This past Wednesday night, I dealt for a $1/$1 NLHE cash game until the last orbit around 2:30am. Had a lot of fun and Terry K went out of his way to praise my dealing skills which was very much appreciated. When I'm called upon to deal, I really do make an effort to get as many hands in as possible for the players in attendance. I know if I take care of the players, they'll take care of me which goes a long way in helping me bring in some extra income for my family. As such, I take dealing seriously and treat it like it's my 2nd job.
Tonight, I'm hosting a single table $10 Rebuy Tournament and I couldn't be more excited. You're probably wondering why I'm amped about a measly little $10 game? Quite simply, I'm just excited to sit down and play poker, regardless of the stakes. It seems lately that more and more micro-stakes games are popping up in the CPMG. Marc S has been hosting a regular .25/.50 HA cash game for most of 2012 and we've seen .25/.50 and .50/.50 games hosted by Adam, Data, Julie and Diabl0 this year as well. It's good to see the micro-stakes games thriving along with the medium and higher buy-in games that have always done well in the CPMG. Joining me tonight for the Donkament fun are Dana, Doug Poker and Special K,
Jamie W, Yosh, Cheryl, Bad Beat Mucker Rob's son Michael, joedrummer - a
relative newcomer to the CPMG who attended my
Micro Stakes cash game back in June, and Gary Senkar - aka, Ichiban nit - who I will be meeting for the first time. I keep wavering in my stance on allowing new members to attend my games, but Marc S vouched for Gary which is always helpful. Eskimo had RSVP'd for the tournament as well, but after much debate I decided to ban him from attending games at my home. I'm aware that Eskimo has had better behavior recently and I have never had any problems with him directly ala Eskimo v Doug Poker, but I'm simply not comfortable with the idea of him being in my home. Apparently, he's not happy about the ban per his posts on my tournament wall but I'm not going to reply and start a war with him about the ban. I emailed him privately (and very politely I might add) and I'm just going to leave it at that.
More on the topic of hosting and new members in a blog to come, as well as a quick tournament report from tonight's festivities.
Thanks for reading!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
CPMG Podcast Reviews (feat. Prowest & Nautica Brian)
Episode 6 of the CPMG Podcast featured guest Dave "#SuperTightProwest" Westfall, who is a successful tournament player in the group. Prowest also makes a MEAN pot of beef stew that he was kind enough to share with everyone at the 2011 CPMG Fall Classic. Our esteemed Cmdr. Data - a fine dining aficionado - even gave the stew an 8/10 if that gives you an idea of how good it was (REALLY good). Aside from being an excellent cook, Prowest is a pretty good poker player and talked about how he started playing different game variations with the CPMG's original founder Craig. I wasn't even aware that John Coleman had a predecessor, so that was pretty interesting. I really don't have much else to say about this episode other than it's always a pleasure to see Prowest at my table - nice guy, good player.
Episodes 7 & 8 featured guest Nautica Brian, a successful cash game grinder. I don't know Brian very well and haven't spoken to him much aside from dealing at his cash table a few times. I knew he was a good poker player who preferred cash games over tournaments, but not much else. Imagine my surprise when these two episodes ended up being my favorites of all the CPMG Podcasts by far. Brian first spoke about his poker background, then talked about transitioning from playing online poker to playing live in the wake of Black Friday. He mentioned that watching CardRunners training videos helped him make many necessary adjustments to his game. Throughout the episodes, Brian shared dozens of useful tips on advanced cash game strategy, bankroll management and game selection - just to name a few. He easily gets my vote for Most Informative Guest of the CPMG Podcast. Since Nautica Brian is a cash game grinder by profession, I was able to relate to him on many things as a former online SNG/MTT tournament grinder. To give you an example, when Brian mentioned feeling the need for something new/fresh after sitting in front of his computer screen alone in his basement for hours on end, I remember feeling the exact same way - anxious and overwhelmed - and taking random spur of the moment trips up to Casino Windsor to play $3/$6 limit or to Greektown to play $1/$1 NLHE ($100 max). Quite simply, the daily grind can grow tiresome, but Nautica Brian seems to combat this well with other hobbies like running and marathon training. Overall, the CPMG Podcasts episodes featuring Nautica Brian are a must-listen for any poker player.
Once again, thanks to CPMG Podcast hosts Doug Poker and Cmdr. Data for investing their time and money into something that I thought was a great contribution to the group.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
CPMG Podcast Reviews (feat. DeJen, Adam Rhodes & Luckbox Linda)
Before I get into my reviews of CPMG Podcast Episodes 3, 4 and 5, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the hosts of the show and give them their proper due. Data and Doug Poker are both experienced poker players who have very different playing styles and approaches to the game. As such, they complement each other very well on the podcasts. They know their guests well and they do a great job of initiating and continuing conversation which results in a smooth 1hr plus long broadcast. The CPMG Podcasts are a valuable contribution to the group. While the podcasts are no longer being produced, my hope is that they will one day start up again as I've found them to be informative and entertaining. I have particularly enjoyed the 5-Star segment of the week at the end of each podcast.
