Squeeee!

I'm leaving for the airport for Vegas in 17 hours and counting. Squeeeeeeee!!



Potawatomi in Milwaukee kicked my ass last Sunday. I was flopping ridiculous monster hands. Pocket pair? Here's a set! Suited connectors? Have a straight, and a flush draw to go with it! I even turned some boats.... but the calling stations were getting lucky, and it was one of those days were I wished I was sitting no-limit instead of at the 5/10 limit holdem table.



Such is life at the poker table. I went on that day to see a wicked DMB show, so life was good. Still is, actually, since I'll be in Vegas less than 24 hours from now.



Bring it on, bloggers!!! :)

Read The Full Article:
http://hellaholdem.blogspot.com/2006/07/squeeee.html

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WTF Was I Thinking

It seems like every six months or so, I go through something that makes me wonder what I was thinking. The past two days really showed me what an idiot I am.

When we got to Las Vegas, it was clear when I ran into some people who appreciate me and want to be with me.

Orleans was attracting some of the 2nd tier pros. Those who usually have backers, but not big sponsorship. Those who have had some big successes, but not enough of them. Those who haven't scored big lately, etc.

Mostly, these people are no different than those at the very top. Sometimes they simply have horrible money management, or leaks like craps. Other times they can succeed at tourneys, but not cash games.

The main point is, these are the type of people I obviously belong with (tourney pros). Whether they be first tier, second or someone like me (no tier, lol), who cannot succeed at tournament poker, but is self-reliant and never begs for buy-ins.

Even Glenn got a big glimpse of this family atmosphere when he played the NLHE rebuy event and cashed! He played against the same guys for hours, and got to know them. They came up to him the next day, told him what an awesome player he was, how impressed they were (since he is really a cash game player), how great it was to meet him, etc.

Top tourney pros protect their own. They become friends and family with like-minded individuals, and they will go to great lengths to embrace others who travel the circuit, and protect them from harm. They make other serious players feel welcome and included.

Glenn said he now knows for certain how I feel about the friends I have made in the past three years, and why I embrace those friendships and work hard to keep them. He said he hasn't felt so included in a long, long time.

Yesterday after I busted out of the O8 event, we ran over to Rio really fast, for just that purpose. I needed to see the top tier, to make sure they were all doing well (in life). To see the very people who inspire me, protect me and want to be with me. Boy, did I get an overdose!

I saw just about everyone that I wanted to see. Most of them in a rush to get back from dinner or take a pee break. I never try to hold them up, but just shoo them on their way.

Max was talking with Todd Brunson, whom I am not friends with, but only know by sight on the tourney circuit. Max quickly invited us into the discussion. Max and Todd were both out, so they were going to Todd's house for dinner. Todd seemed like a great guy, very genuine. Max was delighted with the number of e-mails and encouragement he has gotten this year from my readers. Go readers!

Barry was on his cell phone, so I'm not going to stick around for that to end (ugh). He gave me a big hug and continued on his way.

John always cracks me up. He ran into me in the hall and said, "Hey, I know YOU!" we shook hands and he invited me to some party in the FTP suite. He said to go in, he was going to hit the bathroom. Glenn and I tried to go in, but they wouldn't let us. I told them John was headed to the bathroom and told us to go in. The host said, "John who?" I said "Juanda." He asked, "Who is that?" Wow, they must just hire people off the street. We waited for John. He came back and tried to get us in, but found out that the party was only for employees and pros at FTP, so he said he wanted us to come to a different party. He apologized profusely that they wouldn't let us in. It was no biggie, I was only going in because he asked me to do it. He is such a sweet guy, it's hard to say no to him.

I was talking to James Van Alstyne as he came back from dinner about the FUBAR that Rio pulled on him last week (that is a whole other post), when Marcel came rushing up and started hugging and kissing me. He told me about an article he'd written recently, and asked me how I was doing, said I looked good, etc. Just as I was shooing them both off to get back to the tables, John Cernuto came running up, skinny as a whip already. He was grinning ear-to-ear. Look at John! Way to go! I made sure he was keeping healthy, drinking his protein shakes every day, and we just smiled until our faces ached talking about how well everything is going for both of us. He seems so glad that he got gastric bypass, and looks really good.

