Getting In Your Groove

Alright I decided tonight to take a much deserved break from the main website, blogging and all that as I have been over whelmed with stuff. Between working on the site till 2 am everyday than up at 6am with the kids and today was baseball for them which I have taken on the task of organizing the ball leagues. Anyway back to the point I decided to play a $1000 GP $5 buyin rebuy now that I have adjusted my game to that of a rebuy.

First hour I am struggling....not even struggling, desperately seeking some good cards. One hand the whole hour that is even worth mentioning is getting dealt QQ in the cut off so I raise 4x BB and get 1 caller. The flop was beautiful Q92 I get put all in for another measly 600. Of course I call and buddy had Arag which, unless he hits runner runner for flush or boat he's drawing dead. The turn makes my ladies into quads and I am more than pleased with this....and that was it, nothing till the first break was over.

Finally I was moved to another table thanks to chip leaders battling it out with AJ and AQ. The flop brought two pair to the AJ who even had the nerve to reraise allin and tell buddy he had made his hand. Buddy still calls and lmao runner runners him with a flush A high.

So anyway new table and I am starting to become quite bored with theis game. It's moving very slowly as it usually does after break and when you can't get anything better than 52os it sends you on a slow winding road of desperation.

So I decided if I am going to be bored might as well listen to some tunes. Opened my media player threw on some old school " Baby Blue Soundcrew--Mary Jane" I know I am stuck in the past but the beats in this song kick ass. I don't no whether my mood was killing my game or what but as soon as I got my groove so to speak I was interested in it again. Within 10 mins I made a few moves that succeeded and put me in the top 15.

So there are now only 28 left out of 92 I am sitting in 14 with a stack of 10 000, blinds are 150/300 and chip leader only has 3x more chips than I do which really, is not that much of a lead. I am playing position which helps me out against the players who don't and I am now in the mood to rock it and win. I will hold my own till I need to mix it up and hopefully I can win this one again.

Win Some Poker Money At Cake Poker

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Are You A Donkey Or A Jackass?

During countless online hours and time spent in the casino I like to classify some players into these two groups. Why? Because I find many people fall into these two areas and I like to know who they are.

For anyone who is reading this, my thoughts of donkey's are mainly players who are learning how to play poker. Not necessarily a player who is out to take all your chips playing a NL tournament on a bad beat. Ya I know they are out there, but many given times they do have a gut feeling on a hand. Call it instinct, call it intuition or simply what ever you want but you have done the same thing.

You know who they are in the casino when they forget to post their blinds and must be told by not only the growing impatient dealer, but the entire table. Or they do post their blinds and keep forgetting how much so they throw in any old poker chip and make the dealer give them change every hand when it's not needed. They call all blinds, raised or not mostly for curiosity to see a flop. Yes they win some hands against your AA but that doesn't mean they come out ahead. They are learning and I respect that. I also know to take caution playing with them as most bad beats are avoidable

Now for the jackass. The jackass is my definition for the next group of players. A jackass thinks they are going to go pro. They comment on every hand even when they are not in it, it makes no difference to them. They are so disillusioned to their own faults and underlying problem. They are crude, ego driven poker players that the jackass can't even see that his problem actually lye within his own game. They believe they are the next Sklansky!

In the casino they are the ones who correct a dealer, correct the players and any other game or situation they can get themselves mixed in. They will engage you in a debate over your game, your style of play, and if you should even be playing poker for that matter. They don;t tip the dealer, they don't tip the waitresses and will run their mouths off if you let them. They are truly a complete and utter ass!

Now see I would rather be seated at a table with a "Donkey" than I would the "Jackass". I enjoy playing poker, learning and reading about the game. I enjoy conversations about poker and yes before you think this is my life I do other things as well but I find conversing on a game can only make yours stronger. I am not new to the game but I am not an expert either. I learn and continue to do so.

So before you start typing into your chat box while taking a hit to your stack, think about what kind of player you want to be. Do you want to be the jackass at the table or are you going to let things slide and move on!

