Thursday, October 26, 2006
Close to the Big Time!
I played in 2 Full Tilt tournaments last night. I played in a $5 HORSE event with about 140 players and ended up playing great to take down 5th place. I got unlucky at the final table playing 7 Card Stud and catching aces up to another guys made full house! Crippled me and I was pretty much out from there.
While playing in that, I started to play in the Midnight Madness tournament. It's a great tourney with usually around 800-900 players and a first prize near $2K. I was able to make it down quite far again, and ended up getting unlucky in more way than one.
I was 2nd in chips when this hand came up. I raise 3x BB in early position with A-J diamonds. 1 caller. Flop A-x-x. I move all in and the other guy calls with A-10 os. Turn Q, river 10! NOOOOOOOOO! Instead of having the dominating 170K chip stack, I have about 65K. This took the wind out of my sails and I didn't regroup. I got disconnected a few times and couldn't log back in for about 10 minutes. I get back to see pocket 7s in the sb only to have a raise and re-raise. I fold and would've been out. Guy flopped top set Jacks.
I go another 10 minutes without seeing anything and got down to around 45K. Short stack to my right in the sb has K-7 to my J-7 on a 10-10-7 flop. I lose and have not even a blind left. I'm out in 15th place. Sonuvabitch!
It's not that I need to get lucky. It's that I need to not get unlucky and have others catch on me. Or play A-10 os on a tight players early position raise.
Don't get me wrong here, I love playing against these donkey players, but I just need to vent. I'm soooooo close to cashing huge a few times and just can't get there. Tourney poker is so draining. I need some time off. We'll see if it actually happens.
Take Care,
Keith
While playing in that, I started to play in the Midnight Madness tournament. It's a great tourney with usually around 800-900 players and a first prize near $2K. I was able to make it down quite far again, and ended up getting unlucky in more way than one.
I was 2nd in chips when this hand came up. I raise 3x BB in early position with A-J diamonds. 1 caller. Flop A-x-x. I move all in and the other guy calls with A-10 os. Turn Q, river 10! NOOOOOOOOO! Instead of having the dominating 170K chip stack, I have about 65K. This took the wind out of my sails and I didn't regroup. I got disconnected a few times and couldn't log back in for about 10 minutes. I get back to see pocket 7s in the sb only to have a raise and re-raise. I fold and would've been out. Guy flopped top set Jacks.
I go another 10 minutes without seeing anything and got down to around 45K. Short stack to my right in the sb has K-7 to my J-7 on a 10-10-7 flop. I lose and have not even a blind left. I'm out in 15th place. Sonuvabitch!
It's not that I need to get lucky. It's that I need to not get unlucky and have others catch on me. Or play A-10 os on a tight players early position raise.
Don't get me wrong here, I love playing against these donkey players, but I just need to vent. I'm soooooo close to cashing huge a few times and just can't get there. Tourney poker is so draining. I need some time off. We'll see if it actually happens.
Take Care,
Keith
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Welcome Poker Refugees!
It seems that Full Tilt has become a more popular site ever since Party has banned US players. I found that I'm getting killed by river donks and loose play, but that will change with the cards.
I played in another Full Tilt $20K Guaranteed with a first place prize of around $6,500. I made the money, outlast more than 1,200 people and took home $85 or so bucks for the effort. Man did that suck. Hand that crippled me went exactly like this.
Mid position player raises pot. With antes up there, it's a substantial raise. I more than double his bet, and he moves in for his last $10K. With more than 4:1 on my money, I call with 9s. He shows his A-K os. I hadn't played a hand in about 2 go arounds because of the MONSTER stack to my right raising ever pot I had any hand in. This douche decides that his tourney life is golden with A-K os. He hits the King on the turn and puts me down to $15K after being in 7th place.
Now, do I move all in after his pre flop raise so it's on him, or did I play this right, knowing that I was best. I played outstanding poker and get very little compensation.
2 for 2 on cashes, but 0 for 2 on big cashes. I love this tourney. Have used a token both times by winning sit n gos. Things are only going to get better with all the horrible players coming over.
Neteller
Neteller is going to be pulling out of the US because of the bill that just passed Congress. This totally sucks! A trusted site for handling our money is going to be lost. Firepay has already jumped ship. There must be someone trusted out there that will handle our transactions to and from poker rooms.
Every other day there's a tough break!
I love tourney poker, but maybe the casino is the place to play nowadays. Only time will tell!
Good Luck at the Tables you can Actually Play at,
Keith
I played in another Full Tilt $20K Guaranteed with a first place prize of around $6,500. I made the money, outlast more than 1,200 people and took home $85 or so bucks for the effort. Man did that suck. Hand that crippled me went exactly like this.