David Levi was playing a satellite, and a friend was sweating him. I asked the friend if he knew David (he was standing in between two players so I wasn't sure at first who he was sweating). He said David. I asked him if he gave David a kiss. He said he always kisses David. I asked David if he would rather have a kiss from his male friend, or me. David did his usual flirt and said, "Oh, always you baby, always you!" Or something along those lines.

I met the friend and even hugged him for telling me how great David and Asher were in the Israeli army, and how he admired them so much.

I ran into Asher in the hallway and we had a long discussion that should also be a separate post.

Mel Judah and I talked about how well the Orleans was doing, and Shirley. He was so bummed out about Shirley, but I was happy to read that she is bouncing back. She is so much stronger than I am. Go Shirley!

Mel said that so many pros need sponsorship now. It just won't work if they don't get some, due to the huge fields, etc. It's so tough to make a big score these days. Mel said he'd just signed on with Doyle's Room, as did Max.

I didn't see one of my best friends, although I looked for him (he'd probably already busted out, but the crowd at the rail was so thick that I couldn't tell for sure). Mrs. Ted Forrest will be very sad to hear that I didn't get to talk to him yesterday.

I virtually tackled Jan and Katja in the hallway. I have been "missing" them for two years. We just never seem to find each other. I was the typical rude, obnoxious, blunt American and forced them to stop and talk to me, lol. Then again, they are Germans, so they are known for that behavior, too! ;)

Jan was way skinnier, younger and good looking than his pics. Katja was supermodel gorgeous (to me). I love that look in women. Classy and elegant, almost aristocratic. Not the little gidget type, or girl next door blonde beach type. She is really going places. A TV show in Germany (poker), a gig with Poker Stars, the sky is the limit. She said she is running badly so far at the WSOP, but I told her things would turn around. I told her that we Americans say that the cream rises to the top, and she is the cream. They were both fabulous.

Speaking of running bad, that is the topic of my next post about our Vegas trip, I'm sure.

The one constant theme with a lot of my friends is that they are running bad, running out of money, running out of steam and need sponsorship to keep playing. I was so, unbelievably hurt for them. Poker is changing. No longer is the top pro making a score out of every 50 tourneys or so. It's more like 500 these days, due to the fields literally going up 1000%.

To every one of them, I said that brighter days are ahead, sponsorship is coming, a big score is coming, things will turn around. These people are just way too good to stay down for very long. I don't back losers, and the losers aren't my friends. These people are not only top players, but fantastic people as a whole, and they have a proven record of winning. It just takes some serious adjustment and an inflow of cash for things these days.

My day was absolutely fabulous. I was reminded once again that I belong with certain people, and not others. Wasting my time wondering what losers think, responding to posts and e-mails by people who would like nothing more than to drag me down, worrying about threats and people ripping on me or Glenn on the frigging Internet for god's sake is just a waste of my time and mind. It drives me insane, and that is not where I belong. I need to support the winners in my life, not the losers who think that 72o is cute and needs to be shoved in every other hand for a full buy-in, so they can post a screen shot and laugh it up as they devour their Nteenth beer.

I should not be explaining myself, or my position to these people. These people can't even see the forest for the trees and have no business taking up my time.

The people who are worthy of my time and spirit are the ones who are running up to me, screaming in happiness to see me and giving me a big bear hug. They are the ones who know I am genuine and sincere. They understand I am blunt and extremely candid and don't care. They don't care because they are somewhat the same, plus they are solid, self assured people, not whiners and losers.

They do not take my posts out of context and proceed to rip me apart on the Internet. They don't follow behind me and flame my comments when I'm trying to help out a new player. They don't make up stories about me or write me hate mail. They are happy to have my company and see me doing well, as I am them. They are my lifeline and have been extremely supportive of me over the years.

