RFID

Here is a video demonstrating the use of RFID technology. The comments are highly skeptical, assuming that some sort of cheating will be going on with this technology. And don't we all think some one is cheating when things aren't going our way?

But looking at this technology I have to think online. I still wonder how one can program something to be truly random. But this technology suggests that you could have a live dealer dealing online games. Never even needing to know to whom they are dealing. It might seem worthwhile for marketing high stakes online games. Maybe some site already has it.

Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year.

A Winter project. Building some poker tables in the basement. Bought some 4x6 particle board with camo design on one side some years back dirt cheap. Was going to build a tree stand for hunting but can hardly afford to even get to my property but once or twice a year.

Note the new power tool to make the season bright. But no funds for more tools and the padding and cloth to do the job right. Have to try to amp up my Internet endeavors to cover the costs.

Yes I'll be working on my bike(s) throughout the Winter. Also starting at the bottom in house repairs... again. Hope to get all the tuck pointing done, at least on the inside, and other home repairs in the basement. Waiting for warmer weather to start work on the other parts of the house if I have the money.

Poker goals? Over $1 million play money on all the major poker sights. It has never cost me a single penny to play poker online. And more Tavern Tourneys. If the Internet advertising angle pays big I'll work to give myself a proper stack for an Omaha Hi/Lo game or no limit hold'm game at the casino.

Tavern Tourneys

Last night I drove down to Kansasville to play some live poker in Tavern Tourneys. Free entry, $5 for extra chips and more chips for buying a round for your table if you go bust. Some of the $5 go into cash prizes for 1st and 2nd. 3rd gets a gift certificate from the host. I suppose they have to pay for cards and I'm not sure if they give the host tavern anything.

I talked to the Tourney Director a bit. He said they have about 600 regular players and about 10% are serious about the WSOP entry they offer twice a year. They have tourneys every night. He said they usually have about 30 people. I'm not sure if that is the same for their weekend games.

Well designed to give people the chance to play poker for free and spend a good part of the evening playing poker by dropping a few friendly bucks if you are not doing well. Taking advantage of the offers and the cost in fuel (none of the tourneys are close, it was a 45 minute drive) I can have a good night of poker for about as much as it cost me to sit at the casino, two miles away, with a minor stack. Of course I could come out ahead at the casino, it's happened once, or not lose my whole investment. The casino's Monday Night Football promotion looks inviting.

But Tavern Tourneys has a much lighter and friendlier spirit than the casino. Yes, there is cash at stake but push comes to shove the poker is free. But how did I do you're demanding, moving to the edge of your seat and leaning deep into your computer monitor.

I had some good hands and was doing well but after the break I noticed some at my table had huge stacks. So with a stack that could still intimidate, push most off a hand, I went all-in with pocket 8's. One caller with K,J. He got his third J on fourth street and I needed an 8 on the river for a full house...

or is it on the turn and fifth street....

Now I'm confused....

So, I did not get the 8. With a single chip left I threw in with a K,Q. I got the K on the flop but someone else caught the Ace.

I wish I could afford to go once a week or more, but will have to settle for maybe once a month. Maybe I can drag my friend down to a game. He keeps trying to get me to go to a bowling league on Fridays. Not team play, individual. Lots of prizes and free bowling for league members at certain times in the week.

Every Good Western

Every good Western has a saloon scene where either the villain or misguided hero are caught cheating. Having given a backhanded endorsement of Ultimate Bet I have to mention this article I came across. It says that Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker have had some software problems. It suggests that something dishonest may have been going on. A bit of reflection on what I wrote about a few posts back.

If you don't do anything online without a heightened sense of healthy paranoia you're just a fool. Whether some one can see your cards, identify the deck allowing them to determine your cards or get into your web cam to see your reactions and hear your comments, I consider all possible, the advantage is with the cheater. I think determining the cards to come down on the table is less likely, unless the cheater is an insider. I know when I have chatted during a game sometimes my screen flashes several times after my first chat message. I have a general rule to avoid chatting but once in a while I have to chime in. Sometimes people chat vigorously trying to get a response from some one.

Possible cheating is one of the reasons you should keep notes on players. Something all sites provide. And it is most likely safer to play when volumes are high. I'm sure the cheaters are few and far between. At least that is what I'd like to believe.

