http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/02/19/ante_up_sc_judge_rules_texas_hold_em_is_a_skill/
I guess that means i just suck at poker when i lose!
2/19/2009
1/15/2009
oh noes.... here we go again
I have since played again in these short handed games. Unfortunately for me, what I thought was another tournament with the same group that I played with last time turned into a cash game, unknown to me. Oh well, I didn't lose ALL my money trying to get first place ;)
Since then I've also been to Foxwoods another time. I got lucky in sitting with a table with a relatively tight/aggressive game (as opposed to a loose/aggressive game). I actually didn't do too well for the first..... 5 or 6 hours but I perservered and managed to pull ahead a decent profit in the end. Although at the end of the day I got the short end of the stick since I had to pay both my zipcar rental and a speeding ticket. A couple things to note about this trip was that I was paying extra attention when I could (man, how easy it is to not pay attention to everything), I was extremely patient and waited for the right hands/position, I built up the pot a bit so when i did steal/win the flop I wasn't pulling in 6 bucks at a time but maybe more like 20-30 dollars at a time, and that I got up and left after I realized I was 'done' playing (aka playing way too loose due to exhaustion/food depravation/intoxication). Overall I think I did pretty well for a 10 hour session at foxwoods.
I'm going again this saturday if everything goes through correctly. The most important thing I need to remember when I get there is to assess the table I'm placed at. No fish around? That means I'm the fish....
Good luck to everyone in 2009 (except to fish. They dont deserve luck)
Since then I've also been to Foxwoods another time. I got lucky in sitting with a table with a relatively tight/aggressive game (as opposed to a loose/aggressive game). I actually didn't do too well for the first..... 5 or 6 hours but I perservered and managed to pull ahead a decent profit in the end. Although at the end of the day I got the short end of the stick since I had to pay both my zipcar rental and a speeding ticket. A couple things to note about this trip was that I was paying extra attention when I could (man, how easy it is to not pay attention to everything), I was extremely patient and waited for the right hands/position, I built up the pot a bit so when i did steal/win the flop I wasn't pulling in 6 bucks at a time but maybe more like 20-30 dollars at a time, and that I got up and left after I realized I was 'done' playing (aka playing way too loose due to exhaustion/food depravation/intoxication). Overall I think I did pretty well for a 10 hour session at foxwoods.
I'm going again this saturday if everything goes through correctly. The most important thing I need to remember when I get there is to assess the table I'm placed at. No fish around? That means I'm the fish....
Good luck to everyone in 2009 (except to fish. They dont deserve luck)
12/15/2008
poked
I played in a 20 dollar tournament with a friend of a friend with 5 other people involved.
I failed miserably, which goes to show how bad I am in a short handed tournament. Come to think of it, I tend to fail miserably at poker in general.... HUMPH
Anyway I might be going again tonight so hopefully i'll bring home a bit of cash now that i've bought my ticket to many more games ;)
Hopefully this will stave off my need to run off to foxwoods ;)
I failed miserably, which goes to show how bad I am in a short handed tournament. Come to think of it, I tend to fail miserably at poker in general.... HUMPH
Anyway I might be going again tonight so hopefully i'll bring home a bit of cash now that i've bought my ticket to many more games ;)
Hopefully this will stave off my need to run off to foxwoods ;)
10/03/2008
NPR
My good friend john suggested listening to this podcast:
http://thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=938
Its very enriching. I can see how this relates to poker and how it can effect my game strategy. This goes back to if sitting at a table where i'm getting owned on, just get up and leave.
http://thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=938
Its very enriching. I can see how this relates to poker and how it can effect my game strategy. This goes back to if sitting at a table where i'm getting owned on, just get up and leave.
5/14/2008
Things to remember
For trip 4, I have to remember a few things...
a.) Be humble. I could get my butt whooped at any time easily.
b.) watch for the first hour.
c.) be patient.
d.) look out for draws.
e.) try to get on an easy table.
a.) Be humble. I could get my butt whooped at any time easily.
b.) watch for the first hour.
c.) be patient.
d.) look out for draws.
e.) try to get on an easy table.
5/11/2008
3rd time
This was another milestone in my poker career as I track my winnings and losings. I've been told by friends who care about my well being to quit while I'm ahead. And I told him it doesn't work like that in poker ;)
I did great this time. I went with a game plan which was to sit and play tight/passively until an hour and just feel how the table is. After a while I noticed a few players who seemed to be decent, very selective and very aggressive (these guys had lots of chips in front of them). A few others were extremely loose players and even aggressive in bluffing. This was key to making decisions later in the game.
