On a lark (and because I did not want to do my brief), I signed up for the PS $5.5 Quad shootout. I was short on every table I played in, but still rallied and won the whole thing. That was awesome. The tourney is too quick to relate any big hands -- it's not completely poker but it's fun.
Plus I am deep in the Mansion 1c again.
Thanks for the awesome rail!
EDIT: 6th for 2400 buyins at Mansion. Got it all in with nines versus sevens versus K9 soooooooooted. Of course I finished with the worst hand.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Good Luck
I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!
This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.
Registration code: 1280726
Gave most of it back
Unfortunately, gave most of this weekend's winnings back last night in satellite fees. I need to never play that 36+3 again. Although it seems ideally suited to my game, I have only won one seat in it in 10 or so tries. Enough is enough.
Had the early chip lead in a 11 DS, but back to back Queens fell to the mighty A3off and K10off. What can you do ;).
Ended the weekend in almost the same place as I started -- virtually identical cash (up a bit, thanks 1/2 Razz) and 1 FTP token. I'll save it for a guaranteed tourney or a big satellite to the $200K this weekend.
Also, big congrats to DBPOker/WPTFan's own Chris Minery for getting his ME seat in the 1K FTP satellite last night. As I said, couldn't happen to a more deserving guy, class act all around. And congrats to Nordberg, who decided that taking days off after winning 500K and a diamond ring is for wimps -- he locked up his third seat (or so) in the same tournament. Once my BR gets a bit healthier again this tourney is probably the ME route I will take. If not this year, next year.
EDIT: I made my first PROFIT in the Mansion 1c tourney. 549 buyins! I cannot be stopped!
Had the early chip lead in a 11 DS, but back to back Queens fell to the mighty A3off and K10off. What can you do ;).
Ended the weekend in almost the same place as I started -- virtually identical cash (up a bit, thanks 1/2 Razz) and 1 FTP token. I'll save it for a guaranteed tourney or a big satellite to the $200K this weekend.
Also, big congrats to DBPOker/WPTFan's own Chris Minery for getting his ME seat in the 1K FTP satellite last night. As I said, couldn't happen to a more deserving guy, class act all around. And congrats to Nordberg, who decided that taking days off after winning 500K and a diamond ring is for wimps -- he locked up his third seat (or so) in the same tournament. Once my BR gets a bit healthier again this tourney is probably the ME route I will take. If not this year, next year.
EDIT: I made my first PROFIT in the Mansion 1c tourney. 549 buyins! I cannot be stopped!
Monday, May 29, 2006
BOOOOOM
Congratulations to Peter "Nordberg" Feldman, winner of the WSOPC event in New Orleans. Beat Gavin Smith in 151 hands heads-up for over half a million. Way to go!
Not a Horrible Night
Finished 60th in the FTP $19K. Would have gone much deeper, but some moron calls two all ins with A3o and catches an Ace. I win that 3-way all-in and I am at $30K, top 15 in chips, and the leader at my table. I can't see how he calls under any circumstance -- even if he had "odds" to call off 90% of his stack, he has to know his A3o is way no good. Hey, three-outers by donkeys keep them playing -- I'll get him next time.
Nevertheless, it's nice -- I felt I played well throughout, and I had a spark of confidence in my play. Made some good laydowns, and went the first two hours only showing down 4 hands while building to 9k. Oh well, at least the win pads my satellite bankroll so I can keep playing in these tourneys. So far the plan is working well.
Also started playing the 1 cent tourneys at Mansion. They're loads of fun. I bubbled today, but I think they are easy enough to get close consistently. The play is, well, what you'd expect from a 1 cent tourney.
Nevertheless, it's nice -- I felt I played well throughout, and I had a spark of confidence in my play. Made some good laydowns, and went the first two hours only showing down 4 hands while building to 9k. Oh well, at least the win pads my satellite bankroll so I can keep playing in these tourneys. So far the plan is working well.
