Tournament Night

I decided to play a few tournaments last night for a change. There was the 100k Freeroll, the Pokerlistings Freeroll and the BIG 55.

It ended up as usual with me f'ing and blinding about being knocked out by a bad beat or a 50:50 and saying the usual 'why do I play tournaments?'

I did beat 72% of the field in the one that I paid for though (BIG 55) but you generally have to beat 85% of the field to finish in the cash.

I was playing zoom alongside the tournies and I managed to bag $100 profit after my tourny entry fees too which was okay.

There were lots of fun, amusing hands in the tournaments as per usual.

Here is one in the BIG 55 where it went raise, call, call, re-raise, call, call, re-raise all in, call, re-raise all in and then call with 3 players going to the flop. Expecting 3 monsters? errrr no:

Can't believe I folded 74o.....

And of course 45o wins the pot.

The best part of this was that it was just the beginning of level 2. I surely have to run deep in a big one soon with this level of play :p

Poker Players Fantasy Football League - Only 3 weeks left

We are nearing the end of the poker players English Premiership Fantasy Football League that I organised back in August.

The Original Link is Here

The last 3 weeks will be very interesting as I will attempt to catch the player in 1st place while the player in the 3rd place hunts me down.

I will gamble on a few changes that will hopefully catch Cam (aka Hillhurst Hotspur).

Coinflip si is in 3rd and still has his wildcard available for use which will let him make unlimited changes in a single week at no extra cost. There is a multiple fixture week ahead and I think it will pretty much be decided this week with the last 2 weeks being academic.

Here is the current table:

The prizes left to be decided are:

1st: $281.25
2nd: $93.75

Twoplustwo Hacked - Change Your Passwords

I wonder if the DOJ have hacked into 2+2?

I haven't got any other sites with my 2+2 password but I do use some sites with the same password simply because in this day and age there are so many password situations that it does make it simpler to remember.

I will make sure that I have different ones for each important site that I use..!!

SCOOP 2012 Schedule + Reload Bonus

How does $250 of free cash sound?? Pretty damn good..!!

I made a deposit of $500 yesterday and will now be busy clearing 50% of it to get the $250 bonus. You get $10 of bonus for each 200 VPPs that you earn.

I have 30 days to clear the whole amount but it should only take me 10 days or so.

Most of my play is still at NL50 so its a nice 5 BIs for free.

I am still making plans about which events to play in wrt to SCOOP. I won 2 tickets during the WBCOOP championship which I need use.

Here is the complete schedule:

Sunday, May 6th
11:00 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-01-L: $27 NL Hold'em (6-Max)
SCOOP-01-M: $215 NL Hold'em (6-Max)
SCOOP-01-H: $2,100 NL Hold'em (6-Max)

14:30 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-02-L: $27 NL Hold'em
SCOOP-02-M: $215 NL Hold'em
SCOOP-02-H: $2,100 NL Hold'em

Monday, May 7th 
11:00 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-03-L: $5.50 NL Hold'em (6-Max, Action Hour, Rebuys)
SCOOP-03-M: $55 NL Hold'em (6-Max, Action Hour, Rebuys)
SCOOP-03-H: $530 NL Hold'em (6-Max, Action Hour, Rebuys)

14:00 ET
SCOOP-04-L: $27 FL Badugi
SCOOP-04-M: $215 FL Badugi
SCOOP-04-H: $2,100 FL Badugi 

17:00 ET
SCOOP-05-L: $11 NL Hold'em (Rebuys, Turbo)
SCOOP-05-M: $109 NL Hold'em (Rebuys, Turbo)
SCOOP-05-H: $1,050 NL Hold'em (Rebuys, Turbo)

Tuesday, May 8th
11:00 ET
SCOOP-06-L: $11 NL Draw
SCOOP-06-M: $109 NL Draw
SCOOP-06-H: $1,050 NL Draw

14:00 ET
SCOOP-07-L: $7.50 NL Hold'em (Heads-Up)
SCOOP-07-M: $82 NL Hold'em (Heads-Up)
SCOOP-07-H: $700 NL Hold'em (Heads-Up)

17:00 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-08-L: $11 NL Hold'em
SCOOP-08-M: $109 NL Hold'em
SCOOP-08-H: $1,050 NL Hold'em

Wednesday, May 9th
11:00 ET
SCOOP-09-L: $27 NL Hold'em (SuperKnockout)
SCOOP-09-M: $215 NL Hold'em (SuperKnockout)
SCOOP-09-H: $2,100 NL Hold'em (SuperKnockout)

