Although in a previous blog, I mentioned that I did not like pokerstars all that much, I have been playing on that poker site quite a lot recently and have been enjoying it and have also been making a positive return on investment, which is always something you should strive towards as a self respecting poker player.
I think a lot of choosing a site is not about choosing your favourite site overall and playing there, but finding which site you best like to play S+G's on, which site is best for tourneys, freerolls, etc and playing on that site for that particular type of game (eg. $1.75, 18 player Turbos on Pokerstars)
Anyway, I noticed their battle of the planets, which seemed quite interesting, whereby you get points for finishing in the money of S+Gs and after you have finished 20 S+Gs your points are totalled up and if you are high enough you reach the leaderboard and the top 100 get money in their account and the top 10 get to play in a tournement to get even more money.
At the moment, ive got 137 points after 8 tournaments, and last week, 100th place on the leaderboard had 429 points, so I guess I have a marginal chance of making the leaderboard over the next 12 S+Gs if I can just stop bubbling! Will let you know if i ever make the Leaderboard.
One last thing, check out www.pokerweblogs.com as it is an excellent site if you are into blogs as it lists hundreds and hundreds of them (and you can also list your blog there)
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Thursday, 8 May 2008
May 2008 Pokerplayer Magazine Freerolls
Pokerplayer magazine is one of my favourite magazines mainly because it has good analysis and some good exclusive freeroll offers, although if you are not from the UK, sorry to dissapoint as it is only open to UK residents.
Case in point, the May 2008 edition has the following exclusive freerolls:
WSOP Main event: Pokerstars, June 5th, 1st place =\$12,500 WSOP package 2nd-9th = $215 Pokerstars Tourney Ticket.
Virgin Poker Festival Freeroll Qualifier: Virgin Poker, May 26th 8pm, 1st-10th = seat in the Virgin festival of poker main event. 11th-20th=Euro16.50 satellite ticket.
The freerolls general tend to have around 750 entrants, and there is a fair amount of deadwood, partly because you can often sign up well in advance of the starting date. The virgin poker one definately looks generous and i am a bit peeved off that i will be away that bankholiday and probably will not get home in time to play, as I have wanted to qualify for the Virgin Poker Festival for ages.
These tourneys both require passwords, and unfortunately Im not giving the password out because I dont beleive that it's fair on the magazine, but if you want to know the passwords, they are available in the magazine.
Case in point, the May 2008 edition has the following exclusive freerolls:
WSOP Main event: Pokerstars, June 5th, 1st place =\$12,500 WSOP package 2nd-9th = $215 Pokerstars Tourney Ticket.
Virgin Poker Festival Freeroll Qualifier: Virgin Poker, May 26th 8pm, 1st-10th = seat in the Virgin festival of poker main event. 11th-20th=Euro16.50 satellite ticket.
The freerolls general tend to have around 750 entrants, and there is a fair amount of deadwood, partly because you can often sign up well in advance of the starting date. The virgin poker one definately looks generous and i am a bit peeved off that i will be away that bankholiday and probably will not get home in time to play, as I have wanted to qualify for the Virgin Poker Festival for ages.
These tourneys both require passwords, and unfortunately Im not giving the password out because I dont beleive that it's fair on the magazine, but if you want to know the passwords, they are available in the magazine.
Monday, 5 May 2008
More on playing on tilt:
So, last time I mentioned I would take a break from online play to let my tilt pass. In the meantine I would play live poker at a home game that I sometimes go to. So, what happens tilt turns to a run of bad luck
Ok, I know that luck comes in many different forms in poker ie: getting good cards/getting good flops/getting bad cards that are slightly better than your opponents, but this genuinely is a case of bad luck.
So the table is playing very loose aggressive: We've been playing for half an hour and im down to about 1300 hundred chips (we start on 2500) Blinds are 100/200. I havent been playing particularly well: I've been weak against a couple of raises when Ive had pot odds and overcards, but Im also getting a read on betting patterns and hand ranges: As I said, people are playing loose - raising by large amounts pre flop with Ace/middle kicker and more than a few people are making large bets on the flop with hands like middle pair.
Anyway. Ive got 1250 chips: Im under the gun and I get dealt 10-10. I can fold, call, make a small/medium raise or make a push and go all in. Although there are only 6 players left and 3 make the money, I calculate that as Im the shortstack, folding probably wont get me to a place - rather, with the blind structure and my chipstack this is where I need to be doubling up if i am to have a chance. All in is likely to chase people away and i dont want to be called by someone with a premium hand or higher pocket pairs. If i make a raise, I dont have much chance of taking people off the pot on the turn, and if i elect to call Im only still in the hand if I hit my 10 or there are no overcards.