Also started playing the 1 cent tourneys at Mansion. They're loads of fun. I bubbled today, but I think they are easy enough to get close consistently. The play is, well, what you'd expect from a 1 cent tourney.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Bankroll Fun
Well, after figuring out the costs involved with AC, and some other expenses that need to be paid through poker money, looks like my bankroll is not particularly healthy.
It's going to be a unique time in my poker career right now as I struggle to battle back to a respectable roll. Granted, I've done it before, but now my real question is how.
Plugging away at low limits seems like the most consistent answer, but obviously a tournament score (like I know I am capable of) would be the quickest way to do it. So here's my thought process:
1. Play FTP and PS primarily because they offer low-money satellites to their major Sunday tournaments, and the nightly cheap rebuys offer an inexpensive way of making some cash as well. This is especially the case with PS -- win one double shootout and you have low-limit tourney/satellite bankroll dollars for weeks.
2. Play low-limit cash games (including proven money winners like O8, Stud8 and Razz) to cover my satellite/tournament expenses and create gradual bankroll increases.
3. Try for additional roll increases through selective bonus whoring (William Hill, etc.).
The hope is this system will work out, but I am always willing to hear suggestions. This is more work than fun, but that's OK as I think I can learn a lot about the game this way.
And for those of you wondering why a recreational player is worrying about a bankroll -- it's because I promised my wife I would not dip into our mutual money ever again to restock my poker bankroll. I intend to keep that promise, but I spent too much on the last trip and need to pay it off. Therefore much of the current bankroll is directed towards paying off the costs of my trip and some other things.
It's going to be a unique time in my poker career right now as I struggle to battle back to a respectable roll. Granted, I've done it before, but now my real question is how.
Plugging away at low limits seems like the most consistent answer, but obviously a tournament score (like I know I am capable of) would be the quickest way to do it. So here's my thought process:
1. Play FTP and PS primarily because they offer low-money satellites to their major Sunday tournaments, and the nightly cheap rebuys offer an inexpensive way of making some cash as well. This is especially the case with PS -- win one double shootout and you have low-limit tourney/satellite bankroll dollars for weeks.
2. Play low-limit cash games (including proven money winners like O8, Stud8 and Razz) to cover my satellite/tournament expenses and create gradual bankroll increases.
3. Try for additional roll increases through selective bonus whoring (William Hill, etc.).
The hope is this system will work out, but I am always willing to hear suggestions. This is more work than fun, but that's OK as I think I can learn a lot about the game this way.
And for those of you wondering why a recreational player is worrying about a bankroll -- it's because I promised my wife I would not dip into our mutual money ever again to restock my poker bankroll. I intend to keep that promise, but I spent too much on the last trip and need to pay it off. Therefore much of the current bankroll is directed towards paying off the costs of my trip and some other things.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
ANSWERS TO TRIPJAX BLOGGER QUESTIONS
1. What is the biggest mistake people make at a NL table?
No question on this one. Overplaying one pair on a scary board, or overplaying one pair period. Biggest hole in my game anyway ;)
2. What is the biggest mistake people make at a Limit table?
Playing, because LIG. OK, I don't know limit that well, but it seems like folding for one more bet in a big pot without a real clear read. That sounds good.
3. Why do you play poker?
To challenge myself in my post-academic and athletic years. I miss the academic challenge of school and athletic challenge of football. Poker helps me to keep learning and growing and keeping my competitive edge.
4. If you weren't playing poker, what would you be doing?
Playing computer games, I imagine. I don't play enough for it to be more than a time filler at this point, so very little else would change.
5. What is your favorite poker book and why?
Positively Fifth Street. I like poker stories more than strategy books, although they have certainly helped my game.
6. Who is your favorite poker player and why?
I have a lot of favorites that I play with every chance I get. As far as TV personalities, maybe Raymer. Lots of players are entertaining, though.
7. Which poker player do you dislike the most and why?
Sheiky right now, with honorable mention always going to Hellmuth. Matusow and Arieh grew on me quite a bit.
