I know this has nothing to do with poker, but since I haven't posted in a while anyway, I thought I would at least take a moment to put up something of interest. Take a moment to check out these ultra cool personal submarines. Talk about science fiction meeting reality.
Trio Alpha and Duo Beta Personal Submersibles
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Talk About Your Classic Bad-Beat
I know I haven't posted in a while. This is due to time constraints on my end, and I do apologize. I have managed to find time to play though. I've won several games and lost several, which is just how it goes. I must have won more than I lost though, because now I'm up to $306. Woohoo. This must be what it feels like to be Texas Dolly himself, Mr. Doyle Brunson (whom I've had the great pleasure to meet).
I even came in 1st place out of 1600 a few days ago. Unfortunately, it was in a play chip tournament, and all it got me was almost 200,000 more play chips. Oh well, that should keep me going in practice mode for some time, and it was great fun to come in first place, even if it did consume 6 hours of my day. No wonder I have no time to write. lol
But it was a game earlier that I really wanted to comment on, because it was a classic bad-beat if ever there was one. For those who aren't up to date on your lingo, a bad beat is when you have a hand that should have won, but through sheer luck (good for them, bad for you), someone manages to yank it right out from under you. That is precisely what happened to me.
It was in a sit-n-go tournament - my favorite, and it was still early on because the big blind was still $20 (so in the first round of the tournament anyway). I have pocket 9s in my hand, so I raise to $80 before the flop, and am called by 3 others at the table. The flop reveals 4-4-9, giving me a full house right out of the gate.
I'm looking good at this point, but I don't want to rush it and cause everyone to fold, so I just bet $60. The person behind me throws $250 out on the table. The other 2 players fold, but I know I've got a good one here. With a bet like that I figure he must have a 4 in his hand for trips. It turns out he only had two pair, but we'll get to that. So I figure him for trips, and I know I've got a boat, but I don't want to push it too hard so I wait a while to fake a decision making process, then I call.
The turn reveals a 2, making it 4-4-9-2 on the board. I check very quickly, hoping he will make the bet for me, and knowing that if not I will bet huge on the river. I'm right, he throws out $350. I still have him figured for trips, and know I have that beat.
In fact, at this point in the hand I have a 99.5% chance of winning, so I make a deliberate pause, and then push my chips all in. He calls and reals 10-10. I'm feeling good at this point, because I have a boat against two pair. But remember, I only had a 99.5% chance of winning, and in this case, that .5% reared it's ugly head. The river turned up a 10, giving him a better full house than mine, and making me the first one removed from the tournament.
Oh well, those are the breaks I guess. It was still a fun hand to play, even if it did only last about 60 seconds. :-)
I even came in 1st place out of 1600 a few days ago. Unfortunately, it was in a play chip tournament, and all it got me was almost 200,000 more play chips. Oh well, that should keep me going in practice mode for some time, and it was great fun to come in first place, even if it did consume 6 hours of my day. No wonder I have no time to write. lol
But it was a game earlier that I really wanted to comment on, because it was a classic bad-beat if ever there was one. For those who aren't up to date on your lingo, a bad beat is when you have a hand that should have won, but through sheer luck (good for them, bad for you), someone manages to yank it right out from under you. That is precisely what happened to me.
It was in a sit-n-go tournament - my favorite, and it was still early on because the big blind was still $20 (so in the first round of the tournament anyway). I have pocket 9s in my hand, so I raise to $80 before the flop, and am called by 3 others at the table. The flop reveals 4-4-9, giving me a full house right out of the gate.
I'm looking good at this point, but I don't want to rush it and cause everyone to fold, so I just bet $60. The person behind me throws $250 out on the table. The other 2 players fold, but I know I've got a good one here. With a bet like that I figure he must have a 4 in his hand for trips. It turns out he only had two pair, but we'll get to that. So I figure him for trips, and I know I've got a boat, but I don't want to push it too hard so I wait a while to fake a decision making process, then I call.
The turn reveals a 2, making it 4-4-9-2 on the board. I check very quickly, hoping he will make the bet for me, and knowing that if not I will bet huge on the river. I'm right, he throws out $350. I still have him figured for trips, and know I have that beat.