Poker, Bingo, Casino...something for everyone

Doolallys.com is an fantastic site catering to every ones needs. Whether you are a poker fanatic like myself, or enjoy the slots in online casinos right up to the bingo enthusiast there is something for everyone. Offering this many categories for online gambling can make a site confusing however Doolally's has simplified everything. With a simple button you can switch from the poker section to the bingo which makes it quick to navigate.

Each section of the site offers comprehensive listing of bonuses so viewers are able to get the most for their deposits. You will find all your reviews of some of the top poker rooms and strategy tips for every player at all levels. The poker beginner's guide is great for new players who are just starting out learning how to play poker and learn some of the basics.

If you are on the hunt for casinos and not sure where to play check out the casino reviews. They have a detailed listing of the top casinos and what they have to offer. Doolally's has taken this one step further and also did a compilation of both Canadian online casinos and UK casinos.

It doesn't stop there I mentioned earlier they have created a section strictly devoted to the bingo players. Reviews, top bingo halls and even free bingo games can be found here.

As an online player myself I love finding sites like these that cater to the players and provide information that is relevant to me and not the webmaster. This is what makes a good site great and if you are searching for some reviews, bonuses or even gambling news go check them out. Like I said there is something for everyone at Doolally's

Ocean's Thirteen Charity Tournament

Well Pokerstars.com Ocean's 13 Charity Tournament is proving to be a success. With 1 hour to go before th event takes place there is 300+ people participating and the prize pool has reached well over $3000.

It seems as though Pokerstars really knows how to get people playing for a good cause as the prize pool will be matched by Pokerstars to help those in Dafur. If you want to help and play in this game simply download the pokerstars software, here are the details. If you would like to know more about why Pokerstars is putting on this game and to see how you too can help with Dafur click this link Pokerstars.com helping charities

Date: May 27th 2007, 15:30
ETBuy-in: $10 plus rebuys.
Prizes: Top 4 receive tickets to June 5th premiere in Los Angeles plus 2 night’s hotel and $2k for travel/spending.
Top 18 receive autographed copy of “Oceans 13” DVD.
Total prize pool will go to charity and PokerStars will match the donation.
The tournament is open to all players.
Good luck

Are Teens Headed For Problem Gambling

I found this artilce this morning by the news.com.au team, it's content specifically bring attention to the over whelming phenomon poker and playing texas holdem has become amongst teens. Here i sthe complete story from this publisher.

Poker luring teens in trap
Verity Edwards
May 28, 2007
POPULARISED by blockbuster movies such as Casino Royale, Texas Hold'Em
tournaments and games around the kitchen table are sparking concerns that poker
could soon rival slot machines as a source of problem gambling.

Studies have shown that one in five high school students is gambling on card games, wanting to emulate players in televised celebrity poker tournaments and Australia's
World Series champion Joe Hachem. Welfare groups including Uniting Care
Wesley fear young men could fall into the trap of gambling vast sums of money in
hotel poker tournaments and in the unregulated home gaming industry.

"They play poker with a mate over a six pack and say 'This is easy, I'm good at
this'," Uniting Care's Mark Henley said. "Then they see celebrity poker and the
next thing you know they're on dodgycasino@vanuatu.com and they're in a bit of
financial strife."

Bond University's Sudhir Kale, who last month chaired the
Gaming Executive Summit Australasia, said hotels were using poker games to lure
young people into venues.
In Sydney alone there are more than 7000 weekly
poker games in pubs in clubs. The Australian Poker League boasts 230,000 members and its rival, the National Poker League, has more than 40,000 players.

"Generally the clientele of the clubs tend to be older people and the poker
games are being used as a drawcard to get younger people into the clubs,"
Associate Professor Kale said. While slot machines attract a female
demographic with an average age above 50, poker's demographic was 75 per cent
male and aged between 18 and 30. South Australian No Pokies MP Nick Xenophon
said the boom in televised Texas Hold'Em competitions and world championships
"opened the gate to a whole new generation of potential gamblers".