14:00 ET
SCOOP-10-L: $27 Stud
SCOOP-10-M: $215 Stud
SCOOP-10-H: $2,100 Stud

17:00 ET
SCOOP-11-L: $7.50 PL Omaha Hi/Lo (6-Max)
SCOOP-11-M: $82 PL Omaha Hi/Lo (6-Max)
SCOOP-11-H: $700 PL Omaha Hi/Lo (6-Max) 

Thursday, May 10th
11:00 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-12-L: $27 PL Omaha (Heads-Up)
SCOOP-12-M: $215 PL Omaha (Heads-Up)
SCOOP-12-H: $2,100 PL Omaha (Heads-Up)

14:00 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-13-L: $27 NL Hold'em (Knockout)
SCOOP-13-M: $265 NL Hold'em (Knockout)
SCOOP-13-H: $2,600 NL Hold'em (Knockout)

Friday, May 11th
11:00 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-14-L: $7.50 NL Hold'em (Ante Up)
SCOOP-14-M: $82 NL Hold'em (Ante Up)
SCOOP-14-H: $700 NL Hold'em (Ante Up) 

14:00 ET
SCOOP-15-L: $27 FL Omaha Hi/Lo
SCOOP-15-M: $215 FL Omaha Hi/Lo
SCOOP-15-H: $2,100 FL Omaha Hi/Lo

17:00 ET
SCOOP-16-L: $27 NL Hold'em (2x Chance, Turbo)
SCOOP-16-M: $215 NL Hold'em (2x Chance, Turbo)
SCOOP-16-H: $2,100 NL Hold'em (2x Chance, Turbo)

Saturday, May 12th
11:00 ET
SCOOP-17-L: $27 NL Hold'em (10-Max, Shootout)
SCOOP-17-M: $215 NL Hold'em (10-Max, Shootout)
SCOOP-17-H: $2,100 NL Hold'em (10-Max, Shootout) 

14:00 ET
SCOOP-18-L: $11 PL Omaha (6-Max, Rebuys)
SCOOP-18-M: $109 PL Omaha (6-Max, Rebuys)
SCOOP-18-H: $1,050 PL Omaha (6-Max, Rebuys) 

17:00 ET
SCOOP-19-L: $27 Triple Stud
SCOOP-19-M: $215 Triple Stud
SCOOP-19-H: $2,100 Triple Stud

Sunday, May 13th 
11:00 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-20-L: $27 NL Hold'em
SCOOP-20-M: $215 NL Hold'em
SCOOP-20-H: $2,100 NL Hold'em 

14:30 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-21-L: $27 NL Hold'em
SCOOP-21-M: $215 NL Hold'em
SCOOP-21-H: $2,100 NL Hold'em

Monday, May 14th 
11:00 ET
SCOOP-22-L: $11 Mixed NLHE/PLO
SCOOP-22-M: $109 Mixed NLHE/PLO
SCOOP-22-H: $1,050 Mixed NLHE/PLO 

14:00 ET
 SCOOP-23-L: $27 NL Hold'em (4-Max)
SCOOP-23-M: $215 NL Hold'em (4-Max)
SCOOP-23-H: $2,100 NL Hold'em (4-Max)

17:00 ET
SCOOP-24-L: $11 PL Omaha (1R1A, Turbo)
SCOOP-24-M: $109 PL Omaha (1R1A, Turbo)
SCOOP-24-H: $1,050 PL Omaha (1R1A, Turbo)

Tuesday, May 15th 
11:00 ET
SCOOP-25-L: $11 Triple Draw 2-7
SCOOP-25-M: $109 Triple Draw 2-7
SCOOP-25-H: $1,050 Triple Draw 2-7

14:00 ET
SCOOP-26-L: $27 Stud Hi/Lo
SCOOP-26-M: $215 Stud Hi/Lo
SCOOP-26-H: $2,100 Stud Hi/Lo 

17:00 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-27-L: $11 NL Hold'em
SCOOP-27-M: $109 NL Hold'em
SCOOP-27-H: $1,050 NL Hold'em 

Wednesday, May 16th 
11:00 ET
SCOOP-28-L: $27 Razz,
SCOOP-28-M: $215 Razz
SCOOP-28-H: $2,100 Razz

14:00 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-29-L: $11 NL Hold'em (Big Antes, Rebuys)
SCOOP-29-M: $109 NL Hold'em (Big Antes, Rebuys)
SCOOP-29-H: $1,050 NL Hold'em (Big Antes, Rebuys)

