$2500 FTOPS Event Part 2

I worked my was up to about 14,000 by picking a ton of small pots. People are still playing pretty snug, so it wasn't too hard to grind my way up.

FullTiltPoker Game #3292234622: FTOPS Event #12 (23186107), Table 71 - 40/80 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:47:17 ET - 2007/08/18
Seat 1: TheMasterJ33 (6,285)
Seat 2: dot_carter (14,650)
Seat 3: 999_999s (1,440)
Seat 4: Sirens (9,805)
Seat 5: CrazyMarco (5,915)
Seat 6: Paul Wasicka (3,970)
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 (5,485)
Seat 8: two8off (4,800)
Seat 9: NotoriousBIL (7,095)
dot_carter posts the small blind of 40
999_999s posts the big blind of 80
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to dot_carter [Ad Ac]
Sirens folds
CrazyMarco folds
Paul Wasicka folds
JGLaZe080 folds
two8off folds
NotoriousBIL folds
TheMasterJ33 raises to 200
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter raises to 700
999_999s folds
TheMasterJ33 has 15 seconds left to act
TheMasterJ33 raises to 2,100
dot_carter raises to 14,650, and is all in
TheMasterJ33 has 15 seconds left to act
TheMasterJ33 has requested TIME
TheMasterJ33 is sitting out
TheMasterJ33 has timed out
TheMasterJ33 folds
Uncalled bet of 12,550 returned to dot_carter
dot_carter mucks
dot_carter wins the pot (4,280)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4,280 | Rake 0
Seat 1: TheMasterJ33 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: dot_carter (small blind) collected (4,280), mucked
Seat 3: 999_999s (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Sirens didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: CrazyMarco didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Paul Wasicka didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: two8off didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: NotoriousBIL didn't bet (folded)

I obviously wanted a call here, but it's never bad to pick up a nice pot without seeing a flop.

FullTiltPoker Game #3292683799: FTOPS Event #12 (23186107), Table 71 - 50/100 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:36:50 ET - 2007/08/18
Seat 1: TheMasterJ33 (5,350)
Seat 2: dot_carter (12,910)
Seat 3: Rocqoel (7,022)
Seat 4: Sirens (10,495)
Seat 5: CrazyMarco (5,445)
Seat 6: Paul Wasicka (4,790)
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 (6,070)
Seat 8: two8off (6,135)
Seat 9: NotoriousBIL (6,050)
dot_carter posts the small blind of 50
Rocqoel posts the big blind of 100
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to dot_carter [Ad Ac]
Sirens calls 100
CrazyMarco calls 100
Paul Wasicka folds
JGLaZe080 folds
two8off folds
NotoriousBIL folds
TheMasterJ33 folds
dot_carter raises to 600
Rocqoel calls 500
Sirens folds
CrazyMarco calls 500
*** FLOP *** [8s 6c Qc]
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter bets 1,700
Rocqoel folds
CrazyMarco raises to 4,845, and is all in
dot_carter calls 3,145
CrazyMarco shows [6d 6s]
dot_carter shows [Ad Ac]
*** TURN *** [8s 6c Qc] [4h]
*** RIVER *** [8s 6c Qc 4h] [Qs]
CrazyMarco shows a full house, Sixes full of Queens
dot_carter shows two pair, Aces and Queens
CrazyMarco wins the pot (11,590) with a full house, Sixes full of Queens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 11,590 | Rake 0
Board: [8s 6c Qc 4h Qs]
Seat 1: TheMasterJ33 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: dot_carter (small blind) showed [Ad Ac] and lost with two pair, Aces and Queens
Seat 3: Rocqoel (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: Sirens folded before the Flop
Seat 5: CrazyMarco showed [6d 6s] and won (11,590) with a full house, Sixes full of Queens
Seat 6: Paul Wasicka didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: two8off didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: NotoriousBIL didn't bet (folded)

This was the big blow of the tournament. Marco played a lot of hands (and did not play most well) so his range here is pretty huge. I don't think there was anything else I could do in this hand. He's not going to believe me and will get in with a Q or any draw almost every time there. Those chips would have been a huge boost, but I still had plenty to work with.