In fact, at this point in the hand I have a 99.5% chance of winning, so I make a deliberate pause, and then push my chips all in. He calls and reals 10-10. I'm feeling good at this point, because I have a boat against two pair. But remember, I only had a 99.5% chance of winning, and in this case, that .5% reared it's ugly head. The river turned up a 10, giving him a better full house than mine, and making me the first one removed from the tournament.
Oh well, those are the breaks I guess. It was still a fun hand to play, even if it did only last about 60 seconds. :-)
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Quick SNG
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Between the holidays and a busy work schedule, I haven't been able to play at all in several days. I wanted to sneak in a quick sit-n-go today at Absolute Poker, but I was a bit pressed for time so I decided that I would play risky and that if I got a good hand I would either go big or go broke. With this strategy, I stuck to the cheap $0.50 game (plus $0.10 fee).
Well, I think I must have set a new record for going out in one of these game. I folded the first hand and didn't play it at all - purely rags. On the second hand, I was dealt 10-Q off-suit. Worth putting out the $20 to see what happens.
The flop turned up JJ9. So far things are looking promising, until some ass threw out a $400 bet. I had to put some serious thought into this one. There were still two cards left and I had a good run on a straight (either an 8 or a King would have gave it to me). I figured that the other guy probably had trip Jacks, which a straight could beat, but I'd be sunk if I missed it.
On the turn, a King came up. I was now breathing a sigh of relief. I had made my straight, which would beat the trips, and I figured that in a worst case scenario it would be a push, so when he through out another $400 bet I had no problems going all in without hesitation. To my dismay, he turned over 9J. So yeah, I made my straight, but his boat had me topped and I was the first one out of the game. I think that's the first time I've ever been the first one out, but it wasn't so bad. Has to happen to everyone sooner or later.
So with several days of not playing, I got to fold one hand and got spanked on the next and lost $0.60 in the process. Maybe next time I will do a little better.
Well, I think I must have set a new record for going out in one of these game. I folded the first hand and didn't play it at all - purely rags. On the second hand, I was dealt 10-Q off-suit. Worth putting out the $20 to see what happens.
The flop turned up JJ9. So far things are looking promising, until some ass threw out a $400 bet. I had to put some serious thought into this one. There were still two cards left and I had a good run on a straight (either an 8 or a King would have gave it to me). I figured that the other guy probably had trip Jacks, which a straight could beat, but I'd be sunk if I missed it.
On the turn, a King came up. I was now breathing a sigh of relief. I had made my straight, which would beat the trips, and I figured that in a worst case scenario it would be a push, so when he through out another $400 bet I had no problems going all in without hesitation. To my dismay, he turned over 9J. So yeah, I made my straight, but his boat had me topped and I was the first one out of the game. I think that's the first time I've ever been the first one out, but it wasn't so bad. Has to happen to everyone sooner or later.
So with several days of not playing, I got to fold one hand and got spanked on the next and lost $0.60 in the process. Maybe next time I will do a little better.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Short Stop Poker
I've been very busy and haven't had a chance to play in a couple of days now. I think I must be experiencing poker withdrawals, because last night I caught myself dreaming that I was playing. Actually, it was kind of an interesting dream. In it, I was playing this hold 'em variation that my mind had invented, called Short Stop Poker.
The game started out like normal. Everyone is dealt two cards, followed by a round of betting where you could either put up the cash or step aside and let others play the hand. After the flop (first three community cards), the variation came into play. There was another round of betting like usual, but the difference was that the screen now had a button to "Stop This Hand For 75%".
Basically, if you had a hand at that point, instead of playing the hand like normal you could hit the button and whoever has the best hand takes it. If you (the stopper) were the winner you would get 75% of the pot, with the remainder rolled over to the next hand. If the stopper (you) lost the hand, then the winner would collect the full pot.
On the Turn, the button changed to 50%, and on the river it changed to "Stop This Hand For 25%". That part was kind of dumb, because by the river you either have something or you don't, and if you have something, why take only 25%. Obviously, there is no bluffing with the stop button. If you push it, you better at least have a pair, although in theory, high card could still win it.
The interesting thing about it is that it gave you more options with your playing strategy. You could very well play through the end of the hand like normal, which would build a larger pot, but would also carry the risk of losing it. Or if you had trips (three of a kind), but were worried about another player making that straight or flush to beat you, it gave you an opportunity to end the hand early, before they have a chance to complete their hand. And with the extra % rolling into the next hand's pot, it made for some interesting play from those we normally see trying to rob the blinds.
