I have scheduled NDPT Tournament #1 for January 23, 2009 all you folk and folkette! I've dropped the bounty from this year's format. In it's place, is an optional $5 per tournament which will be used to create a year-end tournament pot. Only those who pay the $5 up front AND cash on that given night, will be eligible to play in the year-end tournament. Your chip stack for this final game will be in proportion to the amount of your winnings throughout the year when you paid the $5. This is an idea borrowed (shamelessly stolen from the Yanok's game) which I and others really like. Nay-sayers can opt out, or kiss my ass whichever they prefer. So for some the price of poker will remain the same. For others I guess they're getting a $5 rebate. I don't know that I explained it very well, but it'll make sense after the first couple of tournaments for the year. I guess I get around to too many other poker games out and about and have become accustomed to the myriad ways that people host their games. Having played host now for a few years, I most generally keep my mouth shut about things when I play elsewhere. There are times when the host will look to me for a ruling or at least an informed opinion, and I can tell you more often than not my reply is... "It's your house, your word is law!" I've found this to be the best approach, never to contradict. Go with the ebb and flow of the game. Ultimately encourage hosts to read up on the subject. Over the years, I've taken the most of my cues for running a poker tournament at my house from HomePokerTourney.com. I used to be active in the forums and had several "friends" but work and other things took priority and so I've become more of a lurker. BUT, routinely come tournament time at cheer_dad's house behind the Tournament Clock window on the laptop, I've already fired up the browser and have the HPT site up and running, always at the ready with Robert's Rules of Poker, Payout percentages, and many of the other finer points of tournament play. There's a wealth of information there and I encourage you to check it out and use it for yourself.
Now, a detour from the tournament discussion. I played a little (okay Big Red would say a lot or even too much) online night before last, on Bodog. I was 4 tabling it in the kiddie pool section... okay it was .10/.25 Full Ring NLHE, max buy-in per table $25. I had been up earlier in the session, but dammit I'd planned on playing some cards and rarely will I quit before logging at least 200 hands or so. I ended up finally cashing out at around 350+ hands for the evening. For all my hard work, I was up only a couple of bucks and I was exhausted! This had to have been one of the most frustrating and trying sessions I've ever had at the tables. There were 3-4 players at the tables that I was seeing throughout the 4 tables I was playing. They were the loose-aggressors. They were having their way at the table. Obscure stuff too. Early position raises, with garbage despite the fact the 4-5 players were seeing the flop. I was watching preflop legitimate bets being thwarted by reraise All-Ins all over the place. Yeah, SB .10, BB .25, under-the-gun makes it .85 to go, and then WHAM some one in mid-position shoves for $25 or much more. Not just a one time thing but often. So, that was something to watch for. Then, I can't tell you how often I had pocket Aces!!! The odds of looking down at Rockets are like what, 220:1. I played around 350 hands and I know I saw 'em at least 7 times among the 4 tables! The kicker is... on 2 of those I was the BB, AND it folded back around to me, when every other hand normally had 4-5 players to a flop. Or my minimum raise got too much respect. I started having to play in a much more deceptive manner. I lost a big chunk at one table when I flopped a K, when I was holding AKos. I failed to keep the pot smallish, with just a pair. And I was at the mercy of the guy in front of me, who I couldn't really decide if the ever escalating bets were merely continuation or if he really had the goods. I've noticed lately a greater online move by players to go for the All-In jugular much too often, but more often than not they got the goods to go with it. SO, I was erring on the side of caution. Maybe that night, I was the fish... maybe. I didn't lose money, but for the level of effort it sure felt like it. I guess it could have been worse (a lot worse) but I had then sense to finally call it a night and hope for a better session the next time. There are things that I would like to try, should I run into those same players ravaging the tables again, which given their assessment of me on the night, could become profitable to me should they fail to re-evaluate my play, and stick to their guns. So, this one session was merely part of the "metagame" you know that one long poker game that we play throughout the course of our lives. Where not just the cards and chips in front of you are at issue, but the thing you did that one time, two or three sessions back against that same guy, or some other guy, that comes to mind. ALL of this ultimately influences the next move and then the next and so on.
