I posted a topic at Card Runners about how old I feel playing at the micros and posting thought on the low limit forums. It seems that everyone playing online poker is 18-25 and very aggressive and sharp. The highest levels are filled with twenty something phenoms shoving incredible sums of cash into huge pots. I can't help but wonder if I would have been one back in the day.
I was born in 1962, and of course life was simpler. I know, yadda, yadda yadda. But really we didn't have Internet or 100 channels. When I was in my teens, we played high school sports, drank and chased girls. I can't help but wonder if I would have spent my days in front of a computer screen playing 8 tables of No-Limit Poker at Full Tilt Poker, Where the Pros Play! I don't think I would have. All of our activities were outdoors. I can't help but believe the online poker boom is a product to ESPN and video games. Kids today aren't outdoor oriented, they are tech savvy and spend a majority of the day in a digital world. I would venture to say that an online poll would revel such facts. It's like smoking pot, it's harmless at first, but it will lead you to something stronger. For these kids, it was a simple game like Halo, but know look where they are. They play the highest stakes of online poker, and have a bankroll I'll not see in a lifetime. So in retrospect, I missed the boat. I should have been chasing bad guys on the TV with my controller instead of chasing curve balls low and away. I have promised a blog of poker and prison, but this is just a simple observation not even worth the megabytes required to post it.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
First Winning Week...
This game we play called poker is as fickle as a beautiful women. Just when things go well, they can go badly. Well it is nice to report that I have logged my first complete winning week. What I mean by winning week is, every session is in the green. Mind you it is not a big gainer, but a gainer no doubt. This is a mile stone for my improvement. I have been a losing player, and by following this blog, you will understand my desire to get better. I have really been patient, picking spots, solidifying an image and being selectively aggressive. I have not won every hand, but I have overcome my mistakes by hitting my strong hand well. My biggest loss was a half stack on the river, and I doubled twice in the week. A lot of credit goes to Dan (fruitypro) Weston, the coach who will hopefully pull me up to $200NL, sooner rather than later.
I will turn 45 on the 27th, and that prompted me to post on Card Runners a general question about age. I was a little encouraged to see three around my age, but really, this online thing is a young man's game. Then I spent about and hour in an Indian Casino (Jackson Rancheria) in Jackson, CA. What did I see, KIDS, KIDS and more KIDS. These kids are playing 1/2 NL, and very aggressive. As the game changes from No-Limit to Limit, so did the ages. I saw more older men on the $3/$6 Limit tables, then on the No-Limit tables. How does a middle aged man overcome such youthful recklessness. See us fathers, have some much to concern ourselves with. Hell, my daughter will be able to play in the same casino next year. I wonder if that is what holds me up. I guess my long term goal is to play well after I retire from the "system". I don't want to just play, I want to be successful.
But this week was good. I actually won. I made good calls and bad calls, I made huge raises and big lay downs. Oh, I know I folded the best hand sometimes, and I called the river with a dog, but when it was all said and done, I won. I used some pot control took reduce my swings because at $25NL, I could easily lose with QQQ to a rivered straight when the villain called my PF raise with 59 suited. This level is funky because most bets are the size of a 32oz. fountain drink, and the all-in shove is equal to the average cheap buffet dinner. But hey, green is good. Green is good! POKER!
I will turn 45 on the 27th, and that prompted me to post on Card Runners a general question about age. I was a little encouraged to see three around my age, but really, this online thing is a young man's game. Then I spent about and hour in an Indian Casino (Jackson Rancheria) in Jackson, CA. What did I see, KIDS, KIDS and more KIDS. These kids are playing 1/2 NL, and very aggressive. As the game changes from No-Limit to Limit, so did the ages. I saw more older men on the $3/$6 Limit tables, then on the No-Limit tables. How does a middle aged man overcome such youthful recklessness. See us fathers, have some much to concern ourselves with. Hell, my daughter will be able to play in the same casino next year. I wonder if that is what holds me up. I guess my long term goal is to play well after I retire from the "system". I don't want to just play, I want to be successful.