Episode 3 - Jen Malensek (DeJen) - Tournaments, Part 1
DeJen is one of the strongest and most feared poker players in the CPMG who excels both in cash games and in tournaments. She is very competitive, she likes to play many pots and she is one of the best in the CPMG at hand reading and people reading. A lawyer by profession, Jen mentioned during the podcast that poker has helped her in the courtroom and vice versa, which I found to be intriguing. Moving onto tournaments, part of Jen's approach is seeking out and targeting players who might be playing over their heads financially. For example, if I were to play the $200 buy-in CPMG Fall Classic, Jen might target me since she knows that winning or losing the tournament will impact me more financially than it would her. As true as that stands, I'm not one who is intimidated by the higher buy-in tournaments because I made a living playing them online back in 2005-06. If anything, I tend to focus and prepare a lot MORE for these games because of the financial impact. Others may not respond well to the pressure of higher buy-in tournaments, however, and these are the players that Jen will surely take advantage of.
Overall, the podcast featuring DeJen was another great listen. Jen has always been very nice to me and the challenge alone of playing against her is something I look forward to every time we're at the same table.
Episode 4 - Adam Rhodes - Pot Limit Omaha
I'm a novice PLO player. I know the basic rules and concepts of the game but I have very little experience playing live PLO. Since I joined the CPMG back in 2007, I have only played one $40 Triple Pot Limit tournament (NLHE, PLO, PLO8 rotation) and roughly 30 minutes of .50/.50 mixed PLO/PLO8 cash. I finished 7th or 8th out of 14 in the tournament and took a small loss in the cash game. Despite my limited experience, I've always wanted to "get up to speed" and play more PLO since the popularity of the game has grown in recent years and it's being featured more and more in the CPMG and casinos nearby. Adam Rhodes, who prior to having a newborn recently often hosted PLO or HA cash games, offered some excellent tips in this podcast that I will be sure to take with me the next time I play PLO. Previously, I might have played a hand like QQ56 rainbow, but now I know that those types of hands (two separate hands within one) don't play that well in Omaha. You generally want to play hands with 3 or 4 coordinated cards that have nut potential. Aside from hand selection, Adam went on to emphasize the importance of position in PLO. We all know how important position is in NLHE and that translates to Omaha just as well. Another topic Adam mentioned was pot control - keeping the pot small preflop and on the Flop. Since no real hand in PLO is a huge underdog to another, it is important to be aware of how much you are investing early on in the hand. Some advanced topics were discussed as well, but I'll avoid those.
Overall, this particular podcast was extremely beneficial to me. It's one that I might even come back to and listen again if I ever decide to make PLO my primary poker focus.
Episode 5 - Linda Eisenstein (Luckbox Linda) - Tournaments, Part 2
Luckbox Linda is one of the nicest ladies in the CPMG. She is very well spoken and is someone I really enjoy playing against. Linda is a patient, TAG player who has an excellent track record in tournaments, especially the $75-150 buy-in variety that many casinos offer. She mentioned playing O8 at The Orleans in Las Vegas, which brought back fond memories of my first live O8 tournament at the same venue back in 2003. Linda also discussed table image - more specifically, how other players typically perceive her ("a 60+ year old woman who looks like Grandma" - her words, not mine) at the table. She exploits this perception to her benefit when playing poker at casinos and non-CPMG venues. I'm glad she brought this up because table image is something I need to be more aware of myself. What tells am I giving away at the table? Is the way I'm sitting or the way I'm betting giving my opponents any information? Sometimes I pay attention to these things and make a great effort to remain consistent in my posture, the way I bet, how much I bet, etc. Other times - as was the case this past Saturday night at Julie's - I disregard these things completely and often play awful as a result. Additionally, I need to be more aware of the cues that my opponents are giving me as to what they perceive my playing style to be. If someone asks me if I'm still awake because I haven't played a pot in an hour, that person is more likely to give me credit for a hand when I do enter a pot and open up my play later on in the tournament. Linda went on to discuss her preferred playing style and how she is unlikely to change it much because playing loose and more aggressive is simply out of her comfort zone. Could you imagine Luckbox Linda playing a kamikaze game of poker? That'd be something.
Overall, another fantastic podcast. Great guest, great topics. Probably my favorite podcast of the 5 that I have listened to thus far.
- - - - -
As a side note, I've been on a roll lately with these blog posts but with Thanksgiving coming up and a trip to Michigan booked this weekend, I don't anticipate I'll be posting anything for a week or two. That said, I encourage you to visit my archived blog posts. You'll find running logs of various tournaments I've played in the past - including CPMG tournaments, PokerRoom.com tournaments and the 2005 WSOP Main Event. As always, feedback and comments are appreciated!
Episode 3 - Jen Malensek (DeJen) - Tournaments, Part 1
DeJen is one of the strongest and most feared poker players in the CPMG who excels both in cash games and in tournaments. She is very competitive, she likes to play many pots and she is one of the best in the CPMG at hand reading and people reading. A lawyer by profession, Jen mentioned during the podcast that poker has helped her in the courtroom and vice versa, which I found to be intriguing. Moving onto tournaments, part of Jen's approach is seeking out and targeting players who might be playing over their heads financially. For example, if I were to play the $200 buy-in CPMG Fall Classic, Jen might target me since she knows that winning or losing the tournament will impact me more financially than it would her. As true as that stands, I'm not one who is intimidated by the higher buy-in tournaments because I made a living playing them online back in 2005-06. If anything, I tend to focus and prepare a lot MORE for these games because of the financial impact. Others may not respond well to the pressure of higher buy-in tournaments, however, and these are the players that Jen will surely take advantage of.
Overall, the podcast featuring DeJen was another great listen. Jen has always been very nice to me and the challenge alone of playing against her is something I look forward to every time we're at the same table.