I'm making my head hurt... but in a good way. Again, ya buncha degenerates NDPT #1 for this year is January 23, 2009 7:00pm at my house. The Yanok game precedes me on January 9th. Yeah, you'll all see me there too. Gotta build the bankroll for Vegas Baby!!!
Regards,
cheer_dad
Showing posts with label online poker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label online poker. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
What glass ceiling?!
The poker gods have smiled on me tonight on Bodog, allowing me to redeem last night's poor performance AND more importantly break through the $200 ceiling, that seems to have plagued all previous ventures on the virtual felt. Account now sits at $205.45...! Thanks to a VERY nice little run of cards. There was one point near the end of tonight's session when I had pocket Aces on BOTH tables! And actually won on them both. A decent pot on one, and an All-In and a call on the other. Poor guys Queens never knew what hit 'em. Okay, I'll stop my gloating and simply relish the moment.
Remarkably my play was no different tonight. Much the same, and my stats are actually very much the same between the nights and frankly for my overall playing style. We'll see what the next session brings.
Calling it a night...
Regards,
cheer_dad
Remarkably my play was no different tonight. Much the same, and my stats are actually very much the same between the nights and frankly for my overall playing style. We'll see what the next session brings.
Calling it a night...
Regards,
cheer_dad
You can't make this stuff up
There are times playing online that you just "feel" it's the wrong table, the wrong time, and that something bad is going to happen. We should each pay more heed to those feelings. They're not quantifiable, but when you have that wary, uneasy feeling you ought to listen to what your gut is telling you and move on. I say this all now, because (of course) I did not pay attention when that still small voice was speaking. Okay, it's not as bad as all that, but I do tend to make me some mountains out of life's little mole hills from time-to-time. Let me set the stage...
After a full/busy day at work I head home and immediately start on mowing the lawn. The neighborhood is thick with the sounds of push mowers and weed eaters. Oh, it did take me a bit of time to get started mowing because I had to wage a wasp killing campaign before I could reach the mower in the storage building. But flash forward to a lawn well done, weed whacking, and grass clippings gathered and street swept. I head inside to clean up, then grab a bite to eat. Following this, I help Cole out with his homework, try to decide if the teen Whitney even has any school books this year, "AIM," and phone(s) house and cell, interrupt the conversation and I trail off into wasted attempt.
Finally, things are relatively in order and I finally sit down to enjoy some down time. After checking email and reading a couple blogs I fire up Bodog. Several tables available so I belly up to two of them and am confident that at long last tonight, playing at my micro limits I'll finally take this account through the glass ceiling and go above the $200 mark. I've made mention a long time ago, that I've got some sort of mental block when it comes to that figure. I can't account for it, it's just there. Anyway, those of you who know me, know that online I play very micro limits. Call it stupid, call it mind numbing, whatever you want. But it just became so difficult to move money around online that they seem to be worth more in cyberspace, at least to me. Couple that with my unfortunately reading Chris Ferguson's account of how he turned $0 into $10,000 online and well you have the recipe for what has become my online poker playing experience. I revisited the Bodog account a while back and found it below the $100 mark, this of course after having cashed out a paltry sum somewhere in between the Neteller and UIGEA debacles... I'd play only every once in a while, two tabling at NLHE, max buy-in $10 (blinds .05/.10.) Go ahead... call me some names, I'll wait. Okay, do you feel better now? Good, I'm here for ya.
