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Poker Blog established in 2003 as the first stop for poker news, poker stories, and bad poker advice.

May 31, 2006

On Luck and Poker Pros

by Luckbox

The concept of "luck" has been floating around the poker blogosphere for a couple of days now, and, as The Luckbox, I felt compelled to weigh in.

It started with Jordan and moved to Biggestron. Upon reading their posts, all I could say is:

Lamenting the affect of luck is a good way to ignore the real problem.

I'm glad I didn't say more because F-Train wrote everything I wanted to say, but much better than I would have.

[Update: Scurvydog adds some great fodder for this discussion, saying, again, what I would if I could write. And judging by the comments, I've offended with this post. I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not. Poker is a game of skill. It is a game of math. Sometimes you hit and sometimes the donkey hits. If you can't tailor your game to accomodate those contingencies, then go play craps.]

Okay, on to the fun stuff...

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

May 30, 2006

Getting Stuck On Purpose

by Otis

The bar was just about to get loud. The G-Spot is one of those places that is a comfortable watering hole until the band starts up. Then it gets loud and it's hard to hear each other talk. I was with BadBlood and my buddy, T. We were talking marriage and family. For the 30-40 married man, it's one of the most important discussions to have with your like-minded friends.

It was during this discussion that I had an odd poker epiphany.

I think I get stuck on purpose.

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

A Limit to the madness

by G-Rob

I'd looked foreward to Monday all weekend long. Yes, I realize just how bizarre that sounds, but I do work on the weekend so it's a bit different for me. See, we've just learned that the "G-Vegas BIG GAME" is changing formats. Gone is the $2/$5 $200-man NL OMAHA crap....with $1/$2 NLHE in it's place.

Glory BE!

Of course this was a holiday weekend, and the best laid plans...yada yada yada...we played something else instead.

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

May 28, 2006

Tales from the Bayou

by Luckbox

She pressed her knee into my leg. She was sending me a message, hidden under the table from the rest of the players. It was different from when she placed her hand on my arm or whispered in my ear. I knew exactly what she was trying to tell me here, and it excited me.

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

May 26, 2006

Handsome

by G-Rob

On Friday afternoon I met my older daughter in the driveway, after she'd stepped from the bus. Before she chould toss her backpack into the pile of shoes in the corner, I'd whisked her off to Barnes and Noble. I wanted a copy of the Bonds book "Game of Shadows" and I like for her to get excited about new books.

Oh, and I picked up a copy of "Bluff" magazine. It contains the following DIRECT QUOTE: "The debonair and handsome G-Rob, who is also a local G-Vegas Celebrity."

Let me just say, Pauly is the single greatest writer working in America today. I've mentioned the article to my wife a few (fewer then 40,000) times and each time she reacts the same way.

"Well, I always thought you were handsome... but debonair? I think Pauly does drugs."

For the record, he does.

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

May 25, 2006

Murderer's Row?

by Otis

"I always keep a roll of duct tape and some rope in the trunk of my car."

I was doing my best not to look at the guy while he talked. I already knew what he looked like. Closely-cropped hair, a few pock-marks on his face, and arms that looked like he used to be either really muscular or really fat, but was neither anymore.

"You never know when you're going to have to make a trip to Alabama and drop someone in the bayou."

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

May 22, 2006

Everything and Nothing (to do with poker)

by G-Rob

Up for Poker lost a dear friend this weekend. He was 34 years old.

The last time I talked to Gulfman was Tuesday in one of the cramped edit bays here at work. He was dressed as always with khaki shorts, a clean company logo shirt and filthy leather boots, just staring at the computer screen on which he'd typed a dozen words. His perfectly round face sagged with concern. His left hand gripping his almost hairless crown.

He'd been a photographer here for 9 years this month but was trying something new. He was ready to grow. He wanted to be a writer.

I promisted to help.

I owed him that much.

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

May 21, 2006

I Had a Bad Day

by Luckbox

Cue the catchy Daniel Powter song.

