Earlier in the day I was playing a session of Full Tilt Poker. I really don’t like the site, but I play for the bonus/rakeback. My preference is Poker Stars, and I am considering transferring all the goods to Stars. Anyway, I had suffered a horrible beat the night before when my TPTK get rivered by a 3 outer, and a very tough hand, QQ vs. AA. We got it all in pre-flop and I hold the ladies, the villain holds the Aces. Well the first card that hits the board is a beautiful red Queen, Booyaa! The last card that hits the board is ugly red Ace, Double Booyaa!
Today was the same kind of day. Again, I am dealt pocket Queens in the BB on a very aggressive table. I cannot get my PAHUD running, so I have no information on the players at the table, except they raise and re-raise very liberally. Well the agro UTG raises, as normal and get called by the button, another very active player. This is the perfect time for a squeeze, however I had squeezed 3 hands prior with AK and everyone folded. I like my hand against the ranges, but still the Queens are weak with a bad flop. I re-raise a little over pot because of positional issues, the UTG player folds, but I am called by the button. The flop is the worst yet. I am out of position with an AK6 rainbow board. Still I lead out for ¾ pot as a c-bet and the button thinks a second and shoves for 1 ½ buy-ins. WTF! I take all of the 15 seconds FTP offers to make a decision and I can’t see me winning. A couple of hands later the villain types in the chat box, “Pocket 6’s”. Whatever.
Later in the morning session, I find myself in another tricky spot. I call a min. raise from a guy who plays (57/17/1). Now this guy seems weak and I call from the BB with a suited Q/T. The flop is Q49 rainbow, I lead out and the guy shoves for less than ½ a buy-in. Well I figure he shoves anything and I call. The guy has KK! Well he holds up and wins the pot. I typed in, “Surprised you shoved such a strong hand”. Man, for 10 minutes the guy slaughters me for “whining” and making a “bad read”. I bite and say, “Hey, I called because of your stats, and by the way, nh”. The guy now challenges me to a heads up dual, and blah, blah blah. Why is this? I mean the guy wins a pot with kings, and I am an idiot who can’t play. There is so much disrespect online it isn’t funny. I can only imagine it getting worse as school is out. I vow never to chat again!
Friday, June 8, 2007
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Taking a break...See you soon fruitypro
I just found out via the Card Runners forum that my coach, Dan (fruitypro) Weston is taking a break from the game. He posted that he is a little unmotivated and he need to find a balance between poker and reality. This is something that I have found to be true, and I am a recreational player. IO can only image what a professional online poker goes through each day. I know Dan would multi-table (8) $200NL everyday. man what an existence. Staring at the screen for hours on in, grinding out a living through the computer. It has to be draining. I encourage Dan to seek other things in life. I am now 45, I didn't have Internet poker while I was in my 20's, so I got to experience life outside the flat screen. We all need to seek other adventures to complete our personal scrape books. Although I will miss Dan help on Wednesdays, I do respect his decision. Go on and get yours fruitypro, I'll see you when you get back.
Taking the Good with the Bad...
It had been awhile since I have written. I have been hit with one bad beat after another, and none of it involves poker. I have read that you should not play poker if you are fatigued, angry, preoccupied or any number of the emotional states us humans go through in out lifetimes. The past few weeks have tested The Convictkeeper. A test that has left me in a profounf funk. I found myself facing one situation after another, some involving work and some involving family. I played some poker during this span. I lost 3 buy-ins. I played as a means to distract me from the situations that I was facing. Almost like going to the movies to escape the realities of life. When I play poker, I really get involved. I stretch my thinking and become enthralled in the game. After each session I would review my PT stats. I was playing my normal TAG style, however I did make some bad calls and I did catch some coolers. When I was done, I could not help but wonder if my play was affected by the stresses of life. I have come to the conclusion it had been affected. I learned that I am not as sharp when I have outside influences affecting my personal life. I should preface that comment with this one, I am not a winning player, so maybe I am not as sharp to begin with. Anyway, I now understand why poker requires one’s full attention. If outside influences are allowed to creep into your mind, then it is easy to become distracted, and therefore a target.