So, I've got my two tables setup on screen just the way I like 'em. Table action seems kinda fast. Oh look 8 players see the flop, and 7 to the turn over on this other table. Hmmm. Oh there's an all-in... and oh there's another... Here's where that uneasy feeling comes in. But I'm above it, I'm up to the challenge. Before one full cycle of the table I look down at AKos from late position, and pop it to a whopping .45 pre-flop. It goes back to the BB, who without pause, pops it an additional $8.00-ish all-in. You know the old 18X preflop reraise. Many folks wouldn't have flinched here and would have mashed the call button. But I'm just getting started here. I don't have a feel yet, or a read, and I'm just too Zen for all this. (Translation, at times I'm just a pussy.) So, I fold this drawing hands. Then I proceed to watch a succession of blackjack double down hands. 9-2os, 6-4os, 8-3os, etc... You know the ones. I go through that rocky phase of noticing that the hand I have at the first table is actually the nuts hand on the second table, and vice versa. All the while that little voice in the back of my head is growing ever louder. (Pipe down you!) Then, frustration sets in. From late position I look down at a J-10os, and I "just" call. The flop comes J-2-J, and I'm in position! Then again... bent over is a position. The SB bets pot. I double it. He obliges with an all-in and our hero calls. Then, before I even see his cards, realize I've succumb to all the emotion that's been building since I got home. I get the warm squishy feeling as he sticks his A-Js to some of my more tender orifices. More checks on table #1 please! The guy's decent enough about it, and tosses me an "ouch" in the chat window, to help sooth the sting. It doesn't... Anyway that's how most of the session went. And as my laptop battery is about to give up the ghost, I'm prepared to take my losses like a man. But I'm down like $13 here people. I was only shooting to make $6 tonight, to put me over the $200 mark, now I'm in worse shape. As the blinds come back around, I close down table one, and am left waiting for the round to end on table two. I look down at 9-10s. The BB annoyingly makes it .20 to go pre flop after I call the .10. I hate-hate-hate min-raisers! The flop comes 7-8-K rainbow. I'm open ended here, the BB bets out .30. Sure why not...and the turn is a blank (a two I think.) BB, again with the .30 bet. Sure, why not... The river brings one of my 8 outs, the Jack. This time the BB goes for broke and bets .60 this time. I pause briefly and then mash the Pot button. Here's where my tension headache and my temper flares! Simultaneously, three things happen on my laptop. The BB, reraises all-in, my "low battery" alert starts to flash like the world's coming to an end, and my fracking touchpad goes haywire. OMG... nothing's working here, I've got the nuts here folks and I can't get my pointer over the Call or the All-In buttons long enough to click. My wife stares from across the room as I gnash my teeth and spew obscenities!
FINALLY, I'm able to get the mouse coaxed over (pixel by pixel) to the all-in button and get the damn thing clicked! The BB insta calls. He proudly displays his hole cards "KK." Which for those of you keeping score at home, gave him a set on the flop. My Jack high straight sends him to the rail. And after all that stress on a single hand, I close out the game myself. (Incidentally now my fucking touchpad is working just fine!!!) So for the night I'm down only $7-ish. I regained some ground from the previous trip jacks fiasco. But who knows what the rest of the week will bring? Will I ever break through the $200 mark? Do any of you even care? Am I a complete NOOB for donking around at these micro stakes? Do you secretly laugh at me?
But on the bright side, I must make at least some of you feel better about yourselves and your superior poker playing abilities! And if that's the case, well then I'm glad that I can help make a difference in the lives of others. Stay tuned for the next riveting episode of "A Fool and His Money" and see how we are parted.
Regards,
cheer_dad
After a full/busy day at work I head home and immediately start on mowing the lawn. The neighborhood is thick with the sounds of push mowers and weed eaters. Oh, it did take me a bit of time to get started mowing because I had to wage a wasp killing campaign before I could reach the mower in the storage building. But flash forward to a lawn well done, weed whacking, and grass clippings gathered and street swept. I head inside to clean up, then grab a bite to eat. Following this, I help Cole out with his homework, try to decide if the teen Whitney even has any school books this year, "AIM," and phone(s) house and cell, interrupt the conversation and I trail off into wasted attempt.
