Personallity on and off the Tables

So, last night the kids and I went to Chuck E. Cheese for my nephew's birthday party (my kids are 5 - twins - Abby and Zack, and the nephew is turning 11). In any event, its often stated how well behaved and mannered my children are. They often take my "rules" and hold true to them, even if I am not present and another authoritative adult figure has contradicted something I said. My step-sister's kids are definitely not that well "conditioned." Don't get me wrong, I'm not going so far as to call them "bad," however, they surely fall short of the "industry standard" my children and I have established (then again, most children do not listen and aren't nearly as disciplined as mine are --- not to toot my own horn or anything, but I've done a damn good job).

Anyways, my daughter and I were in line to get a prize due to the tickets we won. My son was at the table with my mother. The nephew was also standing in line with us, he'd already received his prizes, among which was a pack of 2 gummy gators. He dropped one on the floor, and then tried to feed it to my daughter, then offered it to me. I told him to throw it out, as it was dirty (a few different times). He disappears after I tell him the third time to throw it out. He comes back laughing and whispers to my daughter that he fed it to my son.

The girl child of mine proclaims, "Daddy, he gave it (the Gator) to Zacky!" One can never tell when the nephew is serious or not, as he loves saying/doing "stuff" in hopes of getting a reaction out of people. So, Abby and I leave the line and return to the table. I ask my son if his cousin gave it to him. He confirms it, as does my mother.

I proceed to speak very firmly and intensely to my nephew, who by this time is on the other side of the table, well out of reach (I'd not hit HIM, I should note - would I spank my own children, definitely... not someone else's though). His Grandfather (my brother-in-law's father) hops in the middle of this telling me that "No one talks to his Grandson like that." (I stated out loud in my 'disciplinarian tone' "Son of a bitch, didn't I tell you to throw that out? Didn't I? And you fed it to Zack? That's wrong... that's straight up wrong"). This of course, is an act of war, so I proceed to speak to this moron who just butted into my family business (replying that when it comes to my children I'll speak to anyone any damn way I please and then inserted some other carefully chosen confrontational one-liners). I was very aggressive in my tone and posture and shot down every one of his claims. I stopped very very short of assulting him, though trust me he'd have been "gentally removed" from my personal space had he invaded it. I was steaming and rightfully so, IMHO.

I even pondered knocking sense into the Grandfather (who is a short, but not small man --- retired firefighter or cop, not sure which), which would then send the message that my nephew caused this and that there were excuses for the nephew's behavior (the kid made an honest mistake and didn't mean anything by it, according to gramps). The situation was defused by my step-father before it got too far out of hand...

Now, anyone who knows me knows all too well that once I am engaged or have made a statement, it is very rare that I back down. I made the statement at the restuarant that his behavior was bullshit and unacceptable... Gramps entered the picture and contradicted me, basically saying it was ok for his grandson, my nephew to feed something to my son that was on the floor (unknown to Zack) despite my order to throw it out. I went to war. Pretty much the way any situation goes where I have fully, verbally, or egotistically engaged. I enter the hand, anyone gets in my way, I take action to run em over, so to speak.

Now, how does this apply to poker? Well, given my personallity above and adding in there that it does indeed take a lot to actually get me to fully engage in that manner (i am generally easy going, patient and understanding... however not tolerant of bullshit), I do exactly this on the table.

I patiently wait and watch... Waiting for something to make a statement with (AA, AK, AQ, KK... you know, quality hands). Once I enter the picture, I psychologically do not expect to be called, questioned, contested, or beat for that matter (it might have helped if my ass would have been kicked when i was younger, but i somehow doubt that... I rarely lose when it comes to confrontation).

To me, if someone is calling me, betting into me, they're questioning me or confronting me. And of course, just like Pavloff's dogs, the bell rings, my mouth waters... er... they look for a reaction from me (reraising, allin'in, etc... and i give it to em). I never once consider that I am capable of being beat --- unless I have a coach stepping in and telling me to stand down and fight another day... or to choose a different battle... or that its unlikely that anything productive will come of anything further I said - point made, nuff said.

I guess I "am" myself on the table. I obviously have to mix it up, sometimes not "reacting" when someone is trying to spawn a reaction from me. There's a guy in my live games that I enjoy playing, but everytime he and I are in a pot together (could be first hand, the bubble, head's up, etc), its all out war --- and he knows this. If I look at the table from his eyes, he knows I have a solid hand. He knows I think he's got nothing or less than what I've got. He also knows I'm gonna move into him aggressively if he tries to overbet. Thus, I'm very predictable to him. He knows I know this, but can't seem to smartly stand down when I might be beat. So, he could clearly use this to his advantage. He knows that when I "go to war" its gonna be a costly battle if he loses and that I never once think it possible that I'm going to be beat when I enter "the arena."