FullTiltPoker Game #3293007935: FTOPS Event #12 (23186107), Table 71 - 60/120 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:13:21 ET - 2007/08/18
Seat 1: TheMasterJ33 (6,335)
Seat 2: dot_carter (7,580)
Seat 3: Rocqoel (5,077)
Seat 4: Sirens (10,585)
Seat 5: CrazyMarco (12,570)
Seat 6: Paul Wasicka (4,110)
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 (6,335)
Seat 8: two8off (4,585)
Seat 9: NotoriousBIL (7,090)
Rocqoel posts the small blind of 60
Sirens posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to dot_carter [7h 7c]
CrazyMarco raises to 325
Paul Wasicka folds
JGLaZe080 folds
two8off folds
NotoriousBIL folds
TheMasterJ33 folds
dot_carter calls 325
Rocqoel folds
Sirens folds
*** FLOP *** [2s 3c 5h]
CrazyMarco bets 550
dot_carter calls 550
*** TURN *** [2s 3c 5h] [3d]
CrazyMarco bets 1,050
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter calls 1,050
*** RIVER *** [2s 3c 5h 3d] [6c]
CrazyMarco has 15 seconds left to act
CrazyMarco checks
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter bets 3,000
CrazyMarco has 15 seconds left to act
CrazyMarco folds
Uncalled bet of 3,000 returned to dot_carter
dot_carter mucks
dot_carter wins the pot (4,030)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4,030 | Rake 0
Board: [2s 3c 5h 3d 6c]
Seat 1: TheMasterJ33 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: dot_carter (button) collected (4,030), mucked
Seat 3: Rocqoel (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Sirens (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: CrazyMarco folded on the River
Seat 6: Paul Wasicka didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: two8off didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: NotoriousBIL didn't bet (folded)

This was one of the more interesting hands of the tournament. Marco is raising almost every time UTG, so I'm not giving him any extra respect here. I call the flop because I think there is an opportunity to make some extra money later in the hand which I wouldn't get by raising here. When he bets the turn I'm pretty sure it's just a double barrel, but he could also have a hand like 88-JJ. When he checks the pot to me on the river it leaves me in an interesting spot. I am most likely ahead, but I don't really want to check behind and have him scoop the pot with 88. I am fairly certain I'm not going to get called by anything but QQ+ so I fire 3k and he folds.

FullTiltPoker Game #3293331940: FTOPS Event #12 (23186107), Table 71 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:50:21 ET - 2007/08/18
Seat 1: TheMasterJ33 (8,445), is sitting out
Seat 2: dot_carter (10,695)
Seat 3: 13luckyplay (18,349)
Seat 4: Sirens (8,775)
Seat 5: CrazyMarco (23,677)
Seat 6: Paul Wasicka (4,140)
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 (6,415)
Seat 8: leroidesanimaux (3,479)
Seat 9: jennifer89 (36,114)
13luckyplay posts the small blind of 80
Sirens posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to dot_carter [Ks As]
CrazyMarco folds
TheMasterJ33 has returned
Paul Wasicka raises to 450
JGLaZe080 folds
leroidesanimaux folds
jennifer89 folds
TheMasterJ33 folds
dot_carter raises to 1,700
13luckyplay folds
Sirens folds
Paul Wasicka has 15 seconds left to act
CrazyMarco has been disconnected
CrazyMarco has reconnected
CrazyMarco has been disconnected
Paul Wasicka calls 1,250
*** FLOP *** [8d Td Js]
Paul Wasicka bets 2,440, and is all in
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter calls 2,440
Paul Wasicka shows [Qh Qc]
dot_carter shows [Ks As]
*** TURN *** [8d Td Js] [3h]
*** RIVER *** [8d Td Js 3h] [3s]
Paul Wasicka shows two pair, Queens and Threes
dot_carter shows a pair of Threes
Paul Wasicka wins the pot (8,520) with two pair, Queens and Threes
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8,520 | Rake 0
Board: [8d Td Js 3h 3s]
Seat 1: TheMasterJ33 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: dot_carter (button) showed [Ks As] and lost with a pair of Threes
Seat 3: 13luckyplay (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Sirens (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: CrazyMarco didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Paul Wasicka showed [Qh Qc] and won (8,520) with two pair, Queens and Threes
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: leroidesanimaux didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: jennifer89 didn't bet (folded)

Here was another run in with Paul Wasicka. His flop push looks like a text book stop and go, so I am getting a good price against any low pair. I think he might do this with some bluffs/draws as well. I'm not worried about a set at all since he would definitely check that an let me continuation bet. Basically I just lost the "Classic Race Situation" with my AK.

