Some advice that has helped me in 2004! My thoughts: (on the bubble with pocket tens).

• I have to agree with Seadood on this one. For me it was too big of a gamble to risk missing the money. The blinds are going to knock someone out before you. I think you've gotten off the Bubble have force 9 other players behind you to out play you. In some MTT you're not playing for first, just take as much as you can and have some profit to show for your efforts. Plus playing as a team I would think so of the lower level wins would help play back some of the buy-ins. If the team was behind you in this play them don't be upset. I would have waited for the money, and then once in the money gamble some.

BernardDogs advice:

• Often, we need mid-level money at least to break even. If Carnagex and I are rebuying, we may often need the final table I simply don't play an MTT to finish in the first round of the money. I'll take the coinflips on the bubble with the hopes of plowing through a stack shorter than me. If I miss, then I stay agressive with a few all-ins ... hoping that conservative bubble players will give me the blinds until I get some more breathing room. You just won't hit the big money in an MTT without taking the coin flip opportunities. Your other option is hoping that the cards are running incredibly well and the deck is hitting you smack dab in the forehead. That happens RARELY, so you've got to put your self in front of the deck sometimes and hope it doesn't dodge you.

This was some great advice that got me a lot more aggressive on the bubble and helped me money a lot higher in some MTTs this year.

The Art of Bluffing with a medium or small stack (My Question)

• I've got no problem bluffing some when I've got a big stack late in a MTT, but with an average stack or small stack I have a harder time picking up the pots with a bluff. I find that if I don't get some good cards late in a tourney I'm going to get eaten up by the blinds and end up having to make a coin flip all in. What is the correct way to bluff when your not a big stack. I know don't go at the big stacks and postion is very important, but what are some other factors? Hands that you would bluff with? Hands to avoid bluffing with? What beat to make xBB? What to do when your bluff gets called preflop? These are just a few things I'd like to get cleared up, and any other advice on bluffing. Looking foward to learn how to bluff you!
• Roxy: Try bluffing at rags from the small blind, make a good bet works best with 3 or less people. Rags are always good to bluff at.
• BernardDogs: I never bluff, but I'll give this a shot. Betting the rag flop from the BB is a great play (reference, Roxy ... previous post). This is only adviseable when you get to see the flop for free and it really is unlikely to have landed for anyone else. Take caution though ... if the button limps rather than going for the steal, that's often a sign of wanting to keep you in with an overpair. Also take caution from an EP or MP limp, as it could mean a low PP that landed as a set. If I'm doing the rag flop bluff, they've GOT to by 9s and lower. It's REALLY funny to see the BB call a pre-flop raise (indicating a potential hand) and then revert to this move ... makes me laugh every time. You can also try representing strength on a REALLY tight table by raising UTG despite not having the cards. Don't do this as the short stack, as you'll want to bail should someone give you action and/or raise you. Don't be afraid to bail. Otherwise, it really is about keeping a SOLID read on your opponents, defending your blinds, and just picking the right spot to toss a nice 4xBB bet out there with the hopes of gathering the blinds. From MP on, ALWAYS consider what you'll do if you're first in so you can act in a manner that looks like you are appropriately confident. I hate to give up control of the hand if I'm bluffing. For example, if I'm defending my blind to a raise from the button that smells suspicious, I commit before the action gets to the button by deciding if I've got a defending hand or not. When the button raises, I instantly re-raise and then ALWAYS lead on the flop. This is once I've committed to the defend. Know when you've gotten to the point where you are bound to an all-in move. You want to use your all-in bluff before your all-in won't hurt to call. That's a start. But again ... I don't bluff much, so take this all with a shaker of salt.
• Rick James: Also, another thing that may work is bluffing when the board pairs on the flop. If board his JJ3. I will raise anyone who makes a small bet into this pot. If someone is betting minimum, more than likely they have nothing and want to pick up the pot. they will usually back down to a raise. Most players with the J will usually slowplay the hand. The UTG raise also works if the table is really tight and you have been playing pretty tight as well. if you get called though prepare to fold if flop doesnt hit you. Someone calling an UTG raise more than likely has you beat.