When I say I "love" certain people in poker, I truly mean it. And the word love is extremely difficult for me to use. It seems so overused and so shallow, because people say it all the time and then stab the person in the back the next day for a buck. So I tend not to use it.

But the truth is, I do love some of these people very much. They appreciate my friendship, unlike the many wannabe's on the Internet who simply love to flame, troll and trash me. Why I ever gave them five minutes of my time is beyond me. What I do know is that I'm going to severely cut my reading list, my links and my help to those monkeys on my back. I have said it before, and I meant it then, but I keep trying to take on one or two losers who never even appreciate my help and advice. They have no chance. They are a dead end and simply suck the life out of me. I feel like poor Ted now, always backing losers, lol. Unfortunately, Ted does it with money, I only do it with time.

I will start once again to focus on the winners in my life and cut out the losers. I make no promises, because it is obvious that I've broken them several times. Oddly enough, I only seem to have this trouble on the Internet, not in real life. I can banish the albatross in real life so easily. I'm so unbelievably rude, that he walks away and never even tries to return. But on the Internet? I don't know, it's like they keep coming. They keep trying to weigh me down. They don't appreciate me. They don't like, respect or listen to me. They make promises, but in the end, they just do what they wanted to do all along (lose their money, mostly). So why should I constantly be spending my time on them? It's insane.

Didn't someone say that in Chinese the definition of insanity was to do the same thing over and over again, yet expect different results? If that is true, then I am insane. I keep nursing along these little, fledgling players who have no intention of becoming serious players, and every time, it leads to heartache.

So let's see what will come in time.

For right now, Orleans is rocking the house. The rep that Rio has right now has gotten out, and a ton of players who would normally be there are showing up at Orleans every day instead. The O8 field was over 500 yesterday!!! They ran out of dealers. Every dealer was in the tournament, closing all of the sats and cash games. Every floorman was dealing, leaving only Brian to work the floor in a huge field. They were one table from putting Glenn in a white shirt (he can still deal legally in Nevada).

Unbelievable!

Not only that, but they cut the rake from last year, charge about 50% of the sat rake that Rio is charging, have a better structure than the WSOP, give out $5 comps when you sign up, and give a full, free dinner buffet if you are still in at the dinner break (worth $15-20 depending on the night).

There are tons of problems with Orleans. I am not a big fan of theirs. I have problems with their rules and definite problems with Brian (although the rest of the staff was fabulous). I have never really been on their side in any major conflict that they have had. I think they pretty much suck. But I have to give them credit. They are running a fantastic event. No complaints other than the rules were not available for players upon request, and they decided to change the first hour structure of the second chance event without prior notification.

I was super impressed. I have to give them that. I'll be back on Friday, already have reservations.

Anyway, links and more stories from the Vegas trip to follow. I'm beat!

Felicia :)

Read The Full Article:
http://felicialee.blogspot.com/2006/07/wtf-was-i-thinking.html

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Lock And Load

© COPYRIGHT 2006 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED



It's official, time to lock and load. I arrived in Las Vegas about seven hours ago and checked in at the Rio. I'll be playing tomorrow at seat number 8 at table 157 in tomorrow's WSOP Event 11 ($1,500 buy-in Limit HE). I am ready to go and excited to get started. It should be a lot of fun tomorrow.



For this tournament, each player starts with $1,500 in tournament chips and each level lasts 60 minutes. The first level has blinds of $25 and $25 and limits of $25/$50 and the blinds and limits double every level (and the SB will be 1/2 the BB after the first level). With this structure, there will not be an opportunity for conservative play. It will be all about trying to accumulate chips. Get busy living or get busy dying...



I'll try to post again soon and if you don't see a post with a July 6 date, that will be a good sign that this ol' Internet donkey is having some luck.



To all of those that have stopped by and wished me well in the past few days, I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate it!