On one hand in particular while I was still starting my chip stack, I raised 10 dollars preflop. Most people called since I guess my table image wasn't established yet. Okay fine. I hit an Ace on the flop, giving me top pair with a good kicker so I bet 20 dollars. Everyone folds until it gets to a loose player who I know likes to bluff. He gives it a second pause and then calls. I check around to him, he bets 40 at me. I call. River comes around I check, and he pauses again looking a little trapped and decides to drop 80 dollars in the pot. I flat out called him with my heart in my throat. I knew it was the right move as something compelled me to catch this particular lie mid throw. But its always scary to just "throw" in 120+ dollars worth of calls in two rounds of betting.
I showed him my top pair. He mucked his hand. I felt great. I not only proved my worth but the entire table was shocked at the fact I only had top pair. I established a good table image. Which is key to how I work my magic.
However, one issue remained. I wasn't catching the cards! For a good solid 2 or 3 hours I was not getting anything. I was just bleeding my winnings and got back down to my starting chipstack through little forays that ultimately didn't land me anything. I was thinking I should just go ahead and leave, or play a different table. But I stayed with the knowledge that everything at this table was working except for a little luck.
And it payed off big. I won't go into too much detail but things worked out well. At this particular table I did well. After a while some cards started going my way and I have to say the luck came at the right time.
One thing I have noticed is that I start to play sloppy after 7-8 hours.....
I did great this time. I went with a game plan which was to sit and play tight/passively until an hour and just feel how the table is. After a while I noticed a few players who seemed to be decent, very selective and very aggressive (these guys had lots of chips in front of them). A few others were extremely loose players and even aggressive in bluffing. This was key to making decisions later in the game.
On one hand in particular while I was still starting my chip stack, I raised 10 dollars preflop. Most people called since I guess my table image wasn't established yet. Okay fine. I hit an Ace on the flop, giving me top pair with a good kicker so I bet 20 dollars. Everyone folds until it gets to a loose player who I know likes to bluff. He gives it a second pause and then calls. I check around to him, he bets 40 at me. I call. River comes around I check, and he pauses again looking a little trapped and decides to drop 80 dollars in the pot. I flat out called him with my heart in my throat. I knew it was the right move as something compelled me to catch this particular lie mid throw. But its always scary to just "throw" in 120+ dollars worth of calls in two rounds of betting.
I showed him my top pair. He mucked his hand. I felt great. I not only proved my worth but the entire table was shocked at the fact I only had top pair. I established a good table image. Which is key to how I work my magic.
However, one issue remained. I wasn't catching the cards! For a good solid 2 or 3 hours I was not getting anything. I was just bleeding my winnings and got back down to my starting chipstack through little forays that ultimately didn't land me anything. I was thinking I should just go ahead and leave, or play a different table. But I stayed with the knowledge that everything at this table was working except for a little luck.
And it payed off big. I won't go into too much detail but things worked out well. At this particular table I did well. After a while some cards started going my way and I have to say the luck came at the right time.
One thing I have noticed is that I start to play sloppy after 7-8 hours.....
5/07/2008
Good advice on choosing tables
I found this useful tidbit of advice from Mike Caro on which tables to leave when you run into these signs...
Reasons to leave a game: (1) Game is bad; (2) Your image is bad; (3) You've been losing, inspiring opponents; (4) Silence; (5) Your foes play selectively, but aggressively; (6) Game is too loose for your bankroll (loose games are generally more profitable, but require larger bankrolls, due to increased fluctuations of outcomes); (7) You can't actually spot mistakes opponents are making; (8) You're worried about cheating (this will eat up mental energy, even if it's false); (9) You feel "glued to your seat."
This is good advice, and next time I sit at a table I will be sure to look for these signs before deciding to continue to play.
Reasons to leave a game: (1) Game is bad; (2) Your image is bad; (3) You've been losing, inspiring opponents; (4) Silence; (5) Your foes play selectively, but aggressively; (6) Game is too loose for your bankroll (loose games are generally more profitable, but require larger bankrolls, due to increased fluctuations of outcomes); (7) You can't actually spot mistakes opponents are making; (8) You're worried about cheating (this will eat up mental energy, even if it's false); (9) You feel "glued to your seat."
This is good advice, and next time I sit at a table I will be sure to look for these signs before deciding to continue to play.
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