Advice on staying at the tables when you get up early:

• I know there has been so discussion on this in the past, but I would like to get some more thought on this matter. OK right now I'm playing 2/4 limit and get 4 hours of play every night. I want to make 2/BB an hour playing for a total of $32 a night. Say I sit and the deck hits me in the face the first orbit and I'm up $40-$60 right off the bat would you stay? Also if the table is one you fell your going to get sucked out a lot on, would you consider changing tables to a tighter table? I'm asking this cause I've seen a lot of profit get sucked out this last week after getting off to a good start. I've had many nights where I've got off to a hot start and kept on rolling the rest of the night too, but I would also like to protect a little better some nights. Thoughts please...
• torch: Like I've done (and someone did for me) in these conversations, I'll point you to this link: http://www.fullcontactpoker.com/cparticles_archives.php?id=00002 Which basically says that if you are in poker for the long run, play hours and not results. For you, that means play 4 hours a night. It doesn't matter, in the long run, when you play. It just matters that you play. Of course this assumes that you are playing your 'A' game. If you can't manage that, then you should quit no matter how long you've been at the table. The fact that you've dedicated yourself with those goals is great, because its good motivation and a good way to track your progress. However the standard you should set is playing 4 hours a night, and the goal becomes the $36. Hold yourself to those hours, play your best, and it will likely come to that 2BB/hour.

Hope some of this helps you I know it has me!

  ¶ 1:45 PM 0 comments

  Prep Time before hitting 2005 wide open! I'm a planner, always have been always will be. I've laid out my plan for 2005 in the poker world hand have set it into motion this week. After putting $400 into Pacific Poker, I was able to cash $800 out and get a nice 500 chip set for my home games. I'm going to put $600 into FullTilt and get their 100% match, and put the rest in AP once they offer another 15% bonus. I've reached my goal in 2004 of being at $5000 by the years end. I've tapped in to some of that money to pay for Christmas, Lasik, new monitor, and set some back for my property taxes. This is going to leave me with $1800-$2000 to start fresh in the new year. My goal now is to be at 10K to 15K by July, and see if I want to consider playing full time. I'm not going to publicly track this goal dollar wise. I will be giving updates and thoughts on where I'm at, and will let you know where I stand in July.

Its also a busy time for me. I've got a bunch of private tournaments going with 72os.com. This Sunday we have a big freeroll on Jet Set poker visit 72os.com to sign up. Also season 3 will be kicking of January 9th. And I've teamed up with Absolute Poker to offer a Superbowl Freeroll that could have a prize pool over $2500 (need 100 players).

I'll have plenty of time to catch up on thing now, cash outs from Pacific seem to take a couple of days. I'll be playing some on UB working off that bonus. After 2 weeks of semi-playing poker I'm ready to get back to playing like I was.
  ¶ 2:55 PM 0 comments

  What would it take to play Poker for a living? I'm trying to get my thoughts together and see what it would take for be to be able to play for a living. Things to consider:

1. What size poker bankroll should I have to start?
2. What site should I play at?
3. Multi-Table ($2/4 or $3/6) Single table $5/10?
4. How should I pay myself?
5. How long could I really do this?
6. What happens afterwards when I have a years gap in employment history?
7. Insurance is not a problem!
8. What will I be saving vs. not going to work every day?
9. Am I good enough to do this for a living?

Anyone playing for a living now? What advice do you have? What have I not thought of? What are some roadblocks that you had to over come?
  ¶ 3:02 PM 0 comments

  Harrington on Hold 'Em -- Must Reading for No-Limit Tourney Play by Howard Schwartz

