When I went to Las Vegas in January for my ski trip with the guys, I Did an interview with my buddy Jon Friedberg for his poker show called "The Showdown with Jon Friedberg" which airs on www.pokernewsdaily.com. It was a lot of fun talking poker with him. We discussed all aspects of cash game play, both online and live, the differences between them, moving up in stakes, and the importance of finding a group of poker friends to discuss the game with. The video is two parts. Here is a link to each of them. I hope you enjoy and please leave me a comment about it. It was my first on camera interview but I think it came out well.
Click here for Part 1
Click here for Part 2
We found out the other day that the doctor will induce labor on my wife on Thursday March 31st, and we are expecting to have the baby on Friday, April 1st. This is definitely NOT an April Fools joke. Because of this and all the preparations we have this weekend for the next week, I will be missing the main event at the Spring Break Poker Classic. I also don't think I'll play much poker for the next few weeks, but who knows. Hopefully in my next blog I will have good news about a new, happy, healthy baby boy!
Til Next Time....
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Lots of Live Poker and some online Hands!
So following up on my new year resolutions, I have been playing a lot more poker in the casinos. I have played 16 sessions of live poker this year, which means I am averaging going to the casino more than once a week! My year long goal is twice a month, so hopefully I can keep up the pace I have set for myself. I'm sure it will be hard to do once Brayden is born, so I guess I should make the most of it while I can.
Playing live has been such a different experience for me than playing online. Of course the game is much slower paced, but it is a nice "relaxing" way to work as compared to playing multiple tables online. I really don't want to get into the playing part as the differences between playing live and playing online have been covered in detail between this blog in the past as well as many other blogs including my good friend JK's blog. The biggest aspect that I enjoy most of live play is getting to interact with people. I don't consider myself a social person at all, but when I'm sitting at a poker table it seems I am very comfortable striking up conversations with almost anyone. One cool thing about this is that when you get to know your "neighbors" at the table, you can also get insight into their poker games. If provoked, players will often "spew" out info about what they know about the game, how long they have been playing, what they do for a living, etc. All this info can definitely help you later on when you get involved in a hand vs. them.
Now back to the "real" job, playing online. With all the trips to the casino I haven't really been playing much online lately. I have finally moved away from playing $1/$2 and am primarily playing $2/$4 and $3/$6 NL now and have even mixed in a few hands of $5/$10. My results have been good. I think this is a combination of running well and being confident. Most people don't realize what a HUGE role confidence plays in poker. Confidence gives me personally the courage to follow through- to fire that 3rd barrel if I really think it'll work, to 5 bet shove preflop with 54dd for 125bb's when I think my opponent is 4 betting me light, and to shove on a preflop 3bettors c-bet light if I think he missed. Overconfidence...well that's a different story. Overconfidence leads to trying kamikaze bluffs in impossible spots where you can only rep like 1 hand, making hero calls where you will be good less than 10% of the time, and trying thin value bets that will never be called by worse. Anyway, I digress. The games have been great online lately, and I have been fortunate enough to run well when I do decide to put in a session. Luckily for me Sunday night was one of those "fun" sessions. I couldn't sleep so at 11pm I hopped out of bed and decided to play some. After running insanely hot by being on the right side of a few coolers for an hour and a half, and playing well of course, I ended up winning in the neighborhood of 10 buy ins at my normal stakes. It's always fun to have days like those. I just wish they would come around a little more often! Here's a few fun hands from my last session:
Always nice to get there!
Merge, $3/$6 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 4 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
UTG: $681.17
Hero (BTN): $753.40
SB: $616.50
BB: $1,509.50
Pre-Flop: K
J dealt to Hero (BTN)
UTG folds, Hero raises to $18, SB folds, BB raises to $60, Hero calls $42
Flop: ($123) 4 9 7
(2 Players)
BB bets $90, Hero raises to $218, BB raises to $1,449.50 and is All-In, Hero calls $475.40 and is All-In
Turn: ($1,509.80) A (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: ($1,509.80) T (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $1,509.80 Pot
Hero showed K J and WON $1,507.80 (+$754.40 NET)
BB showed Q
Q and WON $756.10 (+$8.70 NET)
Getting that extra $350 in value even after the flush gets there!