But this week was good. I actually won. I made good calls and bad calls, I made huge raises and big lay downs. Oh, I know I folded the best hand sometimes, and I called the river with a dog, but when it was all said and done, I won. I used some pot control took reduce my swings because at $25NL, I could easily lose with QQQ to a rivered straight when the villain called my PF raise with 59 suited. This level is funky because most bets are the size of a 32oz. fountain drink, and the all-in shove is equal to the average cheap buffet dinner. But hey, green is good. Green is good! POKER!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Doing My Part...
I submitted lengthy post on Cardrunner seeking individuals to join the Department of Correctional and Rehabilitation. I have between 6-8 years of service before I call it quits. So I feel the need to do my part in finding individuals who want to step up an join the team. In all honesty, if I was 21, and I did not have a clear direction, I mean crystal clear, then I would join right up. I don't know many 21 and 22 year old's who make 125,000 and own there own home. It is that easy, and with 401k and deferred comp, then you retire a millionaire with full medical/dental. If you go the long haul (33 years) then you get the whole paycheck for life, and that will be over 100K. So, as I say, come on in, the water is fine.
I spend my mothers day with 4000 felons, of which 3/4 are mothers. It is an odd situation, I respect the work mothers do, but man, when mom is a crack addict or she whacked the old man in a drunken rage, how do you say, "Happy Mothers Day"? But as life is in the largest women's prison in the world, we had a near death on the main yard. Here it is Mother's Day, and ol' girl has to shove enough heroin into her system to kill her. But as it is expected, the guards and medics get to work and bring the dead back to life. So our little miss needle monster gets to see another Mother's Day!
Poker has been getting better. I have had a string of positive sessions. I have been in the green for the week for the first time. I am really focusing on my hands, and I am trying to put the evil villains on hand. I need work to continue. I am still having problem with middle pairs and the c-betting. I am really trying not to hit the home run shove without the nuts. I haven't shoved but twice in the week and both times stacked the villain. I am finding something new in the game. It appears that when you look down at QQ, and you re-raise, and the villain 4 bets and you call, then the flop is QK7. Apparently your not suppose to call a flop bet that puts you all in. Man because when I did, and flipped up AA, he was pissed off to no end.
I read an article in a poker mag that explains how to tilt a player. I generally don't go there, ya see I am 45 years old, we don't play like that. But this guy, he was a real ass. My advice is that homie don't every f-up and hit the joint, he would have a chance. Anyway, so this seemed like the right guy to take a shot at. I let about 20 minutes pass since my set doubled me up and then relived the hand via the chat room. You know, "Hey did you guys see how I got my QQ in with the best of it to a pair of AA's. Man that hand is so over played, it is easy to bust someone like that". WOW!! I can't even publish the remarks. LOL!!!! POKER!
I spend my mothers day with 4000 felons, of which 3/4 are mothers. It is an odd situation, I respect the work mothers do, but man, when mom is a crack addict or she whacked the old man in a drunken rage, how do you say, "Happy Mothers Day"? But as life is in the largest women's prison in the world, we had a near death on the main yard. Here it is Mother's Day, and ol' girl has to shove enough heroin into her system to kill her. But as it is expected, the guards and medics get to work and bring the dead back to life. So our little miss needle monster gets to see another Mother's Day!
Poker has been getting better. I have had a string of positive sessions. I have been in the green for the week for the first time. I am really focusing on my hands, and I am trying to put the evil villains on hand. I need work to continue. I am still having problem with middle pairs and the c-betting. I am really trying not to hit the home run shove without the nuts. I haven't shoved but twice in the week and both times stacked the villain. I am finding something new in the game. It appears that when you look down at QQ, and you re-raise, and the villain 4 bets and you call, then the flop is QK7. Apparently your not suppose to call a flop bet that puts you all in. Man because when I did, and flipped up AA, he was pissed off to no end.