FullTiltPoker Game #3294159374: FTOPS Event #12 (23186107), Table 71 - 150/300 Ante 25 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:22:16 ET - 2007/08/18
Sirens has been disconnected
Seat 1: FlyingStart (21,545)
Seat 2: dot_carter (7,260)
Seat 3: 13luckyplay (12,419)
Seat 4: Sirens (14,732)
Seat 5: CoinFlip (10,381)
Seat 6: Grndhg25 (66,002)
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 (17,800)
Seat 8: naskoxx (5,792)
Seat 9: jennifer89 (65,061)
FlyingStart antes 25
dot_carter antes 25
13luckyplay antes 25
Sirens antes 25
CoinFlip antes 25
Grndhg25 antes 25
JGLaZe080 antes 25
naskoxx antes 25
jennifer89 antes 25
dot_carter posts the small blind of 150
13luckyplay posts the big blind of 300
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to dot_carter [7h 7d]
Sirens has 15 seconds left to act
Sirens has 46 seconds to reconnect
Sirens has reconnected
Sirens has 15 seconds left to act
Sirens folds
CoinFlip folds
Grndhg25 folds
JGLaZe080 folds
naskoxx raises to 5,767, and is all in
jennifer89 folds
Sirens has been disconnected
Sirens has reconnected
FlyingStart folds
JGLaZe080 has been disconnected
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter raises to 7,235, and is all in
13luckyplay has 15 seconds left to act
13luckyplay folds
dot_carter shows [7h 7d]
naskoxx shows [Ah 8s]
Uncalled bet of 1,468 returned to dot_carter
*** FLOP *** [4d Ks Tc]
*** TURN *** [4d Ks Tc] [Kc]
*** RIVER *** [4d Ks Tc Kc] [Td]
dot_carter shows two pair, Kings and Tens
naskoxx shows two pair, Kings and Tens
naskoxx wins the pot (12,059) with two pair, Kings and Tens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 12,059 | Rake 0
Board: [4d Ks Tc Kc Td]
Seat 1: FlyingStart (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: dot_carter (small blind) showed [7h 7d] and lost with two pair, Kings and Tens
Seat 3: 13luckyplay (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Sirens folded before the Flop
Seat 5: CoinFlip folded before the Flop
Seat 6: Grndhg25 folded before the Flop
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 folded before the Flop
Seat 8: naskoxx showed [Ah 8s] and won (12,059) with two pair, Kings and Tens
Seat 9: jennifer89 folded before the Flop

Nothing super exciting happened until this point. I floated between 7k and 12k for a while. In this hand I was pretty sure I was at worst flipping and needed to build up some more chips. I lost the race and was out of the tournament a few hands later in 149th place. I feel like I played extremely well the entire tournament. I had a good handle on my tables and was able to build up a nice stack from my aggression. But just like any other tournament I needed to win some flips, but couldn't.

Like I said earlier I'm not too into online tournament poker right now, but this was an excellent event and I hope we see a lot more like it in the future.

$2500 FTOPS Event Part 1

I’m not a huge fan of online tournaments, but this was a good event. Not too many people, a big prize pool, and a lot of room to maneuver. The play started out incredibly tight so I just tried to pick up as many pots as I could early. The first interesting hand came in the second level against Paul Wasicka.

FullTiltPoker Game #3291185987: FTOPS Event #12 (23186107), Table 71 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 15:47:33 ET - 2007/08/18
Seat 1: lo4815162342st (2,925)
Seat 2: dot_carter (5,290)
Seat 3: 999_999s (6,975)
Seat 4: Sirens (7,440)
Seat 5: CrazyMarco (5,170)
Seat 6: Paul Wasicka (4,810)
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 (5,030)
Seat 8: two8off (4,750)
Seat 9: E Tyme (2,610), is sitting out
E Tyme posts the small blind of 15
lo4815162342st posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to dot_carter [5c 5d]
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter raises to 105
999_999s folds
Sirens folds
CrazyMarco folds
Paul Wasicka calls 105
JGLaZe080 folds
two8off folds
E Tyme folds
lo4815162342st folds
*** FLOP *** [Td Ad 5h]
dot_carter bets 200
Paul Wasicka calls 200
*** TURN *** [Td Ad 5h] [7c]
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter bets 600
Paul Wasicka calls 600
*** RIVER *** [Td Ad 5h 7c] [6c]
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter bets 1,750
Paul Wasicka has 15 seconds left to act
Paul Wasicka calls 1,750
*** SHOW DOWN ***
dot_carter shows [5c 5d] three of a kind, Fives
Paul Wasicka mucks
dot_carter wins the pot (5,355) with three of a kind, Fives
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5,355 | Rake 0
Board: [Td Ad 5h 7c 6c]
Seat 1: lo4815162342st (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: dot_carter showed [5c 5d] and won (5,355) with three of a kind, Fives
Seat 3: 999_999s didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Sirens didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: CrazyMarco didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Paul Wasicka mucked [Ah Qs] - a pair of Aces
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: two8off (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: E Tyme (small blind) folded before the Flop

I’m not a fan of how he played this hand. Believing I’m triple barreling with worse is just wishful thinking.