Bottom line: Its good to be myself on the table, as I am comfortable with who I am. However, its also good to break character every once in a while and not give people the reaction they're trying to envoke "all the time." Who knows, changing it up a bit and standing down from time to time... or even feigning weakness from time to time as opposed to constant balls out attack may help me break the curse of the bubble sometime... We'll see.



Thoughts on Poker
Poker Strategy

2006 Checkrayz Leaderboard Tour Begins...

Quick Tourney updates... Our first few CheckRayz.com hold'em tournaments will kick off in January. Two poker rooms have committed $$$ and swag for these opening tourneys. Kiwi Poker will be our first stop on 1/4/06 for freeroll action. We'll then head to Celeb Poker, 1/12/06 for a freeroll and again on the 14th for a $5+.50 Heads up tourney ($150 added as well)!!!

Download and play 250 raked hands (.50/1 or higher) and email me with your screenname to claim your Swag. We're offering "First Edition" CheckRayz shirts, Celeb Hats, and Celeb Tees. More tourneys and prizes to be announced soon. Have a room you want to deposit with and want swag for doin so? Drop me a line... Stay tuned, more great "stuff" to come...

Mike



CheckRayz Announcements
Poker News

Great Reading...

In addition to this blog and the Shark's Blog, I've compiled a short list of "must reads" on the nets (blogs, forums, articles, and the like...):

1. Bill's blog --- This is an open letter to "Mr. Online Poker is Rigged." In addition to his open letter, the material he posts is priceless! Check it out, as its worth a daily visit!

2. Daniel Negreanu's Poker Journal --- The best in the business shares his thoughts.

3. Card Squad --- Compilation of news from the world of poker.

4. Two+Two Internet Magazine --- Collection of articles from some of the most technically sound playaz in the game.

5. Two+Two Forums --- Best minds of poker gather here to discuss the game.

6. Pokertracker tips --- Offers a brief overview as to how one can/should use pokertracker to improve his/her game and tag some donks.

7. Cardplayer Magazine --- Collection of articles, stories, reports, and interviews from the professional poker circuits.

Enjoy... off to the Burgh for the day to see the Bro.

Mike



Thoughts on Poker

Christmas Joy...

First of all, I'd like to wish every one of my readers, all CheckRayz members, and the souljas of the Shark Army Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and (insert pleasentry of choice here) (insert celebritory name of day/occasion here) --- there, I covered it all.

I have here a list of presents I'd like to present to the poker world. Actually, its more like... if I had my way, this is what I'd get them. (Please note my continuing effort to make the poker world a better place).

The Call Station --- A visible, working fold button.

(insert poker site here)'s Tech Support --- A work order referencing the non-functioning Fold button for the Call Stations of the world.

Donkeys --- A memo written in "Donkese" stating that other players at the table do have two hole cards, of which are capable of beating the hole cards possessed by said Donk.

The "Expert " (playing .01/.02 limit, fully equipped with the resume, 20 million years experience, and a book on conspiracy theories) --- A clue

The Delusional --- A starting hand guide clearly written so that the so called "bad beat" stories cannot begin with "so i was in the big blind, facing a raise with Q-3s... I reraised and he called me!" ...and ending with, "I am a tight player."

Members of CheckRayz and the Shark Army --- The insight and ability to download, try, and buy PokerTracker.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Mike



Thoughts on Poker

First CheckRayz.com Tourneys...

Quick Tourney updates... Our first few CheckRayz.com hold'em tournaments will kick off in January. Two poker rooms have committed $$$ and swag for these opening tourneys. Kiwi Poker and Celeb Poker will be among the hosts of our first few tourneys. One of these events very well may be the long awaited Heads Up Tourney. Details and more announcements to come.

Download and play 250 raked hands (.50/1 or higher) and email me with your screenname to claim your Swag. We're offering "First Edition" CheckRayz shirts, Celeb Hats, and Celeb Tees.

More tourneys and prizes to be announced soon. Stay tuned...




Poker News
CheckRayz Announcements

angry the Card Gods must be...

So, I had reflected a bit on my last post topic (end-game strategy) and decided to make a slight adjustment. I entered the $5+.50 at Full Tilt, hosted by The Shark Poker Tour. And, once again, I maintained my Tight Aggressive Image. With twelve people remaining in the tourney, I was sitting in 4th place with a sizable stack. I got correctly caught up in a big hand that dropped me by about 2/3rds. Then the "Card Gods" got angry.

I was in the Cutoff with A4s. The table folds around to me (ten people remaining - five on each table). I raise for a steal, which is called by the button. Flop completely misses me, K, something something. My intention was to check and fold, as the button was likely to have nailed the king (not beyond him to call with k-4offsuit, according to pokertracker).

