Summer has started, and that means not much here

Better said:  because it's summer, this means I'll be working 90 hours a week until September (we sell ice cream in a tourist town - 'nuff said).  Blogging opportunities will be practically nil.  So will times to play poker, so...as the song goes,

"Will I see you, in September?"

Sessions

It’s June, which means all eyes are on the WSOP, except mine, which is focused on work.  Since I own an ice cream shop in a tourist town, June is the start of our busiest three months, and when I say busy, I mean slammed to the point where getting a haircut is a major challenge, let alone playing poker.

Still, in the past years I’ve found time to squeeze in some SnG action either early in the AM when wifey is at work making ice cream (on those days when I don’t have banking, supplies, or laundry duties), or late at night, just to wind down.  This year, thanks to PokerStars and their ZOOM Poker, I’ll been at the 6-max table on short sessions.  So far, it seems to accomplish two things:

1.    I relieve myself of my “Poker Jones” and

2.    It helps my game when I do switch over to the Sit ‘n’ Go tournaments.

Of course, I have to remind myself to

1.    Quit when ahead, or when I’ve lost two buy-ins (no sense tossing bad money after good), and

2.    Change tactics when going from cash games to SnG action…and visa versa.

That’s a major mistake many players make - tournaments are NOT the same as cash games, and too often (to our benefit) they make mistakes at the cash tables that aren’t necessarily mistakes in a tournament (too large of a raise, too ready to go all-in on a draw), and visa versa.  Of course, I have suffered a bit of late, as I’ve gotten the worst of it in seemingly every draw situation lately.  But that’s poker.

Another note - we’ve been busier at the store than normal for the last 6 weeks, which is why blogging has been slow and erratic.  I might try to play less poker and write more, especially when other players are making their ridiculous draws.  I that if the odds are in my favor, it will all average out and eventually my 2-pair hands will reign supreme when their 2-outers miss on the river, but until then…yeah, more writing.  That’s the ticket.

TILT BY ANY OTHER NAME

You’ve read many articles about going on “Tilt” and probably thought to yourself, “Yeah, I get it, but I don’t go on tilt.  I am in control, and while I might have the occasional losing streak, I don’t do dumb shit and toss my cards and make bad plays and etc.”

Yeah, me too.  And while I am still resistant to the “Tilt” label, I recently harbored a losing streak of such proportions that I am rethinking how I define tilt.

Remember the Rolling Stones?  Their big hit, Satisfaction?  The last few lines…

…better come back later next week
'Cause you see I'm on a losing streak
I can't get no, oh no, no, no
Hey hey hey, that's what I say

I can't get no, I can't get no
I can't get no satisfaction
No satisfaction, no satisfaction, no satisfaction

Well, that was me.  I have been working a lot and not playing (or blogging) much, just the occasional Zoom on PokerStars and 4-max and 6-max Sit ‘n’ Gos.  And in a three week period I managed to shed 10% of my bankroll, and finish second (1 out of the money) in 10 straight 4-max SNGs.  In 7 of these tournaments I was the chip leader once we got to heads up, and in three of them my opponent went all-in and received a miracle card on the river to make a straight or flush (beating 5-1, 6-1, and 13-1 odds).  In the cash ZOOM games my well-stacked opponents seem to make flush after flush, higher trips than mine, etc.  I raised when I was ahead, I raised when speculating, I called to trap…and nothing worked.

I was frustrated, to be sure.  But I didn’t say to myself, “Hey buddy, take it easy, watch yourself…you’re on TILT.”  No siree-bob.

But I guess I was.  Maybe not in the “traditional” tilt sense, but I wasn’t playing my best, wasn’t playing like I could, wasn’t playing like I should, wasn’t playing like I CAN.  And I was losing…what more evidence could I want?

I can’t exactly pinpoint when I woke up.  But I finally realized that something had to give, and that something was me.  And my playing style.

You know the cliché definition of insanity, where if you keep doing the same thing over and over and over and expect a different outcome…that’s insanity?  That was me.  Insane.