I would like to give credit to Card Runner Online Poker Training Site for the creation on the Card Runners Cash Game League. Card Runners was able to secure 3 tables at the $10NL level. This was posted on the Card Runners Low Limit forum and the tables can be found at Full Tilt Poker. I was able to catch a seat just as it was announced. The 3 tables, appropriately named, “tay”, “sbrugby” and “LucLongely”, are the screen names for the principals at Card Runners. At any given time you can see these players playing stakes from $100-200 to $500-$1,000 No-Limit Hold’em. I am at my seat when “tay” (Taylor Caby) and my coach “fruitypro” (Dan Weston) sit in. That was fun. I tried so hard not to look like a dork, but what can I say, I didn’t succeed. From the BB, it is limped around with 3 players seeing the flop. The flop is 456 rainbow and I hold middle two. The SB leads out, and I raise 3x with my 2 pair. The MP folds and I now have position on the SB. The turn is a blank, and the SB checks his bet. I fire a second barrel and get called. Well the river brings a horrible 7. The SB thinks and fires a pot sized bet. Well suffice it to say, I make a crying call and lose to the SB’s 33 for the idiot end of the straight. Well in embarrassment I shove the next hand for ½ a buy-in with KJ suited to get called by “tay” and his AK. I donk off a stack, and any credibility I may have with my coach. I was able to bandage up on a hand with “tay”. On the button, I smooth called a MP raise from “tay” with a suited ATh. The flop was a handsome T53 with 2 hearts. I had TP and the nut flush draw. “tay” bet out and I re-raised to take down the pot. I am sure the teacher was not bragging to anyone that he has helped me, and I a very sure “tay” would love to see me at the bigger games, but that will have to wait. Card Runners has really tried to create a community of players, many of whom are very accomplished and successful, that gets involved in the game of poker. Card Runners has a tournament league and now the cash league, all of these will only create better player. I know that many of the members of Card Runners are attending and/or playing events at the WSOP. I wish all of the members the very best of luck and success.
I would like to give credit to Card Runner Online Poker Training Site for the creation on the Card Runners Cash Game League. Card Runners was able to secure 3 tables at the $10NL level. This was posted on the Card Runners Low Limit forum and the tables can be found at Full Tilt Poker. I was able to catch a seat just as it was announced. The 3 tables, appropriately named, “tay”, “sbrugby” and “LucLongely”, are the screen names for the principals at Card Runners. At any given time you can see these players playing stakes from $100-200 to $500-$1,000 No-Limit Hold’em. I am at my seat when “tay” (Taylor Caby) and my coach “fruitypro” (Dan Weston) sit in. That was fun. I tried so hard not to look like a dork, but what can I say, I didn’t succeed. From the BB, it is limped around with 3 players seeing the flop. The flop is 456 rainbow and I hold middle two. The SB leads out, and I raise 3x with my 2 pair. The MP folds and I now have position on the SB. The turn is a blank, and the SB checks his bet. I fire a second barrel and get called. Well the river brings a horrible 7. The SB thinks and fires a pot sized bet. Well suffice it to say, I make a crying call and lose to the SB’s 33 for the idiot end of the straight. Well in embarrassment I shove the next hand for ½ a buy-in with KJ suited to get called by “tay” and his AK. I donk off a stack, and any credibility I may have with my coach. I was able to bandage up on a hand with “tay”. On the button, I smooth called a MP raise from “tay” with a suited ATh. The flop was a handsome T53 with 2 hearts. I had TP and the nut flush draw. “tay” bet out and I re-raised to take down the pot. I am sure the teacher was not bragging to anyone that he has helped me, and I a very sure “tay” would love to see me at the bigger games, but that will have to wait. Card Runners has really tried to create a community of players, many of whom are very accomplished and successful, that gets involved in the game of poker. Card Runners has a tournament league and now the cash league, all of these will only create better player. I know that many of the members of Card Runners are attending and/or playing events at the WSOP. I wish all of the members the very best of luck and success.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
The ConvcitKeeper reaches a mile stone...
Well today is the day!
On this date in 1962, the ConvictKeeper was released from the confinement of the womb and entered onto the world. Through many, many trails and tribulations the ConvictKeeper is still here. It is a testament to modern medicine. When other lids wanted to be baseball players and doctors all I wanted to be was a prison guard, man am I living a dream! Happy Birthday to me, The ConvictKeeper!
