All you tournament players have gazed upon the poker clock; checking the
average stack size, number of entrants remaining, time until the blinds
increase. It is a staple of any proper tournament.
Well, now you can have an official poker clock right on your own television.
I was perusing the ‘new channels’ on my Roku Internet television device and
there it was; “The Poker Clock.” When I loaded the app (or channel) I found that
it was just that, …a poker clock.
You can set up a tournament for FREE for up to six players. You can edit the
blind structure, time for each level, break time etc. If you want to track more
players on the clock or include antes and such you need to pay a fee. I did not
look into how much that fee is.
It is a tight time of year financially. We can meet every bill and tax that
come heavy upon us all this time of year, and have a cushion in the savings.
Still without a clear positive cash flow, despite having plenty of seed money
put aside (won) to enter local tournaments, I hesitate to play too much poker,
though years of experience tells me I am able come out ahead money wise, at
least if I stick to tournaments of three tables or more.
In after thought, I realize I should have done much better in the Mid-States
Poker Tour tournament. I was too satisfied, relieved, at just making the bubble.
I lost my edge. I was thinking more of the game than the people I was playing
with. I made a classic mistake for me; going all-in again too early as my stack
was found lacking. Live and learn.
Coordinating my schedule with my wife can also keep me from tournaments. And
sometimes I just do not feel good about hitting a tournament on a certain night.
Like feeling good about a hand, when I feel good about going out to a tournament
on a given night I always do well.
I felt really good about a certain tournament night a few weeks ago. Then my
brother called me and wanted to go out to a movie. He lives in Indianapolis so I
don’t get to see him much. I couldn’t say no. It was $5 Tuesdays and the cinema
was packed. I missed my exit and got their late. The movie, I think all the
movies, had sold out. It says something about our economy. We did not see the
movie and I felt horrible about missing the tournament. I am thinking of telling
my brother he owes me $1,000.
Just sharing, checking in, as I have posted that I would be playing much more
this Winter but have failed to get out as much as I promised.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Monday, January 18, 2016
The Mid-States Poker Tour
Where do I begin. The event was held at the Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee; a
short drive for our home.
I had thought that this was a larger event than it was. I imagined, that if I could make the final table, I might get on television and even get some attention for my books; works of fiction not tutorials on poker. It was only a regional event and no television coverage was involved. The Mid-States Poker Tour’s website had no updates, though their Facebook page did a great job posting coverage of the event as it progressed.
It was the biggest investment I have made to date, in a poker tournament. The play was on a level I had never experienced before. The hours were the longest I had ever played. And I came away ahead.
It is difficult to remember the details of every hand, but several stand out. Late on the first day, my King-jack came up against a King-10 with two Kings on the board in an all-in. Then I knew I would be making Day 2.
I was exhausted after midnight on Day1a; Thursday night. It became increasingly difficult to play. Fortunately, I had two days to recover before Day 2. I lost three pounds on day 1a. I was invested.
These were the tightest tables I have ever played. The antes came early and I came to appreciate them, as if you get a truly good hand and cannot pick up any action your stack still benefits significantly.
I pushed, shoved, jammed, whatever word you want to use too much on day 1a. I could have milked more from my opponents if I practiced a bit of restraint. I believe the scope of the event had me a bit off balance. Without a win my seed money for future tournaments would be cut in half. If I won outright, all our debts (what we owe on our house) would be paid off in full.
One memorable hand was a small all-in against myself and two others. There was an Ace, a Jack and something on the board. One of the active players bet large, the other called. I put in a raise about five times their bet. They eventually folded… And I had to show my cards for the all-in. Two shocked expressions and mischievous smirks. I had nothing. “…What just happened here?” a dumbfounded folder repeated a few times. I hit my Queen on the river but the all-in had the ace. I still came out ahead.
Day 2, I was mid stacked (mid field amongst 155 players with the bubble at 90) but, with the growing blinds and antes, stack sizes could change quickly. Before the bubble I was dealt pocket Kings and played them without hesitation; all-in. I had one caller; a pair of 7’s. A 7 came on the flop but I made the straight on the river. My nerves settled. I had no fear of playing good cards even though the bubble had yet to be reached.
I limped in with pocket Deuces'. I responded to a minimum raise. Two Queens came on the flop. I put in a medium sized bet. I thought for a moment my opponent may go all-in. He did not. The turn came and I repeated my bet. A Deuce came on the river. I waited. I checked. He went all-in. I instant called. He hesitated for a moment to show his cards. “Full House.” a said and threw down my Deuces. He was disgusted, mucked his cards and left. “I think he had a Queen.” was consensus.
Another memorable hand was a mistake. I should not have called with my King-Jack. There were four players in the hand including an all-in. The pot was huge; the pre-flop bet about 55k. After the flop another went all-in. I paired my jack, so called. I lost the side pot to an Ace-Jack; the other all-in. The first all-in had 8’s with another eight on the flop. No one went out on that hand.
Playing that hand was a mistake, but pot was so large. More than that however, every one at the table was having a good time. We all enjoyed playing each other. It would be turning my back on a whole lot of fun not calling. Still, that over 80k in chips I lost would have been useful.
When they broke up our table everyone commented on how they enjoyed playing each other, even saying, “It would be great if we were all at the final table.” No comment was available from those who had gone bust.
There was another hand that was almost a mistake as well. I made a pre-flop raise, eight or nine times the blind, with two players in. It took a long time, but both eventually folded. One said he folded pocket 10’s, the other Ace-King. I said nothing. I had an Ace-10 and they weren’t suited. “…What just happened here?”
