Stars roll cashed out...

Still disappointed and sad that things have come to this. Happy to be getting my funds. Still angry to be unable to grind online.
M

Limit Hold'em vs. No Limit Hold'em

I think Limit Hold'em is underrated these days.  It's a lot more fun than NLHE.   Click the link and I'll tell you why.

To limit or not to limit, that is the question

Just a few short years ago, the game of choice in Tulsa's cardrooms, and indeed the nation's, was Limit Hold'em (LHE). The games were loose, friendly, and lots of fun. While most of the poker world has transitioned to No Limit Hold'em (NLHE), there are still many loyal fans who love the post-flop play of LHE. As a professional poker player, I make most (and sometimes all) of my profit playing NLHE. But I am a die-hard LHE player. It may be more difficult to find a game nowadays, and while my hourly win rate is much lower versus NLHE, I have loads more fun in LHE games.

First week of live grinding complete ... recap and goals for week 2

I completed my first week of live grinding.
I played 6 of 7 days, posted 4 wins and 2 losses.
I played in 2 different casinos, and now know for certain which has the best games.
I played both $1/$2 NLHE and $3/$6 LHE.
Playing LHE, I lost $213.
Playing NLHE, I won $1293.
Altogether, I worked a total of 28.75 hours and won $1080. ($37.57/hr)

What I did right:
I chose games with the fewest regulars, whenever I could.
I was all in with the best hand 10 out of 13 times in heads-up pots.
I quit early on Friday night after being card dead for 2 hours and getting no respect for my preflop raises. Could have changed tables but wasn't in a positive frame of mind, so I quit.
Did not play scared.
Developed reads and went with them (was wrong only twice--that I know of).
Somehow managed to get seats directly to the left of maniacs on a regular basis.
Effectively exploited maniacs with a call-call-raise/shove line.

What I did wrong/need to work on:
I called too liberally with speculative hands OOP.
I failed to 3-bet preflop with hands that play best heads-up (i.e., AK, AQs, 88-JJ).
C-bet the turn too often after getting called on the flop.
Flatted too many c-bets (in raise/fold situations) and gave too many free cards.
Played too fit or fold without the initiative.
Betting too small on the turn and river.
Not bluffing in good spots for it.

I have a lot of non-poker projects that are going to get in the way of my felt hours next week, so I'm setting a goal of 20 hours for poker, and to move as many items as possible from the "work on" list to the "did right" list.
M

Guidelines to tipping in live poker rooms

Guidelines to tipping in live poker rooms

With many new poker players visiting Tulsa's casino poker rooms, some for the first time in a live setting, I've noticed some confusion (and a wide variety of methods) regarding what is customary when it comes to tipping dealers and cashiers. As someone who has played live poker for over five years, I thought I might share my guidelines for tipping. If you're new to the live poker scene, and unsure what a normal tip should be, perhaps this article will help.

Win streak broken -- card room PACKED!

Oh my God! The River Spirit poker room was absolutely packed tonight. Are there really that many online players in Tulsa? Judging by the size of the crowd and the amount of conversation revolving around online poker, YES there ARE!

Oh, and my win streak is busted. Was absolutely card dead. All my c-bets were called. Even with free turns & rivers, couldn't make a pair. Lost 1 buy-in over 2 hours. Decided to quit rather than rebuy and try again tomorrow.

Four out of five ain't bad, tho.
M

Still batting 1.000 -- four for four in live sessions

Went back to what I know best tonight: $3/$6 LHE at the River Spirit. Mainly just trying to get in enough hours to qualify for their WSOP freeroll in May. Finished a 4-hour session earning 7.08 BB/hr. I know this run is going to end at some point, but hopefully it won't be with a crash. Had to quit early tonight for an interview in the morning. Hope that goes well, too. Then I won't have to rely exclusively on poker for an income. Despite an average $74/hr win rate over 4 sessions, it's unrealistic to think that these results will continue without issue. I would think $40/hr would be a more realistic figure, and will use that as my yardstick for now. Would love to hear from any grinders with history at live $1/$2 NLHE tables to compare notes.
M

Why the indicted poker sites will not return to the US market

Whether or not we want to admit it, the indicted poker sites skirted the law in places.  Unless the DOJ allows a settlement without an admission of guilt, the indicted sites will not be returning to the US.

Why the indicted poker sites will not return to the US market

The bottom line is that these sites, while providing and protecting their customers with a poker room of the highest possible integrity, conducted their back-office business dealings without regard for the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, or the Anti-Money Laundering laws included in the Patriot Act of 2001. The DOJ in its press releases has made it clear that these companies are no longer welcome in the US. And just as we cannot have a convicted felon voted into public office, the US will not allow a convicted fraudster access to US banks.

Threepeat live

Made it back to the River Spirit casino tonight. Started at $1/$2 NLHE, where I doubled up while waiting for a LHE seat. Played LHE for three hours and basically broke even. When the LHE table broke at midnight, went back to NLHE, where I went broke (QQ vs 88, flop 877 and we get it AIOTF), re-buy, and then doubled through three times for a nice profit. Still need to work on my game when it comes to big calls. That being said, I did fold ATs on a 3T7r flop where I led the flop for $10 and BTN raised to $40. It was a limped pot where I was in the big blind and checked my option. BTN was a newcomer and I had no read, so I just let it go. Also folded an under-full house on the river to an overbet, meh. The players here are a bit wild and can be hard to read as a result. Pretty much all of my double-ups came from TPTK hands, though, so maybe calling an all in is the right thing to do against wilder players.

For example: I'm the button with QTo. Two limpers, HJ raises to $15, CO reraises to $50, I fold, SB calls, folds back to HJ who goes all-in for $155, CO calls, SB calls. Flop 674r. CO checks, SB goes all-in, CO calls. Turn 7, Riv 2. SB shows 62hh and wins the side pot. HJ shows KK and wins the main. Who calls $155 pre-flop with 62s?

Example #2: I'm the HJ with AQhh. 4 limpers, I raise to $12. 5 callers incl both CO and SB. Flop 244hh. I bet $25, 3 callers. Turn Ad. Checks to me, I bet $60. CO calls, SB and MP fold. River 9s. I bet $75. CO calls and shows A5o.

Still feeling my way through it all as I'm more of a LHE player and don't have much history with the NLHE crowd. Mainly just happy that I'm not playing scared and showing good results so far.

My opinion, and others', on the Black Friday charges

Online poker: the charges and argumentsLet's say that you and I decide to flip coins. Every time it lands on heads, you pay me $1. Every time it lands on tails, I pay you $1.25. While we are both gambling, you should expect to make a profit in the long run. Now let's say for integrity's sake, we hire a third person to do the flipping, at 5 cents a throw. This third person has no interest in the outcome. He's just there to make sure nobody cheats, that the game is played by the rules, the results are judged accurately, and that the victor is paid his winnings. Is this third person gambling? Is this third person operating an illegal gambling business? Well, that's the question the courts will ultimately have to answer...

UB.com and Absolute Poker follow Pokerstars' lead

The third-largest poker network suspends real-money games and withdrawals for US players.

UB suspends real money games in the US
Five days ago, on Friday, April 15, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York charged 11 online poker executives with crimes including: conspiracy to violate the UIGEA, violation of the UIGEA, operation of an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. Later that same day, online poker giants PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker suspended real money games and tournaments for all US players.

Absolute Poker suspends real money games in the US
Today, Absolute Poker has followed their lead and suspended real money cash games and tournaments in the US. The message at the left is displayed to US players who connect to the Absolute Poker poker client.