Hey hey,
Started my FTR blog (http://blog.flopturnriver.com/biondino.php ) today - I hope this thread is as active as the blog itself will hopefully be... Go check it out
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Hey hey,
Started my FTR blog (http://blog.flopturnriver.com/biondino.php ) today - I hope this thread is as active as the blog itself will hopefully be... Go check it out
I think playing on crypto is starting to be a big mistake. I'm not quite there yet, but I can already see the mid stakes games are pretty barren if/when you move up. I didn't particularly want to get multiple accounts, but I was playing some £100NL before and it really is consistently full of nutpeddlers. $100 can be juicy but it's still patchy. I thought before going out on friday night i could count on the droves of spewing lapps but even on a friday at £25 there isn't much action on the tables.
Nice work on the response to the CNN article. You should submit it to a mainstream media outlet.
Why is it that the only positive stories we hear about gambling are lottery and WSOP winners? It reminds me of Bill Hicks's plea for a positive drug story:
How about a positive LSD story? Wouldn’t that be news-worthy, just the once? To base your decision on information rather than scare tactics and superstitions and lies? I think it would be news-worthy. “Today, a young man on acid realised that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration. That we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively. There is no such thing as death, life is only a dream and we’re the imagination of ourselves.” “Here’s Tom with the weather!”
Heh - the thought of submitting it to mainstream media did cross my mind - the slightly parodic tone might not help its chances but I can always edit that out (I purposely wrote it in a slightly condescending right wing media tone a la CNN). Any ideas how I might go about this?
Just a piece of advice, but cut down on the bad beat stories please. You're doing yourself (and others) a disservice by posting them. Posting a hand explaining how *you* played it bad is one thing...You (and others) can learn from these mistakes.
But posting a hand where your opponent played terrible and still won isn't going to make you (or anyone else) better. Bad beats happen, it's part of the game. You're stunting your growth as a poker player by paying so much attention to them...
Just my two cents...
george is right, bad beat stories suck
Point taken. Not 100% agreed with though, because posting bad beat stories is a way of seeing the funny side, of venting about them and purging them from your system. I also find them entertaining to read when other people post them so I assume at least some people do too.
And to be honest, the bad beat hands are the easy ones to remember which don't require exactness - I tend to write my posts at work where I don't have PT access. Hands worth studying you need all the stack info, reads etc. and I just don't have it to hand.
But still, comments noted and I'll act on them. Tonight I *will* make a concerted effort to post some HHs with relevant content which can hopefully provoke a discussion.
p.s. thanks for reading, guys - it's good to know serious players have an interest.
forget about posting readable/entertaining content, you will be a better player and make more money if you dont focus on themQuote:
Originally Posted by biondino
Yeah but... I want people to enjoy what I write for it's own sake! You're a pro, gabe, and you have the appropriate approach to the game. I'm not a pro, and I never want to be.
That's not to say I don't want to improve, I do, very much, but I already balance poker with other things in my life (with greater or lesser degrees of success) so I'm sure I can achieve a balance in the blog, especially with advice from people like you and George.
Move up please. Thanks.
I lost a buyin playing like a wanker at $50 last night. I'm clearly not good enough to have any kind of consistency at higher stakes. I only win because I can beat the idiots.
Gee, only a buyin? If you're not losing buyins every now and then, you're not trying hard enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by biondino
There are idiots at all stakes, so beat the idiots that have more money to give away.
you dont have to be a pro to assume a winning mind stateQuote:
Originally Posted by biondino
You give the $55s too much credit. I play them, don't I? :roll:Quote:
Originally Posted by biondino
New blog post - advice sought!
http://blog.flopturnriver.com/biondino.php
Hand 1: Put some money in this pot! Reraise more preflop, and taken from what you said about villain in Hand #3 (same villain), he's a poor player, correct. You got him coming along for the ride preflop, and the initial raiser folded. Make that MINIMUM 5 when you reraise, and if you get a caller, on a flop like that, bet out big time...pot that shit. There's a draw, and if he's as poor a player as you say, then you want to build that pot, now!