Merge, $3/$6 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 5 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
BB: $624
Hero (UTG): $600
CO: $671.34
BTN: $702.65
SB: $1,488.28
Pre-Flop: A K dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero raises to $21, CO calls $21, BTN calls $21, SB folds, BB calls $15
Flop: ($87) 2 A 8 (4 Players)
BB checks, Hero bets $56, CO calls $56, 2 folds
Turn: ($199) 3
(2 Players)
Hero bets $165, CO calls $165
River: ($529) 3 (2 Players)
Hero bets $358 and is All-In, CO calls $358
Results: $1,245 Pot ($2 Rake)
Hero showed A K and WON $1,243 (+$643 NET)
CO showed A J and LOST (-$600 NET)
Always nice to turn top set and fade a 4 outer for all the chippies!!
Merge, $5/$10 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 4 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
SB: $1,051
BB: $2,250
Hero (UTG): $1,915.50
BTN: $1,154
Pre-Flop: T T dealt to Hero (UTG)
BB folds, Hero raises to $30, BTN calls $30, SB calls $20
Flop: ($90) 4 6 8 (3 Players)
SB checks, Hero bets $75, BTN folds, SB calls $75
Turn: ($240) T (2 Players)
SB checks, Hero bets $225, SB raises to $915, Hero raises to $1,605, SB calls $31 and is All-In
River: ($2,132) 9 (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $2,132 Pot
SB showed 8 9 and LOST (-$1,041 NET)
Hero showed T T and WON $2,789 (+$1,738 NET)
Leveling wars with Regs!!
Merge, $3/$6 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 4 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
SB: $1,033.90
BB: $1,094.11
UTG: $690.50
Hero (BTN): $609
Pre-Flop: 5 4 dealt to Hero (BTN)
UTG raises to $18, Hero raises to $52, 2 folds, UTG raises to $118, Hero raises to $609 and is All-In, UTG folds
Results: $281 Pot
Hero showed 5 4 and WON $736 (+$600 NET)
This week the Spring Break Poker Classic begins at the Beau Rivage. I don't know how many events I will play, but I'm sure I'll manage to make it there for 2 or 3, hopefully including the main event. Also, I have started working on my schedule for the WSOP this year. It looks like I will be able to make it to Vegas for just shy of 2 weeks and I'll try to fit in as many as 8 events (hopefully fewer assuming I make a few day 2 or 3's). I do plan on selling a decent bit of my action in the series, but I'll still have enough of myself so that Brayden will have a nice college fund if/when I win one of the events! :-)
Outside of poker, my baby boy Brayden is due on April 21st, but the doctor told us that she may induce labor on March 31st or April 1st. Man, that's in a few weeks! I'm definitely scared but also very excited. I can't wait to meet my son.
As always, join me on the tables at FeltStars. Click on any of the banners on my sidebar to create an account. Also, follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/kajunkidpoker.
Til Next Time....
Playing live has been such a different experience for me than playing online. Of course the game is much slower paced, but it is a nice "relaxing" way to work as compared to playing multiple tables online. I really don't want to get into the playing part as the differences between playing live and playing online have been covered in detail between this blog in the past as well as many other blogs including my good friend JK's blog. The biggest aspect that I enjoy most of live play is getting to interact with people. I don't consider myself a social person at all, but when I'm sitting at a poker table it seems I am very comfortable striking up conversations with almost anyone. One cool thing about this is that when you get to know your "neighbors" at the table, you can also get insight into their poker games. If provoked, players will often "spew" out info about what they know about the game, how long they have been playing, what they do for a living, etc. All this info can definitely help you later on when you get involved in a hand vs. them.
