Thank Jebus


  ¶ Saturday, January 27, 2007 0 comments

  Finally Full Tilt Update thier site
  ¶ Saturday, January 27, 2007 0 comments

  FullTilt...Hello? I've been trying to get onto Full Tilt for the past 6 hours, I cannot connect to the server at all. All other Internet apps are cool, but nothing on Full Tilt. I've contacted support@fulltilt.com, but nothing. I'm starting to get worried that they have been shut down or something. I was registered for the $8K guarantee at midnight to, so was keen to play.

Any news...anyone? I've got a bad feeling about this...  ¶ Saturday, January 27, 2007 0 comments

  Full House v Full House Played some cash games on Titan Friday night, back into the .25/.5 NL 6 max scenario, was pretty good to get back into this format. Had two tables open and was down early on on both before getting back to even, I then had the horrible pleasure of watching my trips (2) get run down at the river for a $122 pot. Pocket 2 on the big blind and checked to a board of A2K, Villain #1 bets out small for $1 and gets raised to $4 by villain #2. I'm thinking that have Ax or perhaps AK at most and raise to $10,villains 1 & 2 all-in, call. They turn AKo and A8s, the turn brings a harmless 6 but the river of course...K which completes my full house 222KK...but of course not as good as KKKAA.

This of course hurt things I was out next hand with a small straight beaten by a larger straight..toughed things out for 4 hours and finished about $1.70 up, nothing like minimum wage!

Also played Midnight madness on Full Tilt finishing 53rd, so deep into money again but with no final table. JJ v KK all in short(ish) staked, I was UTG+3 he was the CO so tried to shove and pickup blinds etc...will be having another go today in about an hour.

Hope things have not gotten you to fired up re: Neteller and the future of online poker, big bucks involved and it should find a way through in the end...but then, so much for the land of the free, home of the brave...I wonder what this says about the future of capitalism...might go and setup a new site in China, probably more luck in succeeding there.  ¶ Sunday, January 21, 2007 0 comments

  Neteller - work Around... Now, as I understand things, it is sitll not illegal to play online poker just for bank to allow deposits and for 3rd parties to process payments. But what if individual people not in the US deposited for people? Obviously there would need to be a large amount of trust involved here, but kinda gets around it. Wire tranfer to say an New Zealand bank account, they log in under the players details and let the owner know. The owner can then change password etc and keep playing? Want to withdraw? Let the the 'partner' know and they transfer back...now so long as we don't make any money off it, it is just a favour to our US friends...  ¶ Friday, January 19, 2007 0 comments

  Humph Not sure what to make of all the recent announcements about Neteller, I don't live in the US, but the US market is huge for poker and I can see the impacts that this will have longer term. So, when are the next US elections for the top job? Also, if some of our American friends could let me know, would this have happened with the recent changes in the House of Reps, i.e would the bill have passed? What is the likelihood of it being overturned?

There are a number of European sites out there and I have started to investigate what others I could be playing on, none have the options or advantages or the US sites and from experience it is kinda annoying playing on sites where all the chat is in German, French or Spanish not knowing a word of it. On the positive I guess it just sucks for the US players, from Australia I can still play anywhere, and will probably play on UK sites, WillHill etc as the numbers start to dwindle on Full Tilt and Poker Stars etc. Hopefully we will start to get some focus more tournaments in Australian times instead of 1-4am Australian timeI I have not seen to much of this impact yet, 7K players last night at 5am ET 9PM AEDT a drop of about 2K from what I am used to...hhhmm...  ¶ Friday, January 19, 2007 0 comments

  Neteller NETeller quits US market. Absolute Poker Will be bigger than ever!

NETeller has ceased allowing US Customers to use its services as of 8am EST 17th Jan 2007.
Absolute Poker has been expecting this to happen for several months.

We are happy to announce Absolute Poker has many alternative easy, safe and secure deposit and cashout methods so are confident our business and your business will be unaffected and will grow significantly over the coming months.

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?
WE CAN PAY YOU AS NORMAL!