8. Do your coworkers know about your blog?
No.
11. Who was your first poker blog read?
Man, I can't remember. Probably Nordberg.
12. What satisfies you more, your aces holding up for a big pot or a bluff working for a big pot?
Bluffing is fun, but getting someone to call all-in drawing slim always makes me feel the best. You feel like you control the game the most when you make just the right bet to commit them to the hand nearly dead.
13. Why do you blog?
Because I thought a 300+ pound man carrying around a diary would look silly.
14. Do you read blogs from an RSS reader like bloglines or do you visit each blog?
I really don't have any experience with RSS and should probably learn.
15. Would you rather play poker for a living than do what you currently do for a living?
Maybe. It would be a tough choice.
16. Do you wear a tin foil hat on occasion?
Never. It would not match my handbag or my diary.
17. If you had to pin it down to one specific trait, what does a great poker player have (or do) that separates them from an average player?
Knowing where they stand in a hand.
18. Is Drizz the coolest person on the planet for naming his baby Vegas?
That's a little sketchy in my book.
19. What is your primary poker goal and are you close to accomplishing it?
To enjoy myself and grow through the challenge. I'm getting there.
20. What is your primary online site and why?
Stars. They just do a lot of it right, and there are enough bad players there that I can generally do pretty well. Plus blaming losses on Lee Jones never gets old.
21. What site do you dislike and why?
Party. Hate the interface, hate the players, hate the ad campaign.
No question on this one. Overplaying one pair on a scary board, or overplaying one pair period. Biggest hole in my game anyway ;)
2. What is the biggest mistake people make at a Limit table?
Playing, because LIG. OK, I don't know limit that well, but it seems like folding for one more bet in a big pot without a real clear read. That sounds good.
3. Why do you play poker?
To challenge myself in my post-academic and athletic years. I miss the academic challenge of school and athletic challenge of football. Poker helps me to keep learning and growing and keeping my competitive edge.
4. If you weren't playing poker, what would you be doing?
Playing computer games, I imagine. I don't play enough for it to be more than a time filler at this point, so very little else would change.
5. What is your favorite poker book and why?
Positively Fifth Street. I like poker stories more than strategy books, although they have certainly helped my game.
6. Who is your favorite poker player and why?
I have a lot of favorites that I play with every chance I get. As far as TV personalities, maybe Raymer. Lots of players are entertaining, though.
7. Which poker player do you dislike the most and why?
Sheiky right now, with honorable mention always going to Hellmuth. Matusow and Arieh grew on me quite a bit.
8. Do your coworkers know about your blog?
No.
11. Who was your first poker blog read?
Man, I can't remember. Probably Nordberg.
12. What satisfies you more, your aces holding up for a big pot or a bluff working for a big pot?
Bluffing is fun, but getting someone to call all-in drawing slim always makes me feel the best. You feel like you control the game the most when you make just the right bet to commit them to the hand nearly dead.
13. Why do you blog?
Because I thought a 300+ pound man carrying around a diary would look silly.
14. Do you read blogs from an RSS reader like bloglines or do you visit each blog?
I really don't have any experience with RSS and should probably learn.
15. Would you rather play poker for a living than do what you currently do for a living?
Maybe. It would be a tough choice.
16. Do you wear a tin foil hat on occasion?
Never. It would not match my handbag or my diary.
17. If you had to pin it down to one specific trait, what does a great poker player have (or do) that separates them from an average player?
Knowing where they stand in a hand.
18. Is Drizz the coolest person on the planet for naming his baby Vegas?
That's a little sketchy in my book.
19. What is your primary poker goal and are you close to accomplishing it?
To enjoy myself and grow through the challenge. I'm getting there.
20. What is your primary online site and why?
Stars. They just do a lot of it right, and there are enough bad players there that I can generally do pretty well. Plus blaming losses on Lee Jones never gets old.
21. What site do you dislike and why?
Party. Hate the interface, hate the players, hate the ad campaign.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Thanks, that was fun.
Had a great time in AC.
