Poker Thread (online or live)

[louiemdj]

There was some interest about having some poker discussion in the Sarah Phillips thread, so I'll start one here.

I'm not a pro by any means, but I have played a lot of online and live poker over the 6-7 years with some decent success. I'll be happy to participate in any kind of poker discussion.

I like to play mostly tournament Holdem, Omaha, Razz, HORSE, 8 game mix, 10 game mix, and pretty much anything else. I don't really play too many cash games because it's just not my strength. I think it's somewhat rare to find players (besides the elite) that are really good at both.

[JSpauny]

I play SNGs for the most part. Some bigger tourneys but not as big of a fan because I make way more money grinding SNGs. I play strictly Holdem. I like omaha but I haven't studied it enough to feel comfortable playing with real money. Just curious where you play online now that everything is basically shut down. I've been playing at bodog some but the new anonymous thing kind of turned me off.

[Skating Tripods]

Just remembered why I don't play online poker.

Dicking around at a .02/.05 table. Call in middle position with a couple 8s.

5 players. Flop 8c Jd 2d. I throw out .20 into .25 or whatever it was. Guy to immediate left and right (check-call) call.

Turn Js. Throw out .50 into .78, both guys call.

River 7s. Throw out a buck. Guy raises to $2. Guy to right folds.

Just simply call.

Guy turns over J 7.

[JSpauny]

That's rough man. Hate when you run into shit like that.

I'm not totally sure how I would have attacked the hand differently. I probably would have bet at least the pot on the flop, but for 5 cents more not sure it would have made much of a difference. I would assume the average player loves JJ and therefore raises it preflop so I would have put trip 8s as the nuts (or at least 2nd nuts) and tried to get the other two to fold. Especially with a potential flush out there I would have made them pay more (again, not sure it would have made a difference) to see the turn. This is one of the things I don't like about small cash games. .20 cents doesn't seem like much to anyone so calling becomes easier.

[Skating Tripods]

Yeah, small cash game, I'm probably not pushing anybody off a jack on the flop.

Whatever. Probably happens twice an hour in a casino too.

Just annoyed. Blame it on the software.

[JSpauny]

Hahaha. True that man. I've never played live in a casino. Only live poker I play is with friends and they don't like it too much because I usually take their money.

[Skating Tripods]

Why don't I get all of these 8 3, 7 4, 9 2 hands at the blackjack table?

[JSpauny]

Couldn't agree more man. I played blackjack a few weeks ago and a dealer hit 19, 20 or 21 on 8 straight hands. It was unbelievable. Even he was like sorry guys.

[KepowOb]

I used to play a lot of short handed Holdem cash games online (though it was for relatively small stakes), though I don't have time for long sessions anymore so I've more or less completely stopped, as I don't like playing for short periods of time - I feel that just as I'm getting into it, I have to stop.

I also play live at the casino from time to time. The games are really soft, and I should go more often, but again, I need a good chunk of free time to go, which these days I seem to have less and less of. I do miss playing though.

[The Posse]

It's funny that this thread popped up. Just played on Bodog for a few hours tonight. It was my first time playing online poker since Black Friday (although I hadn't played prior to 4/15 in a couple of months).

Bodog's new (or new to me) software is ok, but it still has issues I don't like. The biggest complaint I have is how the time bank works. I'm used to PokerStars' software- when you're normally allotted time to make a decision runs out, a BIG LOUD ALARM sounds with the time bank popping up (plus the screen pops back up as well). Bodog's software lacks this. It cost me in one hand- had 5c2c, hit my flush on the turn, was just trying to figure out how much to raise my opponent's bet on the turn...and suddenly my hand was folded. You can imagine my initial reaction. I was 4 tabling but I don't think I'd ever gone past my allotted time on that table and I wasn't familiar with using my time bank (plus the lack of alarm didn't help). Of course, my opponent showed me his TPTK with a nut flush draw. Would have easily gotten it all in with my opponent drawing to 7 outs on the river. Not stewing over it that much- was only playing micro stakes.