Episode 4 - Adam Rhodes - Pot Limit Omaha
I'm a novice PLO player. I know the basic rules and concepts of the game but I have very little experience playing live PLO. Since I joined the CPMG back in 2007, I have only played one $40 Triple Pot Limit tournament (NLHE, PLO, PLO8 rotation) and roughly 30 minutes of .50/.50 mixed PLO/PLO8 cash. I finished 7th or 8th out of 14 in the tournament and took a small loss in the cash game. Despite my limited experience, I've always wanted to "get up to speed" and play more PLO since the popularity of the game has grown in recent years and it's being featured more and more in the CPMG and casinos nearby. Adam Rhodes, who prior to having a newborn recently often hosted PLO or HA cash games, offered some excellent tips in this podcast that I will be sure to take with me the next time I play PLO. Previously, I might have played a hand like QQ56 rainbow, but now I know that those types of hands (two separate hands within one) don't play that well in Omaha. You generally want to play hands with 3 or 4 coordinated cards that have nut potential. Aside from hand selection, Adam went on to emphasize the importance of position in PLO. We all know how important position is in NLHE and that translates to Omaha just as well. Another topic Adam mentioned was pot control - keeping the pot small preflop and on the Flop. Since no real hand in PLO is a huge underdog to another, it is important to be aware of how much you are investing early on in the hand. Some advanced topics were discussed as well, but I'll avoid those.
Overall, this particular podcast was extremely beneficial to me. It's one that I might even come back to and listen again if I ever decide to make PLO my primary poker focus.
Episode 5 - Linda Eisenstein (Luckbox Linda) - Tournaments, Part 2
Luckbox Linda is one of the nicest ladies in the CPMG. She is very well spoken and is someone I really enjoy playing against. Linda is a patient, TAG player who has an excellent track record in tournaments, especially the $75-150 buy-in variety that many casinos offer. She mentioned playing O8 at The Orleans in Las Vegas, which brought back fond memories of my first live O8 tournament at the same venue back in 2003. Linda also discussed table image - more specifically, how other players typically perceive her ("a 60+ year old woman who looks like Grandma" - her words, not mine) at the table. She exploits this perception to her benefit when playing poker at casinos and non-CPMG venues. I'm glad she brought this up because table image is something I need to be more aware of myself. What tells am I giving away at the table? Is the way I'm sitting or the way I'm betting giving my opponents any information? Sometimes I pay attention to these things and make a great effort to remain consistent in my posture, the way I bet, how much I bet, etc. Other times - as was the case this past Saturday night at Julie's - I disregard these things completely and often play awful as a result. Additionally, I need to be more aware of the cues that my opponents are giving me as to what they perceive my playing style to be. If someone asks me if I'm still awake because I haven't played a pot in an hour, that person is more likely to give me credit for a hand when I do enter a pot and open up my play later on in the tournament. Linda went on to discuss her preferred playing style and how she is unlikely to change it much because playing loose and more aggressive is simply out of her comfort zone. Could you imagine Luckbox Linda playing a kamikaze game of poker? That'd be something.
Overall, another fantastic podcast. Great guest, great topics. Probably my favorite podcast of the 5 that I have listened to thus far.
- - - - -
As a side note, I've been on a roll lately with these blog posts but with Thanksgiving coming up and a trip to Michigan booked this weekend, I don't anticipate I'll be posting anything for a week or two. That said, I encourage you to visit my archived blog posts. You'll find running logs of various tournaments I've played in the past - including CPMG tournaments, PokerRoom.com tournaments and the 2005 WSOP Main Event. As always, feedback and comments are appreciated!
Monday, November 19, 2012
Julie's $60 15k Starting Stack Saturday (11/17/12)
Around 4pm this past Saturday, I got the urge to play poker. There were a few games posted on the CPMG calendar but playing in Terry K's cash game wasn't really an option for me, so I RSVP'd for Julie's $60 15k Starting Stack Saturday tournament. 20 minute levels. My opening table (starting on my left and clockwise) was Dave (a guy I have never played with before), Cheryl, Ang, Megan, Pyxis, Julie and Randy.
Level 1 (25/50) - Megan opens to 275 from mid-position. I call from the SB with 99. Flop, Q 2 X. I check-call 500. Turn [Q 2 X] J. Check-check. River [Q 2 X J] K. Check-check again. Megan turns over AK for a rivered pair of Kings. I end the level with 14025 chips.
Level 2 (50/100) - 3 players limp preflop and I complete from the SB with T7dd. The BB checks and 5 players see a Flop, T 8 7. I lead out for 400. Ang raises to 1000 straight. Folds around to me and I call. Turn [T 8 7] 2. I check-call 1500. River [T 8 7 2] Q. I check again and Ang makes a great value bet of 1500, which lures me to call. She turns over J9 for the flopped nuts.
Later in the level, I decide to mix it up a bit from UTG and raise to 250 with A8ss. Ang calls, Julie calls from the SB and Randy calls from the BB. Flop, J 9 7, 2 spades. With the nut flush draw and a gutshot straight draw, I lead out for 600 and everyone calls. Turn [J 9 7] was a blank. Checks to me, I bet 2500 and Randy is the only caller. River [J 9 7 X] 2. Randy checks. Having whiffed all my draws, I contemplate what to do given Randy's tendency to be a calling station. I know he has something, but my positional disadvantage throughout the hand didn't really give me enough information to put him on a definitive hand. Finally, something in my head tells me that I can't just let him have the pot, so I bet 3500. Randy insta-calls and shows 9-7 for a flopped 2 pair. I end the level with 3975 chips.