Mid position player raises pot. With antes up there, it's a substantial raise. I more than double his bet, and he moves in for his last $10K. With more than 4:1 on my money, I call with 9s. He shows his A-K os. I hadn't played a hand in about 2 go arounds because of the MONSTER stack to my right raising ever pot I had any hand in. This douche decides that his tourney life is golden with A-K os. He hits the King on the turn and puts me down to $15K after being in 7th place.
Now, do I move all in after his pre flop raise so it's on him, or did I play this right, knowing that I was best. I played outstanding poker and get very little compensation.
2 for 2 on cashes, but 0 for 2 on big cashes. I love this tourney. Have used a token both times by winning sit n gos. Things are only going to get better with all the horrible players coming over.
Neteller
Neteller is going to be pulling out of the US because of the bill that just passed Congress. This totally sucks! A trusted site for handling our money is going to be lost. Firepay has already jumped ship. There must be someone trusted out there that will handle our transactions to and from poker rooms.
Every other day there's a tough break!
I love tourney poker, but maybe the casino is the place to play nowadays. Only time will tell!
Good Luck at the Tables you can Actually Play at,
Keith
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Happy Anniversary!
I have just realized that I've been doing this blog for a year now. Wow how time flies! I have come very far from a year ago, yet I have so far to go. I was playing .05/.10 stakes and really low buy-in tourneys. $50 win sessions for 8 hours of play were HUGE!!! I'm going to review my year with some highlights AND lowlights. We aren't great poker players if we only look at the bright side of life! Unless you're 100% Monty Python, then you have to sometimes look at the bad times and bad play. How else will you improve?
Let's start with some lowlights!
Many. many brutal 5/10 sessions. Very aggressive opponents with loose calling values.
Becoming a pokeraholic and playing continuously.
My Neteller fraud scandal. Got it all back.
Playing so much that I took a break.
Tilting off more money than I care to share.
The downfall of some sites due to Safe Port Act.
Now for some highlights!
Best finish in online tournament, $1,187!
Meeting of many friends through the Shark Poker Tour.
2 Shark Poker Tour victories within a month of each other!
Cashing out $1K to buy a new MacBook!
Free poker books, poker chipsets, hats, shirts, and all that jazz!
These are just some of the high and lowlights that I have managed to face through this process so far. I have been playing poker since I was a kid. Used to bet with baseball cards. I am continuing to learn more about poker daily, and will continue to do so until I die. I love this game and hope to one day cash huge in a live or online tourney. When I say huge, I mean over $100K. I'd love to get some $2-$10K cashes soon and I feel my play will lead me there. I don't play as often as I'd like, but I have learned a balance between poker and life (EXTREMELY NECESSARY!)
Take Care!
Good Luck at the Tables,
Keith AKA GUMBY
Let's start with some lowlights!
Now for some highlights!
These are just some of the high and lowlights that I have managed to face through this process so far. I have been playing poker since I was a kid. Used to bet with baseball cards. I am continuing to learn more about poker daily, and will continue to do so until I die. I love this game and hope to one day cash huge in a live or online tourney. When I say huge, I mean over $100K. I'd love to get some $2-$10K cashes soon and I feel my play will lead me there. I don't play as often as I'd like, but I have learned a balance between poker and life (EXTREMELY NECESSARY!)
Take Care!
Good Luck at the Tables,
Keith AKA GUMBY
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Great Deal!!!
Absolute Poker has just announced a sweet deal, only available for 2 weeks. If you are not linked to an affiliate or have done the refer a friend program, and already have an account with them, you are now eligible for rakeback!
Just e-mail me with the link to the left and I'll get back to you within the next few days. Awesome deal! Don't miss out!
Keith
Just e-mail me with the link to the left and I'll get back to you within the next few days. Awesome deal! Don't miss out!
Keith
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Full Tilt Cash!
A few days ago I played with the $18 remaining in my Full Tilt poker account and I won a $24+2 satellite token playing in a $4 sit n go. Now, I've been playing at Full Tilt because my PC took a shit and the new MacBook that I bought with my poker winnings is all I have. Full Tilt and Bugsy's Club are the only two sites I know of that have Mac downloads, other than playing without downloading at some sites.