Read The Full Article:
http://countingmyouts.blogspot.com/2006/07/lock-and-load.html

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Recap of New Stuff

Some new items completed in the last week (interviews I think are really good):

• Matt Matros interview
• Terrence Chan interview
• Vince Van Patten interview
• PokerWorks WSOP Articles (bunches of these)
• Live blogging Event #6: I get busted with aces using the Hoy
• My WSOP Experience playing Event #6

This playing in the WSOP experience hasn't been cathartic or fulfilling; I'm afraid it is like the Siren's call that Odysseus faced. This harmony isn't sung by a trio of beauties but is created by the clattering of rifled chips. I've only played half dozen of my hundred hands over in my mind about a thousand times. Why didn't I call with my pocket sevens when the tight guy raised it up (a set on the turn to pocket sixes and pocket eights!); why did I check it down when I called the guy's raise when I limped with Qs-Js (As-5s took the rag board). What would have happened if AA held up vs Ah-Qh? Stupid poker odds calculator never gets it right (I'm 86% pre-flop, 92% post-flop, 0% after the river). Sweetie: "You know what I always say about pocket aces; just lay them down."



It's good that I've escaped Vegas as I would be negotiating kidney donations to scrape enough for more buy-in's. Here are other folks like me yet to cash in the 2006 WSOP: Howard Lederer, Gus Hansen, Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar, Gabe Kaplan, Angelina Jolie, and the Mook.



Dysfunctional blogger acting up, so I leave it with a horrible post this afternoon: fellow blogger Obie's son Alexander Nathaniel "Alex" Overby, killed on 3 July 2006 while walking on the side of a road. Dead at age 14. Please stop and say a prayer after reading this in what is the worst loss a person can have, that of a child.



Read The Full Article:
http://ccexplore.blogspot.com/2006/07/recap-of-new-stuff.html

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Online Poker player Databases

I have encountered a few sites where one can pay a sub (monthly) and query a database with a player name from a particular poker room, and see their stats, games played, average winning pot size and more..

Cool I thought- someone has multiple clients recording the rooms and whacking the data into a Database - (no doubt using multiple IP addresses, and limiting the amount of rooms they are data-mining). Easy money.

I discussed this with a poker player I know, and by the end of the conversation my mind turned from Kerching Kerching mode (I am an IT man, and webdev /databases is not rocketscience - So I figured on doing the same thing for a bit of extra money) to I can see how you would feel violated mode.

I queried the guy's stats on one of the sites and thought to myself this is too much.... like checking someone's bank statements..

Obviously nothing is done on these sites that you can't do with pokertracker or PO.. Selling the lists or giving access to them is shady..

Thoughts ?
Makes me not want to tell people my username.. I like my privacy.. how about YOU?

Read The Full Article:
http://ukpokercasinoblog.blogspot.com/2006/07/online-poker-player-databases.html

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What Would YOU Do

Below is a hand from the Venetian tournament I played in while in Vegas, which is still plaguing me slightly, as far as the correct play. There aren't too many situations I haven't yet run into at the tables, but this one was a bit unique. Any and all thoughts welcome.



I'm UTG and look down to find two red 10s. We just consolidated down to the final table about fifteen minutes earlier, and I have about 9.5K in chips, which is a bit above average. Blinds are 200-400. Only the top three spots pay and people so far are playing very conservatively with much folding around, except for the BB, who has a monster stack of about 35K and is playing nearly every hand.



I raise to 1800, not really thrilled at the prospect of playing my tens out of position and more than happy to just take down the blinds. It folds around to MP+1, who can't get his 3,500 or so chips into the pot fast enough. He seemed to know what he was doing but had been folding for forever, and I was 90% certain that he had a bigger pair, probably QQ-AA.



Action folds around to BB, who cold-calls the all-in bet of 3,500. This was par for the course, as BB had built his huge stack by calling with pretty much any two cards in big pots, then getting slapped silly by the deck when he did. He'd also sucked out in a couple of big pots by passively calling all the way to the river with third pair or a gutshot, only to hit on the river. He almost never raised or took the lead, but he also hadn't yet been bet off a draw or a hand of any sort, no matter how obviously beaten he appeared to be. I didn't think he was a very good player but I wasn't completely certain, as he had such a huge stack he was actually not playing that horribly by getting involved in so many pots.



