Another profitable day and another Top 3 at Cake. I played 9 tourneys today and cashes in 3, with a 3rd place finish at Cake $100 buyin. I also cashed in the Stars Million which is pretty exciting for me as I haven't done that in a long while. Overall profit for the day was $700.
As always, I'm a little disappointed in my 3rd place finish. I had two tough competitors. One with a similar style as myself, and another who was basically running over the two of us. We had 60 big blinds though and I kept telling myself to stay patient, but the guy kept 3-betting, raising big preflop, and betting pot - not the kind of poker I like! I like small pots! So it was tough and I ended up losing my patience on last hand.
I limped A5s on button 3-handed with 1500-3000 blinds. I had about 180K. He raised to 19K or so and I called. Flop was KT2s. He bet half pot, something he normally doesn't do so I thought he might be weak, but of course that was wrong. He was weak all those times he bet pot! I floated him. The turn was the 3c. So now I have all kinds of outs. But of course, now he bets pot. Again, I start thinking maybe he is pushing me off the hand, I have a ton of outs, so I push. He turns over KQ and tourney done.
I hate losing 60 big blinds like that. I kept telling myself to be patient with all those blinds, but didn't. I should have picked a better spot. Maybe the turn wasn't terrible, but that flop was not a good one to float. I'm going to have to think through some strategy for this type of player in the future.
Overall, played well today though and am up $3,200 since arriving in Colombia over 3 nights of poker, so can't complain.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
2 more cashes
Same lineup today except the Stars is a $330 on Wednesdays. I also played the $50 Stars at 9:30 so 7 tourneys tonight.
I finished 3rd in the Cake $100. Unlike last night, there weren´t a ton of suckouts and bad beats - just typical stuff mostly until the end. I made a pretty good call against chip leader when 3 were left who went allin with 2500-5000 blinds and I had 100K in chips (as well as my other opponent). He showed KQ which is pretty much what I put him on and maybe some small pairs. Unfortunately, the K fell on the river.
Cashed in the small Bodog tourney as well but busted in 18th as my trip Q's with A kicker lost to KK on a KQxQ board.
So once again, cashes in the little ones but I showed a $650 profit for the night so I'll take it.
Wrapped up a few things with Peak Performance Poker and sent it off to be typeset. We may get that book out in late July now.
I also sent Jeff back my comments on Parts I and II of APLO Volume II. Great stuff and a great complement to Volume I.
The kids are having a great time in Colombia and I've been quite productive with work, playing poker, and working out. I'm hoping to lose some more pounds while I'm here. Josh watched me play poker tonight and was quite interested and asking a lot of questions. Diana is still suffering from a hip injury but it's slowly getting better. I hope next week will be better for her as she needs some relaxation - our house is quite busy all day long!
I finished 3rd in the Cake $100. Unlike last night, there weren´t a ton of suckouts and bad beats - just typical stuff mostly until the end. I made a pretty good call against chip leader when 3 were left who went allin with 2500-5000 blinds and I had 100K in chips (as well as my other opponent). He showed KQ which is pretty much what I put him on and maybe some small pairs. Unfortunately, the K fell on the river.
Cashed in the small Bodog tourney as well but busted in 18th as my trip Q's with A kicker lost to KK on a KQxQ board.
So once again, cashes in the little ones but I showed a $650 profit for the night so I'll take it.
Wrapped up a few things with Peak Performance Poker and sent it off to be typeset. We may get that book out in late July now.
I also sent Jeff back my comments on Parts I and II of APLO Volume II. Great stuff and a great complement to Volume I.
The kids are having a great time in Colombia and I've been quite productive with work, playing poker, and working out. I'm hoping to lose some more pounds while I'm here. Josh watched me play poker tonight and was quite interested and asking a lot of questions. Diana is still suffering from a hip injury but it's slowly getting better. I hope next week will be better for her as she needs some relaxation - our house is quite busy all day long!
Blog back to life
I'm in Colombia visiting family this month and hope to play a lot of online poker, so I'm going to write brief daily updates of my results and maybe a few key hands. Will be a way for me to track my results and anyone else can follow if it interests them :)
At the same time, I'm also very busy working on upcoming publications. I'm in the process of preparing Peak Performance Poker by Travis Steffen for the printer. This book should be released in August.
Jeff Hwang has sent me the manuscript for APLO II: LAG Play. I'm in the process of reading it to give Jeff my feedback and hope to have that finished this month as well. Jeff also hopes to have the manuscript for APLO III: The Short-Handed Workbook complete by the end of the month. We are shooting for a September/October release of both volumes.
Finally, I received some initial files last night from Tony Guerrera for Tournament Endgame Strategy. So he is hard at work as well and we'll try getting that out in the Fall.