I did only slighlty better in this WSOP $1000 Circuit Event than I did in the last one. Which is to say I sucked again. Foreshadowing: the title of my next post will be "I Can't Make the Big Laydown."

In the meantime, head over to Up For Anything and congratulate my sister for taking down a $3 rebuy satellite to the WSOP Super Sat. At least someone in the family knows how to play tourneys.

Permalink | Tournament Action

May 18, 2006

The TripJax Questions

by Otis

Since G-Rob neglected to take notes on last night's home game and is not bringing you a recap of the carnage that ensued, I thought I'd take a shot at TripJax's question thread.

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

May 17, 2006

How to win WWdN

by G-Rob

You know, I've won Wil's tourney 3 times now. I own it. There have been times, rare Tuesday evenings, when I allow other players to donk their way to victory but I am to WWdN what great hair is to...um...me.

Want to know the secret? Want to know how I master this event?

Here's my advice to you:

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

May 15, 2006

What Were They Holding?

by Luckbox

Well, I won't say my ego is crushed by the fact that just two people found time to guess what my opponents were holding. Ah, screw that. I hate you all!!

Okay, now that I have that out of my system, I'd like to thank Wes and EZ for their guesses (and Joe Speaker for his IRC guesses), but no one came close. I'm not surprised, however, because you're guessing on incomplete information and my opponents are idiots.

If you want to guess, feel free to go back to this post before reading on...

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

May 14, 2006

Live Blogging Presumed Tilt

by Otis

Circumstances stripped me of hanging out with my wife and mom on this Mother's Day. After working all day (and now waiting to work later tonight), I've decided to purposefully tilt myself and bring you along for the stupid ride. What am I doing? I'm going to play no fewer than four tournaments at a time for the rest of the night. Why? Well, why does a dog lick himself?

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

May 13, 2006

Kelly Clarkson Prefers Cash Games

by Luckbox

I was back at the Coushatta Casino today. I decided to skip the Sam Farha appearance and take at shot at the weekly $200 NL tourney. I have to get back into rhythm before I take on the WSOP Circuit Event at the end of the month.

One big change this time around was my card protector. For more than a year, I'd been using a Hurricane Ivan commerative coin. It's done pretty well for me, but it was time for something new. And that something is Kelly Clarkson.

As you can see from the chip stack, she came through big. After a disappointing end to the touranment, I turned a $300 buy in into $1300 before walking out of there with a little more than a grand. Not bad at all.

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

May 12, 2006

How Could You Call That?!?!

by Luckbox

How many times have you been asked that question? How many times have you seen it asked at the table? And how many times have you asked that yourself?

Here's the outrage:

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

May 10, 2006

Get On Your HORSE

by Luckbox

This blogger sent me an email about this blogger. It seems they're hoping to run a series of Wednesday night HORSE tourneys at Full Tilt Poker. That's my regular pool table poker night so I won't be playing, but if you are interested, here are the details:

What: HORSE tourney
When: May 10th (Wednesday), 9pm ET
Where: Full Tilt private tournament 4000071
Entry fee: $5+$.50
Password: blogsuck

Permalink | Tournament Action

May 9, 2006

Anatomy of a Luckbox

by Luckbox

Haven't played much recently. Guess I've been saving it up....

Shortstacked with T6 and a flop of 89J. Open ended? I push and get called by T7. That's okay, just ask for the Q and chop on the river. My opponent called me a moron.

Two hands later, again shortstacked, push with 56s. Why not? Called by the same guy who shows KTo. Flop is AKQ. Ouch. Turn is a J. River? How could you not see the T coming. I type, "I rock." He types, "u suck."

Heads up against the same guy. He doesn't have a prayer. Q2... river trip 2s. J7? River a straight. 36o vs. 85o final hand? Flop a 6.

I love this game sometimes.

Permalink | Tournament Action

May 6, 2006

Title

by G-Rob

I've played a little better lately. At least, I assume that's the case. As I've posted before, it's hard to objectively measure the level of one's play. So let's say this, I've won more money lately and that's always a good thing.