Now back to the "real" job, playing online. With all the trips to the casino I haven't really been playing much online lately. I have finally moved away from playing $1/$2 and am primarily playing $2/$4 and $3/$6 NL now and have even mixed in a few hands of $5/$10. My results have been good. I think this is a combination of running well and being confident. Most people don't realize what a HUGE role confidence plays in poker. Confidence gives me personally the courage to follow through- to fire that 3rd barrel if I really think it'll work, to 5 bet shove preflop with 54dd for 125bb's when I think my opponent is 4 betting me light, and to shove on a preflop 3bettors c-bet light if I think he missed. Overconfidence...well that's a different story. Overconfidence leads to trying kamikaze bluffs in impossible spots where you can only rep like 1 hand, making hero calls where you will be good less than 10% of the time, and trying thin value bets that will never be called by worse. Anyway, I digress. The games have been great online lately, and I have been fortunate enough to run well when I do decide to put in a session. Luckily for me Sunday night was one of those "fun" sessions. I couldn't sleep so at 11pm I hopped out of bed and decided to play some. After running insanely hot by being on the right side of a few coolers for an hour and a half, and playing well of course, I ended up winning in the neighborhood of 10 buy ins at my normal stakes. It's always fun to have days like those. I just wish they would come around a little more often! Here's a few fun hands from my last session:
Always nice to get there!
Merge, $3/$6 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 4 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
UTG: $681.17
Hero (BTN): $753.40
SB: $616.50
BB: $1,509.50
Pre-Flop: K
J dealt to Hero (BTN)UTG folds, Hero raises to $18, SB folds, BB raises to $60, Hero calls $42
Flop: ($123) 4
9 7 (2 Players)BB bets $90, Hero raises to $218, BB raises to $1,449.50 and is All-In, Hero calls $475.40 and is All-In
Turn: ($1,509.80) A
(2 Players - 1 is All-In)River: ($1,509.80) T
(2 Players - 1 is All-In)Results: $1,509.80 Pot
Hero showed K
J and WON $1,507.80 (+$754.40 NET)BB showed Q
Q and WON $756.10 (+$8.70 NET)Getting that extra $350 in value even after the flush gets there!
Merge, $3/$6 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 5 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
BB: $624
Hero (UTG): $600
CO: $671.34
BTN: $702.65
SB: $1,488.28
Pre-Flop: A
K dealt to Hero (UTG)Hero raises to $21, CO calls $21, BTN calls $21, SB folds, BB calls $15
Flop: ($87) 2
A 8 (4 Players)BB checks, Hero bets $56, CO calls $56, 2 folds
Turn: ($199) 3
(2 Players)Hero bets $165, CO calls $165
River: ($529) 3
(2 Players)Hero bets $358 and is All-In, CO calls $358
Results: $1,245 Pot ($2 Rake)
Hero showed A
K and WON $1,243 (+$643 NET)CO showed A
J and LOST (-$600 NET)Always nice to turn top set and fade a 4 outer for all the chippies!!
Merge, $5/$10 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 4 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
SB: $1,051
BB: $2,250
Hero (UTG): $1,915.50
BTN: $1,154
Pre-Flop: T
T dealt to Hero (UTG)BB folds, Hero raises to $30, BTN calls $30, SB calls $20
Flop: ($90) 4
6 8 (3 Players)SB checks, Hero bets $75, BTN folds, SB calls $75
Turn: ($240) T
(2 Players)SB checks, Hero bets $225, SB raises to $915, Hero raises to $1,605, SB calls $31 and is All-In
River: ($2,132) 9
(2 Players - 1 is All-In)Results: $2,132 Pot
SB showed 8
9 and LOST (-$1,041 NET)Hero showed T
T and WON $2,789 (+$1,738 NET)Leveling wars with Regs!!
