Looking back on my post about learning from playing my Xbox game "stacked", I had to laugh. If you have nowhere alese to play, or have no money it's very good, but playing AI just isn't going to do it for me these days.
Anyway, I am trying hard to tighten up my loose aggressive tendencies and I think I will make it a profitable summer. Just got to plug up a few holes.
If you play online, I can't recommend Talkingpoker.com enough. It is a very good forum with players from a lot of different backgrounds and bankroll levels. Posting and chatting with them has really elevated my game.
Just follow thins link to check it out. I think we are trying to put together a league on Pokerstars sometime soon.
Later...
http://www.talkingpoker.com/forum/index.php?referrerid=2143
Friday, July 13, 2007
Monday, July 02, 2007
Yeah! I am Back!
For the longest time, I could not get logged onto blogspot, but I am back now. Getting invited to a different blog did it for me.
I had moved over to MySpace, still under the invigilator name, and was posting pretty regularly.
I have been playing 25 max cash games on Stars for a few months now and I am up about 450. In addition, I recently started playing 1 table SNG's and have cashed in 5 of the 6 I have played, winning 2.
I will have to wait and see which site I want to focus on in terms of blogging, not that anyone reads these things. ;) I think I might like it here better because I don't have to deal with all these BS "friends" requests that are just schemes.
Anyway, I welcome me back!
I had moved over to MySpace, still under the invigilator name, and was posting pretty regularly.
I have been playing 25 max cash games on Stars for a few months now and I am up about 450. In addition, I recently started playing 1 table SNG's and have cashed in 5 of the 6 I have played, winning 2.
I will have to wait and see which site I want to focus on in terms of blogging, not that anyone reads these things. ;) I think I might like it here better because I don't have to deal with all these BS "friends" requests that are just schemes.
Anyway, I welcome me back!
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Game Review
Just wanted to say something about a new game I recently purchased.
I got "Stacked" with Daniel Negraneau a few weeks back and I have been really impressed.
There are not a lot of bells and whistles, but if you want it for the poker, then it is a good game.
The graphics are solid and the AI adapts to your play over the course of a session or tournament.
The AI players don't have tells but they do have personalities and behaviours that you can read and exploit.
Hold'em (Limit and No Limit) is the only game in town on Stacked, but there are many options in terms cash games and tournaments.
There are limits to how fast you can accelerate the play when it is not your turn (unlike the WSOP XboX game), but I find this makes you play better, because you watch more closely.
The only major downside is how easy it is to steal from almost any position. Unless the AI player is a lunatic of has a monster pair, doubling the BB is usually enough to get everyone to fold. Also, no one shows their cards unless they have to. This is frustrating because I know the AI is capable of bluffing.
Anyway, it is a good play. I recommend it.
Later,
R
I got "Stacked" with Daniel Negraneau a few weeks back and I have been really impressed.
There are not a lot of bells and whistles, but if you want it for the poker, then it is a good game.
The graphics are solid and the AI adapts to your play over the course of a session or tournament.
The AI players don't have tells but they do have personalities and behaviours that you can read and exploit.
Hold'em (Limit and No Limit) is the only game in town on Stacked, but there are many options in terms cash games and tournaments.
There are limits to how fast you can accelerate the play when it is not your turn (unlike the WSOP XboX game), but I find this makes you play better, because you watch more closely.
The only major downside is how easy it is to steal from almost any position. Unless the AI player is a lunatic of has a monster pair, doubling the BB is usually enough to get everyone to fold. Also, no one shows their cards unless they have to. This is frustrating because I know the AI is capable of bluffing.
Anyway, it is a good play. I recommend it.
Later,
R
Working On The Foundation
I have always been one to take my hobbies seriously. Don't get me wrong, I am not going psychotic here, but when I do something I like to do well, so I often research and practice.
I am back on another short break from playing while I revisit the basics of position, hand selection, betting patterns, board textures, outs, pot odds and so-on. Why all the trouble you ask? Well, thanks for asking.
I have certain goals set for this coming Christmas break. I plan on making a couple of trips to the casino.
1. I am going to play in two, $55 buy-in, 60 person NL tournaments. I am trying to make the final table both times and make the money at least once. (hey why not shoot high? After all I want to be good, don't I?)
2. I also plan to play at a $3-$6 limit table for a couple of hours. I will play for a set amount of time or until I bust out. My plan, obviously is to come out ahead. If I double my initial buy-in, I will quit. Period!
And hey, If anyone I know wants to come along for a tournament, let me know, we will have some fun. I know the wife wants to play in one. Man, is she going to be cranky when I bust her out.
Later,
R
I am back on another short break from playing while I revisit the basics of position, hand selection, betting patterns, board textures, outs, pot odds and so-on. Why all the trouble you ask? Well, thanks for asking.
I have certain goals set for this coming Christmas break. I plan on making a couple of trips to the casino.
1. I am going to play in two, $55 buy-in, 60 person NL tournaments. I am trying to make the final table both times and make the money at least once. (hey why not shoot high? After all I want to be good, don't I?)
