tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:41:45 +0000http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/noreply@blogger.com (Foucault)Blogger789125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-222825349501153203Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:29:00 +00002009-06-08T17:31:52.178-05:00As a first step towards a larger blog/website revamping, I'm finally moving away from the awful Ipower company that's been hosting the blog. This should be a smooth transition that doesn't result in any downtime, but nothing with them has ever gone smoothly, so we'll see. If for some reason you do have trouble accessing the blog at some point this week, no worries- it should be back up http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/06/change-is-coming.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-577742920264622764Sun, 07 Jun 2009 10:34:00 +00002009-06-07T05:35:36.257-05:00pokerNLHEloose aggressivepoker strategyrestealPoker Starshand reading3-bettournamenttable dynamicssession review4-betMaybe I haven't forgotten how to play tournaments altogether? I went into yesterdays' session resolved not to LAG off too many stacks in my tournaments, and while I didn't entirely keep that pledge, I did play a pretty disciplined game in the Stars $300. To wit: PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $300+$20 Tournament, 1250/2500 Blinds 250 Ante (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool fromhttp://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/06/final-tabled-stars-300.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-6673508350436894160Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:20:00 +00002009-06-04T21:37:49.719-05:00pokerNLHEshort-handedpoker strategybluffhand reading3-bet6-maxpot odds4-bet Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $10.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.comButton ($1000)SB ($1195.75)Hero (BB) ($2396)UTG ($1232)MP ($1679)CO ($1052)Preflop: Hero is BB with 9, 102 folds, CO bets $30, Button calls $30, SB calls $25, Hero raises to $150, CO raises to $300, 2 folds, Hero calls $150Flop: ($660) 8, J, 4 (2 players)Hero checks, CO checksTurn: ($660) 6 (2 http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/06/pot-odds.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-3959775777646586032Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:53:00 +00002009-06-04T10:37:32.119-05:00pokerNLHEwsoppoker strategyFull Tilt Pokerpoker coachingheads upMay was a solid month, though a bit bittersweet because it started off phenomenally and then took a pretty sour turn. I can't complain about the bottom line, but let's see what kind of progress I'm making on my yearly goals.Resolution One: Keep Grinding NLHE Cash GamesGoal 1: Earn $X in NLHE Cash GamesStill chugging along at not-quite-on-track-but-satisfied-nonetheless. I've played about 165K http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/06/may.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-6270496571682849961Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:29:00 +00002009-06-01T22:34:59.237-05:00pokerNLHEwsoppoker strategyGreg RaymertournamentPoker SavvyCongratulations to Poker Savvy's Dani "Ansky" Stern, who finished fourth for better than half a million dollars in the special $40K NLHE WSOP anniversary event. I'm ashamed to say that I didn't even realize he was at the final table. I'd looked at an article about the final table that didn't mention him and never looked into it any further.The field featured 201 players, including most of the http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/06/dani-ansky-stern-finishes-fourth-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-8431480815186843852Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:08:00 +00002009-06-01T12:16:51.266-05:00thin value betpokerNLHEpoker strategysemi-bluffimplied oddsdeep stacksMy latest poker strategy articles, Debunking Myths About Implied Odds, has just been published in the June 2009 issue of 2+2 Magazine. The article explores one of the most important and misunderstood concepts in big bet poker:"Calling a late position raise with a suited connector when you have the button is a good example [of implied odds that don't depend on making a strong hand]. Since the http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/06/debunking-myths-about-implied-odds.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-2262777963961127366Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:30:00 +00002009-05-31T23:48:36.883-05:00pokerriver check-raiseshort-handedpoker strategyPoker Stars3-betNLHEwsopsatellitehand readingheads uptournamentdeep stacksThere were 61 players remaining in a Poker Stars $650 satellite, and 51 seats to be won. We were already at the point where we'd be getting our buyins back. I was in like 49th or so place with 25K chips at 1250/2500 and had a nice spot for stealing. On my right were a far too tight short stack and a guy with a huge stack who was just folding virtually everything. On my left were two stacks about http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/even-good-players-suck-at-satellites.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-6710646072886504413Sat, 30 May 2009 04:32:00 +00002009-05-29T23:45:08.822-05:00pokerNLHEwsopsatellitePoker Starspoker coachingBig congratulations to my friend and former student Todd, who just won a $12K WSOP package in a Poker Stars $10 rebuy satellite. Just days after completing my inaugural group seminar, he effectively quadrupled his bankroll. Naturally I take full credit.In all seriousness, though, Todd's a bright, hungry player, and he definitely had a big score coming to him.It's been a big month for my former http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/congratulations-todd.