I made the bubble. All was good. I had some initial success after another table change. Then I was card dead for a while. I pushed with the rest of my stack too early. I could have gone another entire round. I went all-in with a Queen-Jack. I had one caller, 10’s. I knew I was out before the cards came down. I would say 95% of the time I know if I will win or lose an all-in before I see the cards. If only I could recognize that feeling before I go all-in. Even those Kings against three 7’s, …I could just feel it.
I finished 40 out of 904. Three of those who made the final table, maybe four, I was playing with on my last table. I played at tables with all but three of those who made the final table. According to Mid-States Poker Tour’s Facebook page it was the largest regional they ever had. They will be back with a $1k major in April. Perhaps I will win a satellite.
So the house has not been paid off but I am very clearly in the black in my poker adventures. The savings is growing. It is unclear how many more opportunities I will have, to get out to another tournament. I did not play even once, before this last weekend, since my last post.
If you want to get inside my head, to understand my tactics, to beat me at the next tournament, you should buy my books and read them. Otherwise, …your chips may be mine.
This experience will make me a far better poker player.
You better buy my books.
I had thought that this was a larger event than it was. I imagined, that if I could make the final table, I might get on television and even get some attention for my books; works of fiction not tutorials on poker. It was only a regional event and no television coverage was involved. The Mid-States Poker Tour’s website had no updates, though their Facebook page did a great job posting coverage of the event as it progressed.
It was the biggest investment I have made to date, in a poker tournament. The play was on a level I had never experienced before. The hours were the longest I had ever played. And I came away ahead.
It is difficult to remember the details of every hand, but several stand out. Late on the first day, my King-jack came up against a King-10 with two Kings on the board in an all-in. Then I knew I would be making Day 2.
I was exhausted after midnight on Day1a; Thursday night. It became increasingly difficult to play. Fortunately, I had two days to recover before Day 2. I lost three pounds on day 1a. I was invested.
These were the tightest tables I have ever played. The antes came early and I came to appreciate them, as if you get a truly good hand and cannot pick up any action your stack still benefits significantly.
I pushed, shoved, jammed, whatever word you want to use too much on day 1a. I could have milked more from my opponents if I practiced a bit of restraint. I believe the scope of the event had me a bit off balance. Without a win my seed money for future tournaments would be cut in half. If I won outright, all our debts (what we owe on our house) would be paid off in full.
One memorable hand was a small all-in against myself and two others. There was an Ace, a Jack and something on the board. One of the active players bet large, the other called. I put in a raise about five times their bet. They eventually folded… And I had to show my cards for the all-in. Two shocked expressions and mischievous smirks. I had nothing. “…What just happened here?” a dumbfounded folder repeated a few times. I hit my Queen on the river but the all-in had the ace. I still came out ahead.
Day 2, I was mid stacked (mid field amongst 155 players with the bubble at 90) but, with the growing blinds and antes, stack sizes could change quickly. Before the bubble I was dealt pocket Kings and played them without hesitation; all-in. I had one caller; a pair of 7’s. A 7 came on the flop but I made the straight on the river. My nerves settled. I had no fear of playing good cards even though the bubble had yet to be reached.
I limped in with pocket Deuces'. I responded to a minimum raise. Two Queens came on the flop. I put in a medium sized bet. I thought for a moment my opponent may go all-in. He did not. The turn came and I repeated my bet. A Deuce came on the river. I waited. I checked. He went all-in. I instant called. He hesitated for a moment to show his cards. “Full House.” a said and threw down my Deuces. He was disgusted, mucked his cards and left. “I think he had a Queen.” was consensus.
Another memorable hand was a mistake. I should not have called with my King-Jack. There were four players in the hand including an all-in. The pot was huge; the pre-flop bet about 55k. After the flop another went all-in. I paired my jack, so called. I lost the side pot to an Ace-Jack; the other all-in. The first all-in had 8’s with another eight on the flop. No one went out on that hand.
Playing that hand was a mistake, but pot was so large. More than that however, every one at the table was having a good time. We all enjoyed playing each other. It would be turning my back on a whole lot of fun not calling. Still, that over 80k in chips I lost would have been useful.
When they broke up our table everyone commented on how they enjoyed playing each other, even saying, “It would be great if we were all at the final table.” No comment was available from those who had gone bust.
There was another hand that was almost a mistake as well. I made a pre-flop raise, eight or nine times the blind, with two players in. It took a long time, but both eventually folded. One said he folded pocket 10’s, the other Ace-King. I said nothing. I had an Ace-10 and they weren’t suited. “…What just happened here?”
I made the bubble. All was good. I had some initial success after another table change. Then I was card dead for a while. I pushed with the rest of my stack too early. I could have gone another entire round. I went all-in with a Queen-Jack. I had one caller, 10’s. I knew I was out before the cards came down. I would say 95% of the time I know if I will win or lose an all-in before I see the cards. If only I could recognize that feeling before I go all-in. Even those Kings against three 7’s, …I could just feel it.
I finished 40 out of 904. Three of those who made the final table, maybe four, I was playing with on my last table. I played at tables with all but three of those who made the final table. According to Mid-States Poker Tour’s Facebook page it was the largest regional they ever had. They will be back with a $1k major in April. Perhaps I will win a satellite.
So the house has not been paid off but I am very clearly in the black in my poker adventures. The savings is growing. It is unclear how many more opportunities I will have, to get out to another tournament. I did not play even once, before this last weekend, since my last post.
If you want to get inside my head, to understand my tactics, to beat me at the next tournament, you should buy my books and read them. Otherwise, …your chips may be mine.
This experience will make me a far better poker player.
You better buy my books.
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