I am going to visit my brothers in the Deep South over the course of the next two weeks, followed by my 20 year high school reunion. That should be interesting considering I have not seen one person since I graduated and I've gained oh... 100 pounds (I used to be a skinny, long distance running, dude). Living large isn't that what they say? I'm the proverbial definition of that one. LOL.
Didn't play too much the past few days as I've been researching some articles I'm writing and trying to get into a prop program or two. I figure if I'm going to be playing so much online I might as well get 100% or more rake back rather then the traditional 25-30%. Oh and part of the reason I haven't been playing so much is because FullTilt caught my new account when I tried to do a cash out... apparently they do a name check. Bah. It's not like I was logging in and playing two accounts, I just wanted to start new and get rakeback, which you can't do with existing accounts. Kind of sucky if you ask me. Ah well, they lost my business... thankfully they gave me my money back.
I did get signed on as a prop at one site... obviously can't say what site it is, but it's 100% rakeback, which is a good deal. I played a $20+ SNG into a bigger buy in tournament there tonight and won it... it was one of those up and down affairs. I start off tripling up early when some guy thought it was good to call my limp push with A6s. I had QQ. I got down to about double what I started with, doubled up to be massive chip leader and then in back to back hands lost with K-K to A-7 (same A-6 idiot) and 10-10 to Q-Q. Kept afloat with timely steals and resteals, then raise with K-K in the SB, BB (guy who had Q-Q earlier) pushes with Q-J. Of course the flop comes J-T-9. Jesus. I survive though and win a fairly long heads up session.
So, I'm off to see the Wizard... or something like that. Hope everyone has lots of good food and family fun. Catch ya on the flip side!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Busy, busy...
I've been swamped the last couple days writing for pokerworks and Inside Poker. Not that I'm complaining... I love it... just gives me less time to write here. Still made my $100 each day playing... throw in the extra money the writing gives me and things are good on the money side of things (for now, give me time I am sure I can fuck that up lol).
Nothing too exciting on the poker front. Check out my articles at pokerworks if you are bored, they've given me some freedom to write what I want so I am going to basically be presenting a series of tournament strategy primers since it's what I know and teach best.
Nothing too exciting on the poker front. Check out my articles at pokerworks if you are bored, they've given me some freedom to write what I want so I am going to basically be presenting a series of tournament strategy primers since it's what I know and teach best.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
I almost felt bad...
One of the hardest things I've had to deal with playing poker against other people is "being nice"... I'm a nice guy, I don't like to be taken advantage of and I don't like taking advantage of other people. But if I am going to make a living playing this game, I have to throw nice out the window sometimes.
Today, I was playing a $200 heads up match... I'd lost 4 in a row for the first time in a long time (the $100 match ended on one of the sickest beats I've ever had... we got it all in pre-flop... I had AAKJ, he had KQQQ. The flop came Kxx. He had 1 card in the deck he could beat me with... the case queen. He hit it. We had even stacks prior to the hand). My opponent was timing down nearly every hand, disconnected a couple times... we played about ten hands when he timed out. I waited for a minute or so, but then started raising. By the time he came back the chip stacks were 2750-250 and I won the match.
I know there are going to be people who look at this and think I am a scumbag... and that's ok, I wasn't playing poker to make friends, I'm playing it to make money. It was not my fault he had a bad connection. If I had disconnected (and I have before in the past), I think most people would have taken advantage of that fact. If it happened to me, I'd be pissed, but I know that's the risk when I play online poker (and a reason you should always, always make sure you have a backup connection to your high speed connection if you play online).
Part of me doesn't want to post this because I think some people will judge me and I'm one of those people who hates people thinking poorly of him, but I know I can't always please everyone (I've learned this the hard way) and I promised myself I was going to be honest in this blog and post everything that I went through... this is what I went through today.
