Did Pokerstars pay for her spot? Does it matter? She has a stomach you can bounce a bankroll on. Go to www.gulfcoastpoker.net to see the photo or do it the traditional way and buy it at the store.
Pauly has done it again. His tale from four years past is a mini-rounders movie. A bad beat story that is worth the read. Go to http://taopoker.blogspot.com/ to enjoy.
Facebook is fun. Just thought I'd mention that. I'm spending way too much time having dialogues with people I haven't talked to in 10 years. And I'm enjoying it. Of course, I'm now discovering a new group of annoying people the facebooks crackheads. They fit in smoothly with the guys you let merge in front of you and don't do the wave thankyou, the clerk that stiffs you on the change and takes umbrage when you call her out on it, and people that hug just a little too long. Okay, one maybe two... maybe three if it's been a lonnnnnnnnnng time, pats on the back and then move along. If it's a dude, a half-hug, not the full monty.
What's a facebook crackhead. A person that updates their status every two minutes. What is this twitter? Just let me get through my stuff with only one update about your cat looking cute hugging a stuffed animal.
I told you this would be a miscellany round up.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Black Jack?
Every year I have a friend come into town and we play poker at the casino together. He's not the greatest player so invariably he'll stand up and hit the blackjack table. He says he's been crushing online blackjack. I've been hesitant to play the game as I'm more keen on poker and using my edge over other players as a profit source.
Still, when I watch him barrel through to profits it's hard to attain on a poker table I think I'm missing out. Granted, I get that he might have just been enduring a good run of cards. Moreover, the dealer was feeding everybody blackjacks and everybody was winning. It was a hot streak, like the loud craps table, but the speed of the play appealed to me.
There was none of the patience required of succesful poker, no sitting and waiting for a hand or spot, or an opportunity to key in on a weak opponent like in poker. I don't have to wait for two guys to mull over huge decisions that really aren't that huge. There is a little bit of an action junkie in me that is drawn to the quickness of the game particularily online blackjack. I'm going to give it a try.
I will use the tips supplied to me by bwin and start out slowly. I'm hoping one of my readers is a blackjack ace and can let me know if the tips are the best strategy for a beginner. Anybody? I've read that players that abide by the a series of rules really can cut into the edge of the house. Can you ever get the edge if you do everything right?
I think I'll do what my buddy likes to do and that's increase my bet after every winning hand. Any time I lose I'll go back to square one and just bet the minimum. My friend seemed to be running hot doing this. He called it playing the streaks. He compared it to playing a slot machine that was due. Can anybody think of any other tips for me when I play online blackjack?
http://www.gulfcoastpoker.net/
Still, when I watch him barrel through to profits it's hard to attain on a poker table I think I'm missing out. Granted, I get that he might have just been enduring a good run of cards. Moreover, the dealer was feeding everybody blackjacks and everybody was winning. It was a hot streak, like the loud craps table, but the speed of the play appealed to me.
There was none of the patience required of succesful poker, no sitting and waiting for a hand or spot, or an opportunity to key in on a weak opponent like in poker. I don't have to wait for two guys to mull over huge decisions that really aren't that huge. There is a little bit of an action junkie in me that is drawn to the quickness of the game particularily online blackjack. I'm going to give it a try.
I will use the tips supplied to me by bwin and start out slowly. I'm hoping one of my readers is a blackjack ace and can let me know if the tips are the best strategy for a beginner. Anybody? I've read that players that abide by the a series of rules really can cut into the edge of the house. Can you ever get the edge if you do everything right?
I think I'll do what my buddy likes to do and that's increase my bet after every winning hand. Any time I lose I'll go back to square one and just bet the minimum. My friend seemed to be running hot doing this. He called it playing the streaks. He compared it to playing a slot machine that was due. Can anybody think of any other tips for me when I play online blackjack?
http://www.gulfcoastpoker.net/
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
What a January For Team Bwin Qualifiers
Bwin's stable of online poker players proved their mettle in dominating one of the events in the Aussie Millions. Online handles AmazingRiver, King_Dirk, and fjolss each got a $2,200 buy-in as an add on to their Main Event package they won through a bwin qualifier. They didn't treat it like an after thought as they cruised through a field of 266 players in Event #14 of the 2009 Aussie Millions Poker Championship.
The Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Poker Tournament whittle down gradually but in incredible fashion the three bwin players got to the last six standing. Thomas Lindbjerg who goes by his handle AmazingRiver ran almost wire to wire at the final table. He rarely didn't have the chip lead. He also single-handedly eliminated just about everyone.