Winning Poker Tournaments Volume III is on hiatus during the WSOP. We have about 1/3 of the book done and hopefully we can finish it up in the Fall as well.
So on to poker. I'm only playing the main event this year due to my Colombia vacation so I'll be arriving in Vegas July 5th. In the meantime, I hope to brush up on my game as I haven't played at all in over a month and very little the last few months. So last night I played my normal "nightlies". These include:
Pokerstars $150
FTP $150 75K guaranteed
Bodog $50 10K guaranteed
Cake, $100, $150, and $50 turbo.
So six tourneys is about all I can handle. I'll likely play a few $100 rebuys this month as well when I'm feeling fresh to practice up against better competition. Sometimes I throw in the $50 at FTP and Stars at 9:30 EST depending on how I'm feeling.
Last night, I finished 6th in the Cake 1k turbo good for $300 and 2nd in the $150 Cake nightly good for $2,250. Typical of my results this year as I´ve ran really well in the small tourneys at Cake and Bodog, but haven't done well in the bigger tourneys at Stars and FTP. Split A-J vs A-9 in the Cake nightly, or otherwise would have had a 300K to 40K chiplead headsup. But I got a lot of lucky breaks, as well as getting some unlucky ones. Overall played quite well although I think my opponent outplayed me headsup - might need to play some headsup tourneys this month as well.
At the same time, I'm also very busy working on upcoming publications. I'm in the process of preparing Peak Performance Poker by Travis Steffen for the printer. This book should be released in August.
Jeff Hwang has sent me the manuscript for APLO II: LAG Play. I'm in the process of reading it to give Jeff my feedback and hope to have that finished this month as well. Jeff also hopes to have the manuscript for APLO III: The Short-Handed Workbook complete by the end of the month. We are shooting for a September/October release of both volumes.
Finally, I received some initial files last night from Tony Guerrera for Tournament Endgame Strategy. So he is hard at work as well and we'll try getting that out in the Fall.
Winning Poker Tournaments Volume III is on hiatus during the WSOP. We have about 1/3 of the book done and hopefully we can finish it up in the Fall as well.
So on to poker. I'm only playing the main event this year due to my Colombia vacation so I'll be arriving in Vegas July 5th. In the meantime, I hope to brush up on my game as I haven't played at all in over a month and very little the last few months. So last night I played my normal "nightlies". These include:
Pokerstars $150
FTP $150 75K guaranteed
Bodog $50 10K guaranteed
Cake, $100, $150, and $50 turbo.
So six tourneys is about all I can handle. I'll likely play a few $100 rebuys this month as well when I'm feeling fresh to practice up against better competition. Sometimes I throw in the $50 at FTP and Stars at 9:30 EST depending on how I'm feeling.
Last night, I finished 6th in the Cake 1k turbo good for $300 and 2nd in the $150 Cake nightly good for $2,250. Typical of my results this year as I´ve ran really well in the small tourneys at Cake and Bodog, but haven't done well in the bigger tourneys at Stars and FTP. Split A-J vs A-9 in the Cake nightly, or otherwise would have had a 300K to 40K chiplead headsup. But I got a lot of lucky breaks, as well as getting some unlucky ones. Overall played quite well although I think my opponent outplayed me headsup - might need to play some headsup tourneys this month as well.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Stuff
I've been busy on new books. Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time Volume II was released a couple of months ago. It has reached the #1 poker book spot at Amazon on several occasions and has consistently been in the top 3. In fact, one one day, Volumes I and II held the #1 and #2 spot.
In a couple of months we'll be releasing our next book, Peak Performance Poker by Travis Steffen. I've very excited about this book. It discusses the impact of fitness and nutrition on your stamina, energy level, cognitive processes, etc. The author also interviewed Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, and others for some great quotes throughout the book. In a way, it is for the body like The Poker Mindset was for your mind.
I'm taking a summer vacation to Colombia this year so will only be playing in the main event at the WSOP. I plan on playing a lot online while in Colombia.
Big debate going on in the poker world about the use of sunglasses. Daniel Negreanu argues that some televised events should ban them. I agree. I think there are a few rules which should be implemented for TV tables:
1 - Any player to leave the table during a hand will have his hand folded. Otherwise, every player could stand up and hide somewhere so that their opponent can't get a read.
2 - Eliminate hoodies, sunglasses, etc. If everyone covers themselves up, the viewing is obviously not as interesting.
Be sure to join the Dimat Poker Books group at Facebook.
In a couple of months we'll be releasing our next book, Peak Performance Poker by Travis Steffen. I've very excited about this book. It discusses the impact of fitness and nutrition on your stamina, energy level, cognitive processes, etc. The author also interviewed Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, and others for some great quotes throughout the book. In a way, it is for the body like The Poker Mindset was for your mind.
