Poker

After playing poorly in the cash games, I took a break and went to all tournaments this last weekend. An inauspicious debut in the first two, as I was literally 'bubble boy" in both. Frustrating as hell, but I played well in both, but making a crucial all-in mistake in the second one.

The next day, I tried two small re-buys (which was a first). I have never liked re-buys much, as I was always uncertain how many times to re-buy etc. I have seen some really good online players re-buy a zillion times, and come out OK, but I never liked the idea of undefined risk. Anyway, I gave it shot, and was successful bringing it home twice. A nice little 800+ payday for the weekend-sweet!! I played another one later on, but started way too late for me. I was bushed, and tried to get Kenny to take over, but he was thrashed as well; I played on and as soon as I made the money went directly to bed.

I did the same thing the next night, signing up too late (I gotta quit that) and talked Bri into taking over. Although O8 isn't his best game, he gave it a shot and was in the top 25. Good work buddy!

Books

The New Quotable Einstein
by Alice Calaprice

It was OK...nothing long lasting here...He was a really smart guy, and had a bunch to say, but I won't remember any of it. I think a good biography would be more interesting.

Food

I made something really good recently...It was Mexican-style seafood soup with just the right combination of guajillo chilies and lime...damn good!

Happy 4th everyone!

It has been a relatively uneventful few days on the tables, but I have managed to pick up a few bucks and clear a bonus or two along the way. This will help defray some of the damage I did to myself earlier in the month! The tournaments have been good to me, but I was playing some piss poor full ring games. I have moved back down to the 100NL until I get my leaks 99% plugged. Re-reading some of the hand histories can be a painful chore...Yuck!

A few observations---
My pre flop card selection is pretty good, although a bit on the tight side, and I need to play more SC's. I think my BB and SB #s are in good shape, but I need to compare more BB numbers to be sure.
I am starting to raise larger amounts a bit more PF, so this area is improving but still inconsistent. My post-flop play needs the most work (naturally), and it is slow progress indeed. I think I'm getting better here, but it may take more time than I thought. I think I will stay at the 100 games for 7 to 10K hands and see if I can get the PTBB/100 up to at least 8 before moving up again.

This is sure-fire proof that anyone with a little common sense and no tilt can win at the lower limits...Add a few bonuses and off we go!! I have made thousands of dollars getting bonuses and playing ABC poker, all the while assuming I knew what I was doing. Oh well, I'm happy to be on the 30 year plan! The more you learn, the more you know you don't know!! The only part of my game I am happy about right now is the tournaments, but as confident as I am in that arena, the variance blows, and I have to be in the mood to play 'em. At least for me, it takes a different mindset; I really don't know how the full time online tourney pros do it (not to say I am in that league), but good for them.

BooK Review

Secrets the Pros Won't Tell You About Winning Texas Hold'Em Poker
Lou Krieger

Since you are reading this on BTP, you already know most everything in this book. If you are new here, go read a bunch of old posts from the regular writers we have here...There may a bit in the book for live game players, but overall, it was quite basic with little if any new material.

I have been winning---

winning is fun---

very detailed message.

The poker has been pretty ok lately, as I am at 7 PTBB/100 so far this month (100NL). I don't have all that many hands, but I have been trying to concentrate and think through hands more than I used to. I picked up a couple bucks last night with a 1st in a SNG before bed...Add a few of the usual bonuses, and I have no complaints. Thanks Bri...

The heat had been oppressive lately, and sucking the life and energy out of me. It has been 106 or so for days on end, and it's really starting to wear on me. Oh well, I can't move, so here I stay!! It doesn't help that the markets have been kicking our ass lately, but again, it is not too different than poker---money management is key!! We could stand to catch a break however...

I heard Erik Seidel on the circuit recently, and it was really funny. He is well known for not saying much, and sure enough, they had him chatting for 20 minutes, and he never said anything worth repeating!! I read Hellmuth's blog the other day and--this just cracked me up...He writes---"hung out with my wife and sons until 3:45 pm. We had a private celebration in honor of my birthday where we all ate ..."
Who the fvck talks like that? In honor of my birthday? I dunno, maybe it's me, but it's hilarious stuff!

A little while back, I wrote about wanting to be at the WSOP...After everything I have heard, I'm pretty damn happy I am not there!! Wow, what a poorly managed mess---I guess Harrah's has a tradition to uphold in that they absolutely don't care about anything other than today's bottom line.

