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

July 31, 2007

TLDNR

by Otis

"What hath God wrought."

It's what I wished I'd been quick enough to say that night in Las Vegas.

I was in the seven seat and on the heater of my trip. It was one of those gorgeous nights where nothing goes wrong, aces hold up, draws get there, and the other players are either scared or vindictive enough to try to make moves.

The guy in the two seat was playing badly. He'd just come over from a different game and it was obvious he was playing on the last money in his pocket. He wore a hooded sweatshirt, a flat-billed cap, and a pair of dark shades.

He hadn't been sitting at the table for a full orbit and had yet to play a hand with me when he came in for a raise. I called in position and flopped open-ended. When he made his continuation bet, I made the call. He checked the turn and I checked behind. The river paired me and he checked again. This time I bet out. He scowled and folded, saying as he mucked his cards, "If I were you, I'd kill myself."

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

July 30, 2007

Neteller UPDATE

by G-Rob

Updated with important NETeller release form information below
Updated AGAIN with even more important information below

Just got this e-mail from Neteller:

"The NETELLER Plc Group has announced that the distribution of funds to its US members will begin on July 30, 2007.

You are receiving this e-mail because our records reflect that you are a US member who may request funds from NETELLER. As of July 30, you will be able to make a request for funds on NETELLER’s website by signing in to your account. In the meantime, you should visit our online FAQs for more information about the distribution plan.

Please note that US members will not be able to request funds from the NETELLER website after January 26, 2008.

NETELLER Plc Group"

THERE'S MORE!

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | NETeller News

July 27, 2007

Do I play to Lose?

by G-Rob

Perhaps the reason "you can't always get what you want" is that few, if any, of us have any idea what it is we're after. I had this Latin teacher back in high school who, so exasperated by my distractions, later chose to ignore me completely. But I'll always remember what she said to a student who responded to a question about what he wanted in life by saying, "I want to be happy".

"Happiness is not a goal," she said, "you HAVE goals and happiness does or does not happen along the way".

As much as I quarreled with that woman, I've never forgotten that.

So, do I play poker to win?

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

July 26, 2007

Poker, The Unabomber, and the Times

by G-Rob

There's a neat New York Times story about computer "bots" playing poker against Phil Laak in this morning's paper. Here's a link

If you prefer a hard copy, as I do, check out the section below the fold in the "Business Day" section.

For the record, Laak was evidently one of 2 pros to play against a new computer poker design. He won 2 of 3 games but git creamed on one day. He claims the computer program is better than most human players.

Worth a read...

Permalink | Poker in the News

July 23, 2007

WSOP Stories You Won't See on ESPN

by Otis

The World Series of Poker is an immature phenomenon. Like me, its history spans more than three decades. Like me, it is still trying to figure out its place in the world. It doesn't know if it is still simply a gambler's convention. It wants to be something far greater. It wants to be a cultural mainstay, something along the lines of the ball-oriented World Series or the Superbowl. It's somewhere in between and its adolescence is not the easiest of times in its existence. Like any kid moving into adulthood, there's the acne, the hair in places where there was no hair before, and certain atavistic urges that are impossible to explain.

There are a lot of people wishing the WSOP would either grow up or fade into obscurity. Then there others who believe we're seeing a natural process. Whether Darwinism or the hand of an unseen power takes over, what happens with the World Series will happen regardless, and there's not much you or I can do about it.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | 2007 World Series of Poker

July 22, 2007

WSOP Player of the Year?

by Otis

Let's face it. Unless you are part of the full-time poker world, are from Phoenix, or read Pokerati, you probably hadn't heard of Tom Schneider until this year. Hell, I bet only 10% of the people who read this blog actually know who he is now. Yet, Tom Schneider is the 2007 World Series Player of the Year. There's no taking that away from him. Further, there is no taking away the check he earned for getting there. Tom will hold the title--much better than the nickname "donkeybomber" he carries around with him--until at least summer of 2008.

And there's a damn good chance when the next person wins it, Tom will fade back into the same obscurity in which he wallowed up to this point.

Is it right? No. Is it how the New Poker World works? Sadly, yes.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | 2007 World Series of Poker

July 19, 2007

Alien Nation

by G-Rob

Remember that movie, they turned it into a TV Series, about the alien guys who had bald spotted heads? I don't remember if the movie had the same central conceit, but the series was about an alien cop and his human partner. Essentially it was just another Hill Street Blues but with bald spotted heads.

