The taipan168 appreciation thread.

[givememyleg]

I've been a member at FTR for over a year, and actively participating since February. Since then, I have met a lot of great and helpful people, but I think taipan goes above and beyound that. There isn't a thread that goes by in this sng forum that tai doesn't give insight to. Whether it be just a simple question, or an entire HH log from a sng that someone wants help with, he ALWAYS replies. He also doesn't just reply with a one-liner, he gives great adivce, is always friendly, and is one of the nicest guys I know. He has great ability and probably will be too modest to admit it, but is one of the better sng players out there.

I really don't play sngs much anymore, but the amount I have learned from him alone is tremendous. It has been great seeing him progress into a solid player and I can't wait to see how much more he will learn/teach. I don't think great work should go unappreciated, so I just wanted to make a thread on here showing my gratitude. I think I speak for the entire FTR when I say you're a huge assest, and a great person to have here (and I'm sure everyone will reply and agree with me). It would be nice to learn more about you and your goals and such, so maybe you can treat this as one of your "question threads" (just not like goats ). I don't want to put you on the spot but would like to get to know you better and wanted to let you know how I admire your character.

Here sir (I know I gave you one in the other thread but it wouldn't be complete without it) is your goldstar:

[taipan168]

Thanks very much! I just love poker - playing, discussing, thinking about and helping people improve in whatever way I can (provided they stay off my tables of course)...but I'm only one of a number of regular contributors here most of whom are far better players than me.

I already made a post about myself for my 1000th post, here is the link

But feel free to ask me whatever questions you like and I will answer.

[Zee Devee]

Ok, here is a question for the great taipan...

How does a simple minded soul like me become a great man of wisdom like yourself??

[taipan168]

How does a simple minded soul like me become a great man of wisdom like yourself??

I am not a friggin' "great man of wisdom"! I'm just another low buyin SNG grinder just like lots of others on this site!

But if you're asking how I improved as a poker player, the answer is basically:
- Lots and lots of practice!
- Trying to spend as much time reviewing HHs (both my own and others) as playing
- Reading lots of posts on both this site and 2+2
- Reading the Harrington books about 5 times each - they really opened my eyes, more so than any other book
- Posting lots of hands and discussing them both on and off these forums such that I understand the logic behind why people are suggesting a different course of action (and if they're wrong, why they're wrong).

[givememyleg]

Thanks very much! I just love poker - playing, discussing, thinking about and helping people improve in whatever way I can (provided they stay off my tables of course)...but I'm only one of a number of regular contributors here most of whom are far better players than me.

I already made a post about myself for my 1000th post, here is the link

But feel free to ask me whatever questions you like and I will answer.

Yeah, there are a lot of great people on this site and I'm definelty not taking anything away from any of them... just amazes me that you answer literally every single thread here and not just with one line, most usually end up with huge in depth answers.

Ya know to be honest it was in the back of my mind that I thought you might have had a 1000th thread back in the day, I faintly remember it. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to overload you in this thread.

And the funny thing is, you are correct when you say you will never pass me in post count, but just look at this stat:

givememyleg: 2468 posts - 68 WPP
taipan168: 2407 posts - 132 WPP

I'm a post whore! Plus, about my last 40 posts have come from my own thread that's in my sig... which is kind of cheating!

[givememyleg]

What are your favorite hobbies (besides poker obv)? Do you have any life goals or any desires in life that you want met? Where do you see poker taking you? Anything besides just a hobby you do for fun?

(When you gonna convice that girl that poker isn't gambling? Or more importantly, when are you gonna leave her when she doesn't believe you? )

PS - When are you going to post a pic of yourself?

[Alexos]

Well said! Thanks Taipan you really helped me improve my SnG game when I was learning the ropes and just poker in general. Much thanks for being so helpful.

[Da GOAT]

legs your just pissed off i didnt reply to your last post in my thread

my thread was full of valuable info that any noob should read, more than just about poker. about life skills too

So heres an idea tai is one of the most placid friendly etc muggers on the planet so we at FTR should ordain him a saint.

Taipan168 is our patron saint of ________________

fill the blank.

[taipan168]

What are your favorite hobbies (besides poker obv)?

Cars, watches, music (all kinds but I have a particular love of "classical" music and opera), theatre, movies (those weird foreign ones).

Do you have any life goals or any desires in life that you want met?

Man, this one is way too deep to answer on a forum - it sounds glib, but isn't the ultimate goal to be happy? Not sure how to achieve this though...way too deep.