I'm taking a summer vacation to Colombia this year so will only be playing in the main event at the WSOP. I plan on playing a lot online while in Colombia.
Big debate going on in the poker world about the use of sunglasses. Daniel Negreanu argues that some televised events should ban them. I agree. I think there are a few rules which should be implemented for TV tables:
1 - Any player to leave the table during a hand will have his hand folded. Otherwise, every player could stand up and hide somewhere so that their opponent can't get a read.
2 - Eliminate hoodies, sunglasses, etc. If everyone covers themselves up, the viewing is obviously not as interesting.
Be sure to join the Dimat Poker Books group at Facebook.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Won at Cake
I won the 20K guarantee last night good for $4,700.
I feel really, really good about how I played. I made the money with one of the short stacks and was short-stacked at the final table for quite some time. Actually, I think I started chipping up with around 5 to 6 players remaining. Made good laydowns, timely bluffs, learned my opponents well (1 guy always min-raised with weakish hands so I 3-bet the heck out of him), and was patient.
One tough hand - I believe we were 4-handed and I was 2nd in chips. I raised the button with A-Q and SB - the chip leader - was overbet and put me all-in. I put him on a middle pair and likely would call in normal situation. But, there was a short-stack at the table so I risked going out 4th when 3rd was very likely, and I felt like I was in control at the table with a great structure. No need to gamble so I folded.
There was another hand where I had Ax, flopped an ace, and I put my opponent exactly on KK and was able to get good value on both flop and river (I checked behind the turn to gain a bet on the river) - I liked that hand.
Feels good to get back in the win column.
I feel really, really good about how I played. I made the money with one of the short stacks and was short-stacked at the final table for quite some time. Actually, I think I started chipping up with around 5 to 6 players remaining. Made good laydowns, timely bluffs, learned my opponents well (1 guy always min-raised with weakish hands so I 3-bet the heck out of him), and was patient.
One tough hand - I believe we were 4-handed and I was 2nd in chips. I raised the button with A-Q and SB - the chip leader - was overbet and put me all-in. I put him on a middle pair and likely would call in normal situation. But, there was a short-stack at the table so I risked going out 4th when 3rd was very likely, and I felt like I was in control at the table with a great structure. No need to gamble so I folded.
There was another hand where I had Ax, flopped an ace, and I put my opponent exactly on KK and was able to get good value on both flop and river (I checked behind the turn to gain a bet on the river) - I liked that hand.
Feels good to get back in the win column.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Winning Poker Tournaments Volume II is #1 poker book at Amazon
Winning Poker Tournaments Volume II off to a good start.
The World Poker Travel Guide was also released in January.
I've been signing new book deals lately it seems like every month. I have signed a Brazilian company to the Portuguese rights of seven Dimat Books.
Upcoming releases:
Winning Poker Tournaments Volume III
Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Volume II
Tournament Endgame Strategy
Untitled book on impact of fitness and diet on poker results
NL Tournament Strategy by Rizen - 2011
Meeting later today to discuss another potential project with an author
The World Poker Travel Guide was also released in January.
I've been signing new book deals lately it seems like every month. I have signed a Brazilian company to the Portuguese rights of seven Dimat Books.
Upcoming releases:
Winning Poker Tournaments Volume III
Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Volume II
Tournament Endgame Strategy
Untitled book on impact of fitness and diet on poker results
NL Tournament Strategy by Rizen - 2011
Meeting later today to discuss another potential project with an author
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
IP Poker Classic - Biloxi
I've been busy working on books so I haven't been playing much lately. I did have a nice Wednesday night a couple of weeks ago with a 2nd and 4th place finishing netting me about 13K.
This past weekend I decided to go to Biloxi for a live tournament. As I've blogged before, there is nothing better than the excitement of a live tournament. The main event was a $3k event and had 43 entrants. It's not a big turnout, but it's Biloxi, :).
I had a tough starting table as I bought in late with the other "good" players who show up late. I think most of the satellite winners were at other tables. The tournament paid 4 players with $56K going to first. 14k starting stack, 50 minutes levels, we started at 25-50. Six players were knocked out before level 2 was over giving you an indication of the quality of play of some of the players. At the 100-200 level, I saw a guy with a 20K stack get all-in with AJ, after being check-raised on an AxxQ board. Having said that, there were also some very good players there. I would guess about 10 very good player, 10 more good player, 10 amatuerish players, and 10 players who had no business being there.
There were three key hands.
- Very early, limper, I limp 6-5 CO, button limps. 50-100. 4 players see the flop. K87. I bet 250, button raises to 700, I call. Turn is a 4x (putting two clubs on the board). Button bets 800, I CR to 2400, button calls. River is a Tc. I bet 4000, button calls with J-9.