So I made changes.  I changed my games, my style, the time of day that I played.  I took chances where before I played it ABC.  I bluffed less.  I semi-bluffed more.  I played fewer hands.  I shook up my game and myself, and in two weeks time I am almost back to where I was.

And I recognize now that Tilt has difference faces.  I will respond better, quicker, then next time Tilt comes to call.  Because Tilt always comes a’lookin’.

I'm Not Nagging, But...Gimme a Review, PLEASE!

If you've purchased any one of my three eBooks, first, thank you!  Second...if you have a moment, get on over to Amazon and give the book a review.  Now, be honest...don't just be sloppy-gooshy and lie and say it's the greatest book ever.  If you liked it (and I assume you did or you'd tell me, right?), give it some stars and say a few words nice-nice.
 
Regarding the poker book:  One fear I had in writing it was that since it was geared to beginners, those players who had some experience would think it was dumbed down (or just dumb).  You have to remember what it was like to be a donk, and playing with donks...and dinks.  It's different.  That was the whole point of the book - it's for true beginners (and the clueless who have been playing a while and finally decided to smarten up).

As for the gambling short stories book - it's fun!  And the Blackjack book - it's helpful!  And fun!

And I could sure use some reviews.

Thanks!!!!!

PokerStars buying Full Tilt - rumors, yes, but is this a good thing?

So, the rumor is that PokerStars is planning to buy the assets of Full Tilt Poker for about $70 million or so, and much of that $$$ is to go to repayment for the ex-players.  The rumor is not being confirmed in a way that makes many think it’s true, but that’s not the purpose of this post.

Is this a good thing?  For the world’s largest poker site to buy what used to be the second-largest?  For PS, yes, a good thing….talk about killing the competition!  Of course, it still doesn’t get them into the door in the USA…or does it?

Here’s the PokerStarsBlog, Corporate Division, in the form of Eric Hollreiser, Head of Corporate Communications for PokerStars

We've had a lot of enquiries and there's lots of speculation on the forums, so I wanted to address the PokerStars chatter. As you know, PokerStars is in settlement discussions with the U.S. Department of Justice. As such settlement discussions are always confidential, we are unable to comment on rumors.

Wait…the rumor is about you buying FT.  What does the DOJ have to do with it?

Ohhhhhh…of course…the repayment for the ex-players!  If PokerStars “makes nice” and gets the money back in the hands of US players from Full Tilt (which would not have happened in the first place if the DOJ had let Black Friday come and go), they just might, JUST MIGHT, get back in good graces with the USA government, and, if the USA government ever gets off its ass and re-legalizes online poker, guess who stands a good chance of getting some sort of foot in that door?

So now it does make some sense, and yes, I see it as a good thing, as I have been a long-time PokerStars fan and player.  Remember, I’m a small-stakes guy, so it’s bit for the SuperNova status or any of that payback crap.  Best software, great customer service…and oh yeah, THEY paid their US players off after Black Friday.

So let’s hope the rumors are true, and, for my support, they can make me a PS small-stakes pro when the time comes.

Soon?

Light blogging is my fault...but there's a reason (there always is).

I realize that I haven't blogged as much as I thought I might of late.  Two excuses - spring break at the store (we were open 7 days a week for 2 1/2 weeks, and we were busy, thank you), and the new Blackjack book.  There's some stuff I wanted to say about Black Friday, Zynga (yes, even more), and some other poker stuff, but with new hires at the store, dentist visits, and some other stuff, it looks like it'll have to wait. 

One thing I'll say - the recent move by states to either (a) legalize online poker (Nevada, Iowa, NJ, etc), or (b) Criminalize it (Utah, and more coming) just proves that the Feds need to step up and FINALIZE what is/isn't gambling/legal/illegal etc.  It shouldn't be about politics, but it is.  Which means we're all doomed...

Banner gone? Seems so...

Apparently the PPA Black Friday banner only works until...Black Friday.  It's not there now, so...I guess I'll erase the whole "block" from the page (which is only a black block now).  Still getting the hang of this blogging stuff.