What surprised me is that the article says that poker sites do not put in protections against cheating. I know the sites advertise heavily that the cash transaction side of their business is completely safe. (the PPA is adamant that online poker is not illegal) I'm not sure why they wouldn't want to be known for having the most secure games on the web.

But I really like what Ultimate Bet does and their new show is great. You can see it online. If I got paid for all the free advertising I give on my various blogs I would be a rich man. "Cowboys Full; The Story of Poker" was recommended on the show. One of a few poker books I'd like to read if I get the chance. I have a real love of history. ...Another free prop.

I have read most of the book Misao gave me for my birthday. I found that much of what it says I already picked up intuitively. Other things, and the clearly determined odds, are a big help if I can stay disciplined. "Omaha High-Low Poker" is the book and I'm not seeing as many A,2 A,3 2,3 in my hands when playing online as the book suggests I should. I have found things to be cyclical. I have to just wait things out. Which begs the question concerning the shuffle online; Can you program random results? Maybe that is a big part of the problem with online poker.

If anyone has any input in that regard I'd enjoy reading your comments.

If you want a nearly guaranteed honest game.... pull your wallet out and put out the cash to play at a casino.

Celebrity Poker

Yes, poker players have become a type of celebrity and poker programing is on the rise. Every Internet poker site has some type of television programing association. (I'm not sure why NBC isn't showing "Face the Ace" in our area) Yes, you can enter, typically for free, online tournaments in which you can win a spot on television.

One of the reasons I enjoy playing on Ultimate bet is that Phil Hellmuth, Annie Duke and their crew use their celebrity to support charity. Maybe most other sites and players do also, but I haven't seen anything as prominent. I've seen much more than the two links I provide here. I started following Ultimate Bet on twitter based on their promotion for African relief.

I tried Poker Stars' tournaments to qualify for the FOX show they are aligned with. With my wife's heavy stare upon me, as she wants the Internet in the evenings, I pushed in many advantageous but risky situations trying to get a worthy stack to justify the time I was taking from Misao. Not to sit for hours with a minor stack that most likely wont bear fruit as the leader's stacks stand mountainous over your own and the blinds continue to rise. So I often didn't get very deep into the tournament.

But I decided when I play my best game I can get into the top 5% of any tournament. So with that determination I sat down to one of the FOX/Poker Stars tournaments. They always start full at 10,000 players; ten seated tables. So in the top 500 would be the top 5%. I finished 567th. I had a mid pair and gut shot straight draw. A 3 to 7 straight (3,4, 567). Really! So when pushed I went all-in before the river and missed the straight losing to top pair.

I could have just sat back and let my stack ride to get to the top 500. Using the full extent of my clock every time it was my bet, so others would go out on other tables as I waited. But that's not how I roll.

I now created an account with Absolute Poker, part of cerus and associated with Ultimate Bet, getting in on one of their twitter cash free rolls. These free rolls, that you need a twitter account to get the passwords too, come once a month and generally have a small field of good players. In this free roll of about 280 players the top 50 positions paid.

I was doing well but we had to leave for work; our small business. Running a bit late I hung in for a bit longer to look for some chances to go all-in. Folding a lot of hands, cause I ain't stupid, I patiently waited and got some cards I felt good about. An Ace Jack suited that paid, along with a K, 5 suited, both hitting the flush. Pocket nines all-in facing pocket Q's. I tripped on the flop. So when we left I was sitting in 14th place, top 50 being paid with over 100 left in the tournament. Leaving my position to just ride out the blinds, and ante's that come as the blinds rise. My computer went to sleep at the second 5 minute break at which point I was in 40th place with 67 players left. Not sure how the rest played out, only that I had $4 in my account when we got home several hours later. That means I finished at least 40th. 1st position paid $200.

At that stage of the tournament, fighting to make the money cut, many small stacks go all-in. The larger stacks can be pulled down, as it is easy to call when you have good cards since you are not risking much, but then keep losing these mini challenges. And getting very tight as you reach the money cut off I could have collected on the big blind if everyone folded. It's happened as people get really really tight trying to break the top 50.

Now if I can build these free roll winnings into a small fortune in tournament play could you claim it wasn't skill? Never having wired any money the only problem would be how to collect. I think my odds at celebrity are much greater by creating a fortune from literally nothing than making one of those TV shows.... unless I get really lucky.