17:00 ET
SCOOP-30-L: $27 NL Hold'em (SuperKnockout, 6-Max, Turbo)
SCOOP-30-M: $215 NL Hold'em (SuperKnockout, 6-Max, Turbo)
SCOOP-30-H: $2,100 NL Hold'em (SuperKnockout, 6-Max, Turbo)

Thursday, May 17th 
11:00 ET
SCOOP-31-L: $27 8-Game
SCOOP-31-M: $215 8-Game
SCOOP-31-H: $2,100 8-Game 

14:00 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-32-L: $27 PL Omaha Hi/Lo
SCOOP-32-M: $215 PL Omaha Hi/Lo
SCOOP-32-H: $2,100 PL Omaha Hi/Lo

Friday, May 18th 
11:00 ET
SCOOP-33-L: $27 NL Hold'em (1R1A)
SCOOP-33-M: $215 NL Hold'em (1R1A)
SCOOP-33-H: $2,100 NL Hold'em (1R1A) 

14:00 ET
SCOOP-34-L: $55 FL Hold'em (6-Max)
SCOOP-34-M: $530 FL Hold'em (6-Max)
SCOOP-34-H: $5,200 FL Hold'em (6-Max) 

17:00 ET
SCOOP-35-L: $27 NL Omaha Hi/Lo
SCOOP-35-M: $215 NL Omaha Hi/Lo
SCOOP-35-H: $2,100 NL Omaha Hi/Lo 

Saturday, May 19th 
11:00 ET
SCOOP-36-L: $55 PL Omaha (6-Max)
SCOOP-36-M: $530 PL Omaha (6-Max)
SCOOP-36-H: $5,200 PL Omaha (6-Max)

12:30 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-37-L: $215 NL Hold'em (Heads-Up, High-Roller)
SCOOP-37-M: $2,100 NL Hold'em (Heads-Up, High-Roller)
SCOOP-37-H: $21,000 NL Hold'em (Heads-Up, High-Roller)

14:00 ET
SCOOP-38-L: $27 HORSE
SCOOP-38-M: $215 HORSE
SCOOP-38-H: $2,100 HORSE

Sunday, May 20th 
11:00 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-39-L: $27 NL Hold'em (6-Max)
SCOOP-39-M: $215 NL Hold'em (6-Max)
SCOOP-39-H: $2,100 NL Hold'em (6-Max)

14:30 ET (2-Day Event)
SCOOP-40-L: $109 Main Event - L
SCOOP-40-M: $1,050 Main Event - M
SCOOP-40-H: $10,300 Main Event - H, $2.5M Gtd

PokerStars Agrees to Buy Full Tilt?

Rumours have surfaced on poker forum 2+2 that Pokerstars is about to purchase rival Full Tilt.

It is being said that they will settle all the legal matters and pay player debts in full. This is great news for the ordinary poker player who lost their funds if true.

It is also being stated that both sites will be back online with promotions too on each.

Alex Dreyfus who is the CEO of Chili Gaming stated on his twitter account that PokerStars has paid $750m for Full Tilt and that they will settle its outstanding legal issues with the DOJ.

$330m is reported to be the amount needed to repay Full Tilt account holders.

More to follow on this one......

Dead for 78 Minutes

On the right is a picture of a man who has been through a miracle.

Having seen his recent interview I had to write a quick piece about a truly amazing story.

On March 17th Bolton Wanderers Midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed off the ball with no one around him in a FA Cup Football match versus Tottenham.

He had just suffered a heart attack on the pitch and fallen to the ground.

Just before he fell he says that he had double vision and then shortly afterwards there was blackness and then absolutely nothing. Fabrice was dead.

Paramedics rushed to his aid and worked to save his life, pumping his chest for around 6 minutes with a defibrillator. He was then rushed to hospital.

It was 78 minutes before his heart started working again and he was left briefly in a coma. After 40 days in hospital he is back home and making a good recovery. He now has a zapper in his chest to start his heart up should it stop again.

The moment he collapsed

All the best Fabrice...!!

Life is short... Live It....

Decent Day at NL50

Saturday is a pretty juicy day.

The fish come out to play.

I need a few more days like this before the month is up

The Top 10 Best Poker Blogs in the World

I have just read a post written by a blogger who listed his Top 100 poker blogs.

Some of the comments he received were kind of like wtf?, how did you come up with this list?

I am not going to link him in this post as some of the entries were a bit lol but it is an interesting and very subjective question.

I won't try to make the top 10 list at this time as I am probably not even aware of many of the good ones out there.

So, I want to throw this one out to you guys who read this blog and say please could you vote for a few of your favourites by listing them in the comments section. This may help me to create a list in the future.