So, I sit down to play in this thing. $20K guaranteed prize pool with top prize a little over $5K. More than 1,000 players and I end up chip leader after about 30 minutes. Not bad. A few donkey calls when I'm sitting on huge hands and I have no problem making it through the field to the money. I play fairly solid poker, a few bad plays, but otherwise good poker. Players keep dropping like flies and we get down to 3 tables and I keep having to fold my mediocre cards to raises behind me. I'm getting pocket pairs, A-10s, and such. Really just trying to steal the blinds, but this one particular player keeps pushing behind me. I finally take my stand with 6s and he ends up having aces. Sonuvabitcth!
I'm out in 18th, right after another player busted. I get $120 for my effort. Not bad, but when you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, it's green and smells like money, and don't make it there it's disappointing.
I was playing in the $10+1 Midnight Madness tourney there at the same time and after I busted out of the big one, I donked off the rest of my chips. 161st place with 81 paying. I was so upset with myself! Whenever I play in two tourneys at the same time and bust out in one, I seem to fold in the other one. Fold as far as playing horribly! Need to fix that ASAP!
I'm enjoying the large field tournaments at Full Tilt and will continue to play and update on my play. I can play these tourneys in bed with my laptop while watching the MLB playoffs.
Until later!
Good Luck at the Tables,
GUMBY
So, I sit down to play in this thing. $20K guaranteed prize pool with top prize a little over $5K. More than 1,000 players and I end up chip leader after about 30 minutes. Not bad. A few donkey calls when I'm sitting on huge hands and I have no problem making it through the field to the money. I play fairly solid poker, a few bad plays, but otherwise good poker. Players keep dropping like flies and we get down to 3 tables and I keep having to fold my mediocre cards to raises behind me. I'm getting pocket pairs, A-10s, and such. Really just trying to steal the blinds, but this one particular player keeps pushing behind me. I finally take my stand with 6s and he ends up having aces. Sonuvabitcth!
I'm out in 18th, right after another player busted. I get $120 for my effort. Not bad, but when you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, it's green and smells like money, and don't make it there it's disappointing.
I was playing in the $10+1 Midnight Madness tourney there at the same time and after I busted out of the big one, I donked off the rest of my chips. 161st place with 81 paying. I was so upset with myself! Whenever I play in two tourneys at the same time and bust out in one, I seem to fold in the other one. Fold as far as playing horribly! Need to fix that ASAP!
I'm enjoying the large field tournaments at Full Tilt and will continue to play and update on my play. I can play these tourneys in bed with my laptop while watching the MLB playoffs.
Until later!
Good Luck at the Tables,
GUMBY
Monday, October 02, 2006
Bored with Online Poker?
I wrote this to try and help out fellow poker players that have just lost the motivation to play or have fallen off the poker bandwagon. These are some things that help me play better and keep it entertaining so it doesn't become a chore.
Sitting on the computer playing sit n go tournaments, multi-table tournaments, ring games, or freerolls may become boring for any player. Whether you are playing poker recreationally, professionally, or trying to become a poker star doesn’t matter, you can find yourself staring at a computer screen for hours a day, losing interest. This constant poker grind can lead to boredom with the game and even start draining on a poker player. I’m going to offer some helpful tips to try to make this grind a little easier to handle.
Try a New Game
This would be and has been my first instinct when I became bored with whatever I was doing in regards to online poker. If I was primarily playing limit ring games, I may try playing in a no limit ring game. Possibly for smaller stakes, but its still a change in style. If I only played hold em, I may opt to try a new game such as 7-card stud or Omaha, which are becoming more and more popular as there is an increased amount of traffic to the online poker rooms.
There are many variations of each game. For 7-card stud, there is RAZZ, 7-card stud high/low, and regular 7-card stud. For Omaha, there are even more variations. Limit Omaha and Omaha high/low, and pot limit Omaha and Omaha high/low. Each of these games has a different poker strategy behind it, so I would recommend researching these games online before I jumped head first into them. If you want to jump in right away, I’d suggest playing a game with lower limits than you normally play to get yourself accustomed to it before moving to a higher limit.
Change Up Your Favorite
If you’re primarily a sit n go no limit hold em tournament player and find yourself bored with the same old same old, then maybe its time to try out the multi-table tourneys for a while or vice versa. If you love playing limit or NL ring games then you might consider playing in a few tourneys to change up the normal routine.
With the growth of online poker, there are many more specialty tournaments popping up all over. I’ve seen more RAZZ and pot-limit Omaha high/low tournaments than ever before, as well as HORSE (Hold em, Omaha, RAZZ, 7-card Stud, 7-card stud eights or better, also known as high/low). The final table plays no limit hold em. The World Series of Poker introduced a $50,000 HORSE event this year, where poker pro Chip Reese won the WSOP bracelet.
