“There was some great game play on the cruise ship,” stated Everest Poker property manager, Jonathan May. “It’s always good to see our players compete live but this time, they really excelled.”

“With this event wrapped up, it’s time to get our players started with our Live The Dream promotion,” continued May. “We’re giving ten players then chance to become a poker professional for a year!”

The final Results for Everest Poker’s Avalanche $710,000 Guarantee:

 
1^st place – Frank Stumpf – Germany - $233,300

2^nd place – Matthias Lotze – Germany - $127,200

3^rd place – Frederic Pasquier – France - $95,400

4^th place – Stephen Gerin – France - $74,200

5^th place – Eric Liu – Canada - $53,000

6^th place – Hubert Koeman – The Netherlands - $42,400

7^th place – Raoul Kristache – Norway - $31,800

8^th place – Ann Wijns – Belgium - $21,200

9^th place – Didier Fabre – France - $18,500

10^th place – Marc Perucca – France - $13,500

Representing close to 800,000 poker players across the U.S., the PPA has thrust itself to the fore front with its leader John Pappas and chaired by former New York Sen. Alfonse D’Amato.  This year the organization has spent $640,000 lobbying in Washington as compared to $540,000 in all of 2006.

Though legal to play poker online, the UIGEA passed last October makes it illegal for banks in the U.S. as well as U.S. credit card companies to process any payments made to online gambling sites outside the U.S.

The PPA is flying over 100 members and several poker champions to lobby lawmakers this Tuesday and Wednesday.  They are trying to get poker exempted from the law which already exempts lotteries, fantasy sports and online horse races.

John Pappas also pointed out that his group also backs a bill that will regulate online gambling.  The idea is to place a small tax online poker companies that in the long run net the U.S. government a couple billion dollars in yearly revenue.

Full Tilt Poker Game #3592476910: Table Twin Lakes - $0.50/$1 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 17:20:51 ET - 2007/09/17
Seat 1: kisser8 ($70.45), is sitting out
Seat 2: grappler625 ($98)
Seat 3: tigsie ($47.95)
Seat 4: MadPokerPlayer ($109.70)
Seat 5: AQ8406 ($54.95)
Seat 6: krazyjimi ($129.50)
Seat 7: Papadee ($10.50)
Seat 8: adioking ($111)
Seat 9: rudebuddhawu ($85.95)
AQ8406 posts the small blind of $0.50
krazyjimi posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to adioking [Ad 8h 8d 7d]
Papadee calls $1
adioking calls $1
rudebuddhawu calls $1
grappler625 folds
tigsie folds
MadPokerPlayer has 15 seconds left to act
MadPokerPlayer calls $1
AQ8406 calls $0.50
krazyjimi checks
*** FLOP *** [Td Ts 9d]
AQ8406 checks
krazyjimi checks
Papadee checks
adioking bets $2
rudebuddhawu folds
MadPokerPlayer raises to $7
AQ8406 folds
krazyjimi folds
Papadee folds
adioking calls $5
*** TURN *** [Td Ts 9d] [Ks]
adioking checks
MadPokerPlayer bets $10
adioking calls $10
*** RIVER *** [Td Ts 9d Ks] [5c]
adioking checks
MadPokerPlayer checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MadPokerPlayer shows [8c 3h 2s Tc] three of a kind, Tens, for high
adioking mucks
MadPokerPlayer wins the pot ($38) with three of a kind, Tens
No low hand qualified
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $40 | Rake $2
Board: [Td Ts 9d Ks 5c]
Seat 1: kisser8 is sitting out
Seat 2: grappler625 didn’t bet (folded)
Seat 3: tigsie didn’t bet (folded)
Seat 4: MadPokerPlayer (button) showed [8c 3h 2s Tc] and won ($38) with HI: three of a kind, Tens
Seat 5: AQ8406 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: krazyjimi (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 7: Papadee folded on the Flop
Seat 8: adioking mucked [Ad 8h 8d 7d] - HI: two pair, Tens and Eights
Seat 9: rudebuddhawu folded on the Flop

Here’s a hand where I tried to extract as much as possible from the second best hand. However, the best hand decided that he wanted to raise the pot and pushed the second best hand out.