Thx

Rosh

See Ya PTR, GG and RIP.... It was Fun While it Lasted

Here are my highlights from the PTR era :)

I was just under a career peak when it went down

It looked something like this:

The End for PTR?

An interesting report has emerged yesterday on pokerfuse.com claiming that Pokerstars is launching a legal battle against Poker Table Ratings.

The rumour is that Cease and Desist letters have been issued and that a legal team is about to commence work.

The main issue seems be whether the data mining and then selling of hand histories is legal or not. The intellectual property rights come into question and Stars will say that PTR have no right to sell this.

From the games perspective it is bad as poor players who realise that their results are in the public domain will stop or reduce their play due to embarrassment, which takes money away from the community.

Also, players who buy hand histories have an unfair advantage over their rivals.

It will be interesting to see how this one unfolds.

4 Hit Combo and its All Change

Its always nice to turn around a pretty sour session, but to do it by winning 4 big hands in the space of a few minutes is even sweeter..!!

After around 5 days of not playing any normal FR poker this was my first session back at NL50.

I have played a little NL25 Zoom in that time which is pretty juicy to say the least.



Here is the 4 Hit Combo:

A Kick up the Butt...!!

After 4 months of solid grinding this month has been pretty slack.

To be fair I have had lots of real life stuff going on to deal with so there has been a lot less time to grind. My girlfriend has also had a week off work so that always means we spend more time together which detracts from the grind.

I played a bit a live poker at a casino last week and am due to meet some mates there again soon for another session.

I am only up around $300 so far this month but my target is to make $1,200 so its time to step up my volume.

BOOOOM.....!!, Its ZOOOOM....!!

Its not often that I see crazy spew (well, not that often) at the normal full ring tables but at NL25 Zoom there seems to be regular nonsensical shoving:

Prior to getting a note and colour ring the 3 better here is an unknown. If I know in advance that he is a yellow whale then I will 4bet here all day long unless I want to keep the OPR in the hand.

Sweet Flop... Raise for value vs weaker Kings / diamond draw.

Woooaa, the shove.... Must be a split pot.

Damn..... A9o. He is drawing dead....!!

Ship it. Nice....... :p

How Did I Get Paid Here?

Poker Stars, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 8 Players

The flop is super standard here, but on the turn I have the option to donk, c/c again or crai.

When he bets so small I have to crai but I think my sizing is wrong. I should make it close to $12/$13 to commit him with his big pairs the times he thinks I'm bluffing. If he has less than half pot left on the river he is more likely to call TT-KK.

The river is pretty much a blank unless he was being stubborn with 77 but as it turns out he played it just awful. He only beats hands like KQs, JQs that are bluffing.

Hero (BB): $50 (100 bb)
UTG+2: $19 (38 bb)
MP1: $39 (78 bb)
MP2: $52.08 (104.2 bb)
MP3: $38.08 (76.2 bb)
CO: $32.41 (64.8 bb)
BTN: $51.33 (102.7 bb)
SB: $50 (100 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A A
UTG+2 folds, MP1 raises to $1.50, 5 folds, Hero raises to $5.50, MP1 calls $4

Flop: ($11.25) 4 A A (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $3, Hero calls $3

Turn: ($17.25) 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $3, Hero raises to $9.80, MP1 calls $6.80

River: ($36.85) 7 (2 players)
Hero bets $21.82, MP1 calls $20.70 and is all-in

Results: $78.25 pot ($2.50 rake)
Final Board: 4 A A 6 7
Hero showed A A and won $75.75 ($36.75 net)
MP1 showed 5 5 and lost (-$39 net)

Smooth Call with the Absolute Nuts

Some people still haven't figured out hand reading. Thank god some of them are floating around NL50.

Poker Stars, $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 9 Players

MP3: $59.66 (119.3 bb)
CO: $54.45 (108.9 bb)
BTN: $28.36 (56.7 bb)
SB: $50.25 (100.5 bb)
BB: $50 (100 bb)
Hero (UTG+1): $52.18 (104.4 bb)
UTG+2: $19.25 (38.5 bb)
MP1: $20.75 (41.5 bb)
MP2: $50 (100 bb)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with K A
Hero raises to $1.50, 5 folds, BTN calls $1.50, 2 folds

Flop: ($3.75) 3 4 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN checks

Turn: ($3.75) Q (2 players)
Hero bets $2.47, BTN calls $2.47

River: ($8.69) A (2 players)
Hero bets $5.15, BTN calls $5.15

Results: $18.99 pot ($0.85 rake)
Final Board: 3 4 9 Q A
BTN showed T K and won $18.14 ($9.02 net)
Hero showed K A and lost (-$9.12 net)