If you reside outside of the United States of America, have a non US NETeller account we will be able to pay you as normal.

However - If you reside in The US you need to change your registration details so we can pay you either via your Player Account, Wire Transfer or Cheque. If you need any help getting any of these facilities opened please don’t hesitate to contact The Absolute Poker Affiliate Team.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO YOUR PLAYERS

Absolute Poker has been preparing for this scenario for several months and this means that we have a relatively small number of players that use NETeller versus our competition – we are 100% confident that the majority of these players will make an easy transition to one of the many safe, secure and similar banking methods we have already available.

On top of this Absolute Poker is running a number of special promotions to help you get any current NETeller player to use one of the may other deposit or cashout methods available only at Absolute Poker. (Please refer to the site for the latest promos, reload bonuses and special guaranteed tournaments set up to encourage players to use any of the following processing methods:

· Visa & Master Card – The Best!!
· InstaDebit – Just like NETeller!!
· ePassporte – Like NETeller!!
· ATMonline - Easy to use!
· Click2pay – Safe and Easy!
· Central Coin – Easy!
· UK Debit Cards – Reliable!
· Moneybookers – Great!  ¶ Thursday, January 18, 2007 0 comments

  $100 Freeroll CD Poker Not a lot of action last night, played the $100 freeroll on CD Poker just for practice, freeroll, no risk etc. I just wanted to work on my skills, concentrate and take my time to play well. I finished 280th from 1000 runners. Does not sound impressive but I was quite happy with my play overall. I could actually see things unfold, I was thinking about position, my hand, reading the flop and where it was likely to lead and what other players would do or should be doing.

Many instances of people playing out of position, UTG, UTG+1, +3 etc calling only to have the cutoff raise 3-4 x BB and a few callers then being forced to call or fold, most would normally call. You could then watch all the callers checking around to the cutoff waiting to see what he would do, a large bet would see a sea of folders as they would not have hit their cards on the flop. The game is very interesting when playing with even the slightest bit of insight.

I'll just mention two hands from last night. The first, AA ($3000 chips) as the big blind, folds to UTG+3 ($1400) who calls, SB calls. I raise $400, blinds 50/100, UTG+3 calls and SB folds. From previous observations the caller plays any face card, I had him pegged at this stage with AK, AQ, KQ, QJ etc or maybe mid / low pockets otherwise I think he would have been all in pre-flop. Flop comes K73 rainbow. He checks to me as predicted and I bet out $400 2/5 his remaining stack, insta-all-in, so I know he has hit his K, perfect for me. I call he flips over K9o and does not improve and I collect a great pot.

I understand from his point why he did this, he could only see his cards, "hey I've hit my K on the flop, so I must have top pair, I am all-in here." He, like myself on many occasions, do not take into account the $400 bet from the pre-flop raiser. That goes out the window. For low level players it seems like the game starts again when the flop hits and anything preflop goes out the window. The villain here had two great opportunities to fold, preflop - think, would I bet $400 with K9o, hell no, so why call, fold and it cost you $100 to call and you are not out of the game.

The second is when he checks and I bet out, fair enough he thinks that he has 'trapped me' but it is the otherway around and I was stoked to see that K on the board. Another easy fold opportunity but the signs are ignored again and he quickly goes out of the tournament.

The hand that I eventually went out on was AJs, this hand has been my downfall of late going out in four tourneys with it. I had $4K in chips, chip lead on our table $13K. I was small blind he was cut off. Folds around to cut off who calls, blinds 200/400, I raised to $800 to isolate and have BB fold (they were sitting out) cut off calls. Flop, A73 rainbow(diamond, heart, club). I bet out $1500 looking to win the pot there with my paired A, but get called instead, turn brings T clubs and I bet $1500 again and get raised to $3K, now possible flush on the river, and possible straight draw with board, A73T, but with $200 left I call, he turns over 98 clubs, so currently has nothing but lots of outs with the straight and flush possible 30% chance of hitting, so pretty good and of course hits 2 clubs to complete his flush and I am out in 280th.