Where do you see poker taking you? Anything besides just a hobby you do for fun?

Poker will always just be a fun hobby for me. I'm in the fortunate position to have quite a well paying job (that I actually like!) that means that unless I do something like win a major MTT I'll likely never make enough from poker to outweigh my day job. The money for me is pretty much just like a score, like a tennis score, but with the nice side benefit that you can buy some nice stuff with it

That said, I would like to improve to become the best player I can be, across a number of games (hence my quest to improve at NL ring).

(When you gonna convice that girl that poker isn't gambling? Or more importantly, when are you gonna leave her when she doesn't believe you? )

She believes that it IS gambling (because it is) but that there is an element of skill that means that better players will win over the long run.

When we lived in London a few years back an Australian friend of mine came to stay with us. He is a great poker player with a huge amount of skill and gamble, probably up close to $100K overall. He had just come off a tourney win in Austria for about EUR 60K and was trying his luck at the tourney and cash tables in London. After one particularly bad night (I think he was down about GBP 25K ) my girlfriend had this argument with him about whether poker was or was not gambling. Suffice to say it got pretty heated...probably not the best day to pick that particular battle with him though...

PS - When are you going to post a pic of yourself?

[kevster]

Good thread legs.

Tai has helped me immeasurably since I joined earlier this year. Many thanks dude.

[bode]

Taipan168 is our patron saint of ________________

1 tabling

[Da GOAT]

how long you with this bird????

christ sounds serious if she went to england with you

[taipan168]

how long you with this bird????

christ sounds serious if she went to england with you

10.5 years now, we met at university and were friends for about 4 years before hooking up.

I actually had a really fun two years in London - my only regret is that I never made it across to Ireland, I was all set to go a couple of times but something always came up that I had to cancel

[gingerwizard]

The thing I like most about Tai is...

The way whenever someone new comes to the forum, he sends them a "Hi and welcome to FTR" message filled with promises to help them whenever he can. Promises that he ALWAYS keeps. One of the most important assets FTR has and we're every bit as lucky to have him as we are the high stakers.



My question: Do you believe in Santa Claus?

[Da GOAT]

I actually had a really fun two years in London - my only regret is that I never made it across to Ireland, I was all set to go a couple of times but something always came up that I had to cancel

wow crazy kids, with her a third of your life. im not getting tied down till 35 say.

disgusted you didnt come over tho I wouldnt of known you then, was only a teen then tho.

im looking to actually job abroad after i qualify, OZ, Caymans,Bermuda. so may be in your part of the world soon

[taipan168]

My question: Do you believe in Santa Claus?

I used to up until I was about 7 and felt like a total goose once I discovered it wasn't true...but in general, yes I do - particularly when my $27s get filled with DONKS around Christmas time

[taipan168]

Taipan168 is our patron saint of ________________

1 tabling

LOL too funny man! Although when I play cash games I do 2-table though, since my VP$IP rarely goes above 15%, it's too boring to play just 1 table. At SNGs where the action really starts to hot up when the blinds increase I like to only play 1 table.

[Da GOAT]

Taipan168 is our patron saint of ________________

1 tabling

Bode-ist you would ruin the competition but making the first entry unbeatable. Thats perfect.

Tai is our patron saint of 1 tabling.

All Hail

You can now put Pope Benedict on speed dial

[taipan168]

im looking to actually job abroad after i qualify, OZ, Caymans,Bermuda. so may be in your part of the world soon

Let me know if you ever come to this part of the world, in fact anybody who comes to Sydney should contact me, we'll grab a coffee together (a very Sydney thing to do!)

[Da GOAT]

im looking to actually job abroad after i qualify, OZ, Caymans,Bermuda. so may be in your part of the world soon

Let me know if you ever come to this part of the world, in fact anybody who comes to Sydney should contact me, we'll grab a coffee together (a very Sydney thing to do!)

oh i will, then casino then pub in that order.

just to remind you, ill get them reviews to you soon. this is my last day working but xmas work party 2nite so i wont be doing them 2m but i will do them.

BTW im still contracted till March 2009 so it will be awhile. we will be playing 200NL by then.

[taipan168]

oh i will, then casino then pub in that order.

Forget about Sydney casino for poker action. Melbourne is where it's at. Our favourite SNG format starting at A$55 buyin up to $275 and unbelievably soft...

just to remind you, ill get them reviews to you soon. this is my last day working but xmas work party 2nite so i wont be doing them 2m but i will do them.