Villain calls you on the flop, but the turn comes what appears to be a serious blank. You aren't afraid of the 9 are you? Bet again, pot it...make this guy pay for any draw. The club draw completes on the river and he makes a garbage bet, probably a non-nut flush or something silly, but at this point raising only gets you in trouble as your hand is unimproved.
I like hand 2...usually against shorties if they come along for the ride on my big pocket pair and I've made up the decision I'm putting it all in no matter what, just go on and stick it in.
Hand 3 is the same villain as Hand 1, and you take a more aggressive approach this time around. I like it, but I don't know if since he's over a full stack if the raise is a little much. You still have another street to get more money in, maybe 3-bet and push the river if he calls, he'd be pretty much committed at that point.
Your always ripping me a new one about reraises preflop and betting out post flop. Is there a difference in these line I don't see. You are doing a good job getting the money in, but is it not more dangerous to let them see that many cards when playing AA without the money in already. Far be it from me to tell you how to play but as far as I see, you raised:
hand 1) 4 into a 2.25 pot, board flushed
hand 2) 3 into a 2.25 pot, board paired
hand 3) 3 into a 1.75 pot, board had straight posibilities
There also never seemed to be a pot sized bet on the flop.
Is this enough?? It only isolated on the first hand. Good job getting it in though. Also I noticed there is no finish to the hands. I'm not questioning the line, as muchh as asking.
I dunno. You seem to be betting the flop like a gurl, mate.
In hand two it worked well, but otherwise it seems to be the wimpy stuff that everyone tells me off for playing. :)
I never bet the pot on the flop. Why do it? Better hands call/raise, worse hands fold anyway. 2/3 to 3/4, depending on number of players left in, with a pot sized bet only coming in a family pot.
i dont like your 44 hand at all.
i doubt i could fold your AQ hand. but you were probably beat.
I don't like either of them, but I was hoping for slightly more analysis :)
There's a new post on the ol' blog - I'm quite pleased with it! It's a post I made on the MTT forum thread but in case you didn't see it there, please take a look: http://blog.flopturnriver.com/biondino.php
you need ta check dat hoe son! cant be lettin a trick get outta pocket like dat, yah feel me?
Hahaha. She's untameable, this one (which is weird because she's such a meek, quiet person on the outside). The circumstances required compromise or DEATH. So I chose compromise (and I'm happy I did too - one thing I didn't address is the fact that I also feel that there is such a thing as too much poker, and I am glad I've not let myself succumb to it. Ymmv of course...).
AQo: re-raise pre-flop or fold the flop. 44: you know better. How to keep from making mistakes at the beginning of a session: I like to read my constantly evolving list of reminders before every session ("Patience." "Don't stack off with TPTK to an unknown." "Don't limp crap in EP." "Don't take phone calls, check e-mail, read FTR while playing." etc.).
Re: your gf. It sounds like you're doing as well as you can with the situation. If she's heard you explain why poker's a game of skill and seen that you've made money over the long-term and still disapproves, she's probably not going to change her mind. But it sounds like she's willing to let you play a fair amount, as long as you still acknowledge that she comes before poker, which is reasonable. My gf has never complained about my poker addiction, er, hobby, but I'm aware that it could become an issue, so I'm careful. The main thing I try to avoid is staying up to play after she's gone to bed because then it looks like I'm choosing poker over sex.
Have sex, play poker.Quote:
Originally Posted by zook
Tooooo sleeeepy...Quote:
Originally Posted by Warpe
i took off 2 weeks from poker and my wife loved it. now i just play when shes not here or if she is sleeping. she goes to bed ~10:30 so that gives me a good amount of time to play.Quote:
Originally Posted by biondino
also, dont get a laptop, just re-arrange your tv room to include your desktop setting with 2 monitors etc. playing on a laptop 4 tabling for 2 hrs is the same as 1 hr with 8 tabling desktop. also get her a tivo so she can watch her fav shows. that helped me a lot. no down time with commercials for her to be bored and realize you arent paying attention to her.
The gf thing is tricky, I had one who was the same as yours, same viewpoints. I think the truth is that you should be willing to compromise how much you play, but the only reason you have this problem is because you live together.