So I'd raised to 1,800 with 1010 UTG, MP+1 pushed for 3,500 total, BB called, and I just called for 1,700 more. I didn't see any point in trying to isolate MP+1, as I was pretty certain I was behind him, there's no side pot to play for, yada yada yada.



Flop is 3s 4s 9c. BB pretty quickly bets out 2,000. I go into Tankville, population me.



I have about 6K left. If I fold, I'm playing a below average stack, but its workable (especially with how tight the table is playing in general) and blinds aren't due to escalate for another twenty minutes. This sounds arrogant, but I was better than most people at the table and completely comfotable soldiering on with a 6K stack if I folded.



It's nearly a 13K pot, but it's very likely that I'm actually only playing for a side pot of 2,000, if my read on MP+1 is correct. I have absolutely no fold equity, as BB has made it clear that he'll call 4,000 more if I shove.



BB's range is pretty much any two, and he just bet 2,000 into a dry pot, at a late stage where most players would be happy to check it down and try to knock out MP+1 and his big pair. Every other hand he's had a draw, he's passively checked behind, or check-called. But there's a good chance that he's simply a horrible player, too, and could have any number of hands that I'm ahead of, and more than happy to lump 4,000 more into the pot if I shove on the flop after he leads out.



If MP+1 had been looser, I'd shove in a heartbeat, but I couldn't see him playing even AKs that way, as he was pretty clearly in wait for a huge hand mode, and I'd already open-raised for what was a huge amount given the passive play so far at the final table.



I also considered the sacrilegious move of just calling the 2,000 bet from BB on the flop, instead of shoving. If I'm reasonably certain I have no fold equity versus BB, there's no effective difference in shoving all-in on the flop and having him call or simply calling the 2,000 bet, with full knowledge and intention that my remaining 4,000 chips will go into the pot on the turn. It's pretty much a wash, but I might gain a tiny amount of fold equity if another spade comes on the turn and he checks (fearing the flush), and then I shove for my last 4,000. But likely not, given BB's normal willingness to call anything down and the size of the pot. I also didn't want to tempt myself into backing out on the turn and convincing myself that a 4,000 stack was actually playable, after calling the flop bet, if something scary like an A or a spade came and BB bet out to put me all in.



After dwelling for forever, I finally folded. BB rolled over 25o for the OESD (?) and MP+1 had KK, which held up.



Question #1: Fold or shove on the flop?



Question #2:: Is there added value in shoving due to the fact that it guarantees that you see a turn and river card, giving you a shot at spiking a 10 to scoop the entire pot? How exactly do you account for a situation where you fully expect to be playing for only the side pot, but have a chance (albeit a slim one) at scooping the main pot as well?



Many thanks for any thoughts.

Read The Full Article:
http://suckout.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-would-you-do.html

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Rock On With Thy Bad Selves

Sadly, this week marks the first of four blogger gatherings in Vegas that I will not be attending.  Instead, I?ll be earning even more positive familial EV by spending 4 days camping with my in-laws up in North Carolina.  In discussions with other patriarchs, we?ve determined that once you maximize your familial EV, any extra generated is simply wasted.  You do however begin spending it immediately once the bucket is filled.  There is no changing that; it?s just the way things are.

One good thing about missing the trip is that I?ll avoid paying all my readers tens upon tens of dollars for having to read about bad beats over and over.  Only I have the power to push into the runner-runner draws and lose.  If CJ is the luckbox, then I am the suckbox.

I was looking forward to meeting some new faces and old faces for the first time.  I?ll admit that FWALG and Hoy were on my list of eagerly anticipated introductions.  Perhaps next time guys.  I certainly don?t have to mention how I?ll miss seeing again everyone else I?ve already met.  Feel free to dial-a-shot me into oblivion during my stay in the mountains.  Lord knows I?ll have the alcohol handy.  How else to get through such a weekend?

