Poker on DVR

Okay - so for the last 3 days I haven't been able to watch my soap after work. Why, you ask? Because of our DVR and the fact that my wonderful hubby has every program that has "poker" in the title set to be Tivo'd. This means that all of the WSOP shows, American Casino, even the adult movie channel show "Willie Poker, Master of the Casino" has been recorded. So, between those and the 47 episodes of Dora the Explorer, I have no room on my DVR for "As The World Turns", the show I've been watching for the past 20 years. I've pretty much watched Lily and Holden from the time they were in high school!

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching some of the poker shows on Saturday afternoons, while cleaning house, making lunch or catching up on my laundry. But really, do we have to watch EVERY one all the way through including the commercials?!

So I have come to the conclusion that poker has become a staple in our household (much like black-eyed peas and Kraft sliced cheese) and probably will be for the next, oh - 50 years!

At least at the beginning of the year I won't have to rely on Tivo anymore to get my "ATWT" fix.

A ridiculous rush - unfortunately in micro

I was a bit bored the other day and decided to waste my 2.50 freeroll winnings at Titan - so I played a DirtyDozen SNG (It's a 2.00+0.35 buyin 12 player Jackpot SNG). I have never, ever sat at a table with worse players. Came in second - after loosing a coinflip heads-up. I decided to continue playing at least one of these a day until I either bust or win the jackpot (4 wins in a row gets you a neat $2000). These are my stats right now:

Played 6, starting bankroll $2.50, current bankroll $36.40
Current streak 2 wins - best streak 2 wins
1:st 3
2:nd 2
3:rd 0
4:th 0
bust 1

ROI 240%
ITM 83%
Profit: $33.90
Profit/trny $5.65

The funniest thing is that I've actually come within inches of baggin the jackpot already - 3 of the 4 top finishes we're back to back - and both times I came in second I had a better hand getting outdrawn allin - heads-up. I wish I had these numbers playing $20 or $50 SNG's....

edit: stats updated

Emotions of Poker Player

And people say we women are emotional! Last night, while watching the WSOP main event I began to realize just how much more emotional men are when playing poker. A rather large gentleman looking like a big, white sausage, had squeezed into a basketball jersey and was making a complete fool of himself. Now I totally get the emotion of the game - especially on a bad beat, but COME ON men, lets not get our panties in a wad because someone called your QQ all-in with their AK off and got a A on the flop. That's just poker!

I realized early on that when playing any game for money, it is not ideal to let your emotions get in the way of your betting. I can recall only once that I went on "tilt" because of a bad beat. Well maybe twice but I'm going to chalk the second one up to PMS :)

And then there was the big sissy boy crying (Yes he was sobbing like a little girl) because he lost - Wah frickin' wah! But as the sister at the table went out, all we saw from her was congratulatory hand shakes to the rest of the guys at the table.

So I guess what we need to learn here Ladies and Boys (hehe) is to keep your emotions in check and stop with all the table-rage.

Have no fear!

I have finally conceded to my fear of commitment. Not in the ususal sense of relationships and such, but in my effort to build the best online poker information site. A couple years ago my husband and I started watching poker games on TV. Now - we are both avid gamblers, he at the craps table and I at Caribbean Stud. Seeing the popularity of Texas Hold'em rising, he decided this was an opportunity for us to work for ourselves. So I have commited now to working full-time writing for Drawdead. I have been in marketing and sales for several years and am currently - until January 1, 2006, the Sales Operations Manager for a Software company in Austin Texas.
With 5 children, including 2 teenage boys and 2 preschoolers I feel that this is the right move for me. So be prepared to see the ramblings of a 30-something better than average poker player, on a regular basis. I love to write and talk, hubby won't argue that point. And I plan to put all my best effort into informing those non-believers that women can play just as well in the poker world as me.
So I affirm to you all- I will devote myself to this commitment just as I have to my full time day jobs of the past - Hell I might even work harder here than in my 6x6 cubicle. And hopefully someday will be proclaimed as the top poker writer!

Adapting your NLHE strategy to the game at hand

A lot of good/decent players always chant the same mantras: "Position is crucial", "Play the player" "Get all your money in the middle with the best hand". These are all generally good advice, but there are times to deviate from these gems of wisdom.

I have noticed a lot of ill-adapted play in specific situations. I firmly believe that you need to use somewhat different tactics in a MTT compared to satelite and again different tactics in a sit'n'go.

SNG:S

The main reason I'm writing about SNG:s first is that so far our league games are basically two table sng:s, and I'm witnessing some questionable play from some of our members. Often times this SNG-mindset is also applicable to our freerolls when not too many people have signed up. What I question is the occasional reckless early play by some of our members.

An extremely early (maybe 4:th or 5:th hand dealt) three-way allin after the flop at Absolute last time around, with one player holding top pair/top kicker the other flopping two pair(middle and bottom) and the third Gina - the italian eye-candy ;D ) flopping the nut straight made me think a bit.
Would I have put all my money in being player one or player two ? Sure there are times when your not focused and want to double up fast or go get a beer. But generally, when playing a serious game I would say no - I wouldn't - not with that board.