Full Tilt Poker Game #3592507962: Table Twin Lakes - $0.50/$1 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 17:24:13 ET - 2007/09/17
Seat 1: kisser8 ($66.70)
Seat 2: grappler625 ($94.25)
Seat 3: tigsie ($47.95)
Seat 4: MadPokerPlayer ($132.15)
Seat 5: AQ8406 ($53.95)
Seat 6: krazyjimi ($126.50)
Seat 7: Papadee ($19.45)
Seat 8: adioking ($92)
Seat 9: rudebuddhawu ($81.20)
adioking posts the small blind of $0.50
rudebuddhawu posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to adioking [2c 5d Kh Ad]
kisser8 calls $1
grappler625 folds
tigsie folds
MadPokerPlayer has 15 seconds left to act
MadPokerPlayer folds
AQ8406 folds
krazyjimi has 15 seconds left to act
krazyjimi is sitting out
krazyjimi has timed out
krazyjimi folds
Papadee folds
adioking calls $0.50
rudebuddhawu checks
*** FLOP *** [9d 7s 3h]
adioking checks
rudebuddhawu checks
kisser8 checks
*** TURN *** [9d 7s 3h] [4d]
adioking checks
rudebuddhawu bets $1.50
kisser8 calls $1.50
adioking raises to $3
rudebuddhawu calls $1.50
kisser8 calls $1.50
*** RIVER *** [9d 7s 3h 4d] [7c]
adioking has 15 seconds left to act
adioking bets $3
rudebuddhawu calls $3
MadPokerPlayer is sitting out
MadPokerPlayer has returned
kisser8 raises to $24
adioking calls $21
rudebuddhawu folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
kisser8 shows [Th Kc 3c 7h] a full house, Sevens full of Threes, for high
adioking shows [2c 5d Kh Ad] a pair of Sevens, for high and 7,4,3,2,A, for low
kisser8 wins the high pot ($30) with a full house, Sevens full of Threes
adioking wins the low pot ($30) with 7,4,3,2,A
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $63 | Rake $3
Board: [9d 7s 3h 4d 7c]
Seat 1: kisser8 showed [Th Kc 3c 7h] and won ($30) with HI: a full house, Sevens full of Threes
Seat 2: grappler625 didn’t bet (folded)
Seat 3: tigsie didn’t bet (folded)
Seat 4: MadPokerPlayer didn’t bet (folded)
Seat 5: AQ8406 didn’t bet (folded)
Seat 6: krazyjimi didn’t bet (folded)
Seat 7: Papadee (button) didn’t bet (folded)
Seat 8: adioking (small blind) showed [2c 5d Kh Ad] and won ($30) with HI: a pair of Sevens; LO: 7,4,3,2,A
Seat 9: rudebuddhawu (big blind) folded on the River

I do find that I’m playing online less and less though. I’m not sure quite why, but playing online just seems boring sometimes. Of course, I think that there are a lot of fish playing online, especially in Omaha games, but I’d much rather up the stakes a little bit and play a live no limit Holdem game such as $2-$5 NL Holdem. I’m sure you’ll read some of my future blogs where I write about hands I’ve played in Las Vegas at the $2-$5 tables.

Oh, and sorry for the 2month hiatus in posting here. I haven’t been in the mood to blog about my self lately. I’ve fallen to far into the all math, no gamble, bankroll management style of poker to have an exciting poker blog. Instead i’ve been putting most of my effort into Poker on a Mac. I also have some secret plans for Donkit in the future.