In any event, I move to push the fold button, as he had bet. However, I was catipulted into the final table mid hand and mid click. The tables didn't line up properly, and I end up allin, losing the hand to his pocket twos.

So, I've of course concluded, the poker gods must be angry with me for some reason. I'll have to go find something (a stuffed donkey, perhaps?) to "offer up" as a tithing, in hopes of gettin' back on their good side.

CheckRayz update: Tourneys will be scheduled (expected to begin in January) and announced this week. Stay tuned here, and visit the CheckRayz site regularly for details.




CheckRayz Announcements
Thoughts on Poker

Stamina...

Site update number 50: Database is now installed and the books are open. CheckRayz.com are now accepting members for freeroll and money added poker tournament play. Click the link and sign up. Site is still having finishing touches put on it, but it seems as if we can accept members and host tourneys. Details to follow, stay tuned to the blog, the checkrayz site, and the Shark Forum.

Stamina

I'm constantly evaluating and re-evaluating my game, regularly identifying opportunity to improve. My most recent "issue" appears to be later in tourneys. I do a very good job of establishing that Tight Aggressive image I seek. I rarely play "junk." However, early in the money or on the bubble, I have been getting nailed. And I'm not quite sure why. My hand selection is usually such that I'm the favorite (be it slightly or heavily) preflop, yet, I'm bustin. Why is this?

The first thought that comes to mind is that I end up goin' to far with the hand - but who can blame me? Take one beat as an example. Aces UTG, so I raise hard. I get 1 taker (in the blinds of course), he's holding king shit unsuited. He reraises, which I gladly call. Flop comes in a klan-like manner KKK, thus knocking me out two from the money.

That was an extreme example. Others, such as AKs v 10-10 or AQ vs KQ, one last night AKs vs Q2s, the list goes on and on and on and on lately.

This is something though that I'm not certain how to fix. Should I avoid being all-in on these hands when someone comes over top of me (thus moving to a tight weak posture)? Should I throw the cards away when the flop misses me (yet another tight weak position)? This is something I'm not really sure how to fix. Actually, is there a fix, for that matter? I'd be inclined to say that I'm playing these critical hands right, for the most part. Yet, its happening so consistantly, that its hard to think there's nothing "wrong" with my play near or just beyond the bubble.

One thought I had, is that I'm so tight prior to these hands, that I become bored and have forgotten all hands I've played prior. Or maybe its that I've not participated in a hand for any longer than "these people's" attention span (5 minutes), thus they've forgot that they might be calling into a monster.

Bottom line is that I'm not real sure how I can fix this "issue." Feedback is helpful and I'll be pondering it for a while. I'll keep everyone updated as I think things through.

Poker Strategy

Out of Position...

In light of the upcoming Beer F.C. vs. Beer F.C. International Match this week, I wanted to write an article that is both Soccer and Poker related. Instead, I came across one that was written in the beginning of November by yours truely on soccer and poker. The article addresses position, which is ever so important on both the felt and the pitch. Hope ya enjoy. New material coming soon.

Quick CheckRayz update: Database is in, still undergoin' final modifications. I'm revising guidance on tourneys to late December-early January, where we'll be pumpin out some awesome tourneys and givin away some free "stuff." Stay tuned...

08 November 2005

Out of Position...

One of my pet peeves is position. I believe that every playable combo. in poker has an appropriate position to be played. And again, played differently based on position. Position is PARAMOUNT to long term success.Poker is not the only place position is to be considered. Take my soccer franchise, for example (http://beerfc.com). Our Club won three Indoor Championships in a row. Everyone had a defined role and complimented one another. Then of course, our collective heads became too large and we signed "the world," as we had to expand the roster moving from indoor to outdoor. On paper, we were phenominal. On the field, we had a shortage of footballs to go around, too many scorers, not enough defense. Thus we were not successful in our summer campaign.

One would think that everyone in the organization would have learned their lesson. I split my top squad into two groups, one headed by your's truely, and the other by my ever so famous friend "that guy." I left virtually everyone to him, and formed a brand new squad, so building successful franchises is my specialty. Kyle ("that guy") had very little building to do, as he already had the real deal. He had a spot or two to fill, but nothing that had any urgency. The spot was defensive in nature, of course. So, he runs up to one of the most offensive minded people in the league (Rick) and asks him to come play. Kyle somehow convinces himself that Rick is a phenominal defender, forgetting that Rick put four in on him just a few short weeks ago (that would be my first clue that dude's not a defender).

