PLAYERS:

Luckbox | Otis | G-Rob

About the Up For Poker Blog

Up For Poker Blog Categories:

2006 WSOP
2007 World Series of Poker
2008 Belmont Stakes
2008 Kentucky Derby
2008 World Series of Poker
2009 WPBT Winter Classic
2010 WPBT Winter Classic
American Idol 2009
B&M Poker
Bad Beats
Betting the Ponies
Bradoween
Craps
Disc Golf
Fantasy Sports
Frolf
G-Rob's Thoughts
Game Review
Home Games
Horse Racing
Internet Gambling Bill
Las Vegas
Lefty's Thoughts
Luckbox Last Longer Challenge
Luckbox's Thoughts
March Madness
Movie Previews
Movie review
NCAA Basketball
NETeller News
NFL Football
Online Poker
Online Sports Betting
Other Gambling
Otis' Thoughts
Pick 6
Playing For Fun
Playing For Money
PLO
Poker Blogger Tournaments
Poker Blogs
Poker in the News
Poker Law and Legal News
Poker Movies
Poker on TV
Poker Players
Poker Psychology
Poker Theory
Poker Web Sites
Pot Limit Omaha Strategy
Reading Material
Sports Betting
The Nuts
The Playboy Mansion
Tournament Action
Tuff Fish Appreciation Society
Tunica Tales
UIGEA
Underground Games
Up for Poker News
WPBT Holiday Classic Trip

Previous Hands:

December 2010
November 2010
September 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
December 2008
November 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003

Powered by:
Movable Type 6.8.8
Poker Blog established in 2003 as the first stop for poker news, poker stories, and bad poker advice.

February 27, 2005

No Limit at The Coushatta: Turning $200 Into a Grand

by Luckbox

It was a $30+$10 tourney at the Coushatta with a $30 rebuy and a $30 add on. Basically, it was a $100+$10 tourney because you only got T1000 for your entry fee, but the rebuy and add on were each T2000. The tourney started at noon and I hit the road at about 10am so I'd be there about a half hour early. It was a limit tourney, but I want some more B&M tourney experience so I was willing to give it a shot.

When I got there, I was shocked to learn the tourney was full and there was an alternate list 14 people long. I wasn't playing in this tournament and it's the best thing that could have happened to me. I got my name on the 3/6/12 and the NL lists which were both at least 15 deep. I figured I'd get to play eventually.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | B&M Poker

February 25, 2005

Who's Got the Nuts Now?

by Luckbox

Okay, so maybe the guy who finished 7th in last year's main event at the World Series of Poker didn't exactly need a traffic bump from this little 'ol web site, but they earned it. There's still some great stuff over at Ship It Poker.

But now it's about time for a change. And this time, I've got a blogger with current credentials. As far as I can tell, he's the only blogger in Card Player Magazines top 40 poker player of the year standings.

It's Chris from over at Twenty-One Outs Twice. He's currently 37th ahead of such notables as Freddy Deeb, Max Pescatori and Scott Fischman. Not bad, huh? You'll have to head over to his blog to find out how he got there. It's just another edition of "The Nuts!"

(And in case you're wondering, to get 21 outs twice, just have an open-ended straight flush draw with two overcards. Pretty simple, huh?)

Permalink | Poker Blogs , | The Nuts

February 24, 2005

Reading Otis

by Otis

If you have not yet heard about the next live WPBT event in Vegas, scroll down to the next post before reading this.

The coming days would find me converting dollars to euros in my head, trying to figure out whether I was spending $75 or $150 to enter the single table tournaments. The coming days would find me face to face with some of Europe's top pros in a game of Hi-Lo 7-stud, cringing when a player named Badgirl called my hand on fifth street and jumped up and down in her seat when I tabled my hand. "See! See? I told you he had the queens." The coming days would find me taking third and second in the one table tournaments, silently hating myself for entering games where only first place paid. The coming days would find me hopped up on $30 beers and $20 club sandwiches and tracking a tournament from 245 players down to one.