I recall in my dream some players at the table were annoyed with me because I got trigger happy with that stop button and clicked it every time I got a pair. I don't know why they were upset; I lost every hand I played. You would think one would dream about winning. lol
The game started out like normal. Everyone is dealt two cards, followed by a round of betting where you could either put up the cash or step aside and let others play the hand. After the flop (first three community cards), the variation came into play. There was another round of betting like usual, but the difference was that the screen now had a button to "Stop This Hand For 75%".
Basically, if you had a hand at that point, instead of playing the hand like normal you could hit the button and whoever has the best hand takes it. If you (the stopper) were the winner you would get 75% of the pot, with the remainder rolled over to the next hand. If the stopper (you) lost the hand, then the winner would collect the full pot.
On the Turn, the button changed to 50%, and on the river it changed to "Stop This Hand For 25%". That part was kind of dumb, because by the river you either have something or you don't, and if you have something, why take only 25%. Obviously, there is no bluffing with the stop button. If you push it, you better at least have a pair, although in theory, high card could still win it.
The interesting thing about it is that it gave you more options with your playing strategy. You could very well play through the end of the hand like normal, which would build a larger pot, but would also carry the risk of losing it. Or if you had trips (three of a kind), but were worried about another player making that straight or flush to beat you, it gave you an opportunity to end the hand early, before they have a chance to complete their hand. And with the extra % rolling into the next hand's pot, it made for some interesting play from those we normally see trying to rob the blinds.
I recall in my dream some players at the table were annoyed with me because I got trigger happy with that stop button and clicked it every time I got a pair. I don't know why they were upset; I lost every hand I played. You would think one would dream about winning. lol
Monday, December 18, 2006
Futile Freeroll
I had quite a bit of work to do today, but I also wanted to play at least one game, so I just played a Freeroll. I do not want to put money up for grabs when I can't give it my full attention, so this way I don't feel bad about playing at the same time I work on a report, which can lead to mistakes in play.
It wasn't a good or bad experience. I suffered a bad beat early on that took me from $1500 (Tournament Dollars) to $600, but made a recovery and was able to stay in the game. Two hours later, I finished out at #59 out of 1,502 players. Not too bad. I didn't hit the paying rank (top 18 players), but I was at least in the top 5% of players, meaning I beat out more than 95% of people in the tournament. I probably could have lasted a little longer, but I was very short stacked, so I took a chance and put it all in with top pair (Kings), and got beat out by a flush.
Oh well, it didn't cost anything, and I got a little extra practice in. Hopefully tomorrow I won't be so busy and can find time to squeeze in a couple of sit-n-goes.
It wasn't a good or bad experience. I suffered a bad beat early on that took me from $1500 (Tournament Dollars) to $600, but made a recovery and was able to stay in the game. Two hours later, I finished out at #59 out of 1,502 players. Not too bad. I didn't hit the paying rank (top 18 players), but I was at least in the top 5% of players, meaning I beat out more than 95% of people in the tournament. I probably could have lasted a little longer, but I was very short stacked, so I took a chance and put it all in with top pair (Kings), and got beat out by a flush.
Oh well, it didn't cost anything, and I got a little extra practice in. Hopefully tomorrow I won't be so busy and can find time to squeeze in a couple of sit-n-goes.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Wonderful World Of Poker
I started playing online poker two years ago, and how I wish I had started a blog at that time to keep track of the ups and downs, of visiting the world series of poker, of the bad beats I had suffered and the times that the river came to the rescue. Better late than never, as they say, so now I'm starting a poker blog to detail the accounts of my play.
A few months ago I opened an account at Absolute Poker with $50. Over 14,000 hands later, I'm presently sitting at a little over $300 in my account. It's not exactly enough to support myself, but at the same time I AM making money, which is why I refer to myself as a semi-pro player.
The reason I chose Absolute is because there is an abundance of new players at their site. The more newbies there are in the poker room, the fewer chances of encountering a shark, and the greater the chances are of making a little money. That's not to knock new players at all - everyone is new at some point and I don't have any WSOP bracelets (YET), but the simple mathematics are that new players are more prone to making mistakes, and if you stay sharp, sooner or later they will present you with an opportunity to capitalize on them. They're also more easily intimidated by large bets, which gives you a chance to steal the pot from time to time.