FullTiltPoker Game #3291438672: FTOPS Event #12 (23186107), Table 71 - 20/40 - No Limit Hold'em - 16:16:46 ET - 2007/08/18
Seat 1: lo4815162342st (2,695)
Seat 2: dot_carter (8,075)
Seat 3: 999_999s (6,625)
Seat 4: Sirens (7,530)
Seat 5: CrazyMarco (4,630)
Seat 6: Paul Wasicka (1,960)
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 (5,005)
Seat 8: two8off (4,260)
Seat 9: E Tyme (4,220)
lo4815162342st posts the small blind of 20
dot_carter posts the big blind of 40
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to dot_carter [Kc Ks]
999_999s has 15 seconds left to act
999_999s folds
Sirens folds
CrazyMarco folds
Paul Wasicka folds
JGLaZe080 folds
two8off folds
E Tyme raises to 140
lo4815162342st folds
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter raises to 500
E Tyme calls 360
*** FLOP *** [Qc Ad Qs]
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter bets 650
E Tyme has 15 seconds left to act
E Tyme calls 650
*** TURN *** [Qc Ad Qs] [2d]
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter checks
E Tyme bets 1,500
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter folds
Uncalled bet of 1,500 returned to E Tyme
E Tyme mucks
E Tyme wins the pot (2,320)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,320 | Rake 0
Board: [Qc Ad Qs 2d]
Seat 1: lo4815162342st (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: dot_carter (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 3: 999_999s didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Sirens didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: CrazyMarco didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Paul Wasicka didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: two8off didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: E Tyme (button) collected (2,320), mucked

This was a very unfortunate flop. E Tyme was not playing very good at all in this tournament, and this was a spot where I could have picked up a bunch of chips given a better flop. At least the flop was so bad that I got out only losing a small amount of chips.

FullTiltPoker Game #3291725384: FTOPS Event #12 (23186107), Table 71 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold'em - 16:49:40 ET - 2007/08/18
Seat 1: lo4815162342st (825)
Seat 2: dot_carter (7,375)
Seat 3: 999_999s (7,000)
Seat 4: Sirens (7,000)
Seat 5: CrazyMarco (4,220)
Seat 6: Paul Wasicka (3,655)
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 (5,645)
Seat 8: two8off (5,120)
Seat 9: E Tyme (4,160)
Sirens posts the small blind of 25
CrazyMarco posts the big blind of 50
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to dot_carter [Td Ts]
Paul Wasicka has 15 seconds left to act
Paul Wasicka folds
JGLaZe080 folds
two8off folds
E Tyme calls 50
lo4815162342st folds
dot_carter raises to 225
999_999s has 15 seconds left to act
CrazyMarco has reconnected
999_999s raises to 600
Sirens folds
CrazyMarco folds
E Tyme folds
dot_carter calls 375
*** FLOP *** [Tc Js 8d]
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter checks
999_999s checks
*** TURN *** [Tc Js 8d] [5s]
dot_carter bets 1,200
999_999s calls 1,200
*** RIVER *** [Tc Js 8d 5s] [6c]
dot_carter has 15 seconds left to act
dot_carter bets 3,000
999_999s calls 3,000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
dot_carter shows [Td Ts] three of a kind, Tens
999_999s mucks
dot_carter wins the pot (9,725) with three of a kind, Tens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 9,725 | Rake 0
Board: [Tc Js 8d 5s 6c]
Seat 1: lo4815162342st didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: dot_carter showed [Td Ts] and won (9,725) with three of a kind, Tens
Seat 3: 999_999s (button) mucked [Kh Kc] - a pair of Kings
Seat 4: Sirens (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: CrazyMarco (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: Paul Wasicka didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: JGLaZe080 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: two8off didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: E Tyme folded before the Flop

This is a good example of how passive people were playing in this tournament. Most other tournaments he goes broke on the flop. Given how he played this hand I’m glad I wasn’t able to get a check raise in, as I think he probably would have folded. I think he cost himself more chips by not cbetting/folding the flop. My calling range probably hit this flop pretty hard. I would have been very impressed if he called the turn and folded the river. Just like the 55 hand I’m probably not making such a big bet on the river without something huge.