On this date in 1962, the ConvictKeeper was released from the confinement of the womb and entered onto the world. Through many, many trails and tribulations the ConvictKeeper is still here. It is a testament to modern medicine. When other lids wanted to be baseball players and doctors all I wanted to be was a prison guard, man am I living a dream! Happy Birthday to me, The ConvictKeeper!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
FTP and the Whole Damn Mess...
Well there it is. The minute I am running good, POW! A sick three buy-in loss. This session ended the entire run. I think I can tie it to one hand. I never felt like I was tilting, but obviously I was. Look at this sick hand:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1127473
I should have quit. I know better than to chase straights and flushes, but I saw so many OESD's that my head was spin. It seemed that everyone was playing 55/15/9 and they were hitting. Another hand was my 66 vs. KK (and short stacked, less than 1/2 a buy-in) on a flop of 345 rainbow. What do you do? Well back to the drawing board.
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1127473
I should have quit. I know better than to chase straights and flushes, but I saw so many OESD's that my head was spin. It seemed that everyone was playing 55/15/9 and they were hitting. Another hand was my 66 vs. KK (and short stacked, less than 1/2 a buy-in) on a flop of 345 rainbow. What do you do? Well back to the drawing board.
Running Good...
Well I have really been running well, for me at least. I have a solid month to date, and after several months of red numbers, I am pleased to report they are green. I have realized a profit since May 1st. I have only seen what tough hand, stack buster (http://www.pokerhand.org/?1120661), but I think I played the hand well. I guess that is all you could hope for. I am taking notes and really studying the hands that land me in hot water. I find that I am losing a lot with 2 hands in particular. My stats suggest that I re-visit my play with AQ and 9/10 suited. Those are my "bad" hands. I can easily element the 9/10. but he AQ is a little different. I have changed my style and my approach with the AQ, and it has shown early promise.
After losing for so long, it is hard to believe I can be making the right plays that are required to show a profit. I hope my session with fruitypro, and my new approach has led to this. I hope this "rush" is not a run of good cards. I have been able to get away from most hands when I think I am beat, and I have made calls with overs and OESD that have paid off. It also seems my betting has been such that I get called more often with the goods. All in all, things are good, and when they are good, it really increases the confidence.
I would like to play $50NL, I am rolled for the level, but I want at least 15,000 hands in the green before I consider it. I guess it is my way of cutting my teeth. I have been losing for so long that I want a solid foundation. Right now I have logged 8,900 hands.
Off subject, saw Spiderman 3, sucked!
The prison has been relatively quite. Working with females is such a task, everything is so emotional. It is near the end of my shift on Monday, and Inmate Gunland gets into an argument with her cellie. The women live 8 to a cell, so you could image the drama. Anyway, the argument is over the treatment of another inmate. Women get involved with every aspect of every one's life. They actually form prison families. The butch lesbian is the father, the feminine lesbian is the mother, and everyone else are "kids". Anyway, us guards always have the same warning to each "fish". It is simple, "You came in with one number, do your number, not hers. Back to the issue, when the argument reaches it's climax, Gunland takes a combination lock and puts 4 health whacks on the cell window. Well these windows aren't cheap. After doing $400.00 damage, she is cuffed up and sent to me. I now get to ask the important questions "What the hell were you thinking, and why the hell did you bust up my cell window?" Of course I learn that someone was picking on someone else, and it was that drama that made her break the window. OMG! The sad thing is about this behavior is she will lose 60 days of "good time credit" and she will be charged for the window. The reality is, she get all the good time credit back and we won't collect a cent. PRISON!
After losing for so long, it is hard to believe I can be making the right plays that are required to show a profit. I hope my session with fruitypro, and my new approach has led to this. I hope this "rush" is not a run of good cards. I have been able to get away from most hands when I think I am beat, and I have made calls with overs and OESD that have paid off. It also seems my betting has been such that I get called more often with the goods. All in all, things are good, and when they are good, it really increases the confidence.
I would like to play $50NL, I am rolled for the level, but I want at least 15,000 hands in the green before I consider it. I guess it is my way of cutting my teeth. I have been losing for so long that I want a solid foundation. Right now I have logged 8,900 hands.
Off subject, saw Spiderman 3, sucked!