One thing you all should remember to do is thank April.  I?ve never had the misfortune of having to organize anything blogger related, but I imagine it?s quite a hassle.  I?m sure she?ll follow in the footsteps of Bill Rini and CJ, and put together a mighty fine event for you all.  Even though I won?t be there, I can appreciate what she?s done.

Also, I was really hoping to get out there and get an autographed copy of DoubleAs book by all the contributing authors.  Perhaps next time.

I?ll probably hang low for a bit and just read the attending blogger?s trip reports as well as the fantasmagorical WSOP coverage by the industry?s finest.

Carry on.

PS:  If anyone finds it, please send my game back to me, I?ve lost it somewhere.

Read The Full Article:
http://badbloodonpoker.blogspot.com/2006_07_01_badbloodonpoker_archive.html#11521
1333265551043

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Unsafe Poker Rooms

as a followup to non-encrypted poker client usernames and passwords stored in the pc registry.

Blogger and poker player Bill Rini commented on the situation, and as we suggested he has (using his blogger power and influence :) ) in the form of this page:

Unsafe Poker Rooms

Notice that the following sites are reported to store your details in PLAIN TEXT!

Betfred Poker (800 780-9362) support@betfred.com
CD POKER feedback@cdpoker.com
CentreBet Poker support@centrebetpoker.com
Diamond Poker (866-636-3533) feedback@diamondclubpoker.com
FairPoker support@fairpoker.com
iPoker http://www1.ipoker.com/area-78.html
Kiwi Casino Poker (1-866-636-3516 ) support@kiwicasinopoker.com
Noble Poker (1-866-860-1181) feedback@noblepoker.com
PlayGate Poker (866-636-3530) feedback@playgatepoker.com
Poker770 commentaires@Poker770.com
PrestigePoker feedback@prestige-poker.com
Sports InterAction feedback@sportsinteraction.com
Titan Poker (866-636-3510) feedback@titanpoker.com
USA Poker (866-636-3561) feedback@usapoker.com


Please take the time to leave a comment for the poker rooms that are risking YOUR money - or contact them TODAY and get them to change their foolish ways!

Read The Full Article:
http://ukpokercasinoblog.blogspot.com/2006/07/unsafe-poker-rooms.html

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Back from Exhaustion

The face that launched a million fish.



Champ from Central Casting, with Frog Hair



"... and blah blah blah blah blah blah..."



The champion all will be measured by, Greg "Fossilman" Raymer.



Elvis in action.



So very much to document after all my first week. First, what's happened since I landed in the ATL. I drove home (my family has been with Sweetie's parents north of G-Vegas), stayed awake all night Sunday night/Monday morning, drove to get the Big Guy from Furman Soccer Camp, made my way to the mountains to in-laws, fell asleep around 5:00 Monday night, woke up at 7:00AM yesterday, ate breakfast, fell asleep again at 8:00, woke up around 12:30, made lunch for the boys, watched them at the lake (Little Guy has strep, so he's been inside), wandered back to be with Little Guy while he slept/watched World Cup, went swimming in the lake, ate supper, fell asleep on All-In's bed, got moved to our bed, woke up at midnight, flopped around all night, fell asleep around 4:00AM watching Celebrity Poker Showdown. Remind me to let Jason Alexander bluff into me if we're at the same table during the Media/Celebrity event.



Need to knock out some reports, then I'll be back to talk about the experience a bit more, as well as what I take away from this. Thanks to everyone who has been supportive through last week, as well as everyone stopping by.



Read The Full Article:
http://ccexplore.blogspot.com/2006/07/back-from-exhaustion.html

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2006 World Series of Poker Photos

photos by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com FlipChip sees downtown Las Vegas. The big WSOP poker show continue at the Rio setting records in numbers of everything. Crowds are overwhelimg the facility, even walking around on the tournament floor and surrounding corridors a slow...

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http://www.lasvegasvegas.com/pokerblog/archives/002851.php

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