Came out of it down a bit, but that was directly due to two leaks.
One was playing mostly tournaments. Cashed in one for a small amount, and had a lot of chips in another with 22 remaining until my AK ran into another big stack's A10 off. That got me crippled and I did not recover. That's the breaks, but I was there to have fun and tourneys seemed more fun than cash games, and they mostly were. The nice thing was that I knew as I sat in each tourney that I am a better player now than I was last year. Poker is getting more fun as I learn, and the cash games were mostly profitable when I played them.
The second leak, of course, was table games with my friends. But hey, not everything always has to be +EV, right?
Came out of it down a bit, but that was directly due to two leaks.
One was playing mostly tournaments. Cashed in one for a small amount, and had a lot of chips in another with 22 remaining until my AK ran into another big stack's A10 off. That got me crippled and I did not recover. That's the breaks, but I was there to have fun and tourneys seemed more fun than cash games, and they mostly were. The nice thing was that I knew as I sat in each tourney that I am a better player now than I was last year. Poker is getting more fun as I learn, and the cash games were mostly profitable when I played them.
The second leak, of course, was table games with my friends. But hey, not everything always has to be +EV, right?
Monday, May 15, 2006
Ninety Four Hours.....No, Wait, Sixty Nine.....No wait 45...TWENTY THREE
Approximately 23 hours until Big Jay makes his return to AC. I can't believe it's been this long. Looking forward to it. And, yes, I've been editing this poost every day to count the hours down.
Good luck to all the DB's playing this weekend.
I plan to get into the Borgata by 9, play cash until noon, and then play in the noon Borgata tourney. I'll play one of the afternoon/evening tournaments (Maybe Bally's or Trop) time permitting as well. I have always done well in the Borgata tournaments, and love the structure, so I hope this will be a great start to the weekend.
Any blogger who happens to be in town can e-mail me or leave a comment -- happy to make any of your acquaintances. Any DB knows what the heck I look like, and the Hines Ward jersey will be worn for added visibility on Friday. Oh yes, I'll probably be the only big guy at the Hilton on Saturday with a suit on (DBPoker tournament tradition of mine), so that will also help....
Good luck to all the DB's playing this weekend.
I plan to get into the Borgata by 9, play cash until noon, and then play in the noon Borgata tourney. I'll play one of the afternoon/evening tournaments (Maybe Bally's or Trop) time permitting as well. I have always done well in the Borgata tournaments, and love the structure, so I hope this will be a great start to the weekend.
Any blogger who happens to be in town can e-mail me or leave a comment -- happy to make any of your acquaintances. Any DB knows what the heck I look like, and the Hines Ward jersey will be worn for added visibility on Friday. Oh yes, I'll probably be the only big guy at the Hilton on Saturday with a suit on (DBPoker tournament tradition of mine), so that will also help....
Saturday, May 13, 2006
A Different Tactic
Well, I played crappily in tonight's 10+1, which meant of course that my big hands got paid off when I hit them and I survived through the second break.
OK, I did not play all that badly. I stacked off one guy with Aces versus the monster QJ and he challenged me to play HU 10/20, than rudely refused to loan me the money to play him. Oh well.
One hand was interesting. I raised on a steal with A2 spades, and the SB pushes for 3300 more. I am getting precisely 2 to 1 on my money, and I figure I am 40/60 or so to his range and I call. He has Jacks (making it a close one even if he turned his hand over, although I would probably fold), and they hold up despite my flopping the flush draw. The guy typoes "LOL" into the chat box thirty times and thanks me for calling. I thought about going to war with him, but instead just resorted to a string of non sequitors.
Not another word. Well I had fun, anyway, and my wife got a footrub, so all are happy in the Gydyon household.
OK, I did not play all that badly. I stacked off one guy with Aces versus the monster QJ and he challenged me to play HU 10/20, than rudely refused to loan me the money to play him. Oh well.