Today, I was playing a $200 heads up match... I'd lost 4 in a row for the first time in a long time (the $100 match ended on one of the sickest beats I've ever had... we got it all in pre-flop... I had AAKJ, he had KQQQ. The flop came Kxx. He had 1 card in the deck he could beat me with... the case queen. He hit it. We had even stacks prior to the hand). My opponent was timing down nearly every hand, disconnected a couple times... we played about ten hands when he timed out. I waited for a minute or so, but then started raising. By the time he came back the chip stacks were 2750-250 and I won the match.
I know there are going to be people who look at this and think I am a scumbag... and that's ok, I wasn't playing poker to make friends, I'm playing it to make money. It was not my fault he had a bad connection. If I had disconnected (and I have before in the past), I think most people would have taken advantage of that fact. If it happened to me, I'd be pissed, but I know that's the risk when I play online poker (and a reason you should always, always make sure you have a backup connection to your high speed connection if you play online).
Part of me doesn't want to post this because I think some people will judge me and I'm one of those people who hates people thinking poorly of him, but I know I can't always please everyone (I've learned this the hard way) and I promised myself I was going to be honest in this blog and post everything that I went through... this is what I went through today.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
A quickie...
Today was my brother's birthday so we went out to Red Lobster (my treat)... was excellent for a "chain" - I don't get to eat seafood much so I enjoy it when I do. I need a nap. Went 8-8 today but still got to the $100 mark, mainly cuz I cheated and started my first round at the $20 level (lost it, but won the $50 which put me up +30 right off the bat). I went back down to $10 after that, I gotta be careful not to overstep my bounds but there was a really bad player at the $20 level that I had schooled a couple times the other day that I just had to have a go at (I told him to go to $50 after he beat me, and proceeded to beat him there, I love when fish listen to ya and give you there money).
Had a nice chat with my friend Jen yesterday. We spent the entire summer working together, spending 12-16 hours a day with one another so we really got to know one another. We've kept in touch which has been nice and she sent me a good contact at pokerworks.com and looks like I am going to be doing some writing for them. Thanks Jen (I've tried to return the favor by seeing if InsidePoker has something for her)! It's too bad she has this silly rule about not making out with colleagues though. Hmmphhh.
I don't watch a lot of sports but enjoy pro football. My team, the Packers is off to an 8-1 start, so I am psyched about that. After a couple off years it's good to see them winning like this again. I never would have imagined it at the beginning of the year, but they look like they have a legitimate shot at making the Super Bowl although I am sure Dallas will have something to say about that.
Guess this wasn't so quick after all, so on that note, I'm out.
Had a nice chat with my friend Jen yesterday. We spent the entire summer working together, spending 12-16 hours a day with one another so we really got to know one another. We've kept in touch which has been nice and she sent me a good contact at pokerworks.com and looks like I am going to be doing some writing for them. Thanks Jen (I've tried to return the favor by seeing if InsidePoker has something for her)! It's too bad she has this silly rule about not making out with colleagues though. Hmmphhh.
I don't watch a lot of sports but enjoy pro football. My team, the Packers is off to an 8-1 start, so I am psyched about that. After a couple off years it's good to see them winning like this again. I never would have imagined it at the beginning of the year, but they look like they have a legitimate shot at making the Super Bowl although I am sure Dallas will have something to say about that.
Guess this wasn't so quick after all, so on that note, I'm out.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Now playing on Full Tilt...
Took yesterday and most of today off as I am visiting my brother and his family. I did get my $100 in today... 11-6 (6-5 at the initial level for those keeping score at home). Moved to Full Tilt to start collecting a deposit bonus there, the heads up matches fill up a little slower there, but I can keep myself pretty busy so it's ok. In 17 matches, I earned $5.24 of bonus... so at that pace it'll take me 100 days to clear the $500 bonus since that's what I deposited (stupid ePassporte deposit limit).
I am researching some articles for InsidePoker, if anyone has some ideas/thoughts on the following, send me an e-mail at aaron@thepokermentor.com.