As the bodies hit the door, it came down to Amazing River and Noah Schwartz. An American online poker pro who shares more than a casual resemblence to the character McLovin' from the movie Superbad. No, Schwartz is not from Hawaii, and yes he is old enough to play in a casino.
It was easy to attribute Amazing River's chip accumalation to the guts he showed in bluffing superior hands off of pots. In a critical moment in heads up play he insured a victory by getting the American to lay down. His penultimate hand was the old Doyle Brunson two time Main Event winning holding of 10 2.
The payouts for the tournament were impressive for all of the team bwin members. Amazing River's first place finish gave him anotherf $130,021(AUD) to put in his bank account. Fjolss increased his wealth by $65,436 and narrowly was bested by Schwartz for second. King_Dirk's 5th place finish netted him $34,000+.
Amazing River knocked out his first opponent holding a suited K9. Sixth place finisher Jonathan Dull held Ac5d and made a move for the pot. Each improved as a 9 and a 5 hit the board. However, Amazing River now held the edge. Amazing River improved on the turn when he paired his king. He sweated a river card that was a brick.
This first hand would be a theme for the final table. It was most notable for a recurrence of a lack of suckouts on player busting hands. AmazingRiver prevailed in nearly every one when his opponents had outs going into the river and his cards held each time. That many non-amazing rivers was amazing in itself.
When Amazing river broke the fifth place finisher with a full house, there was less drama as he turned the boat, and King_Dirk was drawing dead. Just like with Dull, Amazing River watched King_Dirk throw all his chips into the pot before action got to him. Looking at AQ gave Amazing River an easier decision to make. By the turn, he was boated up and the King was dead.
The rivers went back to being relevant but ultimately boring as Phillip Peters fell to Amazing River next. Peters grabbed a pair to go with an open ender. He was trailing when the chips hit the felt as Amazing River held top pair. The river held the promise of drama but delivered no saving straight for Peters.
That left three players looking around the table at one another. AmazingRiver, fjloss and Noah Schwartz eyed each other happily. Guaranteed top three money first place was now within their grasp.
Fjloss got ran over next by AmazingRiver's elimination train. Amazing River held pocket cowboys and bet them. Fjloss looked at an A and put all his chips in the middle just like King_Dirk, Peters, and Dull before him.
Amazing River made the call. Fjloss still had outs when the river card brought more promise of a suckout unfortunately his ace remained bare.
You have to wonder if Noah Schwartz felt like a bad guy in a Rambo movie. Amazing River had just plowed down the field with a machine gun of cards. Schwartz was all that was left.
Schwartz had to feel good when KoJack made top pair on the flop. Also, a 10 combined with the Jack and a nondescript 4 to round out the board. Things went screwy for Noah on the turn as a 2 joined the board and now Amazing River had two pair.
This time Amazing River had to do the elimination betting. He put Schwartz top pair second kicker to the test. Checked raised all in Schwartz stewed over his decision. This would be where he made his stand. There would be no Amazing River for Schwartz. And yet again Amazing River held after the river.
Team bwin member Amazing River prevailed in a solid display of tournament poker. He got his chips to the middle when he held an edge and his edges held.
The Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Poker Tournament whittle down gradually but in incredible fashion the three bwin players got to the last six standing. Thomas Lindbjerg who goes by his handle AmazingRiver ran almost wire to wire at the final table. He rarely didn't have the chip lead. He also single-handedly eliminated just about everyone.
As the bodies hit the door, it came down to Amazing River and Noah Schwartz. An American online poker pro who shares more than a casual resemblence to the character McLovin' from the movie Superbad. No, Schwartz is not from Hawaii, and yes he is old enough to play in a casino.
It was easy to attribute Amazing River's chip accumalation to the guts he showed in bluffing superior hands off of pots. In a critical moment in heads up play he insured a victory by getting the American to lay down. His penultimate hand was the old Doyle Brunson two time Main Event winning holding of 10 2.
The payouts for the tournament were impressive for all of the team bwin members. Amazing River's first place finish gave him anotherf $130,021(AUD) to put in his bank account. Fjolss increased his wealth by $65,436 and narrowly was bested by Schwartz for second. King_Dirk's 5th place finish netted him $34,000+.
Amazing River knocked out his first opponent holding a suited K9. Sixth place finisher Jonathan Dull held Ac5d and made a move for the pot. Each improved as a 9 and a 5 hit the board. However, Amazing River now held the edge. Amazing River improved on the turn when he paired his king. He sweated a river card that was a brick.