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-6825984724800131650Fri, 29 May 2009 00:50:00 +00002009-05-28T19:54:00.014-05:00pokerNLHEpoker strategybluff3-bet6-max It's very unlikely he has a straight- I think he bets virtually every 8 on the turn, and doesn't 3-bet that many hands with 8's in them in the first place- but realistically I don't know how often I check an 8 on the turn either. Though it might be a sexy way to play something like 98 that can also catch bluffs. Cool that he folded though:PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $50.00 BB (5 handed) - http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/pretty-sure-he-ought-to-call-me-here.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-4874220549803411944Wed, 27 May 2009 20:47:00 +00002009-05-27T15:47:00.480-05:00thin value betpokerNLHEshort-handedpoker strategybluffdouble barrel3-betcontinuation betoverbet6-maxdeep stacks I know I've whined about some big pots I've lost of late, so I figured I should reassure you all that I win some big ones too. It's actually been a pretty good month. Here's the biggest one of late:Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $50.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.comButton ($10916)SB ($11889)Hero (BB) ($11684)UTG ($20794)MP ($14585)CO ($10344)Preflop: Hero is BB http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/i-do-win-big-ones-sometimes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-2652599069979732214Wed, 27 May 2009 15:11:00 +00002009-05-27T10:23:07.229-05:00pokerpoker strategypersonalThat's right! My thousands of Finnish readers will be thrilled to learn that select articles from my archive will now be available in Finnish at Pokerisvut. Currently appearing: Tuottoisia virheitä (Profitable Mistakes).I don't speak a word of Finnish, but I'm enjoying looking at Pokerisvut's news sidebar nonetheless. Between cognates and proper names, it's not too difficult to figure out what's http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/olen-julkkis-suomessa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-2322607693710289853Tue, 26 May 2009 02:34:00 +00002009-05-25T22:20:05.896-05:00pokerNLHEpoker strategybluffbook reviewsemi-bluffPLOMy One Minute Recommendation: The Pot Limit Omaha Book: Transitioning from NLHE to PLO scores a 9/10. There are probably better books for all-around poker noobs, but experienced NLHE players looking to get better at “the other big bet game” would be hard-pressed to find a better resource. The Good: Advanced tactics, high-level strategy, strong theoretical grounding, well-explained, genuinely http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/book-review-transitioning-from-nlhe-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-9188502455494600825Sun, 24 May 2009 02:24:00 +00002009-05-23T21:27:33.088-05:00pokerNLHEbluffsemi-blufffull ring I took a sort of goofy line here turning my hand into a bluff, or so I thought. He "caught" my bluff but....PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $20.00 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.comHero (Button) ($2000)SB ($1669)BB ($3229)UTG ($2000)UTG+1 ($3617)MP1 ($2000)MP2 ($9484)MP3 ($2000)CO ($2040)Preflop: Hero is Button with J, 82 folds, MP1 bets $40, 3 folds, Hero calls http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/we-both-got-outplayed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-2286532990661191180Sat, 23 May 2009 03:42:00 +00002009-05-22T22:53:45.374-05:00pokerNLHEshort-handedriver check-raisepoker strategyhand readingsemi-bluff3-betFTOPS6-maxtournamentsession reviewStandard tournament garbage. Congratulations, though, to my long-time reader and former student Diego, who made the final table! Diego, why oh why did you back out of our staking deal?!!?Obviously I'm planning a check-raise here, but given his bet sizing, I actually think I might be better off just calling: Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em Tournament, 25/50 Blinds (8 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/ftops-500-main-event.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-7697996761950740652Thu, 21 May 2009 02:01:00 +00002009-05-20T21:20:49.038-05:00pokerpoker strategyFull Tilt Pokerdouble barrel3-betFTOPSoverbetNLHEbluffhand readingsemi-bluffsqueeze playtournamentdeep stacksI was not playing very well on Saturday, and it showed through in my results. I think I'm pretty good at letting bad beats and unlucky cards roll off my back, but I have a lot more trouble getting over a session where I played badly. Obviously a few mistakes can cost me quite a good deal of money, and it can be tilting to think how much could have been saved if I'd only...Anyway, there were threehttp://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/ftops-nlhe-two-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-8922564325138991870Sat, 16 May 2009 05:27:00 +00002009-05-16T16:49:16.007-05:00pokerNLHEshort-handedwsoppoker strategysatelliterestealPoker Starshand readingsqueeze play3-bettournamentPlayed the 1K WSOP satellite on Stars tonight. There were 21 runners, meaning 2 seats and a lot of cash paid out. I came into the final table in second place, and had the lead by the time we got down to 5. I was running roughshod over everyone, and with four left I had as many chips as the other three combined. I definitely felt I was the strongest of the remaining players, but there were two http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/1k-wsop-satellite.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-3495324053144147124Thu, 14 May 2009 16:57:00 +00002009-05-14T11:57:00.369-05:00pokerNLHEshort-handedwsoppoker strategyPeter EastgatePoker Starssqueeze play3-betoverbet6-max Yesterday, PeteEastgate was sitting at something like 8 25/50 tables on Stars. After confirming that this was the actual 2009 WSOP Champion and not some clever shark impersonating a tourney donk, I hopped on a few of the tables to try my luck. It was indeed trying:PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $50.00 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.comSB ($5122)BB ($7944)UTG (http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/gross-spot-vs-peter-eastgate.