I elect to call. Someone who had been quite loose, but could obviously play a bit raises me to 800. I decide to move all in even though he is probably not going to fold. He calls and turns over A-6. Im in better shape than I expected. He hits his Ace on the river and Im out. He tells me that I should have pushed and then he wouldnot have called me. My estimation of his ability goes down slightly. I tell him that I wasnt just trying to take the blinds and that I was over 2:1 in front pre flop.
I observe the table for the rest of the game and there is some seriously loose play. With a more generous blind structure I would really relish that, but with 10 minute blinds, you are not even getting a round of action before blinds go up.
Anyway, second game, and its the third round already and Im in the small blind for the second time. Blinds are 100/200 I get dealt K-K and I thank my lucky stars as this is near perfect position to get them. Under the gun limps, as does the person to his left and everyone folds round to me. I raise to 800. BB and under-the-gun fold. Position number 2 re-raises me to 1600 (see what I mean about loose-aggressive play). I only have 600 so its quite doubtful I can make him fold. I try to imply that I have kings saying to him that I hope for yoursake you have aces. It doesnt work and he calls. I turn over my Kings and before he can turn his cards, the dealer deals the flop and deals me a king. I have three Kings and my opponent turns over A-7 hearts. Why would he re-raise me with that? did he think I was stealing the pot with rags?? Anyway, the flop, K, 8, 4 also comes down with 2 hearts. The turn is a non-heart queen and the river is the 9 of hearts which is kind of ironic since I was more of a favourite to improve to a Full House (10 outs) than he was to improve to a flush(7 outs - I had the King of hearts). He went to shake my hand, I did, but told him to play better next time and went back to Mill Hill thinking that considering I would have had over 5000 chips out of a total of 2500 with 9 players remaining, that I had been more than a little unfortunate.
Ok, I know that luck comes in many different forms in poker ie: getting good cards/getting good flops/getting bad cards that are slightly better than your opponents, but this genuinely is a case of bad luck.
So the table is playing very loose aggressive: We've been playing for half an hour and im down to about 1300 hundred chips (we start on 2500) Blinds are 100/200. I havent been playing particularly well: I've been weak against a couple of raises when Ive had pot odds and overcards, but Im also getting a read on betting patterns and hand ranges: As I said, people are playing loose - raising by large amounts pre flop with Ace/middle kicker and more than a few people are making large bets on the flop with hands like middle pair.
Anyway. Ive got 1250 chips: Im under the gun and I get dealt 10-10. I can fold, call, make a small/medium raise or make a push and go all in. Although there are only 6 players left and 3 make the money, I calculate that as Im the shortstack, folding probably wont get me to a place - rather, with the blind structure and my chipstack this is where I need to be doubling up if i am to have a chance. All in is likely to chase people away and i dont want to be called by someone with a premium hand or higher pocket pairs. If i make a raise, I dont have much chance of taking people off the pot on the turn, and if i elect to call Im only still in the hand if I hit my 10 or there are no overcards.
I elect to call. Someone who had been quite loose, but could obviously play a bit raises me to 800. I decide to move all in even though he is probably not going to fold. He calls and turns over A-6. Im in better shape than I expected. He hits his Ace on the river and Im out. He tells me that I should have pushed and then he wouldnot have called me. My estimation of his ability goes down slightly. I tell him that I wasnt just trying to take the blinds and that I was over 2:1 in front pre flop.
I observe the table for the rest of the game and there is some seriously loose play. With a more generous blind structure I would really relish that, but with 10 minute blinds, you are not even getting a round of action before blinds go up.
Anyway, second game, and its the third round already and Im in the small blind for the second time. Blinds are 100/200 I get dealt K-K and I thank my lucky stars as this is near perfect position to get them. Under the gun limps, as does the person to his left and everyone folds round to me. I raise to 800. BB and under-the-gun fold. Position number 2 re-raises me to 1600 (see what I mean about loose-aggressive play). I only have 600 so its quite doubtful I can make him fold. I try to imply that I have kings saying to him that I hope for yoursake you have aces. It doesnt work and he calls. I turn over my Kings and before he can turn his cards, the dealer deals the flop and deals me a king. I have three Kings and my opponent turns over A-7 hearts. Why would he re-raise me with that? did he think I was stealing the pot with rags?? Anyway, the flop, K, 8, 4 also comes down with 2 hearts. The turn is a non-heart queen and the river is the 9 of hearts which is kind of ironic since I was more of a favourite to improve to a Full House (10 outs) than he was to improve to a flush(7 outs - I had the King of hearts). He went to shake my hand, I did, but told him to play better next time and went back to Mill Hill thinking that considering I would have had over 5000 chips out of a total of 2500 with 9 players remaining, that I had been more than a little unfortunate.