This first hand would be a theme for the final table. It was most notable for a recurrence of a lack of suckouts on player busting hands. AmazingRiver prevailed in nearly every one when his opponents had outs going into the river and his cards held each time. That many non-amazing rivers was amazing in itself.
When Amazing river broke the fifth place finisher with a full house, there was less drama as he turned the boat, and King_Dirk was drawing dead. Just like with Dull, Amazing River watched King_Dirk throw all his chips into the pot before action got to him. Looking at AQ gave Amazing River an easier decision to make. By the turn, he was boated up and the King was dead.
The rivers went back to being relevant but ultimately boring as Phillip Peters fell to Amazing River next. Peters grabbed a pair to go with an open ender. He was trailing when the chips hit the felt as Amazing River held top pair. The river held the promise of drama but delivered no saving straight for Peters.
That left three players looking around the table at one another. AmazingRiver, fjloss and Noah Schwartz eyed each other happily. Guaranteed top three money first place was now within their grasp.
Fjloss got ran over next by AmazingRiver's elimination train. Amazing River held pocket cowboys and bet them. Fjloss looked at an A and put all his chips in the middle just like King_Dirk, Peters, and Dull before him.
Amazing River made the call. Fjloss still had outs when the river card brought more promise of a suckout unfortunately his ace remained bare.
You have to wonder if Noah Schwartz felt like a bad guy in a Rambo movie. Amazing River had just plowed down the field with a machine gun of cards. Schwartz was all that was left.
Schwartz had to feel good when KoJack made top pair on the flop. Also, a 10 combined with the Jack and a nondescript 4 to round out the board. Things went screwy for Noah on the turn as a 2 joined the board and now Amazing River had two pair.
This time Amazing River had to do the elimination betting. He put Schwartz top pair second kicker to the test. Checked raised all in Schwartz stewed over his decision. This would be where he made his stand. There would be no Amazing River for Schwartz. And yet again Amazing River held after the river.
Team bwin member Amazing River prevailed in a solid display of tournament poker. He got his chips to the middle when he held an edge and his edges held.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Magic Moments of Poker
I've been tracking a promotion that has really piqued my interest: Bwin's Magic Moments of Poker tour.
The tour, bwin is debuting, will offer players seven different opportunities to travel around Europe in a travel laden package. Qualifiers, who will be winners of online poker tournaments get a prize package that includes a visit to a city in Europe such as Milan, Munich, and Madrid, a major sporting event in that city such as a Moto GP, or the Real Madrid-Atletico Madrid derby, and a seat at a televised poker table.
The first stop in this tour is a visit to Madrid, Spain. First the lucky (excuse me skilled) qualifiers will take in the sights, they'll get tickets to a game between two of the most illustrious soccer (er.. football) clubs in the country.
Next up is a generous helping of VIP accommodations, dining and nightlife. Finally, and perhaps most importantly is the televized final table with a chance to win a seat at the Grand Final in Vienna. There, first place wins a sponsorship deal with bwin.
The trip gives travelers four days to see the sights, take in the game, and play some poker.
Does it seem like a dream? A a pipe-dream maybe? Actually, bwin Poker is offering a series of online satellites to qualifier and the best part is they start at low stakes. Earn your entry for as little as $6.
Not that you'd be here, seeing as this is a poker blog, but if you want to travel but don't know much about poker. I've thought of everything, if you want to learn some Texas Hold'em rules, check out bwin's primer to help you out with that right here.
The tour, bwin is debuting, will offer players seven different opportunities to travel around Europe in a travel laden package. Qualifiers, who will be winners of online poker tournaments get a prize package that includes a visit to a city in Europe such as Milan, Munich, and Madrid, a major sporting event in that city such as a Moto GP, or the Real Madrid-Atletico Madrid derby, and a seat at a televised poker table.
The first stop in this tour is a visit to Madrid, Spain. First the lucky (excuse me skilled) qualifiers will take in the sights, they'll get tickets to a game between two of the most illustrious soccer (er.. football) clubs in the country.
Next up is a generous helping of VIP accommodations, dining and nightlife. Finally, and perhaps most importantly is the televized final table with a chance to win a seat at the Grand Final in Vienna. There, first place wins a sponsorship deal with bwin.
The trip gives travelers four days to see the sights, take in the game, and play some poker.
