Congratulations to bwop on cashing in WSOP 2009 Event 25 - $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo 8-or-better!!! We're all proud of you, even over here on the other side of the country! I'm looking forward to reading the telling of the tale, in your recap...
The remaining 14 players will return tomorrow at 1:00pm PST to finish this event. Currently Jon 'Pearljammer' Turner is in the chip lead. Some of the other big names which remain are Carlos Mortensen, Dutch Boyd, and Phil Ivey. Stay tuned to all the action over at PokerNews.com.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Point and Counter Point
My friend wvwolfie proprietor and chief bottle washer over at the Riversedge Blog (http://frankwolfe.net/?p=159) put up a very thought-provoking post entitled "Is the popularity of poker diminishing?" He's got some very good points in there and it's a good read, but I offer up some different thoughts on the subject.
First, I'll grant that the numbers were down for NDPT #18; but I can't blame it on solely on the popularity of poker diminishing. I acknowledge that the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) put a damper on online poker, but it's done more to clear out the online gambling holes of fish than anything else. The competition that you encounter online at even some lower levels is vastly improved from the days of old. BUT, back to NDPT #18 and its low turnout. Headed into the game Saturday Night, I had 19 people on my list as confirmed to play. Outside that number, I know of an additional 4 that were otherwise committed to attending the WVU football game. Also, the surprise turn in the weather, caused some of the die-hards to back out and not show up. Two of the initial sign-ups backed out for fear of what the iced roads might mean for them to get home. Another late cancellation came from a player who was still on the road returning from a trip to see a child away at college and found that icey roads were delaying them. Still one other NDPT regular was off to play in Las Vegas at the time, so he gets a pass for the night. : ) Now, some of the larger numbers that we've seen recently at NDPT tournaments have included some new blood. I did not include everyone from the Eagles in my invitation, as I should have, since this was still a bit of a home game. Not that I have anything against any of the players there but the home games have typically been about close friends and a very tight-knit core group.
I CAN agree with wvwolfie on the fact that "we might have even been guilty of over saturating our own players." That is highly likely, since a lot of people still believed that they needed to attend every game. BUT from the outset of this year, my goal was to provide a number of opportunities, in different venues: homes, Eagles, etc... on different days, so that others might be able to attend. I think we actually picked up some really dedicated, fun players as a result of this widening of the net, but in other areas we've lost some people. We all have lives outside of poker. Between my daughter Whitney's cheerleading schedule and my son Cole's basketball schedule I'll admit even I'm stretched. That's why more often than not you'll find me drinking a bit too much to blow off steam rather than concentrating solely on the game. : ) But also, the Yanok's have stepped up the frequency of their games too. This year, they had a qualifier every month, and I think they may have thrown in another game or so as well. Plus, in the last couple months they have made BOTH games of the night qualifier games and so more people have been playing in BOTH games each time. This increased personal costs. But actually increased family (husband and wife) each putting up $30 for each game for $120 expense on the night.
JR is hosting the Eagles game, and promised a monthly tournament to see how things shape up over there. And wvwolfie has also offered up his home as another venue for the NDPT membership. Even Shuman has routinely held more of his cash games this year as well, and those are "meaty" as always. Admittedly, each location though, picks up players that sometimes won't play anywhere else, and that's okay.
Also, I know several of our "regular" players routinely play elsewhere, outside of the NDPT scope. And I'm all for it. That's great! Am I offended at not being invited? Hell no! I've got more opportunities to play than I can keep up with now. I think even now more and more people are playing, and more and more people are hosting their own home games and tournaments.
I think there has been a great increase locally even of a lot of underground cash games, (ones that are raking the pot) here in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Not only have several new games cropped up, but higher stakes has become the name of the game. Let me go on record officially, none of the NDPT games is a raked game. (Tell the SWAT team to friggin' stand down!)
As wvwolfie also pointed out the "legal" brick and mortar poker rooms at Wheeling, Chester, and most recently Cross Lanes further opened the poker market, BUT I haven't really noticed a shortage of players there. At least every week I hear of someone who has made a trip to one of the local casinos to play and found them really busy. But, I think people are really branching out to play other places and with other people. And that's okay too. Recall a scene from Rounders in which a number of the New York Rounders find themselves at the Taj in Atlantic City seated with one another and one of them laments, "...if we wanted to take each others rolls, we could've just stayed at home." And then, the "fish" begin to arrive at the table and the fun begins for all!