But on the first night, I found myself at a two-table tournament...naked.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Tournament Action

February 21, 2005

wil on the World Poker Tour

by Luckbox

Here's the good news: Poker blogger extraordinaire wil wheaton was on the World Poker Tour Hollywood Home Game last night and got to sit beside the stunning Evelyn Ng who acted as table boss.

Here's the bad news: wil didn't see many good cards and one hand really ended his night. It was clear to me he was one of the better, if not the best, players at the table, but he wasn't blessed with the kind of luck other players fell into.

For those who missed it, here's a breakdown of wil's play with a little analysis from me.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Poker on TV

Damn it

by Otis

I was going to write up some stuff from Deauville today, but not right now..

Back soon.

Permalink | Otis' Thoughts

February 20, 2005

Changing The Nuts

by Luckbox

It's like holding the nut flush when the board pairs on the river. Sometimes when you think you have the nuts, the cards slap you across the face.

The change in "The Nuts" here at Up For Poker is not nearly as dramatic. Now that Otis' adventures in France are over, I had to drop the European Poker Tour blog in favor of something new.

That something new is three friends blogging about poker and strategy. Sound familiar? Think of it as Up For Poker but at much, much higher levels. Where G-Rob and I grind at the $2/$4 tables, the boys over at Ship It Poker are beating the $25/$50 NL tables.

It starts with WSOP final table participant Matt Dean. But it also includes Gamecock Lloyd McGuire. Maybe he can take a roadtrip up I-26 to Greenville for a little homegame action with the boys in G-Vegas. And rounding out the trio is U of I No Limit specialist Taylor Caby.

You won't find a lot of home game write-ups over at Ship It Poker, but you'll find some great strategy advice. These guys obviously know what they're doing!

Maybe we should set up a little single table action... Up For Poker vs. Ship It Poker. What do you think?

Permalink | Poker Blogs , | The Nuts

February 18, 2005

Cold Poker in the Red Stick

by Luckbox

It is, perhaps, an unfortunate name for a city.

Red Stick.

But the Cajun people of Louisiana took care of any problems by using the more impressive French version.

Baton Rouge.

Last night, a coworker asked me if I wanted to play a little poker with some of his friends in Baton Rouge.

My answer? Oui, oui!

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Playing For Money

February 17, 2005

Poker Blogger makes good

by Otis

We've long asked who would be the first poker blogger to make the final table of a big event. Friday, fellow blogger Mike "Lucky Blind" Lacey, has a damned good shot. He finished Day 2 of the French Open in third chip position and has ben playing very well. Plus, he's one helluva nice guy.

Be sure to check out his progress Friday on the The Nuts link on the left.

Permalink | Tournament Action

February 16, 2005

I'm Slipping

by Luckbox

Fresh off my double triumph last night, I decided to go after a couple cheap SNG's over at PokerStars again tonight. The results weren't as good...

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Online Poker

How I got to France

by Otis

Actually, I got to France on a plane that could've crashed on landing, then went into an airport where people were blowing up suspicious packages. Nonetheless, I wouldn't have made it France without the winner of this competition.

Back in a few days with one hell of a story about making it to the final four of a tournament (given...a small tournament) with Mean Gene's favorite European player in the four seat.

Oh, yeah, I was in the three seat.

And if you have any interest in keeping up with the French Open, be sure to check it out at the EPT blog.

Permalink | Otis' Thoughts

February 15, 2005

Okay, So It Isn't All Bad News

by Luckbox

First... read my diatribe in the post below... then click "There's More" on this post.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Online Poker

It's Time to be Honest

by Luckbox

"Hello, my name is CJ... and I'm a losing poker player."

I'd like to begin the Losing Poker Player's Anonymous. I just got doing reading the latest over at F Train which included this:

And so now the bankroll on Party is basically exhausted. I have $11. I'm about to take that last $11 and put it into a SNG, and then it will finally be done. I'll have gone bankrupt on Party Poker, a day that I never thought would come.