I know this isn't poker, but Bodog's blackjack software was actually pretty solid. Played for an hour playing 3 hands at $1-$5 a hand. One positive- their house rules are actually very favorable in comparison to many live casinos (remind me of PA casinos house rules).

If any of you still donk around on any US player approved sites, I'd be curious to know your thoughts. Also, if I ever have any free time, I'd be down to play heads up with any of you on Bodog. Just for fun and lunch money, not rent money. I'm partial to cash games but will fool around in donkaments once in awhile.

[Skating Tripods]

I was curious about the blackjack software. I've done the "practice" mode that they have while I was bored, but I haven't played for money yet.

Agreed on the time bank, especially if you are multi-tabling. They just overhauled the entire interface though. I'm sure you could talk to customer support about it.

[louiemdj]

(12-07-2011 03:08 PM)JSpauny Wrote:  I play SNGs for the most part. Some bigger tourneys but not as big of a fan because I make way more money grinding SNGs. I play strictly Holdem. I like omaha but I haven't studied it enough to feel comfortable playing with real money. Just curious where you play online now that everything is basically shut down. I've been playing at bodog some but the new anonymous thing kind of turned me off.

Back in the day, I first started playing SNG's on Bodog because I didn't know any better. I had a lot of success and played way out of my BR. I would play their Sunday Major every week, and one week I almost FT'd it. I thought I was the shit, and I started playing even more over my head, did well for a while and eventually lost my BR, which is pretty standard when you don't know what you are doing money management wise.

After that, I got more serious and started playing 3/6 limit cash games on PartyPoker, and some cash games on UltimateBet too. Those were the good ole days for sure, pretty much right after Moneymaker made his run in the WSOP.

Then PartyPoker left the US and I started playing a lot of MTT's, mostly PokerStars. Also played some FullTilt, UltimateBet, Bodog and some other small sites occasionally.

By far, Pokerstars is my favorite site. Too bad I can't play there anymore. I like FTP too, but they were always so gimmicky with all their MTT's with Multi-Entry, Rush, and other things that I didn't play there as much. It was good for the rake and the prizepools, but that was it.

I haven't really play any online since Black Friday because I don't want to play these small fields. I might check out LockPoker, heard it's decent. I've just played a few live mtt's lately and I am slacking on that as well.

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(12-08-2011 12:20 PM)Skating Tripods Wrote:  I was curious about the blackjack software. I've done the "practice" mode that they have while I was bored, but I haven't played for money yet.

Agreed on the time bank, especially if you are multi-tabling. They just overhauled the entire interface though. I'm sure you could talk to customer support about it.

Don't play for real money. At one point I wouldn't even play poker at any site's that offered BJ. It's ruined a few BR's after a bad session.

[RyanParrill]

I'd play in more live tournaments if people knew how to run them. It's insane how inefficient they are. Please, if you could, give us $10,000 in chips and start the blinds 250-500.

[louiemdj]

(12-08-2011 01:04 PM)RyanParrill Wrote:  I'd play in more live tournaments if people knew how to run them. It's insane how inefficient they are. Please, if you could, give us $10,000 in chips and start the blinds 250-500.

That's pretty much the way it is in the Heartland Poker Tour events I've played in. Horrible structure for a 1K buy in. They start with 15K in chips, but the blinds are 100/200 and the levels only last 30 minutes. It's a turbo shovefest by the 3rd or 4th level.

Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa (formerly Cherokee Casino) runs the best tournaments around where I live besides the rake being too high for the smaller events ($300 + $40). When they have a tournament series, the structures are good, usually start with around 6-10K in chips depending on buy in, and the blinds start at 25-25 or 25-50 with 40 minute rounds (sometimes longer in bigger buy ins). If anyone lives within a couple hours from Tulsa, I would recommend playing there when they are having a tournament series.