Funny stuff (News and sports)

Recent headlines say---

"Unpaid taxes could be Bonds' downfall"
Too bad, since he was such nice guy!

T.O. on tough treatment: 'Why me?'
LOL poor baby, I wonder why? Perhaps because you are spoiled, selfish jerk-off? If you need help in this area, see above, as I'm sure Barry can help guide you...

Oh yeah, I won another SNG last night---fun times...

7ptbb/100 at 100nl is just the beginning. we'll get that to stay that at least at higher levels.

Erik seidel episode was worthless. he just stammered through the whole thing. totally worthless.

Yes, it has been awhile between updates. I have to admit, it is very damn difficult to be in the mood to write after having your ass handed to you a few sessions in a row! It's always "just poker", but of course I took a flyer in a couple bigger games and managed to get stacked both times...Work has been a little more stressful as well---very little difference if you lose in the markets, or lose at the poker table; either way tends to make for a shitty day!

There's a lot of bonus chasing ahead of me to get even for the month, but I should come pretty close if I can manage to put in the hours.

Last night was the first time I really have sat down and played, and even that was more for fun, as it was a 1/2 HOSE game at PStars. It was good for about a 75 profit, which is no big deal but was good for the confidence factor.

Since I am pretty fresh, I plan on putting in quite a few hours of NL this weekend, as well as some lower entry tourneys. I am really looking forward to the WCOOP and see if I can do some damage there.

I am finally getting around to reading H on H (1 and 2) and pretty good stuff overall; a pretty clear and concise writing style which I appreciate. A more lengthy review will follow later, as I will probably read these a couple times each, and let everything sink in!!

An update while the chicken marinates in vinegar, garlic and ginger...

Poker and Life

All in all, this has not been the greatest month I have ever had. It didn't help that I had a little foray into the 400NL at the beginning of the month where I prompty got stacked after flopping the nut straight, getting it all in against 2 pr...sigh, love that river! I also lost with an an underfull in the 200NL, so I have been trying to get back close to even in the 100NL as I try to BW my ass off.

This last weekend was a good look at futility as well...I feel like I played pretty well, but was just seriously card dead, as I was lucky to be around 12% VIP...God, does that ever get boring! To top it off, I was at Interpoker trying clear off a 100 bonus, and I had Alex and alchemist at the same damn table. I don't think they knew who I was, but I knew their names...We didn't tangle even once.

Then we have the business stuff, which has slowed down and becoming worrisome. I am sure we can pull out of it, but I cannot ignore that reality.

Then, I make my weekly trip to town for supplies, and the normally reliable truck decides to quit on me. Luckily, I had a # to call, and managed to get a ride home. So that will be a few bucks (probably the starter) down the drain.

I guess I am "runnin' bad", but it could be a hell of a lot worse...Things always turn around, and I do look forward to that!!

Sports

It doesn't seem like we have too many golfers here at BTP, but damn; that Tiger is just fukkin amazing. FOUR in a row, and he wasn't even playing his best. Truly remarkable!

News

I saw this beauty yesterday...

Why don't we just have an old fashioned "I'm sorry" and a group hug...


BEIRUT, Lebanon - Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said in a TV interview aired Sunday that he would not have ordered the capture of two Israeli soldiers if he had known it would lead to such a war.
Guerrillas from the Islamic militant group killed three Israeli soldiers and seized two more in a cross-border raid July 12, which sparked 34 days of fighting that ended with a cease-fire on Aug. 14."We did not think, even 1 percent, that the capture would lead to a war at this time and of this magnitude.
Of course not, you fucking moron, as relations between Lebanon and Israel were so great to begin with...
You ask me, if I had known on July 11 ... that the operation would lead to such a war, would I do it? I say no, absolutely not," he said in an interview with Lebanon's New TV station.

Now that is some clear, concise and logical thinking...

Big fan of golf and watching Tiger. The man is so dominant that it's impossible to find an equal to him with going into the history books nowadays.

War I am not a big fan of...

HOH1 is pretty tite...really gave me an appreciation where my game was lacking in tournament settings. Haven't read HOH2 yet but I will.

I like the idea of taking 'little trips' into the higher NL games every once in a while so you can get comfortable with them. Hope the BWhoring is going well.