Level 3 (75/150) - ATss in the BB. Julie min-raises to 300 from the Button and I'm the only caller. Flop brings 2 spades. Check-check. I make my flush on the Turn and check again, hoping Julie will take a stab at it, but she checks behind. On the River, I lead out for 500 but Julie folds. I end the level with 4500 chips.
Level 4 (100/200) - Folds to me in the hijack and I raise to 500 with 54ss. Megan is the only caller in the BB. Flop, A 3 X. Megan checks, I bet 700 and Megan calls. Turn [A 3 X] is a blank. Megan checks and I check behind. River [A 3 X X] doesn't help me and I fold when Megan leads out with a sizable bet.
Later in the level, 4 players limp in ahead of me and I look down at T9o in the BB. It doesn't really matter what the cards are - I announce that I'm All-In for 3000 exactly. Everyone realizes that I'm making a play here, but they all fold anyway. This was my best and only good play of the tournament. I end the level with 3900.
Level 5 (125/250) - Folded for 20 minutes. I end the level and survive the first break with 3150.
Level 6 (150/300) - Folds to me on the Button and I ship it for 3150 with Ac3s, hoping to steal the blinds. Dave thinks about it for a second from the SB and calls with 77 (BB folds). I make a flush when the board runs out with 4 spades, but Dave has the 7 of spades to beat my 3 and I'm eliminated from the tournament.
So what's the lesson here folks? How about some multiple choice to keep things simple:
A) Try to avoid playing hands out of position.
B) Try to avoid playing hands out of position.
C) Try to avoid playing hands out of position.
In Level 1, I probably should have just folded pocket nines in the SB facing a 5.5x raise preflop. To some of you that probably sounds crazy but I typically play extremely tight in the beginning levels of tournaments.
The T7 hand in Level 2 was more acceptable in terms of calling preflop but my post-flop play was just awful. Instead of trying to narrow down Ang's possible holdings, I just blindly played my 2 pair in hopes that it was good. Looking back, I realize that Ang's raise on the Flop made it obvious she had a straight, set or 2 pair (an overpair to the board unlikely in an unraised pot preflop). Really, the only hand that I'm ahead of in that spot is 87. If I would have taken the time to analyze the hand, I might have check-folded on the River when I didn't improve to a Full House.
Similarly, I got myself into a world of shit during the A8 hand in Level 2. My main issue here was UTG hand selection, though trying to buy the pot on the River vs. a calling station wasn't exactly the brightest move either.
After Level 2, I played much better poker but the hole that I dug myself into in the first two levels was so deep that my odds of recovering were slim to none. I will definitely learn from my mistakes in this tournament and adjust accordingly moving forward.
Level 1 (25/50) - Megan opens to 275 from mid-position. I call from the SB with 99. Flop, Q 2 X. I check-call 500. Turn [Q 2 X] J. Check-check. River [Q 2 X J] K. Check-check again. Megan turns over AK for a rivered pair of Kings. I end the level with 14025 chips.
Level 2 (50/100) - 3 players limp preflop and I complete from the SB with T7dd. The BB checks and 5 players see a Flop, T 8 7. I lead out for 400. Ang raises to 1000 straight. Folds around to me and I call. Turn [T 8 7] 2. I check-call 1500. River [T 8 7 2] Q. I check again and Ang makes a great value bet of 1500, which lures me to call. She turns over J9 for the flopped nuts.
Later in the level, I decide to mix it up a bit from UTG and raise to 250 with A8ss. Ang calls, Julie calls from the SB and Randy calls from the BB. Flop, J 9 7, 2 spades. With the nut flush draw and a gutshot straight draw, I lead out for 600 and everyone calls. Turn [J 9 7] was a blank. Checks to me, I bet 2500 and Randy is the only caller. River [J 9 7 X] 2. Randy checks. Having whiffed all my draws, I contemplate what to do given Randy's tendency to be a calling station. I know he has something, but my positional disadvantage throughout the hand didn't really give me enough information to put him on a definitive hand. Finally, something in my head tells me that I can't just let him have the pot, so I bet 3500. Randy insta-calls and shows 9-7 for a flopped 2 pair. I end the level with 3975 chips.
Level 3 (75/150) - ATss in the BB. Julie min-raises to 300 from the Button and I'm the only caller. Flop brings 2 spades. Check-check. I make my flush on the Turn and check again, hoping Julie will take a stab at it, but she checks behind. On the River, I lead out for 500 but Julie folds. I end the level with 4500 chips.
Level 4 (100/200) - Folds to me in the hijack and I raise to 500 with 54ss. Megan is the only caller in the BB. Flop, A 3 X. Megan checks, I bet 700 and Megan calls. Turn [A 3 X] is a blank. Megan checks and I check behind. River [A 3 X X] doesn't help me and I fold when Megan leads out with a sizable bet.
Later in the level, 4 players limp in ahead of me and I look down at T9o in the BB. It doesn't really matter what the cards are - I announce that I'm All-In for 3000 exactly. Everyone realizes that I'm making a play here, but they all fold anyway. This was my best and only good play of the tournament. I end the level with 3900.
Level 5 (125/250) - Folded for 20 minutes. I end the level and survive the first break with 3150.
Level 6 (150/300) - Folds to me on the Button and I ship it for 3150 with Ac3s, hoping to steal the blinds. Dave thinks about it for a second from the SB and calls with 77 (BB folds). I make a flush when the board runs out with 4 spades, but Dave has the 7 of spades to beat my 3 and I'm eliminated from the tournament.