Full Tilt Poker Game #3053578580: Table Encarta (6 max) - $1/$2 - Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 7:02:43 ET - 2007/07/25
Seat 1: control66 ($337.20)
Seat 2: dbirider ($437.50)
Seat 3: 888pretty888 ($159.80)
Seat 4: FEZ5 ($326.90)
Seat 6: keuj ($125.90)
keuj posts the small blind of $1
control66 posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to dbirider [Kc 2c 6d Ks]
dbirider has 15 seconds left to act
dbirider calls $2
888pretty888 calls $2
Burton1951 sits down
FEZ5 calls $2
Burton1951 adds $80
keuj has 15 seconds left to act
keuj raises to $7
control66 calls $5
dbirider calls $5
888pretty888 calls $5
FEZ5 calls $5
*** FLOP *** [Kh Td Kd]
keuj checks
control66 checks
dbirider checks
888pretty888 has 15 seconds left to act
888pretty888 checks
FEZ5 checks
*** TURN *** [Kh Td Kd] [Ah]
keuj has 15 seconds left to act
keuj bets $17.50
control66 calls $17.50
dbirider calls $17.50
888pretty888 folds
FEZ5 folds
*** RIVER *** [Kh Td Kd Ah] [2d]
keuj has 15 seconds left to act
keuj bets $87.50
control66 has 15 seconds left to act
control66 folds
dbirider raises to $175
keuj calls $13.90, and is all in
Uncalled bet of $73.60 returned to dbirider
*** SHOW DOWN ***
dbirider shows [Kc 2c 6d Ks] four of a kind, Kings
keuj mucks
dbirider wins the pot ($287.30) with four of a kind, Kings
keuj is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $290.30 | Rake $3
Board: [Kh Td Kd Ah 2d]
Seat 1: control66 (big blind) folded on the River
Seat 2: dbirider showed [Kc 2c 6d Ks] and won ($287.30) with four of a kind, Kings
Seat 3: 888pretty888 folded on the Turn
Seat 4: FEZ5 (button) folded on the Turn
Seat 6: keuj (small blind) mucked [As 9h 2s Ad] - a full house, Aces full of Kings

Full Tilt Poker Game #3053635311: Table Relate (6 max) - $1/$2 - Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 7:22:18 ET - 2007/07/25
Seat 1: 888pretty888 ($1,244.65)
Seat 2: AbsolutJager ($222.40)
Seat 3: dbirider ($341.30)
Seat 4: Changophant ($45.60)
Seat 5: Ameyehotorwhat ($240.50)
Seat 6: ZUUUMA ($113.80)
Changophant posts the small blind of $1
Ameyehotorwhat posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to dbirider [Ah Kd 3d Jh]
ZUUUMA folds
888pretty888 has 15 seconds left to act
888pretty888 folds
AbsolutJager calls $2
dbirider raises to $6
Changophant calls $5
Ameyehotorwhat calls $4
AbsolutJager calls $4
*** FLOP *** [Qh Kh 8c]
Changophant checks
Ameyehotorwhat checks
AbsolutJager checks
dbirider bets $15
Changophant folds
Ameyehotorwhat folds
AbsolutJager calls $15
*** TURN *** [Qh Kh 8c] [7h]
AbsolutJager checks
dbirider checks
*** RIVER *** [Qh Kh 8c 7h] [Th]
AbsolutJager bets $25
dbirider raises to $58
AbsolutJager has 15 seconds left to act
AbsolutJager calls $33
*** SHOW DOWN ***
dbirider shows [Ah Kd 3d Jh] a Royal Flush
AbsolutJager mucks
dbirider wins the pot ($167) with a Royal Flush
AbsolutJager adds $56.60
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $170 | Rake $3
Board: [Qh Kh 8c 7h Th]
Seat 1: 888pretty888 didn’t bet (folded)
Seat 2: AbsolutJager mucked [Ts Js 4s Td] - three of a kind, Tens
Seat 3: dbirider (button) showed [Ah Kd 3d Jh] and won ($167) with a Royal Flush
Seat 4: Changophant (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: Ameyehotorwhat (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: ZUUUMA didn’t bet (folded)

For the most part of the tournament I was card dead. I played the entire event with a below average stack, and didn’t even see a showdown until I busted. The last hand I got all in with a pair vs draw, but my pair lost the 60/40 race and it was over for me.

On the bright side I won two satellites to the tournament today, netting me a $16 profit for the day

I super satellited my way into the $1,060 event tonight. First I won a $24 super satellite to get an entry into the $150 satellite and then I won the $150 satellite to the $1k tourney a few hours later.

The field was pretty easy and for the most part it was waiting for hands to bust the inexperienced players. I was lucky enough to get some good hands and capitalize a lot on the donk play. For instance, the fourth hand I managed to get my KK’s all in preflop against QTs, which doubled my stack right away.

It wasn’t till the final 6 players when it was apparent that everyone was playing well. At that point it was mostly tournament strategy and the cards were almost irrelevant. I was lucky to be in position of the short stacks, so I was able to avoid getting in marginal situations with them while stealing everyone else’s blinds as they were waiting for the short stacks to bust.