1) Micro-limit no limit hold em, including multi-tabling
2) Backing/staking arrangements
Also if anyone wants to back me into about 20 WPT events, I'm pretty confident I'd make you rich. Gamble baby! ;)
I am researching some articles for InsidePoker, if anyone has some ideas/thoughts on the following, send me an e-mail at aaron@thepokermentor.com.
1) Micro-limit no limit hold em, including multi-tabling
2) Backing/staking arrangements
Also if anyone wants to back me into about 20 WPT events, I'm pretty confident I'd make you rich. Gamble baby! ;)
Thursday, November 8, 2007
An example of how NOT to play PLO heads up
I am a big proponent of "bonus" whoring so I wiped out my new pokerstars account tonight with the intention of depositing it into my new Full Tilt account. I left a little money on there though because I am working on an article for InsidePoker on "crushing the micro limits"... which I've been doing in relative terms (return on investment) but it's really hard to make money playing .01/.02 and .02/.05 NLHE but it's giving me a good base for my article (I turned $50 into $150 in a week playing nothing but those two for about 3 hours a night).
Anyway, I'm done with my "research" so to speak and decided I'd go for the ole win big or go home with the last $150, so I decided to play a few $50 heads up matches. I don't want to embarrass the pour soul so I just crushed so I will remove their name but here's an example of how NOT to play PLO. These are back to back hands.
Seat 1: ME (1300 in chips)
Seat 2: ISUCKATPLO (1700 in chips)
ME: posts small blind 15
ISUCKATPLO: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ME [Qh Th 7d 2s]
ME: calls 15
ISUCKATPLO: checks
*** FLOP *** [7c 2c 2d]
ISUCKATPLO: bets 60
ME: calls 60
*** TURN *** [7c 2c 2d] [4s]
ISUCKATPLO: bets 120
ME: calls 120
*** RIVER *** [7c 2c 2d 4s] [6s]
ISUCKATPLO: checks
ME: bets 270
ISUCKATPLO: calls 270
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ME: shows [Qh Th 7d 2s] (a full house, Deuces full of Sevens)
ME collected 960 from pot
Seat 2: ISUCKATPLO (big blind) mucked [Td 3s 3d 2h]
I understand he had trip two's here but after the flop and turn flat calls, he had to know he was beat... if he had a bigger kicker like an ace or a king, the call would be justifiied but the two likely hands I have are a full house or a 2 with a bigger kicker.
This next hand is a classic example of the biggest mistake many people make in PLO.
Seat 1: ME (1780 in chips)
Seat 2: ISUCKATPLO (1220 in chips)
ISUCKATPLO: posts small blind 15
ME: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ME [2h 8s Ts 9c]
ISUCKATPLO: raises 60 to 90
ME: calls 60
*** FLOP *** [5c 2s 9d]
ME: checks
I know he's going to bet, so I'm gonna let him so I can get a lot of money in there and tell him I am committed.
ISUCKATPLO: bets 180
*yawn* so easy sometimes.
ME: raises 540 to 720
This raise is saying 1) I am not folding and 2) I can beat an overpair. So let's see what ISUCKATPLO does with his obvious AAxx or KKxx
ISUCKATPLO: raises 410 to 1130 and is all-in
There's a shocker. I think I had my hand hovering over the call all in button.
ME: calls 410
*** TURN *** [5c 2s 9d] [3s]
*** RIVER *** [5c 2s 9d 3s] [6h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ME: shows [2h 8s Ts 9c] (two pair, Nines and Deuces)
ISUCKATPLO: shows [Kd Ah Qh Ad] (a pair of Aces)
So he's basically drawing to the 5 pairing or the ace... so 5 outs twice. And believe me, I see this happen at least 5 times a day and it's the same thing everytime... they won't fold (I fold AA post-flop all the damn time, even on a board like 844 if I am facing serious action... in PLO it's all about getting your money in when you know you have the best of it or are a strong favorite to have the best of it by the time the hand is over0.