Anyway, I apologize if my posts here become less useful and more introspective but as the Larry tells Owen, "Write what you know".

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

July 16, 2007

I won at Poker!

by G-Rob

Poker is a lot more fun when you're winning. For a while there I thought I was bored with the game itself. Now it seems I was just tired of losing so damn much.

Losing sucks.

So here's a different story my friends: It seems that even a dumbshit like myself CAN win sometimes.

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

Otis Makes the Big Time

by Luckbox

Check out this little article over at ESPN.com and on the right side, you'll see a video box. Click on "All In Access: Blogger Mania" and see one of our own (with some curious facial hair).

Permalink | 2007 World Series of Poker

July 14, 2007

Tossing limes

by Otis

Once the World Series main event gets this deep, my time to play poker is nil. So, to stay in action, Pauly and I spend ten minutes a night in what Pokerati has dubbed "The World Series of Lime Tossing." It's about the only way I can get in action.

Dan found us on the Lime Tossing Ledge and wrote it up for posterity. While my prop bets with Pauly and Dan show me officially down about three small bets, I managed to hustle a Brit to make up the difference. With just a few days left in the Series, my time to put Pauly in his place and run the Citrus Gambit on Dan is getting short.

Monday, however, is a day off at the World Series. I'm currently recruiting players for the WSOPgP (World Series of Pai Gow Poker). We'll see how everybody fares there.

Permalink | 2007 World Series of Poker

July 10, 2007

My Gambling Heritage

by Luckbox

It wasn't often that our entire extended family could get together and, frankly, it was probably the last time it ever happened. That Thanksgiving, there were 18 of us. We were all seated around my grandmother's dining room table. The spread included turkey, ham, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, green bean casserole and at least two jello molds.

As my grandmother said grace, she got a little emotional. She knew a gathering like this was about to become the exception and not the rule. We all bowed our heads.

"I'd like to thank God for bringing our whole family together for this dinner," she said, starting to fight back tears, "and give thanks that none of us are living in pottery."

I don't know who was first to look up, but when I did, I noticed my father trying to hold in the laughter. I think he knew it was best not to laugh at his mother-in-law. It didn't work. And soon, the entire table was laughing.

My grandmother died yesterday. I'm not sure why this is the memory that first comes to mind. Perhaps it's becaue I never got to gamble with her.

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Permalink | Luckbox's Thoughts

How to overcome STUPID

by G-Rob

Confidence is king. I've got a defecit at the moment. It's strange that confidence matters in a game like poker which, ostensibly, is a combination of mathematics and luck. I suppose the value of self-confidence best illustrates the more complex nature of the game itself.

Without confidence I can't trust my reads. That makes me too lazy to make solid reads at all.

Without confidence I become passive. With my rather lackluster math skills a lack of aggression makes me shitty at poker.

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

July 9, 2007

Hirsute

by Otis

Cross posted from Rapid Eye Reality

With limited time and limited mental acuity, I don't have time to properly explain why I'm doing this. To be honest, I don't even want to explain it. It's been a few days since someone said to me, "If I were you, I would kill myself." Since I didn't agree, I vowed to live a life bent on making sure I never said anything to anyone with such vitriol. I've done such over the past few days. Now, I'm taking it one more step. I'm vowing to make sure others feel as good about their lives as I do.

A friend of mine who is with me here in Vegas is on a quest, and far be it for me not to help him. So, I ask my meager readership here to help me. Please, if you can, use your blogs to link to the following blog with the following words.

Linked words: Hairy gymnast
Target: http://suffolkpunchpoker.blogspot.com

Please know, this is important work you're doing. Every Hairy gymnast will thank you.

Permalink | 2007 World Series of Poker

July 1, 2007

Hachem's Hundred

by Otis

It was early April in Monte Carlo, Monaco. A sport jacket was enough to shield me from the still chill in the air, and anything that Devilfish might have had on his hands as he threw his arm around me in a mutal drunkard's "I love you, man" salute. I was in a club with half-naked women and drunk poker players. It was some sort of launch party for some sort of poker skin supported by some sort of British players. The drinks weren't free, because anything being free--or even affordable--in Monte Carlo is against the principality's laws.

At some point, I saw a friend order four bottles of booze from the bar at a price that I dare not reveal. She'd put it on her own credit card and was hoping to recoup it later. I was moochinig, in part because I couldn't afford to catch a nice buzz on my own, and, in part, because everybody else was doing it.

More in this Poker Blog! -->
Permalink | 2007 World Series of Poker