However, in lieu of an actual post, I offer you this...random crap I've been thinking about.

You know, stuff like this:

Did you ever realize that the movie "Rocky IV" has the highest montage/real time ratio of any film in modern cinema. The last 45 minutes of the film are three great montages in the following sequence:

1) Rocky runs through snow carrying a log. Ivan (Look at the size of that RUSSIAN!) Drago runs on a treadmill. Rocky chops down a tree with an axe and, as it falls, we cut to a scene of Ivan knocking a sparring opponent down.

2) The lovely Mrs. Rocky is waiting for our hero on the porch of the Siberian chateau. She kisses him hello. We immediately begin montage #2 which features the great lyrics "HEARTS ON FIRE... STRONG DESIRE!" while Rocky lifts an ox cart and does upside-down situps.

3) The fight begins, the boxers fight for 2 rounds, and a 12 round montage begins. The fighters go back and forth. Rocky falls behind. Rocky gives "If I can change... you can change! We can all change!" speech, which singlehandedly ends the cold war.

It's all montage. Screenwriters can't do better. It's the cinematic equivilant of "yada... yada... yada."

That's where I'm headed with this post....

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

Run for the Roses

by Luckbox

If you're interested, the Derby picks are up over at my other blog.

Update: And the big Trifecta box is now posted as well.

Permalink | Other Gambling

May 4, 2006

New poker reading

by Otis

I've been fortunate enough to meet some fine people on the poker road in the past year or two. Most of them have been mentioned ad nauseum here. Two of them, however, have remained unmentioned and unlinked for far too long. Now, they both have new projects that are more than worthy of mention.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | Poker Web Sites

May 3, 2006

Bad Beats: Definitions

by Otis

Poker is not a Pollyanna game. I know, because I am an idealist.

[Ed. Note: We are having a server issue with our comments, please bear with us. Fixed.]

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

Sammy Farha in Louisiana

by Luckbox

The man famously bluffed by Chris Moneymaker, the man who likes the feel of an unlit cigarette in his mouth, the man who sits at the high stakes table with the likes of Doyle and Chan will be in Acadiana this weekend.

My favorite poker room is hosting its annual $250,000 Seven Clans Poker Cup and Sammy Farha is a special guest. I've heard he's getting a little something extra to come play (and it may be more than a little) and there might be a big bounty on his head (maybe as big as $10,000).

The tournament is two flights, Friday and Saturday, with the top ten from each flight playing on Sunday. Sammy will be playing in the first flight on Friday. The entry fee is $1000 but I'm hearing the event might already be sold out, so if you're hoping to sit down with Sammy, you'll have to try to catch him in a cash game.

I've also heard he'll only play at table one which is in the back corner and can be blocked off by a heavy curtain. No word yet on the limits, but I'd imagine he won't be playing the $300 max NL game. The biggest game played at the Coushatta is generally a $5/$10 no max buy in NL game that's sometimes a split game with PLO.

I'm going to try and get there this weekend and through some of my contacts, maybe I can get a little time with Sammy. If I do, I'll certainly report it here. I'm not playing in the tourney. I tried to satellite in, but was on the receiving end of a tough suckout heads up. And since I'm already buying myself into the WSOP Circuit Event in New Orleans, I don't want to spend $1000 twice.

Permalink | Tournament Action

May 1, 2006

Ch-ch-ch Changes

by Luckbox

You've probably noticed a new addition to our sidebar. With all the talk of blogs and blogging, it's interesting that we were in the process of negotiating for our first true advertisers for Up For Poker. It's not something we ever planened for or ever expected, but, frankly, it's worth it. And it will keep G-Rob off my back for a little while. And the good news for readers is that it should encourage us to post even more!

If you are interested in advertising on Up For Poker, limited space is still available. Please click here to contact the webmaster or send an email to: advertising@upforpoker.com.

Permalink | Up for Poker News