All I'm saying is this (yes Virginia there is a point to cheer_dad's story!!!)
The N Debt Poker Tour (NDPT) has most certainly created and improved a lot of poker players here in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Within our ranks are some VERY crafty players. The skill level has most definitely gotten a lot higher. There have been a few people show up at our games and commented to their buddies that they were "gonna show us how to play this game" and we sent them packing, with an emptier wallet. We have NEVER fleeced anyone though! I'd like for people to come back and play (and bring more money.) BUT not just for the money, also for the friendship of the thing. I have made a lot of good friends playing poker and wouldn't trade the time and experiences for anything.
In closing let me say this... I didn't write up this blog post to argue with "wvwolfie," I think he has some very valid points in his post, again found here, http://frankwolfe.net/?p=159 and besides that, he's a good friend of mine. But I can't subscribe to the point-of-view that in the area of the popularity of poker that "...we are about halfway down a long downward slope." Instead, I offer up that instead of a linear path, that poker in our neck of the woods has branched out in a lot of different ways. And that with the larger numbers of games and places to play, that some competition for the players time has been introduced. I for one can vouch for the fact that I've played a lot more live poker this year than I ever thought possible, and I didn't host 1/2 as many times as I did in previous years. I even turn down some games, in favor of others. Although, I still play online, my time in front of the computer screen has been reduced because of the large numbers of options at my disposal. There is a lot of variety out there, and I don't think things are going to dry up on us anytime soon.
Besides, my kids will be heading off to college before you know it, and not only will I have additional free time to play poker, but hell someone's gotta help me foot the bill for their tuition, and the wages my Uncle Sam is handing out are probably going to come up a bit short. So, dear poker fishes... Plea$e $end Monie$!!!
Let me know what you think gang... sound off in the comments section of this post.
Regards.
cheer_dad
First, I'll grant that the numbers were down for NDPT #18; but I can't blame it on solely on the popularity of poker diminishing. I acknowledge that the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) put a damper on online poker, but it's done more to clear out the online gambling holes of fish than anything else. The competition that you encounter online at even some lower levels is vastly improved from the days of old. BUT, back to NDPT #18 and its low turnout. Headed into the game Saturday Night, I had 19 people on my list as confirmed to play. Outside that number, I know of an additional 4 that were otherwise committed to attending the WVU football game. Also, the surprise turn in the weather, caused some of the die-hards to back out and not show up. Two of the initial sign-ups backed out for fear of what the iced roads might mean for them to get home. Another late cancellation came from a player who was still on the road returning from a trip to see a child away at college and found that icey roads were delaying them. Still one other NDPT regular was off to play in Las Vegas at the time, so he gets a pass for the night. : ) Now, some of the larger numbers that we've seen recently at NDPT tournaments have included some new blood. I did not include everyone from the Eagles in my invitation, as I should have, since this was still a bit of a home game. Not that I have anything against any of the players there but the home games have typically been about close friends and a very tight-knit core group.
I CAN agree with wvwolfie on the fact that "we might have even been guilty of over saturating our own players." That is highly likely, since a lot of people still believed that they needed to attend every game. BUT from the outset of this year, my goal was to provide a number of opportunities, in different venues: homes, Eagles, etc... on different days, so that others might be able to attend. I think we actually picked up some really dedicated, fun players as a result of this widening of the net, but in other areas we've lost some people. We all have lives outside of poker. Between my daughter Whitney's cheerleading schedule and my son Cole's basketball schedule I'll admit even I'm stretched. That's why more often than not you'll find me drinking a bit too much to blow off steam rather than concentrating solely on the game. : ) But also, the Yanok's have stepped up the frequency of their games too. This year, they had a qualifier every month, and I think they may have thrown in another game or so as well. Plus, in the last couple months they have made BOTH games of the night qualifier games and so more people have been playing in BOTH games each time. This increased personal costs. But actually increased family (husband and wife) each putting up $30 for each game for $120 expense on the night.