Even though it was only a $100 freeroll, I am a bit bummed, I just wanted to play good poker which I think I did. I am not sure how else I would have played this hand. The flop bet I think was right, or should it have been all-in here? The turn bet perhaps a check to see what the opponent does if he bets large the $3K I fold. I was trying to make it into a difficult decision, I guess with chip stakes against me it was a little harder...hmm..

Enjoyed the game regardless, the analysis a whole lot more. Appreciate any feedback.  ¶ Wednesday, January 17, 2007 0 comments

  RE: Runner, Runner...Thanks for the kick in the teeth The post below was posted pretty much straight after the hand. I have been thinking about some of my play over the last week and where I need to improve. This is one example. While yes I was unlucky for the villain to hit their river I really should have bet a lot more on the flop to win the hand there and then. I am a big fan of winning the hand on the flop if you are in front. Win the hand when you can.

I read an article in Bluff Magazine or Bluff Australasia which is still under construction, that you need to force your opponents into making difficult decisions. This is something that I didn't do on this occasion.

The $2 bet into a $3.50 pot was an easy call for him to make with only the K pair and weak kicker, a larger $5-$7 bet here would have made it a much more difficult decision. I am still very surprised by his re-raise when yet to complete his straight, I suppose he was trying to make it a difficult decision for me, I knew he had Kx with his call so correctly thought he still need to complete and thought an all-in would have forced a fold. Hence my stunned face when the 2 hit and my insta-post on the blog. I think the comment in chat from him was "opps". Opps indeed.

I'd be interested to hear how some other more advanced bloggers would have played this hand, bet, etc. The only thing that I think I could have done differently besides the larger flop bet would be to call his re-raise. I then can check at the turn and make a decision to get out if need be.  ¶ Tuesday, January 16, 2007 0 comments

  Runner, Runner...Thanks for the kick in the teeth FullTiltPoker Game #1587800090:
Table Skoda - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:26:35 ET - 2007/01/12
Seat 1: jim gammy ($16.75)
Seat 2: j10spades ($19.25)
Seat 3: Joe Crede ($36.10)
Seat 4: DeadCarpenter ($48.70)
Seat 5: gl281 ($10.95)
Seat 6: mhockman23 ($26.45)
Seat 7: 1somepokerguy ($21.20)
Seat 8: folding12 ($29.80)
Seat 9: greatj ($2.70)
mhockman23 posts the small blind of $0.25
1somepokerguy posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #5

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 1somepokerguy [5c Kh]
folding12 folds
greatj folds
jim gammy calls $0.50
j10spades folds
Joe Crede foldsDeadCarpenter folds
gl281 folds
mhockman23 calls $0.25
1somepokerguy checks

*** FLOP ***

[Kd 3s 5s]
mhockman23 checks
1somepokerguy bets $2
jim gammy calls $2
mhockman23 folds

*** TURN *** [Kd 3s 5s] [4h]
1somepokerguy bets $3
jim gammy raises to $6
1somepokerguy raises to $18.70, and is all in
jim gammy calls $8.25, and is all in
1somepokerguy shows [5c Kh]
jim gammy shows [Kc 6c]
Uncalled bet of $4.45 returned to 1somepokerguy

*** RIVER *** [Kd 3s 5s 4h] [2s]
1somepokerguy shows two pair, Kings and Fives
jim gammy shows a straight, Six highjim gammy wins the pot ($32.30) with a straight, Six high

*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $34 Rake $1.70
Board: [Kd 3s 5s 4h 2s]Seat 1:
jim gammy showed [Kc 6c] and won ($32.30) with a straight, Six high
Seat 2: j10spades didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Joe Crede didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: DeadCarpenter didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: gl281 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: mhockman23 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 7: 1somepokerguy (big blind) showed [5c Kh] and lost with two pair, Kings and FivesSeat 8: folding12 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: greatj didn't bet (folded)  ¶ Saturday, January 13, 2007 3 comments