I read an article in a poker mag that explains how to tilt a player. I generally don't go there, ya see I am 45 years old, we don't play like that. But this guy, he was a real ass. My advice is that homie don't every f-up and hit the joint, he would have a chance. Anyway, so this seemed like the right guy to take a shot at. I let about 20 minutes pass since my set doubled me up and then relived the hand via the chat room. You know, "Hey did you guys see how I got my QQ in with the best of it to a pair of AA's. Man that hand is so over played, it is easy to bust someone like that". WOW!! I can't even publish the remarks. LOL!!!! POKER!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Realistic Goals
I have been working with a Cardrunners Guest Pro and private instructor, Dan Weston. He plays a similar game as i do, TAG and he has worked his way up through limits to play 400NL. He is currently playing 200NL. I have started to grasp his concept, and I have been making some progress. I have dedicated myself to learn and study first, then apply the strategies to my game. It becomes very hard when you face a table with such extremes. I sit at tables with 2 nits and to monsters. You try and isolated the maniacs, but a nit will join in and visa versa. A great game.
I am going to really study my PT stats, and really examine the videos that apply to me. I do enjoy watching the high limit videos, but the do not apply to me. I also see on Cardrunners that some members have been selected as a student, well, if anyone from CR is looking for a student, someone not in his twenties, then PLEASE select this 45 year old rookie!
I am still in oral pain from my nightmare session with the Russian dentist. All said and done, 3 extractions and a root canal, four stitches with a hand full of pain killers.
I am going to really study my PT stats, and really examine the videos that apply to me. I do enjoy watching the high limit videos, but the do not apply to me. I also see on Cardrunners that some members have been selected as a student, well, if anyone from CR is looking for a student, someone not in his twenties, then PLEASE select this 45 year old rookie!
I am still in oral pain from my nightmare session with the Russian dentist. All said and done, 3 extractions and a root canal, four stitches with a hand full of pain killers.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Dentistry and the whole FN pain of it...
I am dying a slow and painful death. I have the worst toothache in the history of mankind! I get the thing on Friday, and everything is closed. The whole weekend is spent shoving any painkiller I can get my hands on. It is times like these that one needs to go through to truly appreciate the many times I am not in pain. The humbler. I was reading on CR how these two guys are being mentor, take on as a protege'. Man I would love for that to be me. There are somethings in life that we know to be true, things known to be true within ourselves. I hate to be horrible at something. I have always been good at sports, prison and overall a good father. I am not good at poker, in fact I think I suck.
I have really fallen in love with the game, and there in lies the problem. When I attach myself to something, I want to be the best. Granted, I am never going to beat Tiger Woods in golf with my lowly 7 handicap, but hey I beat those around me. It is that kind of thinking that I am talking about. So what would I give to be a protege', OMG! The chance that someone with skill would take the time to train and mold me, that would be priceless. I play low limit poker because I don't have the skill or confidence to play at the higher limits. I rarely play tournaments, however I do like them. Man, when I see these guys on Cardrunners getting the opportunity to get training and insight from good and solid players, it makes me envious.
All these online players are kids. Here I am looking 45 in the face, and I am begging for theses hot shots to teach this old dog some tricks. So I guess if anyone in cyberland reads any of this, then feel free to hook a brotha' up.
I have really fallen in love with the game, and there in lies the problem. When I attach myself to something, I want to be the best. Granted, I am never going to beat Tiger Woods in golf with my lowly 7 handicap, but hey I beat those around me. It is that kind of thinking that I am talking about. So what would I give to be a protege', OMG! The chance that someone with skill would take the time to train and mold me, that would be priceless. I play low limit poker because I don't have the skill or confidence to play at the higher limits. I rarely play tournaments, however I do like them. Man, when I see these guys on Cardrunners getting the opportunity to get training and insight from good and solid players, it makes me envious.