[JSpauny]

(12-08-2011 01:19 PM)louiemdj Wrote:  

(12-08-2011 01:04 PM)RyanParrill Wrote:  I'd play in more live tournaments if people knew how to run them. It's insane how inefficient they are. Please, if you could, give us $10,000 in chips and start the blinds 250-500.

That's pretty much the way it is in the Heartland Poker Tour events I've played in. Horrible structure for a 1K buy in. They start with 15K in chips, but the blinds are 100/200 and the levels only last 30 minutes. It's a turbo shovefest by the 3rd or 4th level.

Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa (formerly Cherokee Casino) runs the best tournaments around where I live besides the rake being too high for the smaller events ($300 + $40). When they have a tournament series, the structures are good, usually start with around 6-10K in chips depending on buy in, and the blinds start at 25-25 or 25-50 with 40 minute rounds (sometimes longer in bigger buy ins). If anyone lives within a couple hours from Tulsa, I would recommend playing there when they are having a tournament series.

That has to be the worst structure I've ever heard. Have they even played tournament poker before?

I'm hoping the rumblings about legalizing online poker come through. I want to get back on a good site and stop using Bodog. I hate that the only reason I use it is because its one of the only ones available.

[Skating Tripods]

There's very little skill involved in tournaments unless you're playing WSOP style. Deep stacks, long blinds. Otherwise, it's nothing but getting lucky.

There are tournaments at the closest casino here with 20 min blinds. Better off playing video keno.

[louiemdj]

(12-08-2011 02:23 PM)Skating Tripods Wrote:  There's very little skill involved in tournaments unless you're playing WSOP style. Deep stacks, long blinds. Otherwise, it's nothing but getting lucky.

There are tournaments at the closest casino here with 20 min blinds. Better off playing video keno.

I don't really agree with that. There might be more luck involved in faster paced tournaments aka turbos, super turbos, etc. But there are still tons of small edges to be had to highly increase your long term profits. People make so many mistakes with hand ranges, and if you're aware of what you're doing, you can own people in those fast paced tournaments.

People rarely know what they are doing. You just have to identify some reasonable hand ranges based on the information you have and do work.

[The Posse]

(12-08-2011 02:23 PM)Skating Tripods Wrote:  There's very little skill involved in tournaments unless you're playing WSOP style. Deep stacks, long blinds. Otherwise, it's nothing but getting lucky.

If you're truly looking for a deep stack, WSOP-like experience, why not play in the WSOP? The WSOP has circuit events all over the country year-round. The cheapest ones have around a $340 entry fee. I played in a circuit event years ago at Caesars Atlantic City. Was an enjoyable experience- and I generally dislike/avoid tournaments.

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(12-08-2011 12:20 PM)Skating Tripods Wrote:  I was curious about the blackjack software. I've done the "practice" mode that they have while I was bored, but I haven't played for money yet.

If you're looking to play on the cheap while getting comfortable with the software, you can play as little as $1/hand. If you don't have BS memorized, you can always have a separate window open to use as a reference. I think it's worth playing because the rules are player friendly (surrender, dealer hits on soft 17, can double down on any two cards, can split up to 3 times). It sucks not being able to count, so winning long-term comes down to raising bets at the right time.

[louiemdj]

[/quote]

If you're looking to play on the cheap while getting comfortable with the software, you can play as little as $1/hand. If you don't have BS memorized, you can always have a separate window open to use as a reference. I think it's worth playing because the rules are player friendly (surrender, dealer hits on soft 17, can double down on any two cards, can split up to 3 times). It sucks not being able to count, so winning long-term comes down to raising bets at the right time.
[/quote]

Do you really think you can win at online BJ long term? I would say there is no way in hell. I've played a lot of BJ, and of course I've had some good runs, but overall it has been a disaster even if you make all the "correct" plays.

[JSpauny]

I'm with louie, I don't think you can possibly win long term at online BJ. The only way to get profitable odds long term in real life is to get ahead by counting cards. The odds are just so stacked against you on almost every play I don't see how you could beat the software without pure luck. And everyone knows pure luck doesn't last.