Multi-table
Do you play poker online and become antsy? This used to happen to me. Then I started playing more than one table at a time. Numerous positive things come out of multi-tabling. First, it adds some excitement because you are no longer playing in one game. You see more hands per hour. Second, you don’t become anxious to play many hands because you are seeing more hands. You tend to only play solid starting values and don’t settle for playing bad hands just because you want to play. Third, if you play solid poker, you have a chance to win even more money while reducing the variance you face (cards and flops fluctuate). Lastly, if you bonus chase, which I’ll get to a little later, you will clear bonuses more quickly.
I tend to play in at least two tables at a time. Depending on which site I’m on, I usually cap my playing at three tables when I multi-table short-handed limit games. If the games are moving slowly, I can add more tables and be comfortable with each game. I don’t like to rush decisions, especially if I’m playing in a tournament at the same time. I usually like to play in one multi-table tournament and 1-2 ring games at a time. This way, I play the right number of hands in each game. Poker is about patience, but that’s a whole different topic. The only downfall to multi-tabling is when you get good hands at three different tables at the same time. It takes a little practice, but is definitely worth it.
Change Poker Sites
With the explosion of online poker, there has been an explosion of new online poker sites. There is no shortage of sites where you can deposit and begin playing within minutes. A change of scenery is never a bad thing, unless you live in Hawaii or Las Vegas. You may find yourself a site that you actually like better than your home site or the one you love to play at.
Each site has it’s own feel, with different speeds to games, different avatars, and a different look and overall feel. Sometimes the table backgrounds are even changeable where you can choose the look of the table that fits your preference.
More importantly, though, you will be playing against different players. When playing at the same site for a long time, other players, at least ones that pay attention, record notes and hand histories about you. They will know what you hold, how you play certain hands and will play solid against you. This will slow your bankroll building.
Bonus Chase
While downloading all these new sites, you can get massive free money with each deposit. Most sites now offer huge deposit bonuses to attract the mass amounts of new poker players. This is called bonus chasing and some players spend their entire poker playing by doing this. Jumping from site to site to get the max bonus per site can be extremely rewarding in the old wallet. Other players add this to their arsenal of bankroll building because of the free money you get on top of playing poker. You’re already playing, so why not bonus chase. This can also help when you are running poorly at the tables and need that extra boost.
Some poker sites have a monthly bonus and this can be received each month by following the terms and conditions. Make sure you read all the terms and conditions of any bonus that you chase. Some bonuses are easier than others to clear. Depending on the level you play, it may be nearly impossible to clear some bonuses playing lower limits.
It would also serve you well to do a little research on each poker site before beginning to play there. There are many online poker site reviews listed here and online. You can always ask questions about any poker site or poker site bonus in the Shark Poker Tour forumhttp://sharkpokertour.com/phpBB2/ and get feedback from many of the top Shark Poker Tour players.
Online Casinos
I know I know, we are poker players. This doesn’t mean that we can’t get added money to our bankroll by playing casino games with great deposit bonuses and free money added. Some sites, like the ones listed on Sharks Vegas Strip, www.sharksvegasstrip.com , have promotions where they let you play with the casinos money to try and win. These can be rewarding promotions that will allow you to build your bankroll by risking very little. I played a free hour of blackjack and won $174 to use in their online casino. Sharky only lists the best online casinos on his site and his integrity is impeccable. I would also recommend using basic blackjack strategy to maximize your winnings.
Once again, review the games, terms and conditions, and anything else you may not understand before chasing these casino bonuses. These can be profitable if successfully and knowledgeably attempted.
I understand the bouts with boredom online, but I hope that these tips will guide you to successfully building your bankroll and reducing the monotony that can come with playing online poker.
Good Luck at the Tables,
Keith
Sitting on the computer playing sit n go tournaments, multi-table tournaments, ring games, or freerolls may become boring for any player. Whether you are playing poker recreationally, professionally, or trying to become a poker star doesn’t matter, you can find yourself staring at a computer screen for hours a day, losing interest. This constant poker grind can lead to boredom with the game and even start draining on a poker player. I’m going to offer some helpful tips to try to make this grind a little easier to handle.
Try a New Game
This would be and has been my first instinct when I became bored with whatever I was doing in regards to online poker. If I was primarily playing limit ring games, I may try playing in a no limit ring game. Possibly for smaller stakes, but its still a change in style. If I only played hold em, I may opt to try a new game such as 7-card stud or Omaha, which are becoming more and more popular as there is an increased amount of traffic to the online poker rooms.