No hurry man, take your time

BTW im still contracted till March 2009 so it will be awhile. we will be playing 200NL by then.

Not at the rate I'm going with 25NL! My winrate -10 PTBB/100 at the moment (over only 760 hands though).

[gingerwizard]

My question: Do you believe in Santa Claus?

I used to up until I was about 7 and felt like a total goose once I discovered it wasn't true...but in general, yes I do - particularly when my $27s get filled with DONKS around Christmas time

I'm having Goose for xmas. None of this Turkey shite, it's all about the goose.

[gingerwizard]

Not at the rate I'm going with 25NL! My winrate -10 PTBB/100 at the moment (over only 760 hands though).

Try 6max. The $10NL there is a frickin gold mine. My BR has increased by over 1/3 this week alone!!

[taipan168]

My question: Do you believe in Santa Claus?

I used to up until I was about 7 and felt like a total goose once I discovered it wasn't true...but in general, yes I do - particularly when my $27s get filled with DONKS around Christmas time

I'm having Goose for xmas. None of this Turkey shite, it's all about the goose.

Well, the Aussie Christmas lunch is usually seafood - lobsters, prawns, crab, fish, oysters, take your pick. It's too friggin' hot for a turkey, ham or goose down here!

[gingerwizard]

My question: Do you believe in Santa Claus?

I used to up until I was about 7 and felt like a total goose once I discovered it wasn't true...but in general, yes I do - particularly when my $27s get filled with DONKS around Christmas time

I'm having Goose for xmas. None of this Turkey shite, it's all about the goose.

Well, the Aussie Christmas lunch is usually seafood - lobsters, prawns, crab, fish, oysters, take your pick. It's too friggin' hot for a turkey, ham or goose down here!

Kill all the animals for christams yeehaa

[biondino]

Actually yeah, you should play 6max - tourney experience means you'll know how to deal with smaller tables.

Also - applause for Tai for being great. And dude, I think GMML likes you!

[GatorJH]

Your timing on this thread is impecible. Just two days ago I got an unsolicited msg from Tai offering to review a few of my HH's. He has already reviewed two of them and has provided a WORLD of advice.

I think I speak for the entire FTR when I say you're a huge assest, and a great person to have here (and I'm sure everyone will reply and agree with me).

.

I would argue with anyone who tried to disagree with this statement!!!!!!

[givememyleg]

Also - applause for Tai for being great. And dude, I think GMML likes you!

LOL

[givememyleg]

Do you have any life goals or any desires in life that you want met?

Man, this one is way too deep to answer on a forum - it sounds glib, but isn't the ultimate goal to be happy? Not sure how to achieve this though...way too deep.

What, FTR isn't a place to discuss your deep thoughts and emotions? Well I guess I worded it wrong, like is there anything you want to do? For example, I'm going bungee jumping and sky diving before I die cuz I'm crazyyyyyy like that.

[gingerwizard]

Not sure if this is your first ever post but it is the earliest i could find.

Would you play this hand this way Tai??

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...oker-26047.htm

[givememyleg]

Not sure if this is your first ever post but it is the earliest i could find.

Would you play this hand this way Tai??

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...oker-26047.htm

Passive ftw! How far everyone has come.

This is his first post officially: http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...hlight=#155288

[drmcboy]

Tai, you are the greatest poster on your CONTINENT!!

Glad you're here mate.

[LordVTR]

Totally agree with all the posts above about how helpful Tai is!! He was the first to respond to my first post when as a newb I felt like I was asking some pretty bone questions. He always gives a very thorough and reasoned answer which I find extremely helpful to my game development. So a beeeeeeeg thanks tai from me for taking the time out to help. Btw........I have a few HH I wouldnt mind you lookin at some time.......

[swiggidy]

Taipan168 is our patron saint of ________________

1 tabling

Hilarious

Tai's willingness to review every SnG that is posted amazes me. nh sir

[Wooderson]

Cheers to GMML for bringing this up.

Taipan, you by far deserve the applause for your insight and for the amount of effort you put out to help other folks learn. I know I'm a better player in the short time I've been here thanks to you.

[Staresy]

im looking to actually job abroad after i qualify, OZ, Caymans,Bermuda. so may be in your part of the world soon

Let me know if you ever come to this part of the world, in fact anybody who comes to Sydney should contact me, we'll grab a coffee together (a very Sydney thing to do!)