In the past few years, several dozen new-generation poker players have made a name for themselves via books, articles, tournament play and interviews. But one name has stood the test of time for true consistency and peer-group respect. That name is Dan Harrington, the man who in 1995 won the most prestigious tournament of all, Binion's World Series of Poker. He also made it to the final table in the 2003 and 2004 events, an extraordinary feat, considering the size of the field. Now Harrington has teamed with the highly-respected Bill Robertie, known for his expertise in chess and backgammon (and now poker) with the just-released Harrington on Hold'em -- Volume 1 Strategic Play (381 pages, paperbound, $29.95). His Volume 2, titled Endgame Play, will be ready in early 2005. This book, the authors emphasize, is not for beginners.It's for the inexperienced or troubled majority who, without guidance and discipline, will fall by the wayside early on. "My goal is to teach you how to think like a poker player. Anyone can win a pot when he flops a monster. It's how you play when you don't flop one that will decide whether you're a winner or a loser," the introduction emphasizes. There are seven parts (or chapters) in Harrington's marvelous work, designed to focus on the beginning and middle stages of no-limit tournament play. The book is a vital tutorial involving reshaping and remaking the way you think about the game in regard to other players, bankroll, position and pot odds among other factors. Written in a non-technical, straightforward style, the book discusses vital areas such as the role luck plays; when to show hands and when not to and why; the various types of tournaments that exist and which are best to play, including multi-table online (small stakes vs. high stakes); which tells are most important; pot odds and hand analysis. Pertinent sections cover betting before the flop; when is the right time to play more flops with weaker hands; exploiting the "sandwich effect" and the vital, knowing when to go all in before the flop. The "texture" of the flop (good, bad and dangerous types); knowing the difference between value bets, probe bets and continuation bets get much needed attention as does betting on fourth and fifth street; followed by playing against drawing hands are also important. Yet the heart of the book (the key to putting it all together) is in the problem-question-answer format, where you are asked have you chosen the correction decision: yes, no and why? Harrington and Robertie take the poker student under their experienced wings and guide them from the nest toward becominge a successful, consistent predator. Harsh as that may sound, this is what poker is all about--surviving, winning more than losing and building a bigger and better nest to the prizes waiting at the final table.

Get it at Amazon
  ¶ 9:08 PM 0 comments

  Poker fans would ante up to play against Pam Anderson Associated Press NEW YORK -- Pamela Anderson wins with a full house. Anderson In an online survey conducted by EmpirePoker.com, 42 percent of the Web site's VIPs selected model-actress Anderson as the celebrity they would most like to play against. "Our players clearly think Pamela Anderson isn't too bright or maybe they just want to ogle her," said Ron Burke, EmpirePoker.com's marketing manager. Dennis Rodman was a distant second with 24 percent, James Woods shuffled 13 percent, Dave Navarro was picked by 10 percent, skateboarder Tony Hawk and Matt flouron each drew 3 percent, Donald Trump was selected by 2 percent and 1 percent said Ben Affleck. Hank Azaria, Michael Ian Black, Ron Artest, Clay Aiken and Teri Hatcher also picked up votes. "Many of our respondents also said they felt they could read Dennis Rodman's expressions and didn't think he would be very competitive," said Burke in a recent statement. "Only 1 percent of our players said they would want to play against Ben Affleck. Apparently, his poker skills precede him." Well, maybe not. When asked which celebrity would be most likely to cheat at poker, 37 percent of those surveyed chose Affleck. "Our players clearly see Ben Affleck and James Woods as no-nonsense, hardcore poker players and it's quite interesting that they would seem to be the most likely to cheat," said Burke.
  ¶ 11:34 AM 0 comments

  Book Review - Positively Fifth Street Positively Fifth Street

Positively Fifth Street tells the dream of many online poker players. Jim McManus a professor and freelance writer who is hired by to write a story the Ted Binion murder trial. Jim decides to give into “Bad” Jim try to win his way into the WSOP with his advancement for the article. He has two college aged children and two young children at home and nothing but bills. With all of the tension of the story Jim is sent to cover, his own personal tensions slowly become the center of the book, especially after he enters the tournament and goes up against famous players, including the author of Jim's favorite tournament book, TJ Cloutier. The book has you hook on both the coverage of the trail and the progress of McManus through the WSOP. I would recommend this book to anyone, poker player or not.

  ¶ 7:16 PM 0 comments

  My Intro Age: 27

Where are you from?
Southwest Virgina, one of the hottest place on earth for poker right now!

Are you married? Children?
I've married to my High School sweet heart for almost 5 years now. We have one son Jacob who will turn 2 March 15th.

How long have you been playing Internet poker?
I began with play money in January 2004. I started playing real money in February and have been hooked since.

What limits do you play?
Right now I'm at $2/4, getting ready to move up to $3/6.

What has been your biggest poker thrill or achievement up to now?
I won a $5 MTT on UB with 550+ players in it. Also I set out on a quest to turn $75 in to $5000 by December 31st. I can say that I reached my goal in 9 months of playing online.

What are your other interests outside of poker?
I love to golf, mt. bike, and camp in the summer time.

What can people expect from your blog?
I hope this give you a little light on who I am. I plan to use this blog to post daily my thoughts, and to give some insite on the life of a grinder.

And yes I did interview myself
  ¶ 6:25 PM 0 comments