So what's the lesson here folks? How about some multiple choice to keep things simple:
A) Try to avoid playing hands out of position.
B) Try to avoid playing hands out of position.
C) Try to avoid playing hands out of position.
In Level 1, I probably should have just folded pocket nines in the SB facing a 5.5x raise preflop. To some of you that probably sounds crazy but I typically play extremely tight in the beginning levels of tournaments.
The T7 hand in Level 2 was more acceptable in terms of calling preflop but my post-flop play was just awful. Instead of trying to narrow down Ang's possible holdings, I just blindly played my 2 pair in hopes that it was good. Looking back, I realize that Ang's raise on the Flop made it obvious she had a straight, set or 2 pair (an overpair to the board unlikely in an unraised pot preflop). Really, the only hand that I'm ahead of in that spot is 87. If I would have taken the time to analyze the hand, I might have check-folded on the River when I didn't improve to a Full House.
Similarly, I got myself into a world of shit during the A8 hand in Level 2. My main issue here was UTG hand selection, though trying to buy the pot on the River vs. a calling station wasn't exactly the brightest move either.
After Level 2, I played much better poker but the hole that I dug myself into in the first two levels was so deep that my odds of recovering were slim to none. I will definitely learn from my mistakes in this tournament and adjust accordingly moving forward.
Friday, November 16, 2012
CPMG Podcast (feat. Matt G) Review - My Thoughts on Alcohol in Poker
Featured guest Matt Gecik (Matt G) joined hosts Doug Poker and Data for further discussion on cash games. Not only is Matt one of the best cash game players in the CPMG, but he is one of the nicest guys in the group. Matt often plays in the cash game that I deal for and he always greets me with a handshake and a smile. I was interested to learn how Matt got started in poker and also how much his sister influenced him in switching over from tournaments to cash games. Matt G has a tendency to drink a few Bud Lights or Yuenglings at the poker table, so that conversation (initiated by the straight and narrow cyborg), though brief, was certainly entertaining.
On the topic of alcohol, I distinctly remember a tournament that I played at Julie's many months ago. It was someone's birthday (Ang's I believe?). 75% of the field was female and PLENTY of shots were going around between the tournament players. By the start of Level 4, I think Data, RR Dave and I were the only sober ones left. Needless to say, it made for an entertaining evening. Some players might get annoyed by people who drink at the table. It doesn't bother me that much unless the person is obliterated beyond comprehension or is being verbally or physically abusive towards the other players. Fortunately, I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen that happen since I started playing poker in 2003. Conversely, that leads me to believe that I haven't been playing enough live poker. Only once have I had the honor of playing at the same table as Grayday, whose gimmick in the CPMG is everyone's favorite drunk. I've dealt at his cash table numerous times but I believe I have only played poker with him once during the 2011 CPMG Fall Classic tournament. Most everyone who will read this blog knows what happens after Grayday has 15 beers or so, give or take a 6 pack. I once watched him have a $900 swing (won't mention which way) in a mere 20 minutes... at a $1/$1 cash table. It was quite a feat. When sober, Grayday appears to be a very competent poker player, but it's clear that his play is affected when he is under the influence. The opposite seems to be true for Matt G, who is able to keep his focus and play solid poker after 6+ beers. Of course, different people have different tolerance levels when it comes to alcohol. Me? I rarely drink when I play poker anymore. I know that one too many beers will affect my mood and play. If I'm hosting a game, I might have a few since I don't have to drive anywhere but I moderate my intake since 99% of the time I'm responsible for the bank. I don't remember the last time that I brought booze to someone else's poker game. Steve's basement maybe? Simply put, I'm not there to drink or socialize. I'm there to play poker. I want people to see that I'm serious about the game, giving it my full attention and trying to win. That's not to say that you shouldn't ever approach me at a game. I always look forward to chatting it up with my friends in the group and meeting new players but my main focus always is winning.
Overall, the podcast with Matt G was another enjoyable listen. My next blog will review podcasts 3 and 4 which featured guests Jen and Adam Rhodes respectively. I have already listened to both episodes and planned on reviewing them here but this blog ended up running a bit long.
Thanks for reading!
On the topic of alcohol, I distinctly remember a tournament that I played at Julie's many months ago. It was someone's birthday (Ang's I believe?). 75% of the field was female and PLENTY of shots were going around between the tournament players. By the start of Level 4, I think Data, RR Dave and I were the only sober ones left. Needless to say, it made for an entertaining evening. Some players might get annoyed by people who drink at the table. It doesn't bother me that much unless the person is obliterated beyond comprehension or is being verbally or physically abusive towards the other players. Fortunately, I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen that happen since I started playing poker in 2003. Conversely, that leads me to believe that I haven't been playing enough live poker. Only once have I had the honor of playing at the same table as Grayday, whose gimmick in the CPMG is everyone's favorite drunk. I've dealt at his cash table numerous times but I believe I have only played poker with him once during the 2011 CPMG Fall Classic tournament. Most everyone who will read this blog knows what happens after Grayday has 15 beers or so, give or take a 6 pack. I once watched him have a $900 swing (won't mention which way) in a mere 20 minutes... at a $1/$1 cash table. It was quite a feat. When sober, Grayday appears to be a very competent poker player, but it's clear that his play is affected when he is under the influence. The opposite seems to be true for Matt G, who is able to keep his focus and play solid poker after 6+ beers. Of course, different people have different tolerance levels when it comes to alcohol. Me? I rarely drink when I play poker anymore. I know that one too many beers will affect my mood and play. If I'm hosting a game, I might have a few since I don't have to drive anywhere but I moderate my intake since 99% of the time I'm responsible for the bank. I don't remember the last time that I brought booze to someone else's poker game. Steve's basement maybe? Simply put, I'm not there to drink or socialize. I'm there to play poker. I want people to see that I'm serious about the game, giving it my full attention and trying to win. That's not to say that you shouldn't ever approach me at a game. I always look forward to chatting it up with my friends in the group and meeting new players but my main focus always is winning.