Finally, things are relatively in order and I finally sit down to enjoy some down time. After checking email and reading a couple blogs I fire up Bodog. Several tables available so I belly up to two of them and am confident that at long last tonight, playing at my micro limits I'll finally take this account through the glass ceiling and go above the $200 mark. I've made mention a long time ago, that I've got some sort of mental block when it comes to that figure. I can't account for it, it's just there. Anyway, those of you who know me, know that online I play very micro limits. Call it stupid, call it mind numbing, whatever you want. But it just became so difficult to move money around online that they seem to be worth more in cyberspace, at least to me. Couple that with my unfortunately reading Chris Ferguson's account of how he turned $0 into $10,000 online and well you have the recipe for what has become my online poker playing experience. I revisited the Bodog account a while back and found it below the $100 mark, this of course after having cashed out a paltry sum somewhere in between the Neteller and UIGEA debacles... I'd play only every once in a while, two tabling at NLHE, max buy-in $10 (blinds .05/.10.) Go ahead... call me some names, I'll wait. Okay, do you feel better now? Good, I'm here for ya.
So, I've got my two tables setup on screen just the way I like 'em. Table action seems kinda fast. Oh look 8 players see the flop, and 7 to the turn over on this other table. Hmmm. Oh there's an all-in... and oh there's another... Here's where that uneasy feeling comes in. But I'm above it, I'm up to the challenge. Before one full cycle of the table I look down at AKos from late position, and pop it to a whopping .45 pre-flop. It goes back to the BB, who without pause, pops it an additional $8.00-ish all-in. You know the old 18X preflop reraise. Many folks wouldn't have flinched here and would have mashed the call button. But I'm just getting started here. I don't have a feel yet, or a read, and I'm just too Zen for all this. (Translation, at times I'm just a pussy.) So, I fold this drawing hands. Then I proceed to watch a succession of blackjack double down hands. 9-2os, 6-4os, 8-3os, etc... You know the ones. I go through that rocky phase of noticing that the hand I have at the first table is actually the nuts hand on the second table, and vice versa. All the while that little voice in the back of my head is growing ever louder. (Pipe down you!) Then, frustration sets in. From late position I look down at a J-10os, and I "just" call. The flop comes J-2-J, and I'm in position! Then again... bent over is a position. The SB bets pot. I double it. He obliges with an all-in and our hero calls. Then, before I even see his cards, realize I've succumb to all the emotion that's been building since I got home. I get the warm squishy feeling as he sticks his A-Js to some of my more tender orifices. More checks on table #1 please! The guy's decent enough about it, and tosses me an "ouch" in the chat window, to help sooth the sting. It doesn't... Anyway that's how most of the session went. And as my laptop battery is about to give up the ghost, I'm prepared to take my losses like a man. But I'm down like $13 here people. I was only shooting to make $6 tonight, to put me over the $200 mark, now I'm in worse shape. As the blinds come back around, I close down table one, and am left waiting for the round to end on table two. I look down at 9-10s. The BB annoyingly makes it .20 to go pre flop after I call the .10. I hate-hate-hate min-raisers! The flop comes 7-8-K rainbow. I'm open ended here, the BB bets out .30. Sure why not...and the turn is a blank (a two I think.) BB, again with the .30 bet. Sure, why not... The river brings one of my 8 outs, the Jack. This time the BB goes for broke and bets .60 this time. I pause briefly and then mash the Pot button. Here's where my tension headache and my temper flares! Simultaneously, three things happen on my laptop. The BB, reraises all-in, my "low battery" alert starts to flash like the world's coming to an end, and my fracking touchpad goes haywire. OMG... nothing's working here, I've got the nuts here folks and I can't get my pointer over the Call or the All-In buttons long enough to click. My wife stares from across the room as I gnash my teeth and spew obscenities!