Then I got the latest Yahoo group message from Felicia which included this:

Even the rock is sometimes the sucker. I have been the sucker lately... One of my biggest advantages in poker has now turned
into a nightmare. I think I need a break. I'll see you all soon.

That all brings us to me. I loaded $500 in Party Poker to get the maximum $150 bonus. That's $650 to use against all those fish I hear so much about.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Playing For Money

February 14, 2005

Poker in Life

by G-Rob

Please note the propstion here. This is not "Poker AS Life" or "Poker IS Life", I think that topic's been beat to death. Instead let's consider just some of the ways in which our poker prowess, or in some cases lack thereof, can influence our everyday lives. For the positive this time.

Prime example : Last Friday.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | G-Rob's Thoughts

February 13, 2005

It Only Takes One Mistake

by Luckbox

It's the nature of tournament poker. You can play perfect poker for hours, but find yourself in trouble because of a single decision. Perhaps you've lost your concentration because you're tired. Perhaps you misread your opponent. Perhaps you set your opponent up for a certain play but when the time came, your timing was off.

There's a lot of reasons why it happens, but to win a tournament you either have to avoid this big mistake or hope you're left with enough chips to come back.

My mistake was costly.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Tournament Action

February 11, 2005

B&M Tournament Plans

by Luckbox

The largest buy-in I've ever paid for a live casino poker tournament is just $65. In fact, the buy-in for that tourney was just $35, but there was a $30 rebuy which I was forced to take advantage of.

In general, I haven't felt comfortable enough with the tournament structures to put down a more significant amount of money. Often times, the starting stack is too small or the blinds start too high. My style of play does not lend itself to the shoot-out style tournament.

Saturday, I plan on playing in a $200+20 tournament at the Coushatta Casino in Kinder, LA.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Tournament Action

February 9, 2005

When does it matter?

by G-Rob

In my line of work there is a very steep learning curve. Its true in any business, of course, but in my case the newbies get their on-the-job training in front of a six figure rail. They learn fast or get acquianted with MONSTER.COM.

In many ways, the old pro will always have the edge. The old sea captain knows every roll of the waves and is unshaken by the gale. A verteran doctor is less shaken by a dangrous turn. My more grizzled collegues have a million secret souces to tap when a big story breaks.

But what about poker? When does a fish cut bait?

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Online Poker

February 8, 2005

Things you should be reading today

by Otis

As the Life d'Otis is a bit in the weeds, I thought I'd point you to some things you should read today...

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Reading Material

The Danger Hands

by Luckbox

They are hands that break up the monotony of fold, fold, fold, fold and fold. You're four-tabling online and just waiting for a hand to flash before your eyes or you're at a B&M and just waiting for that first playable hand.

That's when you see it. The danger hand. The hand you shouldn't be playing, but the hand you can't help but play. All it does is cost you money, but you keep telling yourself, "It's the best hand I've seen in hours."

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Poker Theory

February 7, 2005

How to make Superbowl XXXIX interesting

by Otis

In the old days, before children and the workaday world, Superbowl Sunday rarely had a chance to be boring. If there wasn't a keg iced down on the back porch or in the garage, there were several cases of beer in a cooler next to a table of food fit for a king's feast.

These days, though, when one has to keep an eye on the drooling kid, avoid stepping on the pre-schoolers who zip around the room like spilled mercury, and do one's best not to go into work hopelessly hungover, a Superbowl has a damned good chance of being boring. Especially if the Pats look bored and the Eagles look...well, how the Eagles looked (sorry, CJ).

Of, course, there's only one thing that can keep two UFP junkies from falling asleep in their man-chairs.

Prop bets.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Other Gambling

February 6, 2005

Tournament Woes

by Luckbox

This blog doesn't tend to be full of tales of bad beats. And that's a good thing. We all go through them. It's a part of the game. You have to get lucky a full times yourself because you know at some point, someone will likely catch you.