Overall, the podcast with Matt G was another enjoyable listen. My next blog will review podcasts 3 and 4 which featured guests Jen and Adam Rhodes respectively. I have already listened to both episodes and planned on reviewing them here but this blog ended up running a bit long.
Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
CPMG Podcast (feat. Colin Mahon) Review and Random Poker Musings
So, it's starting to slow down a bit at work. During my downtime, I usually listen to music on my phone but since my playlists are outdated and my poker itch seems to be coming back, I finally decided to give a listen to the CPMG podcast. I know, I'm a year behind... but it's better late than never, right? My friend Doug Poker and CPMG Organizer Data are your podcast hosts and their first guest was a player and person that I have a lot of respect for, Colin Mahon. Colin is widely viewed as one of the best poker players in the CPMG, so I was definitely looking forward to hearing what he had to say. The topic of the podcast was cash games - an area that I don't have much experience in save for dealing on occasion. Before I joined the CPMG in 2007, I was strictly a tournament player. I suppose I still am considering I don't have the bankroll to sit down at anything but micro-stakes cash, but I'm more open to playing cash games now than I was when I first joined the CPMG. Colin mentions in the podcast that it's much easier to make a decent profit in a cash game than it is to grind out a tournament for hours on end. I realized this a while ago (mentioned in my blog post back in February), I just haven't had the scratch to sit down and play in a cash game. I did host a micro-stakes (0.25/0.50) game at my house back in June and I'd like to start hosting again soon, but realistically that will probably happen sometime after Christmas. Anyway, hearing Colin discuss his approach to cash games and poker in general was a delight. I found the podcast to be an easy listen - I made it through the whole 1 hour and 41 minutes without ever thinking "Christ! When is this going to end?" Doug Poker and Data were well prepared with questions for Colin and Colin was honest and informative with what he had to say. If you haven't checked out the CPMG Podcast yet, I highly recommend you do so - this episode in particular if cash games are your cup of tea. The podcast is listed on iTunes - search "CPMG" or "CPMG Podcast."
I'll probably post my thoughts on the rest of the CPMG Podcast episodes as I work through them, so stay tuned.
In other news, Day 1 of the CPMG Fall Classic (a tournament I played last November and blogged about) is in the books. Day 2 of the tournament will be completed on Saturday 11/17. There are 8 players left, Supertight Prowest is the chip leader (205,700 in chips) and Krazy Joe (186,700) is breathing down his neck right behind him. Also left in the field are Keith, Linda, Robert R., Jeff R., Big Country and Malcolm. Jeff and Big Country and both short-stacked, but I like their chances if either of them happen to double up early. Malcolm can be dangerous too - another guy that I'd like to see win. Krazy Joe always seems to be the players who eliminates or cripples me in the tournaments that I've played recently, but it'd be quite a feat to see him win the tournament for the second year in a row. Best of luck to the remaining players.
I saw Steve Weixel mention on Facebook that the WSOP Circuit events in Cleveland are now off the schedule. No word yet as to why. If true, it would be unfortunate news considering the WSOP Circuit Events provide opportunities for the CPMG to stand out and make a statement in the poker world.
I'll probably post my thoughts on the rest of the CPMG Podcast episodes as I work through them, so stay tuned.
In other news, Day 1 of the CPMG Fall Classic (a tournament I played last November and blogged about) is in the books. Day 2 of the tournament will be completed on Saturday 11/17. There are 8 players left, Supertight Prowest is the chip leader (205,700 in chips) and Krazy Joe (186,700) is breathing down his neck right behind him. Also left in the field are Keith, Linda, Robert R., Jeff R., Big Country and Malcolm. Jeff and Big Country and both short-stacked, but I like their chances if either of them happen to double up early. Malcolm can be dangerous too - another guy that I'd like to see win. Krazy Joe always seems to be the players who eliminates or cripples me in the tournaments that I've played recently, but it'd be quite a feat to see him win the tournament for the second year in a row. Best of luck to the remaining players.
I saw Steve Weixel mention on Facebook that the WSOP Circuit events in Cleveland are now off the schedule. No word yet as to why. If true, it would be unfortunate news considering the WSOP Circuit Events provide opportunities for the CPMG to stand out and make a statement in the poker world.
Friday, November 9, 2012
CPMG Team Tournament 2012 (08/18/12)
August 18, 2012 - CPMG Team Tournament 2012 ($80) - Terry K's house in Seville, OH
My favorite CPMG tournament of the year and the one I usually try to go out of my way to attend. Initially, I asked Yosh and Jack T-Way if they wanted to be on a team with me. Jack was all for it but I never heard back from Yosh. A few days passed, so I assumed it was a no-go. Later that weekend, I got a text from Jamie W who was playing at a game with Doza and Marc S. They were looking to finalize their team and wanted me to join them because "I was the best Free Agent available" (which I seriously doubt, given how little I play poker these days). I agreed to join them and was completely oblivious to the fact that Jack T-Way was under the impression that he and I were going to be on a team (even though we never really finalized anything). Needless to say, I forgot to tell Jack that I was partnering up with Doza and Marc. Fortunately, Jack is a nice guy and was very understanding when I saw him at the tournament and apologized.