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-3897518493103157693Thu, 14 May 2009 04:33:00 +00002009-05-13T23:36:57.415-05:00pokerNLHEFull Tilt Poker3-betFTOPS6-maxtournament4-betI lasted no more than 15 minutes in this tournament and got 3-bet no fewer than four times. The final time, I raised 44 in the SB, shoved over a 3-bet from the BB, and lost the flip to AQ.Poker Savvy's Dani "Ansky" Stern final tabled this one, but he finished a somewhat disappointing sixth. Still, nice finish!http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/ftops-event-13-300-nlhe-6-max-quad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-3394158313314000514Wed, 13 May 2009 01:10:00 +00002009-05-12T20:30:53.384-05:00pokerNLHEpoker strategybluffhand readingPLO8double barrelFTOPStournamentsession reviewI always look forward to the PLO8 events, but I couldn't get anything going. The opposition was beyond awful:Full Tilt Poker Game #12159019788: FTOPS Event #11 (84242375), Table 41 - 20/40 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 14:20:39 ET - 2009/05/11Seat 1: babbelz (1,028)Seat 2: Sensor (8,220)Seat 3: dav713 (4,859)Seat 4: ayyaahh91 (4,755)Seat 5: nrock23 (7,886)Seat 6: thegrizz1111 (3,986)Seat 7: Greengoz (http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/ftops-event-11-200-plo8.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-7110219489973184275Sun, 10 May 2009 22:50:00 +00002009-05-10T17:52:16.755-05:00pokerNLHEshort-handedpoker strategyFTOPS6-maxtournamentI donked my way out of this one with a quickness, lost my ass with QQ on a 972 board with two clubs. Worse, it was to a guy who'd previously called KJ on a J74 flop, potted the turn when I checked to him, then made a half pot bet on the river (I had KJ also). Thing is, although he was kinda overvaluing top pair, he didn't raise it on the flop. So when he did raise the 972, I probably shouldn't http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/ftops-event-1-200-6-max.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-61043949410972465Wed, 06 May 2009 15:26:00 +00002009-05-06T11:41:06.397-05:00pot controlpokerloose aggressivepoker strategyfloatdouble barrel3-bet4-betbet sizingmetagameNLHEbluffhand readingsemi-bluffdonk betheads upsession reviewdeep stacksI was about halfway through last night's session, and a lot of the 6-max games I was in were kinda bad. I was at the end of a few long waiting lists, but mostly there just weren't many good games going at the time.I'd been sitting alone, waiting for action as usual, at a few heads up tables. Really wanting to play some heads up, I got aggressive and tried to sit with a few people who were http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/exhausing-heads-up-match.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-449717666433023115Tue, 05 May 2009 14:13:00 +00002009-05-05T09:55:09.881-05:00pokerNLHEpoker strategypoker bookspersonalbook reviewSteve CyrPoker StarsThe Wireheads uptournamentPoker SavvyI won and lost a lot of money in April. I finished the month with a decent though not spectacular bottom line, but given what I spent on tournament buy-ins (thank you very much, SCOOP), I'm impressed that I was up at all.Resolution One: Keep Grinding NLHE Cash GamesGoal 1: Earn $X in NLHE Cash GamesGetting very close (to being on track, that is). If I can maintain this rate for the rest of the http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/april.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-763620300178346290Mon, 04 May 2009 04:23:00 +00002009-05-03T23:31:22.920-05:00pokerNLHEpoker strategyFull Tilt Pokertournamentbad beatGod I hate fucking tournaments. Been playing since 4:30, made it deep in yet another Sunday tournament, and out to another bad beat. Granted, it was a pretty thin spot, but that makes it only moderately less annoying. I had about 12 BB's, and action folded to a pretty successful Pocket Fiver in the SB. He open shoved into my K7.A good tournament player, especially a P5'er, especially a guy who http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/61st-in-ftp-750k.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-2592795567225612217Sat, 02 May 2009 16:18:00 +00002009-05-02T11:29:49.721-05:00pokerNLHEloose aggressivepoker strategyhand readingsemi-bluffsqueeze play3-betfull ringdeep stacks ...because I am a little girl:PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $50.00 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.comMP2 ($7241)CO ($5985)Button ($925)Hero (SB) ($15829)BB ($12367)UTG ($6770)UTG+1 ($5322)MP1 ($8295.50)Preflop: Hero is SB with 8, 83 folds, MP2 bets $100, 2 folds, Hero raises to $400, BB calls $350, MP2 calls $300Flop: ($1200) 6, 5, 4 (3 players)Hero bets $789, http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/time-to-go-shopping-for-skirts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374791875645163142.post-4362641553930702724Fri, 01 May 2009 15:44:00 +00002009-05-01T10:48:40.246-05:00pokerpoker strategyhand readingTwo Plus TwoMy latest poker strategy article, Hand Reading Made Simple, is now appearing in the May 2009 edition of 2+2 Magazine:The basic idea behind this simplified hand reading technique is not to put an opponent on an exact hand or two-card combination but rather to narrow his range down to one or two of three broad categories: Monster hands- These are the hands where your opponent wants to play a bighttp://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/2009/05/hand-reading-made-simple.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Foucault)1