Early stages of tournaments are quite similar overall, however I would advocate an extremely tight approach early on in a sng. You have so few people to beat to the money that you can easily sit back early on and wait for monster hands and/or donks to (happily) take themselves out of your sng.

Middle stages of an sng I would play very much like I would play an MTT early on - still waiting for good hands, but with the occasional position exploit thrown into the mix.

Note that I would play this way basically regardless of my stack size. Even if I'm the bigstack in my sng there's no reason to throw chips around and double people up - only loosen your requirements a fraction - and only if you feel you can outplay people post-flop. Also try and estimate the risks of having to call an all-in with your mediocre hand.

When you've made the money positions in the sng is the time to switch gears depending a bit on the size of your stack. If you're shortstacked - you should consider push or fold mode. With the middle stack - I would probably fold everything except AA KK QQ AK. Hell, I would even fold one of these top-hands if the small-stack was allin and the bigstack had called. And as the bigstack you start raising every reasonable hand preflop.

Remember that success is not always about winning very pot! Stay tuned for the next edition where I'll try and go into sattelites and how to adapt to the payout.

Trick or Treat - Both please!

Here it is – the morning of my kid’s favorite day of the year. Now,don't get it wrong - Christmas is okay but today is the hallowed day of candy, candy and more candy. And they love the fact that, unlike my mother, I will let them eat as much candy as they can stomach, literally.

Similar to playing poker, Halloween is about tricks (and treats) and luck. As in, you are lucky if you flop a full house or get your Ace high flush on the river and not so lucky if all you get in your treat bag is sugar-free candy, a toothbrush, and a coupon for trial size toothpaste.

But whatever I’m doing, be it chasing my kids in their super hero costumes down our dimly lit street or chasing a straight while holding 10c, 9d, it’s all in good fun.
I think the next time I play in a live poker tournament I will do the unthinkable. I will don my Elvira, Mistress of the Dark costume, the same that I will be wearing this evening. Thus once again trying to perfect my “Erin Brockovich” poker technique.

It's OK to fold a pretty hand

Yesterday freerollerz leage 2 game 3 kicked off. I got seated with tomonbass to my right and holis to my left. I respect the play of both of these players - when they tell you they have a hand - they're usually not kidding - and only on occasion will I look these pre-flop raises up with anything other than a killer hand. And I know tom's just red Harrington on Hold'em - so I'm no expecting great bluffs from him.

About half an hour into the game yesterday - kesaco on tom's right hasn't caught any cards apparantly and is nearing critical M. I'm pretty sure his waiting for a high pair or big slick to make a preflop push hoping to double up.

This hand kesaco is UTG - and goes all in....I've picked up AKo - but before I get a chance to call - tom reraises allin.....

So for the first time ever I muck AK preflop - apparantly holis picked up KQs after me and decided to fold too.
kesaco had J6o - tom AA and the aces held up.

edit: I had to come back and edit this entry after reviewing the hand history on this- it was as accurate as the weather report....

Poker Tricks for the Ladies

Until just recently poker has been a male dominated sport. One would expect to be seated in smoke-filled backroom of a casino with scantily clad waitresses serving up whiskey and cigars until the wee hours of the morning. Just within the last few years have we seen female pro poker players emerging and ending up at the final tables of large poker tournaments.

It can be fun to play in a man’s world though. There are several tricks to being a successful female player in a man’s poker world. The biggest is what I like to call “the Erin Brockovich effect”. This is where you have the ability to distract your male opponents and their ogling eyes by showing a little (or a lot) of cleavage. Just do a little stretch in your “hooter girl” type shirt and watch them lose all focus on the game in front of them. It works better if it’s a little chilly in the room (wink wink). I have seen this tactic work in some poker games. Be advised, though, if you are playing against a very committed, focused player, you might as well just put your sweater back on.

You can even use the “Erin B” trick at online poker. Take a look at the avatars available at some of the online poker rooms. The hot, sexy diva in a low-cut red gown is my favorite. Even if in reality I’m more of the librarian type. The men are still making comments about you virtual bosom.

Another trick is the poker face, which every player likes to think they have a good one. I love telling my opponents that I have one just one poker face – the ear-to-ear grin! It leaves the gentlemen of the table wondering; “is she flirting with me or did she really just flop a boat?” Others are wondering if you are smiling because you think you have the hand won, or you are nervous as hell that they will call your bluff.

Whether it is one of those two tricks or you have your own (please let me know your others ASAP so I can use them too!), it is always a challenge to invade a man’s game. But listen up ladies, it is time to stand up and sing out with pride the old feminist mantra “I am women hear me roar!”

Whether it’s by trickery, skill or sheer luck I will treasure the day I can proclaim to my husband that I am a better poker play that he is. Actually I’ve been saying that behind his back for some time now, but I would never say it to his face. Well maybe I will once I have one of those cute little gold bracelets with the WSOP inscription around my wrist!