I am coming to Sydney in about two weeks!

[Alexos]

I'm just curious, whats your job?

[taipan168]

Not sure if this is your first ever post but it is the earliest i could find.

Would you play this hand this way Tai??

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...oker-26047.htm

This is the hand, think it's from a $5.50 normal:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t30 (9 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Hero (t1560)
MP3 (t1460)
CO (t840)
Button (t1190)
SB (t1410)
BB (t1560)
UTG (t2680)
UTG+1 (t1550)
MP1 (t1250)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with T, T.
UTG calls t30, 2 folds, Hero calls t30, 1 fold, CO calls t30, 1 fold, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: (t150) 6, 4, T (5 players)
SB bets t60, BB folds, UTG calls t60, Hero calls t60, CO folds.

Turn: (t330) Q (3 players)
SB bets t60, UTG raises to t120, Hero calls t120, SB calls t60.

River: (t690) J (3 players)
SB checks, UTG bets t1560, Hero calls t1350 (All-In), SB folds.

Preflop I would still just limp with TT. JJ I'm raising though.

On the flop, that's a very dry board, I'm evenly divided between just flat calling and raising to something like 250-300. At a $5.50 I would probably raise to build the pot because somebody will call with crap like JT or A6.

On the turn, I agree with the posters who replied to my message, I definitely had to raise to something like 500 or so. If my flop raise had been called I would shove here.

On the river, well, I'm not folding but I should have been AI with this on the turn.

[taipan168]

Tai, you are the greatest poster on your CONTINENT!!

Glad you're here mate.

Thanks drmc, I'm even more glad that you're here! I think the high stakes players like yourself who have a world of experience are invaluable to the rest of us. Thank you - you've really helped me improve my game, your answers are always very well thought through and reasoned.

I'm just curious, whats your job?

I work for a private equity fund. Basically what we do is buy businesses, hold them for a few years whilst trying to improve and grow them, and hopefully sell them for more than what we paid.

Btw........I have a few HH I wouldnt mind you lookin at some time.......

PM me, now's actually quite a good time as it comes up to Christmas (remember Christmas is the start of summer holidays in Australia)

What, FTR isn't a place to discuss your deep thoughts and emotions? Well I guess I worded it wrong, like is there anything you want to do? For example, I'm going bungee jumping and sky diving before I die cuz I'm crazyyyyyy like that.

OK, these are the things that I would like to do before I die:
- Drive a Formula 1 car (not in a race of course, just on a track)
- Spend a year in Barcelona learning Spanish, and spend a year in Italy learning Italian
- Live in New York City and London again
- Buy a waterfront house in Sydney and a boat to go with it (pity they start at US$4m)

[Staresy]

- Buy a waterfront house in Sydney and a boat to go with it (pity they start at US$4m)

pwn some $215's and it'll come quicker than you think

[taipan168]

- Buy a waterfront house in Sydney and a boat to go with it (pity they start at US$4m)

pwn some $215's and it'll come quicker than you think

Unfortunately not even a WSOP main event win will buy one of the nicer waterfront houses in Sydney!

[Alexos]

Hmm nice job. I'm studying in finance now and this seems like a cool alternative to the same ol' portfolio management stuff.

[FlyingSaucy]

Taipan seems to always be the first one to respond when someone posts a full sng HH for review. And he reviews the entire thing in detail, giving sound advice.
You must have reviewed millions of sngs by now.

Hand 1.

ajfkdfalksfk

Hand 2.
iuh5tuhkdg

hand 3
lk47hyaodvkjlqp

etc


Except taipan writes words there.

[givememyleg]

Oh here is a very important question: When are you going to get an avatar?

[givememyleg]

Taipan168 is our patron saint of ________________

1 tabling

Hilarious

rofl

[taipan168]

Hmm nice job. I'm studying in finance now and this seems like a cool alternative to the same ol' portfolio management stuff.

Yeah, it's cool. Working hours are nowhere near that of an investment bank or management consultancy and the team gets to share in the profits when we sell the businesses...

Taipan seems to always be the first one to respond when someone posts a full sng HH for review. And he reviews the entire thing in detail, giving sound advice.
You must have reviewed millions of sngs by now.

I really enjoy doing this. I think that reviewing other people's games is a great way to improve your own game.

Oh here is a very important question: When are you going to get an avatar?

I tried to upload my Stars avatar, but it's too big and I can't figure out how to resize it! Besides, because I turn sigs and avatars off, I can't see anybody else's so I don't ever notice that I don't have either.