JR is hosting the Eagles game, and promised a monthly tournament to see how things shape up over there. And wvwolfie has also offered up his home as another venue for the NDPT membership. Even Shuman has routinely held more of his cash games this year as well, and those are "meaty" as always. Admittedly, each location though, picks up players that sometimes won't play anywhere else, and that's okay.
Also, I know several of our "regular" players routinely play elsewhere, outside of the NDPT scope. And I'm all for it. That's great! Am I offended at not being invited? Hell no! I've got more opportunities to play than I can keep up with now. I think even now more and more people are playing, and more and more people are hosting their own home games and tournaments.
I think there has been a great increase locally even of a lot of underground cash games, (ones that are raking the pot) here in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Not only have several new games cropped up, but higher stakes has become the name of the game. Let me go on record officially, none of the NDPT games is a raked game. (Tell the SWAT team to friggin' stand down!)
As wvwolfie also pointed out the "legal" brick and mortar poker rooms at Wheeling, Chester, and most recently Cross Lanes further opened the poker market, BUT I haven't really noticed a shortage of players there. At least every week I hear of someone who has made a trip to one of the local casinos to play and found them really busy. But, I think people are really branching out to play other places and with other people. And that's okay too. Recall a scene from Rounders in which a number of the New York Rounders find themselves at the Taj in Atlantic City seated with one another and one of them laments, "...if we wanted to take each others rolls, we could've just stayed at home." And then, the "fish" begin to arrive at the table and the fun begins for all!
All I'm saying is this (yes Virginia there is a point to cheer_dad's story!!!)
The N Debt Poker Tour (NDPT) has most certainly created and improved a lot of poker players here in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Within our ranks are some VERY crafty players. The skill level has most definitely gotten a lot higher. There have been a few people show up at our games and commented to their buddies that they were "gonna show us how to play this game" and we sent them packing, with an emptier wallet. We have NEVER fleeced anyone though! I'd like for people to come back and play (and bring more money.) BUT not just for the money, also for the friendship of the thing. I have made a lot of good friends playing poker and wouldn't trade the time and experiences for anything.
In closing let me say this... I didn't write up this blog post to argue with "wvwolfie," I think he has some very valid points in his post, again found here, http://frankwolfe.net/?p=159 and besides that, he's a good friend of mine. But I can't subscribe to the point-of-view that in the area of the popularity of poker that "...we are about halfway down a long downward slope." Instead, I offer up that instead of a linear path, that poker in our neck of the woods has branched out in a lot of different ways. And that with the larger numbers of games and places to play, that some competition for the players time has been introduced. I for one can vouch for the fact that I've played a lot more live poker this year than I ever thought possible, and I didn't host 1/2 as many times as I did in previous years. I even turn down some games, in favor of others. Although, I still play online, my time in front of the computer screen has been reduced because of the large numbers of options at my disposal. There is a lot of variety out there, and I don't think things are going to dry up on us anytime soon.
Besides, my kids will be heading off to college before you know it, and not only will I have additional free time to play poker, but hell someone's gotta help me foot the bill for their tuition, and the wages my Uncle Sam is handing out are probably going to come up a bit short. So, dear poker fishes... Plea$e $end Monie$!!!
Let me know what you think gang... sound off in the comments section of this post.
Regards.
cheer_dad
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Another life tilt moment
Some things just tend to put me over the edge (Life Tilt) if you will. I came across the following article out on CNN:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/20/news/blind_money.ap/index.htm?eref=rss_topstories
Read first... develop your own opinion and hope for your sake that you share mine, because otherwise I might be calling you some very unsavory things. Are you done yet? Okay, I'll wait? Good... Now, do you find this a well written article about a hot topic about a legitimate problem facing America that must be stamped out immediately regardless of the cost? If so, perhaps you should leave now, and I'll merely thank you for stopping by. Have a nice day.
Okay, now that those Whack-Jobs are gone... are you friggin' kidding me!!!