- I fought my way back to a stack of about 13-14K. 200-400-25. UTG, loose player raises (he could have lots of hands here). Old-looking amatuer player who I was sitting with for about 15 minutes calls. I have JJ in Middle position. Taking the pot would increase my stack over 20%. I am way ahead of UTG range and I don't think the older guy is capable of slowplaying a big pair. I decide to raise, and to commite myself as I don't want UTG to 4-bet me and put me on a difficult decision. I raise to about 6 or 7 K. UTG folds and to my surprise, older guys goes all-in. In my mind, I had intentionally committed myself (to the UTG player), so I called. In hindsight, this was a mistake. I should have reevaluated the situation. It was obvious that my read on the older guy was wrong, and it only made sense with AA. I still had enough chips to make a comeback. I called. UTG player said he had a J. I hit a one-outer!
- Final table. 8 players left. As soon as we arrived at final table I started dominating play. I took my 30K stack up to 55-60K without showing a hand. 75K was the average stack. I 3-bet a few times and was raising more than my share preflop - I had a very loose image and the players were commenting about it.
I decided to switch gears and start playing tight. But I got dealt KK UTG so I raise again. I get two callers and take down the pot. A few hands later in hijack I get A-K. I raise to 5,500 and the big blind pushes all-in (he has about 80-90K. The BB was my biggest worry at the table. He was a very good player, loose, aggressive, with a lot of advanced plays in his arsenal. I insta-called and he shows T-7s and I'm out of the tournament when 7 flops.
Really a bummer as I was in control at the final table, would finally of had a healthy chip stack, and would have crippled my main opponent.
Nevertheless, was a fun trip and worthwhile. If I compare Biloxi and Tunica, it isn't even close...Biloxi is waaaay better. FYI - the Beau Rivage is like a mini-Bellagio. Seriously, it is a nice surprise.
This past weekend I decided to go to Biloxi for a live tournament. As I've blogged before, there is nothing better than the excitement of a live tournament. The main event was a $3k event and had 43 entrants. It's not a big turnout, but it's Biloxi, :).
I had a tough starting table as I bought in late with the other "good" players who show up late. I think most of the satellite winners were at other tables. The tournament paid 4 players with $56K going to first. 14k starting stack, 50 minutes levels, we started at 25-50. Six players were knocked out before level 2 was over giving you an indication of the quality of play of some of the players. At the 100-200 level, I saw a guy with a 20K stack get all-in with AJ, after being check-raised on an AxxQ board. Having said that, there were also some very good players there. I would guess about 10 very good player, 10 more good player, 10 amatuerish players, and 10 players who had no business being there.
There were three key hands.
- Very early, limper, I limp 6-5 CO, button limps. 50-100. 4 players see the flop. K87. I bet 250, button raises to 700, I call. Turn is a 4x (putting two clubs on the board). Button bets 800, I CR to 2400, button calls. River is a Tc. I bet 4000, button calls with J-9.
- I fought my way back to a stack of about 13-14K. 200-400-25. UTG, loose player raises (he could have lots of hands here). Old-looking amatuer player who I was sitting with for about 15 minutes calls. I have JJ in Middle position. Taking the pot would increase my stack over 20%. I am way ahead of UTG range and I don't think the older guy is capable of slowplaying a big pair. I decide to raise, and to commite myself as I don't want UTG to 4-bet me and put me on a difficult decision. I raise to about 6 or 7 K. UTG folds and to my surprise, older guys goes all-in. In my mind, I had intentionally committed myself (to the UTG player), so I called. In hindsight, this was a mistake. I should have reevaluated the situation. It was obvious that my read on the older guy was wrong, and it only made sense with AA. I still had enough chips to make a comeback. I called. UTG player said he had a J. I hit a one-outer!
- Final table. 8 players left. As soon as we arrived at final table I started dominating play. I took my 30K stack up to 55-60K without showing a hand. 75K was the average stack. I 3-bet a few times and was raising more than my share preflop - I had a very loose image and the players were commenting about it.
I decided to switch gears and start playing tight. But I got dealt KK UTG so I raise again. I get two callers and take down the pot. A few hands later in hijack I get A-K. I raise to 5,500 and the big blind pushes all-in (he has about 80-90K. The BB was my biggest worry at the table. He was a very good player, loose, aggressive, with a lot of advanced plays in his arsenal. I insta-called and he shows T-7s and I'm out of the tournament when 7 flops.
Really a bummer as I was in control at the final table, would finally of had a healthy chip stack, and would have crippled my main opponent.
Nevertheless, was a fun trip and worthwhile. If I compare Biloxi and Tunica, it isn't even close...Biloxi is waaaay better. FYI - the Beau Rivage is like a mini-Bellagio. Seriously, it is a nice surprise.
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