There are some more good hands, but I can’t seem to get the HH converter to work, and don’t want to make this post too huge, so I’ll just do a part 2 later tonight.

Gold Jersey an Omen?

I've been playing all the interesting FTOPS events the following week. It's been good to change it up a little from the cash games. I wasn't able to cash in any yet, but hopefully that will change as the biggest events are going on the next 2 days. Today is the $2500NL 2 day event with tomorrow being the 2 mill guaranteed $500NL main event. I played very well in all the other events but lost some key flips that would have propelled me very deep. I won my FTOPS event earlier this year, but I only received the gold jersey yesterday. I must assume that it's a good omen and I'm now a lock to win at least one, if not both, of the final two events. If I go deep in either I will certainly make a video of the event.

Wish me Luck!

I'm Going To Have A Sister!

I talked with my Dad yesterday and he informed me that he and my Step Mom are going to be having a little baby girl soon. Pretty crazy, I didn't expect to have another sibling in this life time. It's pretty cool, I've never had a sister before so it will be a whole new experience.

We saw Rush Hour 3 (it was pretty funny) last night then hung out at the bar for a while. Spear and I have started playing darts for $50 a game, I was up one on him from the last match but he won the first game of the night (I started slow but almost made a sick comeback). I crushed the second two games. I've recently become a dart ninja. It's not like I've been playing or practicing at all, I'm just hitting my spots a lot better now. After the third game the alcohol started to outweigh my ninjaness and Spear was able to pull it back to even. His girl friend then went on to own up both at the punching bag game.

You know you live the good life when you have to set an alarm to wake up at noon. I had an early personal training session today (yes 1pm is early). It feels really good to get back into that after taking a month and a half off for Vegas. I'm playing some FTOPS events now. I was doing good in the $535 PLO, but had one tough hand, made the right decision, but took too long and was auto folded. I'll probably make a post about that hand later. I got knocked out on this hand:

Full Tilt Poker Game #3222367222: FTOPS Event #4 (22695266), Table 43 - 120/240 - Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 17:01:02 ET - 2007/08/11
Seat 1: xqsays (6,120)
Seat 2: BiceTILT (14,157)
Seat 3: DirtyTowel (35,130)
Seat 4: TheLizard (9,180)
Seat 5: Foleys_Page (13,881)
Seat 6: dot_carter (6,743)
dot_carter posts the small blind of 120
xqsays posts the big blind of 240
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to dot_carter [3c 6d 2h 6s]
BiceTILT folds
DirtyTowel folds
TheLizard folds
Foleys_Page has 15 seconds left to act
Foleys_Page folds
dot_carter raises to 720
xqsays calls 480
*** FLOP *** [8c 4s 6c]
dot_carter bets 1,440
xqsays has 15 seconds left to act
xqsays raises to 5,400, and is all in
dot_carter calls 3,960
xqsays shows [Qc 6h 9d 5s]
dot_carter shows [3c 6d 2h 6s]
*** TURN *** [8c 4s 6c] [7h]
*** RIVER *** [8c 4s 6c 7h] [Kd]
xqsays shows a straight, Nine high
dot_carter shows three of a kind, Sixes
xqsays wins the pot (12,240) with a straight, Nine high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 12,240 | Rake 0
Board: [8c 4s 6c 7h Kd]
Seat 1: xqsays (big blind) showed [Qc 6h 9d 5s] and won (12,240) with a straight, Nine high
Seat 2: BiceTILT didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: DirtyTowel didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: TheLizard didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: Foleys_Page (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: dot_carter (small blind) showed [3c 6d 2h 6s] and lost with three of a kind, Sixes

82/18.... doesn't get much better than that in Omaha oh well. I have about 10k after the rebuy period in FTOPS #5. First is 100k so it wouldn't be too shabby of a win.

Everyone Loves Poker

The more I interact with people on a day to day basis the more the government’s crusade against online gambling infuriates me. Many online poker pros are hesitant to tell people what they do for a living. I think they see the government and “family values” people coming down on it and assume people will be put off by it. I have never been this way. I love what I do and if someone asks me what I do I’m more than happy to discuss it with them.