One hand was interesting. I raised on a steal with A2 spades, and the SB pushes for 3300 more. I am getting precisely 2 to 1 on my money, and I figure I am 40/60 or so to his range and I call. He has Jacks (making it a close one even if he turned his hand over, although I would probably fold), and they hold up despite my flopping the flush draw. The guy typoes "LOL" into the chat box thirty times and thanks me for calling. I thought about going to war with him, but instead just resorted to a string of non sequitors.
Not another word. Well I had fun, anyway, and my wife got a footrub, so all are happy in the Gydyon household.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Wow
Just got a very apologetic and apparently heartfelt letter from my dad about the whole family situation. More emotion and genuineness in that e-mail than I've seen out of my dad in about a decade.
Let me explain -- there are at least two Jays (as I suspect is the case for most of us). One is the friendly, relatively light-hearted persona that is generally likeable, especially in a large group setting. A "teddy bear" of sorts. This Jay wears his heart on his sleeve and tells you exactly how it is and what he's feeling. Fortunately for my marriage, this is the Jay that is married to Krissy -- she brings out the best in me, no doubt.
However, there is also the Jay that grew up in my parents' house, who fears confrontation and never speaks his mind. Not sure why that Jay wound up that way, but I know my dad is the same way about confrontation and showing his true feelings on something. So when my dad opens up in an e-mail or anywhere, things may just be looking up.
Let me explain -- there are at least two Jays (as I suspect is the case for most of us). One is the friendly, relatively light-hearted persona that is generally likeable, especially in a large group setting. A "teddy bear" of sorts. This Jay wears his heart on his sleeve and tells you exactly how it is and what he's feeling. Fortunately for my marriage, this is the Jay that is married to Krissy -- she brings out the best in me, no doubt.
However, there is also the Jay that grew up in my parents' house, who fears confrontation and never speaks his mind. Not sure why that Jay wound up that way, but I know my dad is the same way about confrontation and showing his true feelings on something. So when my dad opens up in an e-mail or anywhere, things may just be looking up.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Anticipation
Taking a short break at work to ruminate. We had a big defense verdict Friday so I think I am entitled.
I have deliberately avoided live poker since my trip to Niagara Falls (with the exception of one tourney in which I busted on the fourth hand with pocket Aces -- I raised huge and he caught his set of fives), because I want to make sure I have enough money to play in Atlantic City. However, without my regular live games, I find I miss the feel of chips, the fun of trying to read my opponents, the atmosphere of a classy card room. Therefore, I am really looking forward to sitting down in the Borgata in about 11 days. I should have just enough money to have a good time and get some solid tournament and cash play in. Here's hoping I stick to the basics and play my A game, or this may become a microlimits blog instead of a small stakes blog ;)
On the online front, however, things are not "progressing," as indicated in my last post. This downswing has teeth, and I hope it ends soon. Not only would it be helpful to my bankroll to win some more money online (in fact what I would really like is some tourney dollars to isolate the bankroll from rebuy/satellite swings), I'd simply like to have a good night or two before my trip just so I feel a little more confidence. But I think the downswing was bad luck, bad play, and tilt from those two creating a spiral.
I therefore think taking the past few days off will work wonders. I think I burn out if I play too many days in a row, especially lately when I've been trying to earn instead of learn and enjoy. My wife has certainly appreciated three days of undivided attention, but then again she pretty much hates poker. Thank God she loves me, or I would never get to do this thing.
I look forward to re-entering the battle fresh tonight or tomorrow night. Wish me good fortune and good focus.
I have deliberately avoided live poker since my trip to Niagara Falls (with the exception of one tourney in which I busted on the fourth hand with pocket Aces -- I raised huge and he caught his set of fives), because I want to make sure I have enough money to play in Atlantic City. However, without my regular live games, I find I miss the feel of chips, the fun of trying to read my opponents, the atmosphere of a classy card room. Therefore, I am really looking forward to sitting down in the Borgata in about 11 days. I should have just enough money to have a good time and get some solid tournament and cash play in. Here's hoping I stick to the basics and play my A game, or this may become a microlimits blog instead of a small stakes blog ;)
On the online front, however, things are not "progressing," as indicated in my last post. This downswing has teeth, and I hope it ends soon. Not only would it be helpful to my bankroll to win some more money online (in fact what I would really like is some tourney dollars to isolate the bankroll from rebuy/satellite swings), I'd simply like to have a good night or two before my trip just so I feel a little more confidence. But I think the downswing was bad luck, bad play, and tilt from those two creating a spiral.