I'm surprised that nobody has asked the most obvious question - what does my SN mean?

[Da GOAT]

I'm surprised that nobody has asked the most obvious question - what does my SN mean?

i looked up a dictionary once but now i cant remember what it was!!! some type of wind,hurricane,typhon.

U guess mine?

[taipan168]

I'm surprised that nobody has asked the most obvious question - what does my SN mean?

i looked up a dictionary once but now i cant remember what it was!!! some type of wind,hurricane,typhon.

taipan = two meanings - either the most poisonous snake in the world (that's my Stars avatar) or Cantonese for "big boss". Most on this forum are probably too young to know, but when I was a kid I had an Apple II and my favourite game on it was this trading game called Taipan.

168 = say it in Cantonese and it sounds like "one road to prosperity". Pity that the road to prosperity includes serious variance though

U guess mine?

You told me about your Stars SN - it's Irish for "Irish Pride". What about Da GOAT?

[swiggidy]

Oh here is a very important question: When are you going to get an avatar?

QFT

I'll make you one with my pseudo-proficient photoshop skillz if you have an idea.

Here's something to get started...

[Dice Man]

As an Englishman, i refuse to contribute to this thread if it makes taipan168's head any bigger than it undoubtedly will be - what with the current state of play in a certain sporting event between our two countries.

[taipan168]

I'll make you one with my pseudo-proficient photoshop skillz if you have an idea.

Here's something to get started...

LOL thanks man - honestly we Aussies aren't that patriotic, I think I'll just remain the international man of mystery!

[taipan168]

As an Englishman, i refuse to contribute to this thread if it makes taipan168's head any bigger than it undoubtedly will be - what with the current state of play in a certain sporting event between our two countries.

Don't worry man, I actually have very little interest in said game and actually don't even really understand how it's played - whenever anybody says to me "whoever got whatever for whatever", I usually have to ask my girlfriend (who is VERY into it), "Is that good?"

Still, it's nice when Australia wins I guess...

[givememyleg]

Anyway to get ahold of you outside the forum? Phone number? Address? Or perhaps something along the lines of a screen name?

[Da GOAT]

Anyway to get ahold of you outside the forum? Phone number? Address?

legs is in love!! just a little love sick puppy.

Tai, GOAT=Greatest Of All Time

[taipan168]

Anyway to get ahold of you outside the forum? Phone number? Address? Or perhaps something along the lines of a screen name?

PM me - it sends a notification to my e-mail address (I'm paranoid about posting that since I get a LOT of spam).

[Xianti]

I voted Yes.

[marmot]

I agree with everyone else, you are an immensely helpful, knowledgeable and approachable bloke. Credit to the forum. Thanks for your help with my game as well.

How on earth do you find the time to review all these hand histories / post so often with a job in private equity though!?[/quote]

[TLR]

I agree with the ton of compliment Tai recieved, he deserves every one of them.

I have been a member of this forum for a long time (back in the days it was part of the MTT forum) and it is very rare to see someone who joins the forum and single handledly upgrades the forum a notch, and Taipan did just that, always giving sound and well thought advice, and doing it in a polite and friendly matter.

Cheers

[taipan168]

I agree with the ton of compliment Tai recieved, he deserves every one of them.

I have been a member of this forum for a long time (back in the days it was part of the MTT forum) and it is very rare to see someone who joins the forum and single handledly upgrades the forum a notch, and Taipan did just that, always giving sound and well thought advice, and doing it in a polite and friendly matter.

Cheers

Thanks TLR, I really appreciate it coming from you, one of the best players and posters on this forum! Thanks for all your feedback on my posts, you have really helped me (and lots of other posters besides) improve.

[TLR]

[TLR]

[TLR]

[givememyleg]

That's either the rare triple post, or TLR is very very happy.

[MagyarSHU]

I too would like to thank Taipan on not only his insights, but on how quickly he responds. I tend to skim through these boards pretty late at night (U.S.A. EST 2-3am-ish), and he's the first to respond...that's dedication, heh.

A bit late on the response, but better late than never, eh?

[givememyleg]

straight flush bump

lol

[cag8f]

Thanks for the bump. I missed this the first time around, but just wanted to voice my appreciation of taipan and the other regulars on this forum. I'm a winning SNG player, and most of my strategy has been gleaned from their posts.

[StageWhisper]

I Taipan