It should also be stated that I do not play ring games at all. For those who do not know, a ring game is a normal cash game. I play strictly tournaments, which is a different style of play. At this time I play two different types of tournaments:
Freerolls - Yeah, I know, freerolls are for chumps, right? Well, it is at least true that people play differently in a freeroll than they do in a game they have paid to enter. Most people do anyway. Sometimes you get lucky and find a table with people that play normally, but never in a normal tournament have I seen the entire table go all-in before the first flop, which I have seen (and participated in) in freerolls. But the value of freerolls, at least for me, is in getting more refined at gauging the statistical probabilities of my hand paying off. On that note there is a practical value in playing the freeroll, and unless I just get bored with the length of the game, I can often make a dollar or two at it as well, which is risk free money (although once you divide by the hours played it's not so attractive).
Sit-N-Gos - I've come to love SNG tournaments, much better than multi-table tournaments. Once the table is full, the tournaments starts, and you only have to outlast a small number of people to get paid. Usually the top 3 finishers get paid:
50% for 1st place
30% for 2nd place
20% for 3rd place
Usually if you get 3rd place it is a 50% increase on your buy in. For example, if I play the cheapest SNG at Absolute, it cost me $0.50 towards the pot, plus a $0.10 fee to AP, so I'm paying 60 cents total to play the game. If I come in 3rd place, I am paid $0.90, or $1.35 for 2nd, or sometimes I get lucky and hit first place for $2.25. I only play low stakes SNG at this time, and usually get paid on the game about 60-70% of the time. I attribute this to conservative play, which you can tell from my stats (over to the right), because I try to play the probabilities of the hand. They don't always work out, but as long as I make the right choice statistically, I am satisfied even if I lose. I almost never bluff, although if I have a short stack in late rounds I may make a run on the blinds from time to time.
A few months ago I opened an account at Absolute Poker with $50. Over 14,000 hands later, I'm presently sitting at a little over $300 in my account. It's not exactly enough to support myself, but at the same time I AM making money, which is why I refer to myself as a semi-pro player.
The reason I chose Absolute is because there is an abundance of new players at their site. The more newbies there are in the poker room, the fewer chances of encountering a shark, and the greater the chances are of making a little money. That's not to knock new players at all - everyone is new at some point and I don't have any WSOP bracelets (YET), but the simple mathematics are that new players are more prone to making mistakes, and if you stay sharp, sooner or later they will present you with an opportunity to capitalize on them. They're also more easily intimidated by large bets, which gives you a chance to steal the pot from time to time.
It should also be stated that I do not play ring games at all. For those who do not know, a ring game is a normal cash game. I play strictly tournaments, which is a different style of play. At this time I play two different types of tournaments:
Freerolls - Yeah, I know, freerolls are for chumps, right? Well, it is at least true that people play differently in a freeroll than they do in a game they have paid to enter. Most people do anyway. Sometimes you get lucky and find a table with people that play normally, but never in a normal tournament have I seen the entire table go all-in before the first flop, which I have seen (and participated in) in freerolls. But the value of freerolls, at least for me, is in getting more refined at gauging the statistical probabilities of my hand paying off. On that note there is a practical value in playing the freeroll, and unless I just get bored with the length of the game, I can often make a dollar or two at it as well, which is risk free money (although once you divide by the hours played it's not so attractive).
Sit-N-Gos - I've come to love SNG tournaments, much better than multi-table tournaments. Once the table is full, the tournaments starts, and you only have to outlast a small number of people to get paid. Usually the top 3 finishers get paid:
50% for 1st place
30% for 2nd place
20% for 3rd place
Usually if you get 3rd place it is a 50% increase on your buy in. For example, if I play the cheapest SNG at Absolute, it cost me $0.50 towards the pot, plus a $0.10 fee to AP, so I'm paying 60 cents total to play the game. If I come in 3rd place, I am paid $0.90, or $1.35 for 2nd, or sometimes I get lucky and hit first place for $2.25. I only play low stakes SNG at this time, and usually get paid on the game about 60-70% of the time. I attribute this to conservative play, which you can tell from my stats (over to the right), because I try to play the probabilities of the hand. They don't always work out, but as long as I make the right choice statistically, I am satisfied even if I lose. I almost never bluff, although if I have a short stack in late rounds I may make a run on the blinds from time to time.
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