I didn't keep a running log of each level of the tournament, but here is a brief synopsis:
12k starting stack. 36 players total, 12 teams. My opening table had Randy, Googe, Tutt, Ang, Diablo, Hip Hop, and some dude that looked identical to Jax from Sons of Anarchy. Nothing significant happened in the early levels until the last hand before the first break. With roughly 10k in chips to start the hand and a raise and a call ahead of me, I attempted a squeeze play with 87o. The initial raiser folded but Joe W (new to the table) called. The Flop brought me nothing but a gutshot straight draw, but I bet strong and got Joe W to fold after much deliberation. At the first break, I had 14025 in chips and had the healthiest stack on my team. After the break, I moved to a new table that was much tougher. It featured a guy I didn't know (who was awful), Krazy Joe, Patty, Nautica Brian, Jen and Jack T-Way. At least I had position on Brian, Jen and Jack. In Level 9 (300/600), I took my first hit of the tournament. With KTo in the BB, I was heads-up versus an early limper (the guy I didn't know). Flop, K T 3. I bet 600 and my opponent called. Turn [K T 3] J. I bet 1200. My opponent hesitated for a second and went all in for 3700 more. I called and was disgusted to see him turn over AQ for Broadway. After the hand, I was down to 7750 in chips. In Level 10 (400/800), Krazy Joe min-raised from early position. Jack T-Way called the 1600 from the SB and I called from the BB with T8cc. The Flop brought 2 clubs and I led out for 2300. Krazy Joe put me all in for a couple thousand more and I bricked out to his top pair of Kings.
Marc S (32nd place), Doza (11th) and I (23rd) came nowhere close to the Team or Individual payouts, but it was still a great time and I'm glad Doza and Marc thought enough of me as a player to ask me to be on their team.
Just typing this up, I'm already looking forward to next year's Team Tournament.
My favorite CPMG tournament of the year and the one I usually try to go out of my way to attend. Initially, I asked Yosh and Jack T-Way if they wanted to be on a team with me. Jack was all for it but I never heard back from Yosh. A few days passed, so I assumed it was a no-go. Later that weekend, I got a text from Jamie W who was playing at a game with Doza and Marc S. They were looking to finalize their team and wanted me to join them because "I was the best Free Agent available" (which I seriously doubt, given how little I play poker these days). I agreed to join them and was completely oblivious to the fact that Jack T-Way was under the impression that he and I were going to be on a team (even though we never really finalized anything). Needless to say, I forgot to tell Jack that I was partnering up with Doza and Marc. Fortunately, Jack is a nice guy and was very understanding when I saw him at the tournament and apologized.
I didn't keep a running log of each level of the tournament, but here is a brief synopsis:
12k starting stack. 36 players total, 12 teams. My opening table had Randy, Googe, Tutt, Ang, Diablo, Hip Hop, and some dude that looked identical to Jax from Sons of Anarchy. Nothing significant happened in the early levels until the last hand before the first break. With roughly 10k in chips to start the hand and a raise and a call ahead of me, I attempted a squeeze play with 87o. The initial raiser folded but Joe W (new to the table) called. The Flop brought me nothing but a gutshot straight draw, but I bet strong and got Joe W to fold after much deliberation. At the first break, I had 14025 in chips and had the healthiest stack on my team. After the break, I moved to a new table that was much tougher. It featured a guy I didn't know (who was awful), Krazy Joe, Patty, Nautica Brian, Jen and Jack T-Way. At least I had position on Brian, Jen and Jack. In Level 9 (300/600), I took my first hit of the tournament. With KTo in the BB, I was heads-up versus an early limper (the guy I didn't know). Flop, K T 3. I bet 600 and my opponent called. Turn [K T 3] J. I bet 1200. My opponent hesitated for a second and went all in for 3700 more. I called and was disgusted to see him turn over AQ for Broadway. After the hand, I was down to 7750 in chips. In Level 10 (400/800), Krazy Joe min-raised from early position. Jack T-Way called the 1600 from the SB and I called from the BB with T8cc. The Flop brought 2 clubs and I led out for 2300. Krazy Joe put me all in for a couple thousand more and I bricked out to his top pair of Kings.
Marc S (32nd place), Doza (11th) and I (23rd) came nowhere close to the Team or Individual payouts, but it was still a great time and I'm glad Doza and Marc thought enough of me as a player to ask me to be on their team.
Just typing this up, I'm already looking forward to next year's Team Tournament.
Marc's $80 Bounty Tournament (06/02/12)
It has been awhile since I have posted one of these. 6 months? Zoiks. In that time span, I actually played 2 poker tournaments that I was just too lazy to log. The first was Marc's $80 Bounty Tournament that he held back on June 2nd. It was my first time playing at Marc S house and I was really impressed with his setup. Nice basement. Nice tables. 5 minute drive from my house.
15k starting stack. 20 minute levels. $20 for each bounty. My opening table had Anthony Mendoza, Mike T, Doza, Chris O, Ang, Jamie W and Linda.
Level 1 (25/50) - The first level is normally pretty quiet for me but I picked up a few solid hands (QJ on the button and JJ the very next hand from the cut-off) that I won pretty decent sized pots with. I ended the level with 17375 chips.
