Poker Pub Poker Blog

2006/01/17

2006/01/14

So yesterday, I decided to work on my "match fitness" for the upcoming $150 added Heads up Tourney at Celeb, that CheckRayz is promoting. So, having bonus dollars to work off, I went to Absolute Poker to play some heads up holdem.

I dropped my first two matches, first one losing boat vs. flush. This wasn't much of a match at all. Of course, I didn't see the boat as a possibility on the board (read: first thing in the morning). Second match was a little better, but not much, as my JJ got donked in favor of the four board card straight (he head A-9off, I pushed preflop, he pushed back into me, ended up all-in preflop).

I decided to play a bit higher stakes, and had things to do. So after putting Daddy's lil Angels to bed, I fired that bad boy up and went to work, of course this was after playing the Shark Event.

I owned my opposition, only passing chips his way in two hands, and the pots he won were very small in nature. I nailed the figure four in classic Ric Flair fashion, letting him push my KK around with his 7-7 preflop and flop. Turn comes, he bets, I go for the thumb in the eye, raising him to all-in, he calls... chop, chop, suplex, knee, figure four, "whoooo!"

Determined, he asks for (and receives) a rematch. He wins the return match, flushing out my set of Jacks. We go again, classic back and forth battle. Blinds continue to raise and the higher they go, the more of an advantage "the champ" is at. This time, I nail the "figure four" with a boat to his bluff.

Next match (same opponent), this time he's finished off with "television time remaining," falling victim to my top pair, open end straight draw vs. his middle pair, garbage kicker.

OK, OK, fine, one more match... this time, its a loser leave town match... (feels like Flair-Rhodes feud of old). Once again, he starts the match out aggressively, as the blinds rise, so does my advantage. The champ "takes him to school" with (ironically) a set of fours he never saw coming.

One thing I noticed was that whenever the blinds went to 50/75, I clearly outplayed him preflop. My mindset was that for $25 tourney dollars, there were few cards that did not offer the odds to call. Consequently, I ended up rayzin up more often than not. This worked for me about 4 out of five times, giving me the pot either pre-flop, or on the continuation bet.

Furthermore, I didn't like the idea of allowing him the luxery to call me, completing the blinds for only $25T (5:1). So, of course, he completes the blinds, and I raise them 3 out of four times, regardless of my cards. Eventually, he was "beat down" and would fold if he didn't have what he believed to be a solid starting hand (hell, for 5:1, I'll see a flop with 2-7offsuit heads up).

I'm really looking forward to the heads up tourney today at Celeb (as I think you can tell). CheckRayz gear to anyone who enters the tourney today - need an email with shipping info sent to me here. Good luck and see you all on the virtual felt.

Mike

Poker Strategy

2006/01/12

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Huge Celeb happenings...

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Tonight's celeb freeroll

2006/01/10

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upcoming events...

2006/01/06

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Misc.n random thoughts early in the tourney...

So, I'm playin the 40K Guaranteed *rebuy/addon at Pokerroom right now... Still early in the tourney (just began lvl 2). 1186 began, 1100 remain. Its painful seeing 2-5s played utg (limp then called a raise) winning with a flush vs. AKs, AK and 10-10. I've got about 3800 chips, which is good for 100th place at the time of this entry.

I must say, two times now the card gods have tested me. I sat late position with 88 and 44. When I had the 8s, AQx hit the board. I folded to an overbet, only to see an 8 hit the turn. Holding the fours, I had a raise and a reraise in front of me. I correctly dumped the fours preflop, and would have nailed the set on the flop. Both were correct plays, but as I said, the poker gods are trying to get me to donk... "Not this drunken fool," I say! Speaking of drunken things, the CheckRayz "sponsored" soccer team, Beer F.C. (the Beer Football Club) begins their Winter II season this week.

As for Rayz business, it appears as if Kiwi wants us to come back (wow, we didn't even clean up after ourselves --- clay left shotgun shells all over the grass as he gunned down all his opposition in his march to victory, I left Beer cans all over the place, CT threw bottle upon bottle of nyquil on the ground, missing the garbage can cuz she was a bit disoriented from all the meds she was on). Anyways, I'm corresponding with the Kiwi rep, and details about another tourney or two will be released shortly. As will tourneys at a few additional sites. Remember, Next week is Celeb (Freeroll on Thurs, Heads up buy-in on Sat). CR Tees, or Celeb Tees or hats to anyone either depositing and playing 250 hands .50/1 or higher... or enters the heads up tourney. No pw for these events, however, you MUST download through the checkrayz site to be eligable to enter.

