chip leader (who had everyone out chipped by at least 10:1).
I look down at A6s, and thought Id make a play at it and call.
Flop comes 678 rainbow, none of my suit.
Chip leader checks (normally a pretty tight player), I go all in figuring he hasn't caught a piece of it and me with a pair with A kicker, Id be in OK shape if he calls. He shows 89, open ended straight with Top pair.
No additional help for either of our hands, and Im out.
It was a bad play, but I wasn't terribly upset. Afterall, i was there to get more live tourney experience under my belt, and I think I learned a valuable lesson.
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