2. I also plan to play at a $3-$6 limit table for a couple of hours. I will play for a set amount of time or until I bust out. My plan, obviously is to come out ahead. If I double my initial buy-in, I will quit. Period!
And hey, If anyone I know wants to come along for a tournament, let me know, we will have some fun. I know the wife wants to play in one. Man, is she going to be cranky when I bust her out.
Later,
R
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Patient & Relaxed
Well, I sort of took a few days off from play. I was pretty certain that my problem was playing too many hands and getting involved out of position. I put that theory to the test last night as an informal game developed with a few people I had not played with before. AND what better way to test out this theory than going card dead the entire night.
The best hands I managed were K-10 off suit and A-10 suited (the hand that knocked me out). I did manage to hit a full house with a Q-9 in the big blind, but I can"t take much credit for that. (Oh yeah, I found out that this post page does not like the apostrophe).
In a 9 person tournament that lasted about 2 hrs and 15 minutes, I went out 3rd (just in the money). Sadly, my steal attempt wascalled by a A-5 off, and the turn paired their 5. Oh well. Insult to injury, the next short stack was eliminated on the next hand, ending the tournament. I was pretty happy over all. I played well against a number of opponents who are not much for letting you steal or see cards for cheap.
The best part is we had a lot of fun. This is the 3rd night I have hosted since September (2 official), and it is always a blast. I am really looking forward to the next "last Friday", as the league sorts itself out and really starts to take off.
R
The best hands I managed were K-10 off suit and A-10 suited (the hand that knocked me out). I did manage to hit a full house with a Q-9 in the big blind, but I can"t take much credit for that. (Oh yeah, I found out that this post page does not like the apostrophe).
In a 9 person tournament that lasted about 2 hrs and 15 minutes, I went out 3rd (just in the money). Sadly, my steal attempt wascalled by a A-5 off, and the turn paired their 5. Oh well. Insult to injury, the next short stack was eliminated on the next hand, ending the tournament. I was pretty happy over all. I played well against a number of opponents who are not much for letting you steal or see cards for cheap.
The best part is we had a lot of fun. This is the 3rd night I have hosted since September (2 official), and it is always a blast. I am really looking forward to the next "last Friday", as the league sorts itself out and really starts to take off.
R
Monday, October 30, 2006
Victory at home
This past week I played in a small home game. I was dealt Ah Qh. Much betting ensued. With 4 people in the pot, the flop came down Kh - Jh - Ad. 2 other players were short stacked and pretty much pot committed. The third was a fairly tight player with some good experience. I bet out enough to put the first two players all-in and to scare off the third. It worked
I had a nut flush draw (8 outs), and a straight draw (3 outs), and a straight flush draw(1 out). This put me at about 48% to win the hand and knock out two players. If I got the worst of it, the all-in bet was less than %15 of my stack.
I hit a 5h on the river, making the nut flush. I rolled on from there, playing some rather aggressive big stack poker. Entering heads up play I had about a 7-1 chip advantage and I made seeing the flop VERY expensive for my opponent. When she called my J7, the flop came K-J-3. She checked, I bet 1/4 of the pot which she had to call. I should have bet half the pot. The turn came a 7 making me 2 pair. She checked, and I pushed all in for probably the 3rd out of the last 4 hands. Frustrated with my play she called with K8. The river was a blank and the game was over.
The downside, this was MY home game. That's right, ask them over, take their money. To make matters worse, it was a bounty tournament and I knocked out 7 of my 8 competitors. I felt a little bad, but it was a low stakes game. I got fleeced last time and probably will next time; if anyone comes back.
:)
I had a nut flush draw (8 outs), and a straight draw (3 outs), and a straight flush draw(1 out). This put me at about 48% to win the hand and knock out two players. If I got the worst of it, the all-in bet was less than %15 of my stack.
I hit a 5h on the river, making the nut flush. I rolled on from there, playing some rather aggressive big stack poker. Entering heads up play I had about a 7-1 chip advantage and I made seeing the flop VERY expensive for my opponent. When she called my J7, the flop came K-J-3. She checked, I bet 1/4 of the pot which she had to call. I should have bet half the pot. The turn came a 7 making me 2 pair. She checked, and I pushed all in for probably the 3rd out of the last 4 hands. Frustrated with my play she called with K8. The river was a blank and the game was over.
The downside, this was MY home game. That's right, ask them over, take their money. To make matters worse, it was a bounty tournament and I knocked out 7 of my 8 competitors. I felt a little bad, but it was a low stakes game. I got fleeced last time and probably will next time; if anyone comes back.
:)
Manage My Frustration?
I have been running pretty bad today. The one thing that I notice is that no matter how often I remind myself that I need to focus and make good decisions, I go blank and psychotic. In the end I think that I am just letting myself get too wrapped up in the outcome. I am letting my desire for what I WANT to happen over-ride my ability to judge what IS happening. Maybe a nap, or something else. Playing multiple games at once probably does not help either.
Here is hoping I can settle down.
R
Here is hoping I can settle down.
R
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