In the past when i’ve won satellites, I just cashed out and added it to my bankroll. I’ve done this with satellite wins ranging from $200 to $2600 on stars. I guess I’m a bit of a nit. Full tilt locks you in the tournaments though, so I have to play these. I’m glad though, because i’ll have a shot at scoring a big win and if I don’t then at least i won’t be wondering ‘what if?’

The best part of the tournament was the trash talk I received after busting out the former chip leader. Now I don’t like trash talking other players unless it’s in good fun, and I hate it when better players berate the fish, but I love when players trash talk me. I usually don’t even reply, I just let them burn of steam until they leave.

I was surprised with the trash talk after this hand because I really didn’t play it bad. He limped in preflop, giving me a free flop. He didn’t raise the flop, he bet small on the turn, and then he unnecisarily lost all his chips on the river when I made the best hand.

Dealer: dbirider wins the pot (6,930) with three of a
kind, Sixes
nieko32 (Observer): ur a & $ % $ i n g idiot
nieko32 (Observer): call me down with s hi t
nieko32 (Observer): what the helll donkey player you
nieko32 (Observer): i bet you go home and brag how
dumb u r
nieko32 (Observer): i bet u dont’ even win this table
with all ur chips
dbirider: I bet you’re going to watch
nieko32 (Observer): oh wow what a come back jack
dbirider: Well are you?
nieko32 (Observer): bet call ur little lady and brag about
how bad u suck oh wait she sucks and swallows
nieko32 (Observer): but not much suckin with your little
pinkie

I don’t know why, but I always get a good laugh when someone talks trash to me on a virtual poker table. Do they really think it’s going to make me feel bad and question my purpose in life?

Anyways, I’m excited about the satellite win and I’m looking forward to the FTOPS tournament. This will be the largest tournament i’ve played in and possibly my chance to accomplish my goal of winning more then $5,000 in a tournament.

I was doing some research about Sbrugby for my other site and came across these two really valuable threads with him on twoplustwo (his username is aba20).

- The well - Q&A
- Sbrugby’s story (told by himself)

The main thing I got from these threads is that poker is hard. Who knew? Sbrugby basically devoted himself to the game, spending 14+ hour days either playing poker, reading about it, or analyzing his own game. He’s read “every poker book available at borders and many that are not.”

He gives out a bunch of poker tips you might have never considered. Here’s a good one that Kjell pointed out to me.

“One “AHA” moment was shoving with hands which have good equity against your villians calling range. Example which would you rather go AI with assuming you have a pot sized raise left on a 249 board. You can go AI with 55 or KQ. Well shoving with KQ is much better than shoving 55 because KQ has alot more equity against villian calling range (66+ and any 9).”

If you have any interest at going pro or improving your NL skills these threads are really good reads.

The key in Omaha is to find a really good table. It’s worth the extra time to scope out a few tables to find the nutty players.

The best tables have at least one player who thinks their hold’em hands are good or someone raising every hand preflop. For some reason when a player always bets the pot preflop, it triggers an effect where every other player must call to see the flop.

The worst is the table full of nut-peddlers. Everyone limps in preflop and plays passively unless they have the nuts or close to it. The only time you’ll see any action is when one player has a royal flush and the other has quads. Even then both players are likely to check the river.

Once you find a juicy table and start taking notes on players, it gets hard to leave. The mistakes people make are usually so obvious that you can often accurately put them on a hand.

The best is when you find players who only raise preflop with AAxx. You can usually split them into two categories post flop: The ones that continue to bet the pot no matter what the flop is and others who check/fold if they don’t improve. Either way you should almost always call preflop if you have a decent hand, because chances are they won’t improve and AAxx isn’t to much better then an average omaha hand.

As for starting hands, just wait for a hand where all your cards work well together. a hand like JT98 is good because you have really good drawing hands like JT, J9, J8, T9, T8, and 98. If the flop misses you, you can easily get away from it. QQ72 would be bad because the only decent cards you have going for you is QQ, which is useless unless you make a set.

Also, if you’re drawing to a hand in a large pot, make sure it’s the nuts. If someone’s playing back at you, and there’s a better possible hand on the board, there’s a good chance they could have it.