A Federal appeals court rules that the Treasury Department is violating the law by keeping all money the same size and feel, because it discriminates against blind people. Can any of the rest of you hear the sound of the founding fathers rolling over in their graves, trying to claw their way to the surface to lay hands on the attorney's who brought this atrocity before the courts. Okay, look I get it. Blind people can't see money... It's always been that way, but to make statement that it is a violation of law is absurd an in my mind offensive. I get that the Constitution and the Bill of Rightsis are living, breathing documents but the courts have twisted and mangled a lot of the original intents over the years and most often at the hands of unscrupulous hacks to whom the world somehow handed over a law degree. To those of you who think the value of the US dollar is down, lookout now your government will be spending precious tax dollars to develop money for the blind. I don't mean to trounce anyone's civil liberties and all, but at some point in time and in life, common sense has to take over, the inmates stop running the asylum and the liberals shut the hell up and take a seat!
I'd have to think that Dennis Miller would be "gettin' off on a rant here," and perhaps Earl Pitts (American) would dust off a "you know what makes me sick..." tirade. Then again, maybe it's just me, and I should just shut up and fade back into my blog obscurity.
Nope, I can't do it. Next this same legal team will undoubtedly be launching an attack on the television manufacturers and programming, since the blind cannot take part in the joys of the "boob tube" either. How could we have all been so insensitive, so uncaring. I for one am ashamed of myself and my sight.
I just know that this is somehow going to affect poker in the long run. : ) (There, happy I tied it back in to the blog's overall theme?) The poker chip must change, the deck of cards... and shucks even the visual tells that I give off at the table are criminal offenses when weighed in the same manner. (I started to say viewed in the same light,) but figured my analogy would be suspect as well.)
But I've beaten this dead horse long enough. But to honor the great legal minds behind this idiocy, I offer up a top ten list for your amusement:
Top Ten Lawyer Jokes:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/20/news/blind_money.ap/index.htm?eref=rss_topstories
Read first... develop your own opinion and hope for your sake that you share mine, because otherwise I might be calling you some very unsavory things. Are you done yet? Okay, I'll wait? Good... Now, do you find this a well written article about a hot topic about a legitimate problem facing America that must be stamped out immediately regardless of the cost? If so, perhaps you should leave now, and I'll merely thank you for stopping by. Have a nice day.
Okay, now that those Whack-Jobs are gone... are you friggin' kidding me!!!
A Federal appeals court rules that the Treasury Department is violating the law by keeping all money the same size and feel, because it discriminates against blind people. Can any of the rest of you hear the sound of the founding fathers rolling over in their graves, trying to claw their way to the surface to lay hands on the attorney's who brought this atrocity before the courts. Okay, look I get it. Blind people can't see money... It's always been that way, but to make statement that it is a violation of law is absurd an in my mind offensive. I get that the Constitution and the Bill of Rightsis are living, breathing documents but the courts have twisted and mangled a lot of the original intents over the years and most often at the hands of unscrupulous hacks to whom the world somehow handed over a law degree. To those of you who think the value of the US dollar is down, lookout now your government will be spending precious tax dollars to develop money for the blind. I don't mean to trounce anyone's civil liberties and all, but at some point in time and in life, common sense has to take over, the inmates stop running the asylum and the liberals shut the hell up and take a seat!
I'd have to think that Dennis Miller would be "gettin' off on a rant here," and perhaps Earl Pitts (American) would dust off a "you know what makes me sick..." tirade. Then again, maybe it's just me, and I should just shut up and fade back into my blog obscurity.
Nope, I can't do it. Next this same legal team will undoubtedly be launching an attack on the television manufacturers and programming, since the blind cannot take part in the joys of the "boob tube" either. How could we have all been so insensitive, so uncaring. I for one am ashamed of myself and my sight.
I just know that this is somehow going to affect poker in the long run. : ) (There, happy I tied it back in to the blog's overall theme?) The poker chip must change, the deck of cards... and shucks even the visual tells that I give off at the table are criminal offenses when weighed in the same manner. (I started to say viewed in the same light,) but figured my analogy would be suspect as well.)
But I've beaten this dead horse long enough. But to honor the great legal minds behind this idiocy, I offer up a top ten list for your amusement:
Top Ten Lawyer Jokes:
- What do you call 5,000 dead lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? ~A good start!