I therefore think taking the past few days off will work wonders. I think I burn out if I play too many days in a row, especially lately when I've been trying to earn instead of learn and enjoy. My wife has certainly appreciated three days of undivided attention, but then again she pretty much hates poker. Thank God she loves me, or I would never get to do this thing.
I look forward to re-entering the battle fresh tonight or tomorrow night. Wish me good fortune and good focus.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Thanks Mr. Cruise and Ms. Moore
Poker Stars: I'm sorry, I should have called first.
Gydyon: No, I was just running some satellites. Come on in.
Poker Stars: I was just wondering if you'd like to play in a couple more tourneys.
Gydyon: Am I on a downswing?
Poker Stars: No...
Gydyon: It feels like I am on a downswing.
Poker Stars: No, I was just...
Gydyon: I've been on downswings before, and that's what it feels like.
Poker Stars: Do you like Omaha? I know a good Omaha table.
Gydyon: No, I was just running some satellites. Come on in.
Poker Stars: I was just wondering if you'd like to play in a couple more tourneys.
Gydyon: Am I on a downswing?
Poker Stars: No...
Gydyon: It feels like I am on a downswing.
Poker Stars: No, I was just...
Gydyon: I've been on downswings before, and that's what it feels like.
Poker Stars: Do you like Omaha? I know a good Omaha table.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Continuation Bets and a Catholic Kid
I have been reading through a lot of information on NLHE, and one thing I ran into on Up For Poker was the Ten Commandments of Tournaments. Included therein was the maxim "Thou Shalt Continuation Bet." It's food for thought, and worthy of a comment here that applies to the game as a whole.
I think there is one immutable truth to poker players that we really don't want to admit. Anthony Hopkins has a cool line in Amistad that says it best "Who we are is who we were." Man changes but seldom, and I don't know that people can entirely stop being who they are, even at a poker table, even at a pixellized virtual representation of a poker table behind an assumed names. We fall into familiar patterns. We do things the way we learned and were taught.
Those who know me know I am a Christian of the Protestant variety, and a fairly active one. I actually believe all that crap, as some of my agnostic or atheist friends are known to say ;).
However, I was raised Roman Catholic. And Catholicism is most certainly a faith of rules. Especially if you are an active Catholic, as I was even as a child. I used to be fascinated by the history, the tradition, the structure. Rules, sometimes for rules' sake, are therefore a part of my makeup. Doing things a certain way because that's how it's supposed to be is important to me.
Don't get me wrong, that's not always a bad thing. Other than a few tickets her and there, I've never been in trouble. Having respect for rules and structure is great as a lawyer, because it keeps me asking the right questions and rarely does anything I file ever get thrown back on a technicality. It's great as a husband, because I am willing to set boundaries and limits so my wife feels safe and taken care of (speaking mostly to our finances and the "poker contract" which limits my play there).
However, it has its pitfalls of course. I still can fall into my old mindset of "rule rules rules" and get too rigid where creativity is warranted. Therefore, "shalts" can get me into a bit of trouble.
This translates over to poker, of course. I'm still learning, and sometimes I fall into a "structure" mindset -- I play according to a "script" of how things should be going and basic core "rules".
The example is in "Thou Shalt Continuation Bet" - sometimes when I decide to raise in late position with a sub-par hand (A10, KJ, etc.) on a steal, or with a good hand (AK) that misses, I follow that continuation bet rule, regardless of the texture of the table and the results. Three weeks ago, it was working like a charm. Late in tourneys, of course, it can also work to good effect when people are bubble-conscious.