"Lil bro" (screenname Steveman on the Checkrayz Leaderboard Tour) will be perfecting the Leaderboard on the Rayz site real soon. Speaking of, you must have a screenname entered with the rayz database, otherwise I can't credit ya points. Anyone scoring leaderboard points (top 9 finishers) must check to ensure they enter a sn. (As i type this, the card gods "do" me again... I raise, only to be reraised twice... My 10s utg vs AA vs AK, I folded preflop so as to live to play another day... However, yet another set woulda hit... Grrr). Gods however have rewarded such discipline on my part, as they've allowed me to set with sevens in a seven-way pot and blessed me with a higher kicker when queen-shit (x2) hit the board. I'm now sitting in 150th place with 4800 chippies, blinds 50-100 and 925 peeps remaining, damn, just got a table change... I'm no longer the old bag with the old looking bag. I'm the cowboy dude now and dealt queens in the hole first hand... 1 caller late (the fat ass). And of course, he draws on me... calling with J10offsuit. He gets the "tool" label, i lose about 1000 chippies and we move on... Few other hands play out, mostly me tilting over top fat bastard... I get to the break with 4900 chips and sit in 285th place, 839 peeps remain...

I've rambled for an hour... put out some important thoughts, distracted myself, played "link whore" and lasted the hour without rebuying or donking out. Go me!!! More to come later...

update: end of hour 2, I sit with 6500 and in 240th of 336th place. "Mr. My pocket pairs have been hitting all night" got mixed up with my AA and paid me. I donated back to "Mr. I love to see every flop, regardless of cost." Blinds now 300-600, 7500 chipstack for me after stealing with JJ in the cuttoff.

update: end of hour number 3, other than jj, i've not had a playable hand in position. Down to 3699 with blinds now going to 800-1600. Button just passed me, 126th out of 132... top 130 get paid, so yes... I'm on the bubble. Looking for something to offer up to the poker gods here.

Final update: Bubble bursts, poker gods don't like my offering... "Mr. My pp have been hittin all night" resurfaces, gets mixed up in a pot with me. I'm shortstacked and on the BB, so of course I move all in, he calls with a 6-8s from mid position (give me a break here)... Flop hits him hard, the same way a greese monkey would hit an unlocked tool room as his shop is goin out of business. He takes my chips, crushing my AQ, knocking me out in 127th place. Overall, not a bad showing... I'm outie.

Mike

Thoughts on Poker
Poker Tournament Strategy

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More Blog Surfin'...

2006/01/05

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First Tourney a Success...

Our first tourney was a success. We had a nice, as opposed to monsterous sized field for the CheckRayz tourney at Kiwi Poker. I sat at a great table to start things off, with SPT regular CT and a local friend of mine, who also plays Shark events, John (help me out one more time on the pronounciation of your sn again, if you would). The one thing I have to say (from my observation), there was very little donk playing in this tourney. Most freeroll poker tourneys feature donk after donk after donk. This one was different, for some reason.

Right around the first break, I stepped up and begin accumulating chips, sitting in 10th. John was not too far behind... And Clayshooter, yet another Shark standout, was running on or near the "lead lap" from pretty much start to finish. He and I ended up on the same table later on in the tourney, where he "floated me a loan" (said another way, he raised from the button, I had a pocket pair and believed him to be attempting a steal --- I figured if he had a monster he would be more likely to trap against me). Needless to say, he doubled me up and though he "counts" the three way hand on the finals table as repayment (I lost the hand, but not to him), I am certain I still owe him chippies.

One can deduce by that last statement that we both made the finals table. This finals table was an excellent one. Several conversations and stories being told. Relaxed "feel" to it. I always enjoy the friendly feel of tables such as this one. I dropped off in ninth place. Clay went on to win the event (guess he didn't "need" my chips after all). Great showing by him and everyone else in the first CheckRayz event.

In case you've never played at Kiwi, the software is quite similar in nature to Titan, however, it appears as if we're playing in the grass of the outback. I think my chair, on the first table, was on some uneven land and my beer cooler kept rolling away from me, but that could have been BMC (sitting to my right) tryin to steal a beer or two. Overall, great tourney.

Next stop for the CheckRayz Leaderboard Tour is CelebPoker, home of the "loosest tables on the net." Their short tables are five deep, as opposed to the traditional six seaters. To me, this is the NL Ring Player's dream scenerio. I've cracked many a donk at Celeb. Great deposit bonus goin on right now at Celeb (200%). Deposit and play 250 hands at .50/1 or higher and get yourself a CheckRayz first edition Tee. Email me through the Rayz site when you complete.

Upcoming Celeb Tourneys are as follows: Thurs 1/12/06 at 9pm for the CheckRayz Leaderboard Freeroll. Then we return to Celeb on Sat 1/14/06 at 4pm for the $5+.50 First Ever CheckRayz Heads-up Tourney!!! All who enter the tourney will get either a CheckRayz first edition Tee, a Celeb Tee, or a Celeb Hat. Celeb was nice enough to throw in some "swag" for our players and an additional $150 to sweeten the prize pool.

Look for more events to be added to the calendar very soon.

Mike

Thoughts on Poker
CheckRayz Announcements
Poker Tournament Strategy

2006/01/04

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Kiwi Freeroll Begins 2006 Tour...

2005/12/30

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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

2005/12/28

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2006 Checkrayz Leaderboard Tour Begins...

2005/12/26

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Great Reading...

2005/12/25

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Christmas Joy...

2005/12/21

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First CheckRayz.com Tourneys...

2005/12/19

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angry the Card Gods must be...

2005/12/18

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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

2005/12/16

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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

2005/12/11

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Beer Pong...

2005/12/10

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