- What's the difference between a lawyer and a catfish? ~One is a slimy, bottom dwelling, scum sucker. The other is a fish.
- What is a criminal lawyer? ~Redundant.
- How many personal injury attorneys does it take to change a light bulb? ~Three--one to turn the bulb, one to shake him off the ladder, and the third to sue the ladder company.
- Did you hear about the lawyer hurt in an accident? ~An ambulance stopped suddenly.
- Do you know how to save a drowning lawyer? ~Take your foot off his head.
- How can you tell if a lawyer is well hung? ~You can't get a finger between the rope and his neck!
- How can you tell when a lawyer is lying? ~His lips are moving.
- What do you have when a lawyer is buried up to his neck in sand? ~Not enough sand.
- Why won't sharks attack lawyers? ~Professional courtesy.
And with that I bid you farewell.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Is it over yet? Vegas awaits!
Monday was just more than I could withstand at work. I don't like Mondays. I never have. I used to be off every Monday, and then I moved up the foodchain, and became a Team Lead, and it was decided that "leads" can't work 4 x 10's. Instead only the 5-4-9 thing is available. So I can work like 45hrs week 1 and then 35hrs week 2. That does get me a 3-day weekend every other week. But I'm spoiled, and it used to get me out of Monday's altogether. But that's the price. Anyway, let's get back on track. I didn't go to work on Tuesday...(cough, cough) and that helped shorten the work week. A bunch of us opted on Monday night to go to Texas Roadhouse. Every Monday (we learned) they have $1 Margs and draft beer, all night! I may never miss a Monday there again! After we finished up there, we all headed back over to our house and threw together a card game. Matt, Jody, Frank, Julie, Mike, Sally, Scott, Teresa, and I played in this cash game. $10 buy in... for $10 in chips. Blinds .25 and .25... Big Red and I both had to rebuy early on for another $10. But before the night was over, and after the dust settled, we both cashed out for over $80 each. Not bad for an unplanned pickup game. Big Red in particular is on a ROLL people, stay out of her way! Since the first game of this month over at the Wolfe's (where she won) and then at the Yanok's (where I won both tourney's of the night, and then at our monthly tourney Teresa won the tourney, and I did VERY well in the cash game) and then Monday's pick up game, between the 2 of us, we've made a profit of in the neighborhood of $800+. And we've actually been able to squirrel some of it away, in the secondary account. That'll help finance the Vegas trip which comes up now in just a few short days!!! 
I can almost hear the incessant bells and whistles from the slots, the clang of quarters hitting the tray, the sound of chips being raked my direction at the poker tables, and the taste of a good stiff comped drink. (Shudder...excuse me I think I need a moment.)
AHHH! Sorry, I went to my happy place there for a bit.
I can almost hear the incessant bells and whistles from the slots, the clang of quarters hitting the tray, the sound of chips being raked my direction at the poker tables, and the taste of a good stiff comped drink. (Shudder...excuse me I think I need a moment.)AHHH! Sorry, I went to my happy place there for a bit.
Shuman announced his cash game for this Friday, but I don't know yet if we'll be able to attend. This whole week is a whirlwind, which culminates in Cole's All Star (baseball) tournament in Athens, OH on Saturday and Sunday. I really don't know what to expect. I hope the boys do well. I hope Cole in particular gives it his all, and doesn't let his mind wander off. I want him to do well. I think that's what he actually wants this time too. All stars is a completely different animal compared to regular season ball, as odd as that seems. Wish us luck throughout the summer.
I'm up a few bucks on the Carbon Poker site, just playing at the .10/.25 NLHE tables. It's good practice, and the game has been enjoyable. If I can just stay on top of the cash on this promo. Of course I've go to accumlate 50,000 points to collect my $200 in bonus. 3 points are awarded per raked hand at the site, at least at the stakes I play.
The day drags onward...my eyes grow heavy. Good luck to each of you in your quest to stay awake.
Quote of the day: Overconfidence can lead to carelessness in decision-making. The poker gods can provide a run of bad cards that will make anyone look foolish.
Regards,
cheer_dad
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