FINALLY, I'm able to get the mouse coaxed over (pixel by pixel) to the all-in button and get the damn thing clicked! The BB insta calls. He proudly displays his hole cards "KK." Which for those of you keeping score at home, gave him a set on the flop. My Jack high straight sends him to the rail. And after all that stress on a single hand, I close out the game myself. (Incidentally now my fucking touchpad is working just fine!!!) So for the night I'm down only $7-ish. I regained some ground from the previous trip jacks fiasco. But who knows what the rest of the week will bring? Will I ever break through the $200 mark? Do any of you even care? Am I a complete NOOB for donking around at these micro stakes? Do you secretly laugh at me?
But on the bright side, I must make at least some of you feel better about yourselves and your superior poker playing abilities! And if that's the case, well then I'm glad that I can help make a difference in the lives of others. Stay tuned for the next riveting episode of "A Fool and His Money" and see how we are parted.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Battle against UIGEA wages on and on...
I posted a comment over on Lou Krieger's blog following his article/post linked here, regarding a decision being rendered in relation to the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.) I read through the post and as always I remain skeptical, so I went out to the iMEGA.org website to read just what was being lauded as a "victory" on the side of internet gaming (more importantly and specifically as it relates to poker.) That statement on their site included a link to the actual "Memorandum Opinion" that was rendered, found here. Unfortunately for Mr. Krieger and other journalistic venues including http://www.gambling911.com/online-gambling-031008.html have one fact reported incorrectly. The statement that a judgement came from "a U.S. Supreme Court Judge" is not accurate. The Memorandum Opinion was issued by Judge Mary L. Cooper, of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. This merely granted iMEGA the standing to pursue a challenge of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). As well within the 29 page opinion, I'm not finding the language which agrees entirely that potential criminal liability by financial institutions with regard to the UIGEA has been absolved by the judge's opinion. Trust me... I wanted to find it, but I don't see it there. Then again, I've missed things before and I'm not an attorney so I'll be the first to admit my inadequacy. If some additional documentation exists to add credence to the assertion that this element of the UIGEA has been thrown out, please someone let me know! I'd love to see it, and I'd start showing it to my own bank/credit union and pump more money into the poker economy forthwith.
Do NOT construe my comments as criticism of Lou Krieger who I greatly admire and respect. I believe he has reported consistently and kept the poker blogging community very well informed on the subject of the fight against the UIGEA. I for one am grateful.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Do NOT construe my comments as criticism of Lou Krieger who I greatly admire and respect. I believe he has reported consistently and kept the poker blogging community very well informed on the subject of the fight against the UIGEA. I for one am grateful.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Jet lag... and future planning
Yesterday it was all I could do to keep the eyelids propped open, despite the fact that I went to bed very early the night before. Then, last night I went to bed early (for me) and thought I would get a good night's rest, but around 2:00am I gave up and went downstairs to "rest" and leave Teresa alone. I was doing nothing but tossing and turning. So, suffice it to say I'm still jet-laggy after the Vegas trip. Eventually it'll pass...but oh joy, I have another trip (driving this time) to contend with starting Sunday. I'm in training for two weeks in Shepherdstown, WV. Leadership Potential Seminar is the title of the class...that'll be enough chuckling there in the back!!! Yes, I mean you! I'm curious about the course, but I'll reserve judgement (at least give it a day or so to form an opinion.) : )
I was able to get back on the ole treadmill last night, for a 30 minute run/walk. Prior to the Vegas trip, I had been pretty dedicated to getting in 30 minutes of run/walk at least 5 days per week. Of course, Vegas is different. Much libation and one day merging into the next isn't exactly the time to be testing your physical limitations. Anyway, I rushed home, got it done, showered and then headed off to Whitney's basketball game.
Already I'm hearing the rumblings of a return trip to Las Vegas. June/July was brought up by JR and Vince (and me) in hopes of checking out the pros in action during the World Series of Poker. The standard October trip that we always seem to do, is on the table. Then, I've also heard interest from Frank (and me) about attending the Winter Blogger's gathering in Las Vegas. Any of these trips would be GREAT! I wish I had the ability and money to be there all the time. So, if that's ever going to happen I'm going to have to improve my poker game, and have the beginning roll to sustain my play. I would that I could sit in comfort and without fear at the table. Not reckless, but not in fear of loss, as if the loss were not a make or break thing. To treat the game as a long session. Make the best decisions in each and every situation, and finally see substantial profit from the thing. What exactly is "substantial?" I'll let you know when I see it!