I disagree I think people especially parents need to educate themselves and their children on what can be lost. Yes tv does leave a child who is impressionable in the understanding that you win big playing poker, and very rarely do they see a huge loss. They remember how much someone won. So it's up to the parents to teach their kids.

I know this from my own personal experience. This is corny but at 16 (underage to gamble) I was able to buy Nevada tickets. If you dont know what these are they are pull open tickets and if you have three matching symbols you win the prize. Needless to say I was winning consistantly. The prizes were usually $100 here and there. So one day I was early for my after school shift at work and went and played them I blew my entire paycheck ($250)and lost. This taught me a valuable lesson that I will never forget, nor will I ever forget the sickening feeling that I had of wasting that much money on virtually nothing.

I don't blame my parents, and this is not a Dr.Phil issue but I think parents need to teach their kids that you don't always win and there is in fact a risk.

I have an 8 year old daughter, and yes we play home games regulary however she is not included nor is she around. She knows that we play poker and she knows what poker is but she is told it is a game for grow ups. She also knows we play with money, and can lose. I have been trying to teach her what I think is the best approach for learning about this. Now I am not saying I want her to just go and gamble or how to gamble, but I want her to know that it's not all about winnnig. That is the appeal for teens and if you dont prepare them they will likely do what I did. Kids are excited about casinos when they are of age to go, I was when I made my first trip and they eventually will make one to, so why not prepare them for a life lesson as you do with every other improtant issue you teach your children. Isolating them from gambling will only make them want to experience it more.

Huge Tournament Overlays at Carbon Poker

I was rummaging around today and came across a posting made by shane@ carbon poker who was talking about the overlays they have.

A comment from him was

Overlay + loose play = EASY MONEY!!!!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007


Firstly lets just go over the maths....

With 252 players this week, for your $60 investment in our Sunday $20,000 Guaranteed you got a starting EV of $80.

To put it another way, your playing for a pool of prize money of an extra 80 players, without actually having to play against them.

Now thats good value!

I can not disagree with this what so ever. When I play tournaments I don't play the fields of 500+ players for the simple fact it does not make for a good financial investment. I literally search for tournament overlays and than decide where I play. The simple fact is out of 500 people registered how many times can you say you will finish enough to make it worth it? 1 maybe if you are lucky. So why play these when you have other poker rooms who are offering up some of the best overlays.

Carbon Poker has huge overlays and anyone who already plays there knows this and takes advantage of it, so does Cake Poker and Titan. If I play a huge field I can guarantee I am going to bubble and there is nothing worse than that.

These overlays for example at Titan they have an evening $1000 GP for a buyin of $20. I have placed in the top 5 4 times , a 2nd place finish twice and a first place finish twice. At $300 give or take a little for first place finish I am more than up. The reason I also told you I play the evening game is because it is the best overlay there. They do have the same game offered up earlier in the day however evenings are prime for anyone who does not live in Europe and can play at Titan. Player base is very low so this tournament for example usually only has 80+ people.

Carbon runs $3000 Gp's everyday and again the volume of registered players is so low that it's just incredible. I don't know if people just don't want to front that kind of money or what it is but it makes the game so much more valuable. Today's 20K Guaranteed only had 252 players in it and first place paid out over $5000. That's 5 G's for a $60 buyin. Tell me anotehr site that you will find that kind of ratio. It's just sic how much money these games hand over with the lack of players registered.

I think people overlook this aspect when playing online and how beneficial it is to your bankroll. I mean seriously I am an average player. I know the basics I know how to play position and what not and I use these which helps me win, not always but often enough to be able to say I am not in the red.

So if you are a tournament player like I am and have not found the benefit of overlays, take a look around they are everywhere you just need to watch the site and times that the player volume decreases and I guarantee you it will be a much better investment than playing a $3 x 600 people tournament.

If you would like to check out Carbon Poker I have included the Carbon Poker Bonus for you to get 14 days worth of $500 freerolls plus up to a $200 Bonus and free tournament tickets. Use bonus code "PDCMAy200" and have fun cashing more in an overlay than any other game!