There are many variations of each game. For 7-card stud, there is RAZZ, 7-card stud high/low, and regular 7-card stud. For Omaha, there are even more variations. Limit Omaha and Omaha high/low, and pot limit Omaha and Omaha high/low. Each of these games has a different poker strategy behind it, so I would recommend researching these games online before I jumped head first into them. If you want to jump in right away, I’d suggest playing a game with lower limits than you normally play to get yourself accustomed to it before moving to a higher limit.
Change Up Your Favorite
If you’re primarily a sit n go no limit hold em tournament player and find yourself bored with the same old same old, then maybe its time to try out the multi-table tourneys for a while or vice versa. If you love playing limit or NL ring games then you might consider playing in a few tourneys to change up the normal routine.
With the growth of online poker, there are many more specialty tournaments popping up all over. I’ve seen more RAZZ and pot-limit Omaha high/low tournaments than ever before, as well as HORSE (Hold em, Omaha, RAZZ, 7-card Stud, 7-card stud eights or better, also known as high/low). The final table plays no limit hold em. The World Series of Poker introduced a $50,000 HORSE event this year, where poker pro Chip Reese won the WSOP bracelet.
Multi-table
Do you play poker online and become antsy? This used to happen to me. Then I started playing more than one table at a time. Numerous positive things come out of multi-tabling. First, it adds some excitement because you are no longer playing in one game. You see more hands per hour. Second, you don’t become anxious to play many hands because you are seeing more hands. You tend to only play solid starting values and don’t settle for playing bad hands just because you want to play. Third, if you play solid poker, you have a chance to win even more money while reducing the variance you face (cards and flops fluctuate). Lastly, if you bonus chase, which I’ll get to a little later, you will clear bonuses more quickly.
I tend to play in at least two tables at a time. Depending on which site I’m on, I usually cap my playing at three tables when I multi-table short-handed limit games. If the games are moving slowly, I can add more tables and be comfortable with each game. I don’t like to rush decisions, especially if I’m playing in a tournament at the same time. I usually like to play in one multi-table tournament and 1-2 ring games at a time. This way, I play the right number of hands in each game. Poker is about patience, but that’s a whole different topic. The only downfall to multi-tabling is when you get good hands at three different tables at the same time. It takes a little practice, but is definitely worth it.
Change Poker Sites
With the explosion of online poker, there has been an explosion of new online poker sites. There is no shortage of sites where you can deposit and begin playing within minutes. A change of scenery is never a bad thing, unless you live in Hawaii or Las Vegas. You may find yourself a site that you actually like better than your home site or the one you love to play at.
Each site has it’s own feel, with different speeds to games, different avatars, and a different look and overall feel. Sometimes the table backgrounds are even changeable where you can choose the look of the table that fits your preference.
More importantly, though, you will be playing against different players. When playing at the same site for a long time, other players, at least ones that pay attention, record notes and hand histories about you. They will know what you hold, how you play certain hands and will play solid against you. This will slow your bankroll building.
Bonus Chase
While downloading all these new sites, you can get massive free money with each deposit. Most sites now offer huge deposit bonuses to attract the mass amounts of new poker players. This is called bonus chasing and some players spend their entire poker playing by doing this. Jumping from site to site to get the max bonus per site can be extremely rewarding in the old wallet. Other players add this to their arsenal of bankroll building because of the free money you get on top of playing poker. You’re already playing, so why not bonus chase. This can also help when you are running poorly at the tables and need that extra boost.
Some poker sites have a monthly bonus and this can be received each month by following the terms and conditions. Make sure you read all the terms and conditions of any bonus that you chase. Some bonuses are easier than others to clear. Depending on the level you play, it may be nearly impossible to clear some bonuses playing lower limits.
It would also serve you well to do a little research on each poker site before beginning to play there. There are many online poker site reviews listed here and online. You can always ask questions about any poker site or poker site bonus in the Shark Poker Tour forum
Online Casinos
I know I know, we are poker players. This doesn’t mean that we can’t get added money to our bankroll by playing casino games with great deposit bonuses and free money added. Some sites, like the ones listed on Sharks Vegas Strip, www.sharksvegasstrip.com , have promotions where they let you play with the casinos money to try and win. These can be rewarding promotions that will allow you to build your bankroll by risking very little. I played a free hour of blackjack and won $174 to use in their online casino. Sharky only lists the best online casinos on his site and his integrity is impeccable. I would also recommend using basic blackjack strategy to maximize your winnings.
Once again, review the games, terms and conditions, and anything else you may not understand before chasing these casino bonuses. These can be profitable if successfully and knowledgeably attempted.
I understand the bouts with boredom online, but I hope that these tips will guide you to successfully building your bankroll and reducing the monotony that can come with playing online poker.
Good Luck at the Tables,
Keith