All these online players are kids. Here I am looking 45 in the face, and I am begging for theses hot shots to teach this old dog some tricks. So I guess if anyone in cyberland reads any of this, then feel free to hook a brotha' up.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Confidence...
Well I would like to start by wishing my sister Tory a happy birthday!
I sit hear listening to the sounds of Ravel's Bolero. For those who aren't fimilar, it was the music that was playing while Bo Derrick and Dudley Moore had sex in the movie "10". An absolute gem of a classical piece. A must to listen to.
As for the poker, well let's just say it isn't happening right now. One thing I lack is confidence. I have been severely bruised and beaten. Man, when the confidence goes, so does the game. I have lost my full houses, yes plural, to quads twice within 15 minutes. My KK raise gets called by and suited 24, and wins! It has been one of those weeks. I actually take lesson (Fruitypro) and it helps, but not really. Here is what running bad does. I had a lesson today with Dan (fruitypro, IjustriveredU, vampitup) Weston. The lesson consisted of me watching him play on 4 $25NL tables. I swear, he must have caught 10-15 pocket pairs within the hour. He played them very strongly, however at the end of the session he was 2 buy-ins down! I believe it was from me watching. My bad run is now effecting others. I should be quarantined! Anyway, back to the confidence issue. I am really lacking confidence at this time. I seem to get run down, or make a bad river read. I don't know how to correct the issue. It's not like I am getting out of line. My PT stats for the week are very TAG (19/15/4). But I hear it goes that way. Talking to Dan, it is his belief that I don't play enough to overcome the short term variance, and that bad sessions just linger because of it. I two table at the $25NL level, however it is believed that I am rolled for 4 tables at the $50NL game. I played a little at the $50NL tables and won approximately a quarter of a buy-in, but I only played about 40 hands. It is hard to sit there with the weight of my losses. I actually didn't even see a flop, not true, I saw one. I was in the BB with a suited AK. I had no reads on anyone at the table. The guy MP raised 4X to $2, I re-raised to $6.50 with Big Slick and got called. The flop was K36 rainbow. The pot held $13 and the villain had $42 behind. I led out for $11 and he thinks a bit, and then POW! It's in the middle! I think maybe a set or AA. But does he call a large re-raise with 33 or 66? I think not. How about AA? Would he smooth call my re-raise with AA, or would he just stick it in pre-flop? Could he have KK? Well, I have a K and the board has a K so it is not likely. Maybe an under pair to the K? Well now I am in great shape there. So as I actually said out loud, "well here goes" I throw my chips in. The board brings another A for 2 pair. When the dust settles, AK v. AK and Poker Stars wins! OMG!
I think I may try and play a little more at the $50NL table. Seems people respect a raise and there is less idiot play. But then again, it was only a few hands. I hope I can shake this funk and actually re-gain some confidence. It really reminds me of golf, when you are on, nothing goes wrong, but one slip up, and you're on the bogey train.
I sit hear listening to the sounds of Ravel's Bolero. For those who aren't fimilar, it was the music that was playing while Bo Derrick and Dudley Moore had sex in the movie "10". An absolute gem of a classical piece. A must to listen to.