However, recently I have noticed that if that strategy does NOT work, I bleed chips because I will continuation bet myself back down to a short stack when someone connects when I miss or plays back at me. The rule has choked me.
So, as you can see from a previous posts, when playing suboptimally, I waffle between Fancy Play Syndrome and living by "shalts". I must learn to adapt, but also not to get into the place where I am throwing chips around like a bully when it's not warranted.
The point of the above? Not much more than an extended reflection period, but I think it demonstrates that this is a hobby that cannot be pursued on autopilot. I need to think before acting, every hand, all the time, or I'm just going to have to live with a substantially reduced bankroll ;). I want to get better, and I can only get better by thinking about position, stacks, table image, and all the rest. Maybe if I got me a nice checklist of questions by the monitor I could have my structure while allowing for flexibility...
That's it for now. I may edit as more thoughts occur. See, this is the fun part.
PS. No disrespect to any faith or faiths was meant in this post, so please don't read it that way.
I think there is one immutable truth to poker players that we really don't want to admit. Anthony Hopkins has a cool line in Amistad that says it best "Who we are is who we were." Man changes but seldom, and I don't know that people can entirely stop being who they are, even at a poker table, even at a pixellized virtual representation of a poker table behind an assumed names. We fall into familiar patterns. We do things the way we learned and were taught.
Those who know me know I am a Christian of the Protestant variety, and a fairly active one. I actually believe all that crap, as some of my agnostic or atheist friends are known to say ;).
However, I was raised Roman Catholic. And Catholicism is most certainly a faith of rules. Especially if you are an active Catholic, as I was even as a child. I used to be fascinated by the history, the tradition, the structure. Rules, sometimes for rules' sake, are therefore a part of my makeup. Doing things a certain way because that's how it's supposed to be is important to me.
Don't get me wrong, that's not always a bad thing. Other than a few tickets her and there, I've never been in trouble. Having respect for rules and structure is great as a lawyer, because it keeps me asking the right questions and rarely does anything I file ever get thrown back on a technicality. It's great as a husband, because I am willing to set boundaries and limits so my wife feels safe and taken care of (speaking mostly to our finances and the "poker contract" which limits my play there).
However, it has its pitfalls of course. I still can fall into my old mindset of "rule rules rules" and get too rigid where creativity is warranted. Therefore, "shalts" can get me into a bit of trouble.
This translates over to poker, of course. I'm still learning, and sometimes I fall into a "structure" mindset -- I play according to a "script" of how things should be going and basic core "rules".
The example is in "Thou Shalt Continuation Bet" - sometimes when I decide to raise in late position with a sub-par hand (A10, KJ, etc.) on a steal, or with a good hand (AK) that misses, I follow that continuation bet rule, regardless of the texture of the table and the results. Three weeks ago, it was working like a charm. Late in tourneys, of course, it can also work to good effect when people are bubble-conscious.
However, recently I have noticed that if that strategy does NOT work, I bleed chips because I will continuation bet myself back down to a short stack when someone connects when I miss or plays back at me. The rule has choked me.
So, as you can see from a previous posts, when playing suboptimally, I waffle between Fancy Play Syndrome and living by "shalts". I must learn to adapt, but also not to get into the place where I am throwing chips around like a bully when it's not warranted.
The point of the above? Not much more than an extended reflection period, but I think it demonstrates that this is a hobby that cannot be pursued on autopilot. I need to think before acting, every hand, all the time, or I'm just going to have to live with a substantially reduced bankroll ;). I want to get better, and I can only get better by thinking about position, stacks, table image, and all the rest. Maybe if I got me a nice checklist of questions by the monitor I could have my structure while allowing for flexibility...
That's it for now. I may edit as more thoughts occur. See, this is the fun part.