Since you are living together, the time when you are with each other and not are blurred. I think compromising is good, but you should also let her know this, because I think its important to have it clear when you are hanging out and when you are not.
Re, your last post. I think your stagnating. You need the excitement back in your game. Even if it means 1 table $200NL, or a live game. You have been playing more tourneys lately. Has that helped?. Take a big chunk of your roll and spend it. If your not going to move up, lose the safety net. It's no fun because it's not fun grinding those tables. Nobody plays $25NL for fun, when they know what you know about poker. Your not the weekend drunk that puts $100 down and plays for fun, then withdraws on sunday, win or lose.
You need a challenge. You need to move up. I know you've heard it, you've said it. You do not enjoy $50NL poker, and stop saying that £50NL is almost $100NL because you haven't played on a $100NL table that I've seen in ages. $100NL gets your blood pumping. Go play POKER. It's not your money anyway. You took it from the fish. You know where to get more. Go have some fun win or lose. I could never go play a $5NL table again and enjoy it, with a BR of almost $900. It may seem a little harsh, I tried not to be, we want you to keep playing, and posting. And talking poker with me on aim, is definitly one of my motivations to keep you playing, and helping me.
So Get 'er Done.
P.S. I challenge you to play $100NL till you lose 10 buy-ins. $1k. You can get that back by Christmas at £50NL anyway.
I agree with everything except this. Although I see your point, poker is about both the fun and the money. The old "making money is fun", if you will. That said, definitely try some different things to get the fun back in your game, but don't let it get in the way of the money.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trainer_jyms
Sure, invest 1000$ in 100NL, but don't go up there and be an action junkie because it's fun. Better yet, take 500$ and play Omaha, Stud, or any other poker game. But see it as an investment. If you want to have fun, cash out those 1000$ and go on a vacation. Then remind yourself that poker gave you this much fun.
move up, play a tournament, play live.
switch something up.. switch back to full ring?? try 1 table lagging it up. change something.
oh yeah, do what you should have been doing already, buy a second monitor and 8 table! adding more tables or moving up will stimulate your brain and you will have to "think" more rather than just play as a robot.
It actully hasn't been fun making money, according to him.Quote:
Originally Posted by HalvSame
I think this will take more fun out of it. He's stated that it's not the money, he plays for the fun. He's not enjoying it because it's too much about money. Money kept him at the lower limit's when he should have moved up. And now he's close to giving it up, and not because he's losing.Quote:
Sure, invest 1000$ in 100NL, but don't go up there and be an action junkie because it's fun. Better yet, take 500$ and play Omaha, Stud, or any other poker game. But see it as an investment. If you want to have fun, cash out those 1000$ and go on a vacation. Then remind yourself that poker gave you this much fun.
I see that, and it is totally acceptable to truly view poker as a hobby and "invest" your bankroll (or say 100$ a month if you're a losing player) in it just like a golfer invests in green fees, clubs and what have you.
But regardless if you play for fun, profit, or something in between (which is where I think most of the FTR'ers, myself included, are at), it's got to be more fun playing at a higher level if you have the money? Just like a golfer is likely to move to a more difficult course (isn't he? I don't play golf, maybe I should have picked a different analogy but meh) to get the adrenaline and challenge, I would think a poker player would profit both fun-wise and cash-wise by moving up (especially one who has proven that he can beat the lower game consistently).
I think we are arguing the same side of the coin. He needs to solve alot of his issues by "Moving Up" amirite?? His blog is about motivation, boredom and just a general non interest. My point about the fishes money is to allow him to not be afraid of losing, in his words, "3 figures in a single session". All these problems with the game are a sum of not moving up when he should have.
Sorry to keep talking about you Biondino in the third person. You can chime in at anytime. Your just being used as the example to the question should I move up, when, and if. It's been discussed before, at other times about other people, you included. I think everyone jsut want's to see you kill $100NL or higher and be able to say "I told you so". Me included.
uarite. It's a paradox that, when playing for fun, he's not moving up because the money 'up there' is getting too big. One of Aok's old psychology posts (he might not be the most respected cat in here after the big thing with 19-hands and all, but his psychology posts are very good) mentions this exact issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trainer_jyms
I'll add another advice; don't linger too much on the hands you lose. Take pleasure from the ones you win. (Obv this goes up to a point, if you're losing too much then something needs fixing.)