The prison has been relatively quite. Working with females is such a task, everything is so emotional. It is near the end of my shift on Monday, and Inmate Gunland gets into an argument with her cellie. The women live 8 to a cell, so you could image the drama. Anyway, the argument is over the treatment of another inmate. Women get involved with every aspect of every one's life. They actually form prison families. The butch lesbian is the father, the feminine lesbian is the mother, and everyone else are "kids". Anyway, us guards always have the same warning to each "fish". It is simple, "You came in with one number, do your number, not hers. Back to the issue, when the argument reaches it's climax, Gunland takes a combination lock and puts 4 health whacks on the cell window. Well these windows aren't cheap. After doing $400.00 damage, she is cuffed up and sent to me. I now get to ask the important questions "What the hell were you thinking, and why the hell did you bust up my cell window?" Of course I learn that someone was picking on someone else, and it was that drama that made her break the window. OMG! The sad thing is about this behavior is she will lose 60 days of "good time credit" and she will be charged for the window. The reality is, she get all the good time credit back and we won't collect a cent. PRISON!
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Common Sense and a Slice of Pie...
Well after some time off from the grind of prison life, I am back and can't help but post a typical session with the nutty inmates. Inmate Wilson decides that she's, "Mad as Hell, and I not gonna take it anymore." So she takes a razor to her right forearm. Now mind you she has a history of self-inflicted behavior. Anyway, off she goes to the infirmary for a check up and placement of suicide watch. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). This event takes place at 10:00am, and now it's almost 1:00pm. All this time, this inmate is sitting in a holding cell, awaiting treatment and evaluation.
Ms. Wilson mentions that she is hungry, and that she has not eaten since 6:30 in the morning. She makes a simple request for a box lunch. Now in all my experience working with felons, I have learned that you don't mess with food or mail, that is a fact, and that is all that needs to be said. Her requests fall upon deaf ears. She makes another request, politely and with respect, again she is ignored. As you could very well imagine we have many badge heavy guards.
Well as this is going on, the inmate continues to watch the guards and medical staff enjoy pizza that had been purchased and delivered. Well you see the train a coming, rolling 'round the bend. The inmate is watching this with a hungry belly and a slightly off center mindset. All of the anger of her respectful request to eat comes to a head, and POW! off she goes. She races into the room with all the pizza, and does her best re-enactment of the famous Animal House food fight. Pizza is being tossed about. On the floors and walls, the windows and doors, the pizza is being tossed by the now crazed inmate. When all of the pizza had been destroyed, she sits back down and waits for her shot of mind-numbing narcotics.
All of this could have been avoided if someone would have given the convict a sandwich. But as you can tell, that would have been an act of kindness in some eyes. That is not how I see it. Every inmate is entitled to a box lunch, that is not a privilege, but a right. The guards who see feeding the inmate as being weak, ended up $71.00 in the hole, and had to give the convict a lunch anyway.
As they say on ESPN, "Winner, Winner, chicken dinner." PRISON!
Ms. Wilson mentions that she is hungry, and that she has not eaten since 6:30 in the morning. She makes a simple request for a box lunch. Now in all my experience working with felons, I have learned that you don't mess with food or mail, that is a fact, and that is all that needs to be said. Her requests fall upon deaf ears. She makes another request, politely and with respect, again she is ignored. As you could very well imagine we have many badge heavy guards.
Well as this is going on, the inmate continues to watch the guards and medical staff enjoy pizza that had been purchased and delivered. Well you see the train a coming, rolling 'round the bend. The inmate is watching this with a hungry belly and a slightly off center mindset. All of the anger of her respectful request to eat comes to a head, and POW! off she goes. She races into the room with all the pizza, and does her best re-enactment of the famous Animal House food fight. Pizza is being tossed about. On the floors and walls, the windows and doors, the pizza is being tossed by the now crazed inmate. When all of the pizza had been destroyed, she sits back down and waits for her shot of mind-numbing narcotics.
All of this could have been avoided if someone would have given the convict a sandwich. But as you can tell, that would have been an act of kindness in some eyes. That is not how I see it. Every inmate is entitled to a box lunch, that is not a privilege, but a right. The guards who see feeding the inmate as being weak, ended up $71.00 in the hole, and had to give the convict a lunch anyway.
As they say on ESPN, "Winner, Winner, chicken dinner." PRISON!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