Does it seem like a dream? A a pipe-dream maybe? Actually, bwin Poker is offering a series of online satellites to qualifier and the best part is they start at low stakes. Earn your entry for as little as $6.
Not that you'd be here, seeing as this is a poker blog, but if you want to travel but don't know much about poker. I've thought of everything, if you want to learn some Texas Hold'em rules, check out bwin's primer to help you out with that right here.
Monday, January 26, 2009
European Poker Awards
Peter Eastgate and Bertrand "Elky" Grospelier were two of the big winners at the Aviation Club in Paris. The 2008 European Poker Awards last week recognized their achievements.
World Series of Poker Main Event Champion Peter Eastgate won the most notable Tournament Achievement. All he did was win the Main Event. He also became the youngest champion ever, and gets the added thrill of supplanting Phil Hellmuth from that perch.
"Elky" won the European Player of the Year award beating the other nominees that included David Benyamine and Neil Channing. Elky had the golden touch this year and ran as well as just about anybody in the world including John Phan the receipent of several non-European awards.
Peter Eastgate wasn't the only member of the November Nine getting recognition as Ivan Demidov won the Rookie of the Year award. How Eastgate wasn't nominated for that award (he wasn't) is suprising. Still, Demidov was a deserving champion. He came in second in the World Series Main Event as well as third in the WSOP Europe Main Event.
Marcel Luske, the singing Dutchman, recieved a Lifetime Achievement Award that noted not only his winnings on the felt but also his contributions to the game.
World Series of Poker Main Event Champion Peter Eastgate won the most notable Tournament Achievement. All he did was win the Main Event. He also became the youngest champion ever, and gets the added thrill of supplanting Phil Hellmuth from that perch.
"Elky" won the European Player of the Year award beating the other nominees that included David Benyamine and Neil Channing. Elky had the golden touch this year and ran as well as just about anybody in the world including John Phan the receipent of several non-European awards.
Peter Eastgate wasn't the only member of the November Nine getting recognition as Ivan Demidov won the Rookie of the Year award. How Eastgate wasn't nominated for that award (he wasn't) is suprising. Still, Demidov was a deserving champion. He came in second in the World Series Main Event as well as third in the WSOP Europe Main Event.
Marcel Luske, the singing Dutchman, recieved a Lifetime Achievement Award that noted not only his winnings on the felt but also his contributions to the game.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Champion Chip
Online poker site bwin just completed one of it's most popular and biggest tournaments no limit holdem tournaments. The ChampionChip commenced with over 1400 players enrolled to play poker online. Each had visions of winning the biggest chunk of the guaranteed $500,000 prize pool, with first place earning $112,500.
Bwin's coverage revealed this final table set up.
Seat Position/Player Name (Chip Count)
Seat 1: I_Play_Lotto ($301,428 in chips)
Seat 2: Big Al ($246,124 in chips)
Seat 3: floydiano ($134,576 in chips)
Seat 4: baddyrock ($1,259,586 in chips)
Seat 5: basturk ($294,764 in chips)
Seat 6: deevke ($221,362 in chips)
Seat 7: Indice68 ($810,484 in chips)
Seat 8: klimassvd ($210,116 in chips)
Seat 9: EnTapie ($710,054 in chips)
Seat 10: gnugni1 ($92,506 in chips)
Clearly gnugni1 and floydiano had the most work to do. Baddyrock and EnTapie had a little more room to breathe than the rest of the field with each having more than double the chips of their opponents. By virture of his seat floydiano probably wasn't enjoying rubbing virtual elbows with baddyrock.
As often is the case the two shortest stacks weren't the first two players out. Basturk took that honor and the 5.5k that went with it. Then the gunugi1 and floydiano fell going out 9th (7k) and 8th (8.5k) respectively. Big Al and klimassvd took home 10k and 15k. So far, the final table played out to form as each player who started in the bottom five finished there with the exception of deevke who leptfrogged basturk and Big Al into the final five.
At 5 handed, the ChampionChip online poker battle was just starting to heat up. The chips had moved around a little bit. Indice68 at 1.7 million was the chip leader. Baddyrock close behind with 1.2 million, followed by EnTapie (606k), deevke ($427k) and I_Play_Lotto hanging around with just 242k.
The ascension of deevke was short-lived as he exited in 5th winning 20k. Baddyrock was the beneficiary when he won deevke's stack in a coin toss with pocket 9s vs. two overcards.