Thursday, 1 May 2008
I admit it, I'm on tilt.....
Ok, I admit it, im on tilt.... actually, if you check my sharkscope stats, Im on 'super tilt'. Ive lost about $50 in the past 3 days, which is quite a lot for me. Im telling you because its good to get these things out in the open and be honest, right?
My name is Solly and im on tilt.
So like anyone on tilt Ive had my bad beat stories: My All in K-K pre flop being busted by A-Q for instance, and quite a lot of going out on the bubble (at least 3 times) Ive played about 10 S&Gs ($2-$10) to get in this situation. Mainly its just been that Ive been playing in a bad mood. Its a bit disappointing because it makes you question your basic game, but I think if I look at the amount of times I bubbled, then if i was a little more cautious then things probably wont be looking that bad. Anyway, one of the things to watch out for when on tilt is playing. Tilt makes you want to play. Tilt makes you want to gamble. Tilt makes you want to place strong bets on the river with nothing. Tilt makes you want to catch that fish that just doubled up when he called all in with A-8 (who has also lost $2000 over 1000 games). Tilt makes you want to say screw you to your bankroll. Tilt wants to make you play higher levels or waste those higher level qualifier tickets you were saving until you were 'in the zone'. Tilt makes you want to play all day. When you are on tilt, you just want to play. The best thing to do is walk away, not play until you are no longer on tilt, but how many of us have the strength of mind to do that when they first start to tilt? Ive managed to avoid playing today which is good I guess.
Tommorrow Im playing at a home game that I havent played at for a while. I know: its kind of breaking my no play while on tilt rule, but its live poker, and although my name is Solly and I'm on tilt, its a live game, so it does not count, and besides, you've got to start playing again sometime, right?
My name is Solly and im on tilt.
So like anyone on tilt Ive had my bad beat stories: My All in K-K pre flop being busted by A-Q for instance, and quite a lot of going out on the bubble (at least 3 times) Ive played about 10 S&Gs ($2-$10) to get in this situation. Mainly its just been that Ive been playing in a bad mood. Its a bit disappointing because it makes you question your basic game, but I think if I look at the amount of times I bubbled, then if i was a little more cautious then things probably wont be looking that bad. Anyway, one of the things to watch out for when on tilt is playing. Tilt makes you want to play. Tilt makes you want to gamble. Tilt makes you want to place strong bets on the river with nothing. Tilt makes you want to catch that fish that just doubled up when he called all in with A-8 (who has also lost $2000 over 1000 games). Tilt makes you want to say screw you to your bankroll. Tilt wants to make you play higher levels or waste those higher level qualifier tickets you were saving until you were 'in the zone'. Tilt makes you want to play all day. When you are on tilt, you just want to play. The best thing to do is walk away, not play until you are no longer on tilt, but how many of us have the strength of mind to do that when they first start to tilt? Ive managed to avoid playing today which is good I guess.
Tommorrow Im playing at a home game that I havent played at for a while. I know: its kind of breaking my no play while on tilt rule, but its live poker, and although my name is Solly and I'm on tilt, its a live game, so it does not count, and besides, you've got to start playing again sometime, right?
Sunday, 27 April 2008
VC Poker - $35 giveaway
Noticed this deal at VC poker. If you sign up using the bonus code 'FreeMoney' they will deposit $10 into your account. If you generate 1500 action points they will deposit another $25, and it seems like you dont need to deposit any money whatsoever. Will check it out myself when i have the time..............
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
More Freerolls - Full Tilt & Party Poker
Ixgames.com are holding regular freerolls for anyone who registers for their forums. On the 25th April, there is a $250 PartyPoker freeroll and on the 26th a $250 Full Tilt freeroll. They also have other freerolls for other sites. Passwords are located here http://forum.ixgames.com/poker-freerolls/
Full Tilt Freeroll Password
Just noticed a freeroll on Full Tilt in the private section. Its freeroll #46593852 running on April 22nd(today). Its being organised by bluecollarpoker.com. If you register at their site, which is free, they will give you the password (Sorry not allowed to give it out here.)
If you missed the one on the 22nd, dont worry, it says on their site they are running freerolls everyday starting from 1st May. I signed up for the freeroll - not sure i'll be in when its on, but if i am will update. The prize pool isnt that massive ($25) but its free money, so worth checking out! Heres the link again.
If you missed the one on the 22nd, dont worry, it says on their site they are running freerolls everyday starting from 1st May. I signed up for the freeroll - not sure i'll be in when its on, but if i am will update. The prize pool isnt that massive ($25) but its free money, so worth checking out! Heres the link again.
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