I have an idea of what I would have to do in order to make the Summertime WSOP excursion a reality. I would have to realize around a $1,000 profit in the small online bankroll. No, not get it to a total of $1,000, but increase it by that much. I could then "maybe" justify a trip. What would it take to make that happen? Probably more than I'll be able to accomplish anyway, as part of this pipe dream.
Here's the math of the thing... There are 155 full days left until Day One (the first of four) of the WSOP Main Event. $1,000 divided by 155 days equals $6.46 profit per day... Hmmm... I was attempting to discourage myself by doing this simple equation, but now, I'm not so sure! We're talking just over $45 per week sustained for 22 weeks. That doesn't sound so "un-doable" now. What have I done... The caveat is the startup weeks. My online roll is paltry, just a few hundred at this point, after withdrawals, and some obvious stupidity, involving blackjack among other things. : ) I'll have to look this evening and do a complete online inventory of what dollars and cents I have out there, but this could be my new project. I'll get back to you on this one... Hmmm, can I count "live" play winnings toward this as well? Of course that would first depend on me actually friggin' "winning" in live play in the first place. Again...you there in the back...pipe down, and stop laughing at me.
Continuing to ponder...
Regards,
cheer_dad
I was able to get back on the ole treadmill last night, for a 30 minute run/walk. Prior to the Vegas trip, I had been pretty dedicated to getting in 30 minutes of run/walk at least 5 days per week. Of course, Vegas is different. Much libation and one day merging into the next isn't exactly the time to be testing your physical limitations. Anyway, I rushed home, got it done, showered and then headed off to Whitney's basketball game.
Already I'm hearing the rumblings of a return trip to Las Vegas. June/July was brought up by JR and Vince (and me) in hopes of checking out the pros in action during the World Series of Poker. The standard October trip that we always seem to do, is on the table. Then, I've also heard interest from Frank (and me) about attending the Winter Blogger's gathering in Las Vegas. Any of these trips would be GREAT! I wish I had the ability and money to be there all the time. So, if that's ever going to happen I'm going to have to improve my poker game, and have the beginning roll to sustain my play. I would that I could sit in comfort and without fear at the table. Not reckless, but not in fear of loss, as if the loss were not a make or break thing. To treat the game as a long session. Make the best decisions in each and every situation, and finally see substantial profit from the thing. What exactly is "substantial?" I'll let you know when I see it!
I have an idea of what I would have to do in order to make the Summertime WSOP excursion a reality. I would have to realize around a $1,000 profit in the small online bankroll. No, not get it to a total of $1,000, but increase it by that much. I could then "maybe" justify a trip. What would it take to make that happen? Probably more than I'll be able to accomplish anyway, as part of this pipe dream.
Here's the math of the thing... There are 155 full days left until Day One (the first of four) of the WSOP Main Event. $1,000 divided by 155 days equals $6.46 profit per day... Hmmm... I was attempting to discourage myself by doing this simple equation, but now, I'm not so sure! We're talking just over $45 per week sustained for 22 weeks. That doesn't sound so "un-doable" now. What have I done... The caveat is the startup weeks. My online roll is paltry, just a few hundred at this point, after withdrawals, and some obvious stupidity, involving blackjack among other things. : ) I'll have to look this evening and do a complete online inventory of what dollars and cents I have out there, but this could be my new project. I'll get back to you on this one... Hmmm, can I count "live" play winnings toward this as well? Of course that would first depend on me actually friggin' "winning" in live play in the first place. Again...you there in the back...pipe down, and stop laughing at me.
Continuing to ponder...
Regards,
cheer_dad
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