I agree. I truly believe you will have both more fun and more profit if you stay at 100NL for a few weeks.Quote:
Sorry to keep talking about you Biondino in the third person. You can chime in at anytime. Your just being used as the example to the question should I move up, when, and if. It's been discussed before, at other times about other people, you included. I think everyone jsut want's to see you kill $100NL or higher and be able to say "I told you so". Me included.
On the AoK thing. Absolutey should stick to the psych posts, they are brilliant. I think i stated it before, that one of the problems I've had is knowing I can kill the next couple of limits and practicing bad BR management. I have had some great results when following good practices but when killing a limit out of your roll and a downswing comes, you haven't got the cash to back you up. I felt like I was a $25NL player playing $10NL underrolled. So it was hard for me to understand the "bankroll babys" as they called themselves. I work for a living, I have no need for $10NL cash and play at this level for the opportunities to move up, I can think of plenty of things to do with $50NL or $100NL cash, but the $$ was always a problem since a $1 never meant anything to bet. I just think not moving up is almost a reverse bad bankroll management issue, and should be mentioned when necassary. Turns out that we were right, he has moved to the £50NL tables and is killing, so that's a far cry from the $25NL he was sitting at in the middle of august.
FYI I have been playing £25NL since mid 2005 - I only played $25 when I couldn't get on any £25 tables. Small difference but a genuine one I think.
Here's a thing. One of the first times I played $100NL my gf noticed and got concerned/annoyed because up till then I'd always been able to tell her I played at the lowest level (sorta). But once it got to $100 she thought that was Big Bucks (she's poor as a church mouse so I sympathise) and I guess I have a different version of the same concerns.
QFT. I remember yesterday, I played some of the best poker in my life. Got my aces cracked twice... once I managed to save 3/4ths of my stack and the other time lost a $400 pot one-outed (!!) by an underset. Then I a lost $550 pot to a J4o that called my PFR and went all in on the flop to hit a one card flush to my overpair.Quote:
Originally Posted by HalvSame
Then another rubbish flush draw that I pushed into. I don't think I've ever been so happy winning when I had 65% equity for only a $330 pot. But I was able to enjoy winning and just not dwell on the losing. The fact I was playing great helped...
And I had the same problem as you not very long ago. I went through about 10 weeks when I was just sick of poker. I was into dancing, teaching, my uni stuff... played hardly ever and when I did I made absolutely nothing. Even busted out my monthly intercasino bonuses. I was grinding $200NL like I basically had been since mid January and I was up to about 180 buyins. I needed to play $1000NL to get that adrenaline rush. But the couple of times I did I broke even and was playing scared so I dropped back down.
Then I read a post on PL Omaha8, so I went and learned the basics. Made about $1000 playing that and felt great about myself. Gave stud (High, H/L, Razz) a shot and couldn't win jack. Played some tournaments and cashed twice for $4000. Now exams are over and I'm back in full swing, playing my A-game at $200NL and playing the occasional PL Omaha8 and tournament. I think i'm totally over the rut which is just as well 'cos I had these holidays blocked out for poker.
There's my story. Hope it helps you in some way.
But here's some more advice:
1. A short break can help. But the problem for me is if I don't start winning right away when i come back I get disillusioned again
2. It won't fix itself. You *have* to do something different. A different game, a move up, play live, just something. For someone like you, a move up to 100NL is probably the best in the long and short term.
3. Write your own poker story. Think back as far as you can. Be as detailed as you can and try to recreate a journal from since when you started playing poker. For me that's easy 'cos I have really detailed records of how much I've played, how many hours I've played it, how much I've won playing in any game, any stake and my hourly rate. But it's therapeutic and puts into perspective just what you've achieved.