Merge, $3/$6 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 4 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
SB: $1,033.90
BB: $1,094.11
UTG: $690.50
Hero (BTN): $609
Pre-Flop: 5
4 dealt to Hero (BTN)UTG raises to $18, Hero raises to $52, 2 folds, UTG raises to $118, Hero raises to $609 and is All-In, UTG folds
Results: $281 Pot
Hero showed 5
4 and WON $736 (+$600 NET)This week the Spring Break Poker Classic begins at the Beau Rivage. I don't know how many events I will play, but I'm sure I'll manage to make it there for 2 or 3, hopefully including the main event. Also, I have started working on my schedule for the WSOP this year. It looks like I will be able to make it to Vegas for just shy of 2 weeks and I'll try to fit in as many as 8 events (hopefully fewer assuming I make a few day 2 or 3's). I do plan on selling a decent bit of my action in the series, but I'll still have enough of myself so that Brayden will have a nice college fund if/when I win one of the events! :-)
Outside of poker, my baby boy Brayden is due on April 21st, but the doctor told us that she may induce labor on March 31st or April 1st. Man, that's in a few weeks! I'm definitely scared but also very excited. I can't wait to meet my son.
As always, join me on the tables at FeltStars. Click on any of the banners on my sidebar to create an account. Also, follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/kajunkidpoker.
Til Next Time....
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
A Friend Remembered
This blog post is a little different from my previous post.
On Saturday, my friend Stephen Mills passed away from his 9+ year battle with cancer.
I met Steve in 2006 when we both won our WSOP main event seats through the now defunct Tropical Poker website. We were the only two winners and the site gave us rooms at the Mirage and took us out to eat at Stack restaurant at the Mirage. As you can slightly see in the picture below, Stephen had already fought several battles with cancer including surgery on the right side of his head, but at this point he was healthy and in remission.
About a year ago the cancer unfortunately came back, and after 7 or so rounds of chemo this time Stephen finally left this world for a better place.
Stephen was truly one of the good guys in poker. He was a freeroll player and then built his bankroll slowly but surely to the point where he was playing $10 and $20 Sit'n'Go's. He loved sending me hand histories and chatting about poker for hours on end through windows messenger and skype. He even started playing some cash games and would watch me play from time to time on Teamviewer. He was a true student of the game, and a great friend.
Outside of poker, Stephen gave my wife and I some of the best help that we could get. Back in 2008 while living in Austin, TX, my wife was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Stephen was one of the first people who I told about this. He immediately assured not only me, but he spoke with her as well, and let us know what to expect and the best ways to keep a positive attitude. He gave my wife and I peace of mind in a time where we were both unbelievably scared and unsure of the future. For that I will always be greatful and remember my buddy "Bullmer."
May you rest in peace Stephen. You will be missed my friend.
Til Next Time....
On Saturday, my friend Stephen Mills passed away from his 9+ year battle with cancer.
I met Steve in 2006 when we both won our WSOP main event seats through the now defunct Tropical Poker website. We were the only two winners and the site gave us rooms at the Mirage and took us out to eat at Stack restaurant at the Mirage. As you can slightly see in the picture below, Stephen had already fought several battles with cancer including surgery on the right side of his head, but at this point he was healthy and in remission.
About a year ago the cancer unfortunately came back, and after 7 or so rounds of chemo this time Stephen finally left this world for a better place.
Stephen was truly one of the good guys in poker. He was a freeroll player and then built his bankroll slowly but surely to the point where he was playing $10 and $20 Sit'n'Go's. He loved sending me hand histories and chatting about poker for hours on end through windows messenger and skype. He even started playing some cash games and would watch me play from time to time on Teamviewer. He was a true student of the game, and a great friend.
Outside of poker, Stephen gave my wife and I some of the best help that we could get. Back in 2008 while living in Austin, TX, my wife was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Stephen was one of the first people who I told about this. He immediately assured not only me, but he spoke with her as well, and let us know what to expect and the best ways to keep a positive attitude. He gave my wife and I peace of mind in a time where we were both unbelievably scared and unsure of the future. For that I will always be greatful and remember my buddy "Bullmer."
May you rest in peace Stephen. You will be missed my friend.
Til Next Time....
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