Later baddyrock got his money in better, with pocket 9s vs. EnTapie's pocket 7s. A seven on the flop meant that baddyrock started as big favorite but ended as the next player going to the rail. The 30k for 4th place wasn't too bad of a consolation prize.
I_Play_Lotto's luck ran out, or maybe the fingernails he was hanging onto gave way. He got his chips in with a small pair... Kings preflop. EnTapie ran hot at the end and his QsTs caught a runner-runner flush. I_Play_Lotto who plays poker online won 40k for third.
EnTapie had Idice68 dwarfed in chips with a 5 to 1 advantage. After four hearts faced each other A6 for EnTapie and 49 for Indice68, the match was settled with the superior hand taking it. EnTapie envisioned a juicy payday and as it got closer and closer it felt more and more real. At the end it was, Entapie took home another $112,500. Indice68 got 62k for second.
Bwin's coverage revealed this final table set up.
Seat Position/Player Name (Chip Count)
Seat 1: I_Play_Lotto ($301,428 in chips)
Seat 2: Big Al ($246,124 in chips)
Seat 3: floydiano ($134,576 in chips)
Seat 4: baddyrock ($1,259,586 in chips)
Seat 5: basturk ($294,764 in chips)
Seat 6: deevke ($221,362 in chips)
Seat 7: Indice68 ($810,484 in chips)
Seat 8: klimassvd ($210,116 in chips)
Seat 9: EnTapie ($710,054 in chips)
Seat 10: gnugni1 ($92,506 in chips)
Clearly gnugni1 and floydiano had the most work to do. Baddyrock and EnTapie had a little more room to breathe than the rest of the field with each having more than double the chips of their opponents. By virture of his seat floydiano probably wasn't enjoying rubbing virtual elbows with baddyrock.
As often is the case the two shortest stacks weren't the first two players out. Basturk took that honor and the 5.5k that went with it. Then the gunugi1 and floydiano fell going out 9th (7k) and 8th (8.5k) respectively. Big Al and klimassvd took home 10k and 15k. So far, the final table played out to form as each player who started in the bottom five finished there with the exception of deevke who leptfrogged basturk and Big Al into the final five.
At 5 handed, the ChampionChip online poker battle was just starting to heat up. The chips had moved around a little bit. Indice68 at 1.7 million was the chip leader. Baddyrock close behind with 1.2 million, followed by EnTapie (606k), deevke ($427k) and I_Play_Lotto hanging around with just 242k.
The ascension of deevke was short-lived as he exited in 5th winning 20k. Baddyrock was the beneficiary when he won deevke's stack in a coin toss with pocket 9s vs. two overcards.
Later baddyrock got his money in better, with pocket 9s vs. EnTapie's pocket 7s. A seven on the flop meant that baddyrock started as big favorite but ended as the next player going to the rail. The 30k for 4th place wasn't too bad of a consolation prize.
I_Play_Lotto's luck ran out, or maybe the fingernails he was hanging onto gave way. He got his chips in with a small pair... Kings preflop. EnTapie ran hot at the end and his QsTs caught a runner-runner flush. I_Play_Lotto who plays poker online won 40k for third.
EnTapie had Idice68 dwarfed in chips with a 5 to 1 advantage. After four hearts faced each other A6 for EnTapie and 49 for Indice68, the match was settled with the superior hand taking it. EnTapie envisioned a juicy payday and as it got closer and closer it felt more and more real. At the end it was, Entapie took home another $112,500. Indice68 got 62k for second.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Amazon Adventure
I haven't been too much a fan of slots in the past. Recently I discovered that popular play online casino bwin debuted a new game. When I have played I liked the themed slots and have tried my hand, with some success on a few of them in real life. This new one has tempted me to play slots more often. It is an Indiana Jones type style quest in South America, where you win while cruising down the Amazon. I've been spinning and winning on bwin's Amazon Adventure.
The Amazon Adventure shows you waterfalls and volcanos as you spin the wheel. It is a 16-reel slot game. You play up to 10 lines to win. In the spirit of an Amazon Adventure the bonuses are awarded after waterfalls and volcanos symbols are collected. So far no natives have jumped out of my computer screen... but maybe I haven't won enough. As long as they aren't cannibals it'll still be fun.
In terms of gameplay, there is also a generous scatter bonus on Amazon Advenure where you can win if you get a random set of 7s even if the lines aren't used. If you get a minimum of 5 7s on one spin the bonus is credited automatically.
The casino online jackpot is now up to almost 5 million Euros so there is incentive to play.
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