How you respond to those bad beats, however, is what separates good players from average players. I'm not sure which class I fall in, but perhaps you can tell me as I spin yarns of bad beats...

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Bad Beats

February 5, 2005

What are the chances...

by Otis

...that I would choose to play on Empire when I haven't played there in months? What are the chances I'd decide to play in the 10K guarantee? What are the chances another blogger would decide to play in the same tournament? What are the chances we'd both end up in the money and at the final table? And what are the chances we'd be among the final three battling it out for the remaining $5000+ in prize money.

I think it's a lot like catching a one-outer on the river.

Still, it happened. I'm too busy today to write it up properly, but DoubleAs took some time to post his version.

Permalink | Tournament Action

February 3, 2005

Maybe the stripper was right

by Otis

I remember the night my future wife finally came around to my way of thinking. After nine months of aborted courtship, fantastically stupid college promiscuity, and an unfortunate period of facial hair growth, I'd given up on the concept that she may someday be my bride. I'd given up to the point that I'd started drinking Jagermeister from the bottom of the bottle and hanging out at The Blue Note more than my apartment.

Then, one night, we found each other at The Note and inexplicably she kissed me.

Through a fog of surprise, waning Jagermeister intoxication, and painful dance music, I remember thinking, "Now all you have to do is not screw this up."

Last night as the WPBT tourney worked its way down to 50 players, I remember thinking much the same thing.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Tournament Action

February 2, 2005

WPBT Bounty

by Luckbox

Okay, it's simple. Knock out my twin brother and I and you'll get $22. It's a twin thing. Bust Lefty and Up4Poker and we'll pay your entry fee. Of course, since my brother and I will be finishing 1st and 2nd, it's gonna be tough for any of you to knock us out.

I'm playing for real this time. There's no fooling around! I made it easy on you all in the past, but I'm ready for action. I've improved my style and I've become more aggressive than G-Rob. Just wait and see!!!

Oh, and I almost forgot. Winner gets their blog featured in the coveted "The Nuts" here at Up For Poker. It will be a blogger who wins, right?

Permalink | Tournament Action

Some house-cleaning and pimpage

by Otis

A few things leading up to tonight's WPBT tournament on PokerStars...

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Otis' Thoughts

February 1, 2005

WPBT Event Reminder

by Luckbox

Click "There's More" for details.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Online Poker

Fruit-smuggling in Denmark

by Otis

The knock came through a dense fog of hyper-sexual dreams and worry that I had somehow missed the final hand of a tournament that had not yet started. I jumped from the bed and found myself standing in a room decorated in East Asian chic. Where in the hell am I? Tai Pei? No, that's not right. Something is wrong.

I saw the hotel room door just as it was opening. The man was walking in with a tenative lean. He looked at me as I started to speak and muttered with a thick Danish accent, "Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry, sir." And he escaped back into the hallway.

I stood confused for two seconds and then looked down at myself. I was wearing nothing but a pair of tight, tight European-style boxer briefs.

It looked like I was smuggling fruit and I suspected the Danish police would be there soon to arrest me on some customs violation.

This is my new life, I thought.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Otis' Thoughts

Hiatus

by G-Rob

I have the two best children in the world. Lots of kids are smart. Some, a rare few, are both smart and good-looking. Mine are all that and a bag of chips. Its a miracle of random genetics, like if Chris Kattan fathered a supermodel, but its true. They are God's ( or nature's for you agnostics ) greatest blessing. They make me insane.

Aw Hell! You know where I'm going. Its those times when I'm at home all weekend, when I've played my 32nd game of CHUTES AND LADDERS, when I've explained for the 100th tome that Martin Luther King was not dreaming of "PEAS", that I want to be swingin' single. I'm a celebrity, you know. Chicks dig famous guys.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | G-Rob's Thoughts