And so you know, I've given up two girlfriends over my passions. One who was insanely jealous of my dancing. Another who just couldn't agree with my poker. For you, poker might not occupy that place in your life. But for me it does. And generally, any long term relationship has to be about mutual compromise. And the key word is mutual. If I've prepared to go halfway I expect quid pro quo. I'm sure you can work out something with your GF. It's not her money anyway, it shouldn't be her business.
And to sign off, a quote from my columbian personal trainer (grammar unchanged)... "life is only once. if its not fun, whats the point?"
That was a great post, salsa.
About the girlfriend issue, I'd start making a (non bankroll compromising) cashout every now and then and buy her something nice or take her out to dinner. Make sure she knows that your poker playing paid for it.
If she keeps nagging get a new one.. :dance:
Haha she's not nagging! She's actually been fine with it for ages (not that that stops me getting worried but that's my neurosis, not hers). And fwiw I am pretty certain that saying "oh, poker paid for that" would be taken totally negatively, as some kind of "you're wrong" diss or as emotional blackmail. Maybe my gf's weird :)
FYP.Quote:
Originally Posted by biondino
Re: that boat over boat hand, if that's the worst hand you played then your 10 buyin loss is just variance.
Bet the turn more, though, so that the pot is big enough that she'll call your river push with AK.
Heh, it was hardly the worst I played, just the most dispiriting :)
New post up - a strategy one, sort of - so please check it out at http://blog.flopturnriver.com/biondino.php.
Followers of my blog (and recent posts) will know I've been struggling a bit with enjoying my poker lately, but after a 10-day break in an unseasonably mild New England I seem to have my enthusiasm back - 1600 hands over the weekend at a rather unimpressive 1.7 PTBB/100, but I played fine and felt very much in control of my game. I am also pwning SNGs, which I only play occasionally for fun but it's still a plus.
Just a quick thought. You play the exact opposite of me. I take too many edges. My swings are like the ones you describe, 4+ buy-ins an up on any given session. I have recently taken a new line to not play TPTK as hard, if at all. I would like to get to a point where I'm just winning, slow and steady. Your slow and slightly upward stack building is in most part, the TP situation you discribe. The question is do you want to change that, because with more edges, comes more swings. From the other pit, not so fun. GL.
- on that A4s nutflush draw/gutshot/overcard hand I'm not folding.
- check out siknd's spreadsheet (I think) from the sticky in Tools of poker. It'll keep your BR management a lot easier. The only things I don't successfully track are neteller fees, which I just chalk up as a loss, and rakeback, which I chalk up as a regular bonus. I've also modified mine to take care of my casino bonus whoring :D.
I think her attitude towards poker is probably the norm.Quote:
Originally Posted by biondino
My wife hates it...but she knows I have an addictive personality and I'm SUCH a hobbiest...if I wasn't playing poker I'd be recording music or golfing or playing xbox or something...but I try to only play if she's not home or after she goes to bed.
New blog post - plz to check it out!
http://blog.flopturnriver.com/biondino.php
And another!
I <3 the Tilty McTilterson title
I hope you punched your gf for costing you money
Shitty night biondino. Poker sucks sometimes. At least you aren't doing it for a living! :D Take a night or two off and come back strong...
Would this be a bad time to tell you that my new Playboypoker sn is "Blomstret"?
Actually, for real - is he an FTR member? I'm going to check the member log. He took another £61 off me last night too, FWIW.
haha. I only just ran into this having a read through the blogs.Quote:
Premium hands my arse
February 28, 2007, 5:59 am
Posted by biondino in General
Last night I was lucky enough to get AA twice and KK twice in the space of 15 minutes.
All four times I lost between half a buyin and a buyin.
Let's say you have J2s on the button at £50NL 6max. It's folded to you and you raise to £2. Fair enough. Then the SB re-raises to £5. Are there any occasions (assuming you don't have a read on villain that he's a total donk who you can beat post-flop with any 2 cards 100% of the time) where calling or 4-betting is a good move?
He thought so. Especially when the flop came J92. Though he was decent enough to let me bet off my whole stack by the river (another 2, just to give me two pair and to rub it in).
