The Poker Clock

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.