As for the poker, well let's just say it isn't happening right now. One thing I lack is confidence. I have been severely bruised and beaten. Man, when the confidence goes, so does the game. I have lost my full houses, yes plural, to quads twice within 15 minutes. My KK raise gets called by and suited 24, and wins! It has been one of those weeks. I actually take lesson (Fruitypro) and it helps, but not really. Here is what running bad does. I had a lesson today with Dan (fruitypro, IjustriveredU, vampitup) Weston. The lesson consisted of me watching him play on 4 $25NL tables. I swear, he must have caught 10-15 pocket pairs within the hour. He played them very strongly, however at the end of the session he was 2 buy-ins down! I believe it was from me watching. My bad run is now effecting others. I should be quarantined! Anyway, back to the confidence issue. I am really lacking confidence at this time. I seem to get run down, or make a bad river read. I don't know how to correct the issue. It's not like I am getting out of line. My PT stats for the week are very TAG (19/15/4). But I hear it goes that way. Talking to Dan, it is his belief that I don't play enough to overcome the short term variance, and that bad sessions just linger because of it. I two table at the $25NL level, however it is believed that I am rolled for 4 tables at the $50NL game. I played a little at the $50NL tables and won approximately a quarter of a buy-in, but I only played about 40 hands. It is hard to sit there with the weight of my losses. I actually didn't even see a flop, not true, I saw one. I was in the BB with a suited AK. I had no reads on anyone at the table. The guy MP raised 4X to $2, I re-raised to $6.50 with Big Slick and got called. The flop was K36 rainbow. The pot held $13 and the villain had $42 behind. I led out for $11 and he thinks a bit, and then POW! It's in the middle! I think maybe a set or AA. But does he call a large re-raise with 33 or 66? I think not. How about AA? Would he smooth call my re-raise with AA, or would he just stick it in pre-flop? Could he have KK? Well, I have a K and the board has a K so it is not likely. Maybe an under pair to the K? Well now I am in great shape there. So as I actually said out loud, "well here goes" I throw my chips in. The board brings another A for 2 pair. When the dust settles, AK v. AK and Poker Stars wins! OMG!
I think I may try and play a little more at the $50NL table. Seems people respect a raise and there is less idiot play. But then again, it was only a few hands. I hope I can shake this funk and actually re-gain some confidence. It really reminds me of golf, when you are on, nothing goes wrong, but one slip up, and you're on the bogey train.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
OMG!
OMG!
Well it has been awhile since I have been to the ConvictKeeper's blog, but here we go. The prison is busting faster than my bankroll. We are short Lieutenant's so we all have to pitch in and work our fair share. That means little sleep and lots of work. Good for the bank account, but it suck for the social life.
Well poker has been interesting to say the least. I have come to the conclusion that I am not smart enough, nor lucky enough to be a winning player. I tend to call off to much at the river. I can not play against maniacs, you know the 65/8/2 players who won't leave a hand for their life's. So when I get the AK suited in position, and raise, and of course get called. Hey I am in great shape on a A37 board, NOT! of course my raise was called by a 37!
Here are 2 hands within 15 minutes
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1053642
Here is a nice heads up match
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1053636
Now what do you do. I am trying my level best to play winning poker and I just can't. It really is demoralizing. I start to think the site has me pegged, or someone is cheating. It has brought out the worst in me. I am playing in a 10NL with guys who play 90% of all the hand. 90%! The problem is I play TAG poker. I play around 17/14/4 because everyone play 35/29/8 and I wait. But when I finally catch, I seem to get into trouble, and poof! 4 buy-in down. maybe it is time to turn and run, I don't know.
Well it has been awhile since I have been to the ConvictKeeper's blog, but here we go. The prison is busting faster than my bankroll. We are short Lieutenant's so we all have to pitch in and work our fair share. That means little sleep and lots of work. Good for the bank account, but it suck for the social life.
Well poker has been interesting to say the least. I have come to the conclusion that I am not smart enough, nor lucky enough to be a winning player. I tend to call off to much at the river. I can not play against maniacs, you know the 65/8/2 players who won't leave a hand for their life's. So when I get the AK suited in position, and raise, and of course get called. Hey I am in great shape on a A37 board, NOT! of course my raise was called by a 37!
Here are 2 hands within 15 minutes
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1053642
Here is a nice heads up match
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1053636
Now what do you do. I am trying my level best to play winning poker and I just can't. It really is demoralizing. I start to think the site has me pegged, or someone is cheating. It has brought out the worst in me. I am playing in a 10NL with guys who play 90% of all the hand. 90%! The problem is I play TAG poker. I play around 17/14/4 because everyone play 35/29/8 and I wait. But when I finally catch, I seem to get into trouble, and poof! 4 buy-in down. maybe it is time to turn and run, I don't know.
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