Game, set, match. The other $50 match took 1 hand. LOL. I'm done. I don't have to work tomorrow now! But I will cuz I love it.
Anyway, I'm done with my "research" so to speak and decided I'd go for the ole win big or go home with the last $150, so I decided to play a few $50 heads up matches. I don't want to embarrass the pour soul so I just crushed so I will remove their name but here's an example of how NOT to play PLO. These are back to back hands.
Seat 1: ME (1300 in chips)
Seat 2: ISUCKATPLO (1700 in chips)
ME: posts small blind 15
ISUCKATPLO: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ME [Qh Th 7d 2s]
ME: calls 15
ISUCKATPLO: checks
*** FLOP *** [7c 2c 2d]
ISUCKATPLO: bets 60
ME: calls 60
*** TURN *** [7c 2c 2d] [4s]
ISUCKATPLO: bets 120
ME: calls 120
*** RIVER *** [7c 2c 2d 4s] [6s]
ISUCKATPLO: checks
ME: bets 270
ISUCKATPLO: calls 270
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ME: shows [Qh Th 7d 2s] (a full house, Deuces full of Sevens)
ME collected 960 from pot
Seat 2: ISUCKATPLO (big blind) mucked [Td 3s 3d 2h]
I understand he had trip two's here but after the flop and turn flat calls, he had to know he was beat... if he had a bigger kicker like an ace or a king, the call would be justifiied but the two likely hands I have are a full house or a 2 with a bigger kicker.
This next hand is a classic example of the biggest mistake many people make in PLO.
Seat 1: ME (1780 in chips)
Seat 2: ISUCKATPLO (1220 in chips)
ISUCKATPLO: posts small blind 15
ME: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ME [2h 8s Ts 9c]
ISUCKATPLO: raises 60 to 90
ME: calls 60
*** FLOP *** [5c 2s 9d]
ME: checks
I know he's going to bet, so I'm gonna let him so I can get a lot of money in there and tell him I am committed.
ISUCKATPLO: bets 180
*yawn* so easy sometimes.
ME: raises 540 to 720
This raise is saying 1) I am not folding and 2) I can beat an overpair. So let's see what ISUCKATPLO does with his obvious AAxx or KKxx
ISUCKATPLO: raises 410 to 1130 and is all-in
There's a shocker. I think I had my hand hovering over the call all in button.
ME: calls 410
*** TURN *** [5c 2s 9d] [3s]
*** RIVER *** [5c 2s 9d 3s] [6h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ME: shows [2h 8s Ts 9c] (two pair, Nines and Deuces)
ISUCKATPLO: shows [Kd Ah Qh Ad] (a pair of Aces)
So he's basically drawing to the 5 pairing or the ace... so 5 outs twice. And believe me, I see this happen at least 5 times a day and it's the same thing everytime... they won't fold (I fold AA post-flop all the damn time, even on a board like 844 if I am facing serious action... in PLO it's all about getting your money in when you know you have the best of it or are a strong favorite to have the best of it by the time the hand is over0.
Game, set, match. The other $50 match took 1 hand. LOL. I'm done. I don't have to work tomorrow now! But I will cuz I love it.
That's better
After yesterday's epic struggle, today was much better. 10-2 and 4 hours of play to get to the $100 mark (actually it was 97, but I figured that was close enough). On a promising note, I was 8-2 at the $10 level.
Something that cracks me up in these is players starting to berate me in the chat. I make it a habit to never chat with anyone while playing, but it's kinda funny to watch people call me a donkey after I check raise them all in on a 8T44 board with 8754 and they call me with AAKQ. Yep, you got me bud... Hee Haw.
Something that cracks me up in these is players starting to berate me in the chat. I make it a habit to never chat with anyone while playing, but it's kinda funny to watch people call me a donkey after I check raise them all in on a 8T44 board with 8754 and they call me with AAKQ. Yep, you got me bud... Hee Haw.
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