My one plus of the night was beating a certain $200NL+ FTR regular who was slumming it for an evening. I get 88 in the SB, villain is on the button and, with 28/28 stats at this point, a raise is hardly a surprise. So I repop it to £5; he ups it to £13; naturally, I 5-bet to £25. "JJ no good", he types, before reluctantly folding.
Ill post the HH, but i thought you were doing me hard with TT/JJ when you minreraised. To be truthful, i felt either i was genuinly gambOOling or too commited to actually make a fold and soooooo wanted to push KQ (which is what i really had!) and know i was actually gambOOling, and not getting wtf owned.
Edit: Ive just noticed your reminraise gave you 4:1 on the pot if i stuck the rest in so you werent making an error (and i can quite freely believe you think im FOS with those 28/28 stats! although im not actually out of line preflop except against tight players defending in the sb with a 3bet)
nh and fwiw, you play goot, so move the f*&k up fish! :cool:
fwiw, my spidey sense just went off madly in this hand, hence the 4bet in position without a real premium, although the 5bet *was* a surprise. You were either bluffing or i was gambOOling i felt.
Game #3289451443: Hold'em NL (£0.25/£0.50) - 2007/02/28 - 00:52:55 (BST)
Table "Nashira" Seat 3 is the button.
Seat 1: Xxhannahx (£41.45 in chips)
Seat 2: mc2tic (£43.95 in chips)
Seat 3: lolobusto (£48 in chips)
Seat 4: Zerbombt (£81.51 in chips)
Seat 5: Insight05 (£26.86 in chips)
Seat 6: Rhodr1511 (£18.80 in chips)
Zerbombt: posts small blind £0.25
Insight05: posts big blind £0.50
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to lolobusto [Qc Kd]
Rhodr1511: folds
Xxhannahx: folds
mc2tic: folds
lolobusto: raises to £1.50
Zerbombt: raises to £4.50
Insight05: folds
lolobusto: raises to £13
Zerbombt: raises to £25
lolobusto: folds
Returned uncalled bets £12 to Zerbombt
Zerbombt: doesn't show hand
Zerbombt collected £26.50 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot £26.50 Main pot £26.50 Rake £0
Seat 1: Xxhannahx folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: mc2tic folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: lolobusto (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Zerbombt (small blind) collected £26.50
Seat 5: Insight05 (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Rhodr1511 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
****HAND ENDS****
Well if YOU can't play ring and I'm a lifetime loser against you when we've played, and yet I am up against everyone whose up against you who is up against me...Quote:
Originally Posted by biondino
.... means you're wrong okay?
Also move up to $200NL where they respect your c-bets and never suck out ever. And AA never gets cracked and trains run on time and there's always fresh milk for a cup of tea and...
I have barely played in the last 10 days, and when I did (at $25NL - shoot me now) I got my arse handed to me. I'm looking forward to a proper session soon - ideally when the gf is away because I can relax more, but she has no plans to be away that I know of in the near future. In reailty I'm just going to play enough to clear $150 of bonus and then regroup in April. I *am* genuinely concerned about the player base on Crypto - £50 has become a refuge of regulars who may not be better than me, but we're fighting over what seems to be a dwindling pool of fish. Miffed, can you come back ;)
(p.s. ty Miffy, much appreciated to get your input and props)
miff says move to pokerchamps for eaasy games. You should be able to 4 table and get auto rakeback, higher the more you play.Quote:
Originally Posted by biondino
That's a pretty cool excercise, playing without seeing your cards. Should really help improving hand reading skill, I might give it a go myself.
you just cover the screen?
Yup, I moved the poker table to the bottom of the screen and balanced a cloakroom ticket over my cards. My gf at one point tried to tidy the ticket away :)
It is a good exercise, though, because if you're prone to passiveness, loose calls, lack of positional awareness and an unwillingness to read your opponents' playing styles, you can benefit from playing without the distraction of the cards. As I said in my blog, I ran utterly cold throughout the exercise; and yet I played 34/34 and won something like 80% of the hands I entered.
So how does your dad feel about your poker playing a couple of years later on? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by biondino