Level 2 (50/100) - Didn't play a hand. Ended level with 17325 chips.
Level 3 (75/150) - Chris O raises to 425 from mid-position. Folds to me on the Button and I re-raise to 900 with QQ. Chris thinks for a minute and 4-bets 2625 more. I call, no hesitation. Flop, J T 7. Chris immediately leads out for 4800. I think for a minute and figure that a strong, almost insta- bet on a somewhat wet Flop means that he's trying to protect Aces or Kings and I fold. Mike T pegs me for Queens after the hand and has me feeling a bit better when he says that I made a good fold. I ended the level with 13675 chips.
Level 4 (100/200) - It's folded to Jamie who limps from the Button. Luckbox Linda calls from the SB. I raise to 800 from the BB with 88 and both players call. Flop, T 9 4. Linda checks, I bet 1100, Jamie folds and Linda calls. Turn [T 9 4] X. Linda checks, I bet 1600, she calls. River [T 9 4 X] 7. Check-check, and I drag a nice size pot (Linda had 66 and thought I was on big cards). I ended the level with 19075 chips.
Level 5 (125/250) - In early position, I open to 700 with JJ. Jamie is the only caller from the BB. Flop, T 9 X, all diamonds. I bet 800, Jamie calls. Turn [Td 9d Xd] Kh. Check-check. River [Td 9d Xd Kh] Qc. Jamie bets 1000 and I fold(?). I'm not sure why I folded a straight there or if I logged the hand incorrectly in my phone (which tends to happen from time to time). This is one of those cases where I wish I would have logged the tournament within a few days after I played it. I ended the level with 17575 chips.
Levels 6 - 8 - I bled chips for an hour and ended Level 8 with 13000 chips exactly.
Level 9 (400/800) - I lost 7k in a race to Luckbox Linda (QQ < AK) but doubled up shortly afterward all in for 4800 against Jamie (KQ > AT). I ended the level with 10400 chips.
Level 10 (500/1000) - With 8900 in my stack, I raise to 2500 from mid-position with Ac Jh. It folds to Ang in the BB who goes AI and has me slightly covered. I call (albeit reluctantly since I despise AJ) and she turns over JJ. I'm delighted when the board runs out and realize that we both have made a straight, but it turns out hers is of the straight flush variety.
Busto.
Losing the race against Linda in Level 9 was really the turning point for me in the tournament. Had that hand gone in my favor, perhaps I would have made a little run, as I was feeling good and playing pretty solid poker up until that point. Oh well, onto the next one...
15k starting stack. 20 minute levels. $20 for each bounty. My opening table had Anthony Mendoza, Mike T, Doza, Chris O, Ang, Jamie W and Linda.
Level 1 (25/50) - The first level is normally pretty quiet for me but I picked up a few solid hands (QJ on the button and JJ the very next hand from the cut-off) that I won pretty decent sized pots with. I ended the level with 17375 chips.
Level 2 (50/100) - Didn't play a hand. Ended level with 17325 chips.
Level 3 (75/150) - Chris O raises to 425 from mid-position. Folds to me on the Button and I re-raise to 900 with QQ. Chris thinks for a minute and 4-bets 2625 more. I call, no hesitation. Flop, J T 7. Chris immediately leads out for 4800. I think for a minute and figure that a strong, almost insta- bet on a somewhat wet Flop means that he's trying to protect Aces or Kings and I fold. Mike T pegs me for Queens after the hand and has me feeling a bit better when he says that I made a good fold. I ended the level with 13675 chips.
Level 4 (100/200) - It's folded to Jamie who limps from the Button. Luckbox Linda calls from the SB. I raise to 800 from the BB with 88 and both players call. Flop, T 9 4. Linda checks, I bet 1100, Jamie folds and Linda calls. Turn [T 9 4] X. Linda checks, I bet 1600, she calls. River [T 9 4 X] 7. Check-check, and I drag a nice size pot (Linda had 66 and thought I was on big cards). I ended the level with 19075 chips.
Level 5 (125/250) - In early position, I open to 700 with JJ. Jamie is the only caller from the BB. Flop, T 9 X, all diamonds. I bet 800, Jamie calls. Turn [Td 9d Xd] Kh. Check-check. River [Td 9d Xd Kh] Qc. Jamie bets 1000 and I fold(?). I'm not sure why I folded a straight there or if I logged the hand incorrectly in my phone (which tends to happen from time to time). This is one of those cases where I wish I would have logged the tournament within a few days after I played it. I ended the level with 17575 chips.
Levels 6 - 8 - I bled chips for an hour and ended Level 8 with 13000 chips exactly.
Level 9 (400/800) - I lost 7k in a race to Luckbox Linda (QQ < AK) but doubled up shortly afterward all in for 4800 against Jamie (KQ > AT). I ended the level with 10400 chips.
Level 10 (500/1000) - With 8900 in my stack, I raise to 2500 from mid-position with Ac Jh. It folds to Ang in the BB who goes AI and has me slightly covered. I call (albeit reluctantly since I despise AJ) and she turns over JJ. I'm delighted when the board runs out and realize that we both have made a straight, but it turns out hers is of the straight flush variety.
Busto.
Losing the race against Linda in Level 9 was really the turning point for me in the tournament. Had that hand gone in my favor, perhaps I would have made a little run, as I was feeling good and playing pretty solid poker up until that point. Oh well, onto the next one...
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