This decision was unpopular amongst the team, and resulted in one defection to my new squad (i didn't offer anyone but wouldn't turn em away if it fit my system). So, he once again has too much O and not enough D, and catches his squad out of position for about 1/2 the game. When everyone was in position, Beer controlled the match.With four minutes to go, Kyle initiates a sub from the field, pulling Capt. Steve (all around player, very aware defensively, brilliant soccer mind) to bring Rick the Defender in. Kyle shouts out for Rick to come in on Defense.

Now, kyle was trying to secure at least a draw, if not a win. With four minutes left, that's about 8% of the game left over. If the score is 5-6, in my mind, the game is still within reach. Especially considering the momentum shifted to the Beer Squad's favor. There was no urgency to rush forward, which is what Rick does. So, Kyle makes a save... And instead of bringing the ball out in a slow, controlled manner, he plays it swiftly to Rick and tells him to go with it. Rick carries down the field, gets a shot off, the ball comes back the other way... no defenders in sight and Bam goal.

Then a minute later, same thing, attack, counter, goal. Kyle's team loses a winnable 8-5 in the final 8% of the game.

Which, this positional mistake brings me back to poker and expected value. When one builds a successful arsenal of poker hands, he or she must consider position. You can't play crap out of position. You cannot be the first to act with a shady hand. One doesn't want to act UTG with a jack-9. That's simply not the position for that hand in most games. I see someone do that, I expect them to lose more often than win, thus giving it a negative expected value primarily based on position. Save those hands for loose games when you're in the BB or sometimes on the button, don't attack with it when you have no clue what anyone else has.

If someone throws an all-star attacker on their football squad and calls them a defender, I expect them to lose as well. Position is important. More important than the cards in the hole. Respect position, do what makes sense. Don't concern yourself with the last flop coming jack three three and you tossed jack three offsuit preflop. Don't worry about signing an attacker to prevent someone else from doin so, when you're not in the market for an attacker. Do things that have positive expected value. Things that make sense. Things that are proven to work within the system.

Haiku of the day:
Act in postion,
If you don't, you will go broke,
Cryin all the way.

Poker Strategy

Beer Pong...

As I had wrote yesterday, I had a Beer Pong Tourney to play in at "The Stone", which the jury is still out as to whether or not I'm still drunk from said event (9.30am the morning after). My partner and I were at a distinct disadvantage in this tourney, as we were the only "non college student" participants in the event. And of course, we were appropriately eliminated in the second round of the double elimination match. Regardless of our early exit, the Beer Guy and company managed to drink our weight in beer and had an absolute blast (from what I remember). Fortunately, I took some pictures of the day to help my memory lapse, they can be viewed here.

Rumour has it that I missed one hell of a battle yesterday between Tim and Matt for the Shark Tour Championship. Both of them, from my understanding brought their "A-Game" with Tim being crowned the Champ for 2005. Mad props to ya. The newly crowned champ didn't stop there though. He went on to defeat Shark Heads up right after, which is quite a task, let alone doing so right after the title match. Shark pushed to seven games though, with Tim winning the decisive game seven of the series.

Once again, Congrats to the Champ and Matt. And thanx to the Shark-dude for putting together one hell of a 2005 season.



Thoughts on Poker

quick CheckRayz update...

Well, I am glad I used the word "SHOULD" (in quotes) in my last post, regarding the CheckRayz site. The database was obviously not hooked up last weekend, as expected. So, I offer my sincere appologies to those who tried to register but could not. I received email and/or instant messages from several of you regarding this. All I can say is hang in there and thanks in advance for understanding. These things often do not go off as planned. Hopefully, the database will be connected soon and we can begin taking on members and startin' some chip slingin' check rayz'n action as planned. I'm still holding onto the guidance of our first tourney starting mid December. This is of course subject to change, pending the Db. However, I continue to have faith that all will be resolved soon and we can begin as scheduled (just a bit under the gun from a timing standpoint).

Speaking of chip slingin' and check rayz'n action; the Championships for the 2005 Shark Poker Tour are slated for today at 2pm EST. Heads up, best of seven series between Matt and Tim (sweetness and tgreer). The Championship Venue is Ultimate Bet. Sweetness813 and tgreer61 are the names to put in the Ultimate Buddy.

Just keep in mind, for those of you who do not know any better... When you're watching this today, it is "Heads up," not your full table. Consequently, you have to play much more loosely than you would at a full table. Hands such as 3-5s are playable in Heads up, and not even close to being playable in a full table. So if you see one of the two combatants playing a hand of this nature brilliantly, I offer you the warning "Don't try this at home, "pros" train for this and are able to pull off such feats and are not fit for amateurs without receivin the donk title."

That bein said, good luck & see ya soon... off to the Beer Pong Tourney.



Thoughts on Poker