PS. No disrespect to any faith or faiths was meant in this post, so please don't read it that way.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Little Green Book
Because I am lacking patience lately, and said lack of patience explains my bad week or two of poker, I decided it's probably a good time to re-evaluate my game. I have the fortune of playing only recreationally, of course, so my recent bankroll swings don't break me as much as they would if I was significantly committed financially, but I want to avoid going broke.
So, I am turning to one of my favorite NLHE books, Phil Gordon's Little Green Book. Which, since I take the covers off my books, is actually black and red. Little red books are for Chinese Communists! Oh, never mind.
I think the key to fixing my game right now is stepping back. I need to be realistic -- I have only been playing seriously for about 18 months, and in fact that represents only about 12 months of online play. It's OK that I don't know it all yet, and as a result it's OK if I remind myself that tight, solid, poker is not the end of the world (although possibly boring at times), especially at a place like PokerStars where you're only a hand away from someone witlessly paying off your monster hands. Fancy Play Syndrome is a rough disease, and I need to cure it by getting back to the basics. I think Gordon's book does a great job of reminding me of the basics -- certainly it's not everyone's optimal game, and reflects one particular style, but it's a poker book, not a textbook.
I also miss the Circuit, because there's often some good stuff on there. It's back on only once before I leave for AC.
I would also be re-reading Harrington, but I lent it to a guy who runs a "quasi-legal" game I swore I'd never play in again -- but that's another story. Pittsburgh poker is a fascinating tale of intrigue, cloaked in webs of deception. Ok, not really.
EDIT: 4 STRAIGHT BUBBLES ARGGGGGGHGHGHGHGHHHHH
I'm better now.
So, I am turning to one of my favorite NLHE books, Phil Gordon's Little Green Book. Which, since I take the covers off my books, is actually black and red. Little red books are for Chinese Communists! Oh, never mind.
I think the key to fixing my game right now is stepping back. I need to be realistic -- I have only been playing seriously for about 18 months, and in fact that represents only about 12 months of online play. It's OK that I don't know it all yet, and as a result it's OK if I remind myself that tight, solid, poker is not the end of the world (although possibly boring at times), especially at a place like PokerStars where you're only a hand away from someone witlessly paying off your monster hands. Fancy Play Syndrome is a rough disease, and I need to cure it by getting back to the basics. I think Gordon's book does a great job of reminding me of the basics -- certainly it's not everyone's optimal game, and reflects one particular style, but it's a poker book, not a textbook.
I also miss the Circuit, because there's often some good stuff on there. It's back on only once before I leave for AC.
I would also be re-reading Harrington, but I lent it to a guy who runs a "quasi-legal" game I swore I'd never play in again -- but that's another story. Pittsburgh poker is a fascinating tale of intrigue, cloaked in webs of deception. Ok, not really.
EDIT: 4 STRAIGHT BUBBLES ARGGGGGGHGHGHGHGHHHHH
I'm better now.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Project Mayhem Looming!
I am excited about the upcoming Project Mayhem more and more. It's one of our annual DBPoker events, May 20 in AC.
I've got a sweet room at the Borgata booked, and hopefully my BR survives so I can play in numerous tourneys. I have not been in AC in way too long -- December actually. Since I used to be there monthly when I was working in Philly more it's just too bad.
Hey, if anyone is in AC that weekend, leave a comment -- would be neat to meet folks who aren't necessarily part of the big DB group....
I've got a sweet room at the Borgata booked, and hopefully my BR survives so I can play in numerous tourneys. I have not been in AC in way too long -- December actually. Since I used to be there monthly when I was working in Philly more it's just too bad.
Hey, if anyone is in AC that weekend, leave a comment -- would be neat to meet folks who aren't necessarily part of the big DB group....
Man oh man
Since when did check-calling become so prevalent in poker again? No one wants to see if their hand is any good?
Having a rough time of it. Not playing horribly, but also not playing optimally. I'm lacking patience, and it's dangerous. Any suggestions how to deal with that?
Having a rough time of it. Not playing horribly, but also not playing optimally. I'm lacking patience, and it's dangerous. Any suggestions how to deal with that?
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