You know what? I have never received a negative reaction or seen someone offended by the notion. Most people think it’s the coolest thing ever, some are very curious, and many didn’t even know it was possible. I love to talk about it, and most people are so fascinated that they let me go on as long as I want. The truth is that a large percentage of our country plays or has played poker. It’s only the small vocal minority that is out to bring us down. Government and religious types have a much louder voice than the millions of people who play a $10 home game each week. Everyone loves poker and it’s a shame we have to put up with these BS laws trying to “protect us from ourselves”

I was out running some errands the other day and in a matter of 2 hours I had 3 different conversations with random people about how much they loved poker and how cool it was that I played for a living. I was wearing my Dynasty Shirt to the bar last night and 4 different people came up to me and talked poker. I think this is closer to the sentiment of the nation than the negative press we often get. The problem is most of the casual players have no clue there is anti poker legislation and aren’t motivated enough to do anything about it anyway. I guess the PPA should really try to tap into that segment of people and at least get some positive press. I try to make sure I tell people I meet about it and ask them to pitch in just a little bit. It something little, but if all of us did it each day it would probably have an impact. Ah well, I can only dream of the day when poker is legalized and we all become richer than we ever imagined.

PS

Congrats to Flamm for going deep in FTOPS #1 and winning a $25 last longer bet vs me. Keep crushing the tables Flamm!

MMMM Multi-Tabling

I've started to play 9 tables after spending the last 2 months only playing 6. Seems to be working out pretty good so far. I'm up 15 buyins in the first 5k hands, but sometimes stuff like this happens:

RyanAIM (11:54:15 PM): dont you hate when you are on the turn
RyanAIM (11:54:17 PM): the pot is huge
RyanAIM (11:54:21 PM): you have q7s
RyanAIM (11:54:23 PM): and are like
RyanAIM (11:54:27 PM): htf did I get here
JaredAIM (11:54:57 PM): at that point my only question is
JaredAIM (11:55:01 PM): do I have an overcard
RyanAIM (11:55:10 PM): I had a flush draw
RyanAIM (11:55:31 PM): so it was like christmas

Living The Good Life

I’ve really been enjoying life since I’ve been back from Vegas. People tend to complain about all the small insignificant stuff just to have something to bitch about. It’s no different than the guy who lives to tell bad beat story after bad beat story. I guess it’s just human nature to complain. I honestly think the quality of human existence would go up significantly if everyone just let the small things go.

If I ever notice myself drifting into this mindset all I have to do is remind myself that I have the greatest life in the world. I get to wake up play a game for a living, walk over to the pool, go to a baseball game, or even hop on a plane for a weekend trip if I like. I have pretty much everything I want, and what I don’t have is attainable in the near future. I’m not trying to brag, it’s just a good feeling knowing that I’m living a life I truly enjoy.

That’s one of the reasons I started this site. There is a great sense of accomplishment in helping someone achieve a dream. I might not be able to cure world hunger, but if I can help a few hundred people obtain the dream of being a poker pro/semi pro I’ll be happy. I know it’s not easy but if that’s really what you want in life you should do everything in your power to make it happen.

While I’m already on seemingly random tangents I might as well talk about a few things outside the game that I’m doing to help improve my poker. The first is doing 20 minutes of meditation each morning. My mind is often going a 100 miles a minute and this is really exactly what I need to slow things down. With poker the ability to slow things down and experience each hand in the moment does wonders with your profits. I’m still a meditation newb, but I can already see many of the positive benefits in other areas of my life.

The second is finally maintaining a diet and continuing to work on getting in shape. Before Vegas I was getting personal training 3 times a week. I really enjoy that, but never worked much on fixing my diet so the results weren’t fantastic. I was reading beanie’s blog on Always Bluff (they have some good bloggers you should check them out) and he posted this diet that I have been using ever since. I started at 285 2 weeks ago. I think I’ve lost some weight already but haven’t got a scale yet. The diet works very well for me as I really enjoy all the foods it entails. It’s also very easy to maintain which is important for me.

Hopefully you enjoy my non poker entries as much as the others. I really enjoy writing about topics like this so there will be plenty more to come. It’s easy to let poker totally consume you, and I try my best to be a well rounded human. One of the keys to surviving as an online pro is to make sure the game doesn’t take up too much of your life. If it’s all you ever think of you let it control your emotions. Too many pros are happy when winning and depressed when their not. I think this is a terrible way to live and it’s something you should be aware of if you get serious into the game.

I think that’s enough random rambling for the day…. Gotta get up early tomorrow for the 3:10 start of the Devil Rays game!