More Good News for Online Poker

In the wake of last year’s legislation, there was some concern that Harrah’s would not accept internet qualifiers into the World Series of Poker this year. Then again, this has apparently technically been their policy for a long time, and the sites have simply had some third party pay the … Read full post

Good News for Online Poker

First, it sounds like Full Tilt will once again be able to offer withdrawal by check to its US customers. According to FTPSean, their rep on the 2+2 message boards,

“Starting this week, our check service will be upgraded in the following ways:

* Checks delivered by regular mail should … Read full post

Another Disappointing Saturday

I know I said I wasn’t going to use the blog to whine about stuff, but I’m making an exception, you’ll see why. The last few Saturdays I’ve either been out of town or had Boston Debate League obligations, so this was the first time in like a month that … Read full post

Poker Night

My friend Logan is a third-year law student at Harvard and hosts a poker game most Wednesday nights. This is the third year he’s had it, and it’s evolution has been interesting. Three years ago, it was a $.25/$.50 Pot Limit Hold ‘Em game with a $25 buy-in. I remember … Read full post

Poker and Emotion

After my most recent post about trying to limit the influence that day-to-day poker swings have on my mood and emotional state, I found two interesting comments on the blogs of other poker players. The first is from Curtains:

“Probably the true key is to stop getting happy when … Read full post

A Vegas Vacation With No Poker

I’m just back from a week out West with Emily. Though we flew in and out of Vegas and stayed there Friday night, I didn’t end up playing any poker. Mostly we were there hiking, enjoying some warm weather (while Boston was getting nailed with the worst they’ve had all … Read full post

Public Debates Part Three: Faneuil Hall

I wake early on Saturday morning in order to get to Faneuil Hall by 8:45. The event doesn’t start until 11, but I’ve arranged for the debaters to come in early in order to work with some volunteers who will help them “put finishing touches” on their presentations. This is … Read full post

Public Debates Part One: South Boston

Some quick background for those who don’t know this already: I was a nationally competitive debater in high school and college. In a lot of ways, I credit debate for making me the person I am now: confident, smart, socially conscious, well-read, and ethical. Debate helped me in school and … Read full post

EPT Barcelona 2006 Day 5

No Vendar Flores

I didn’t get to bed until 4AM last night, but I suck at sleeping in and wake around 9. For once there is no rain, and I am really not bummed about busting on day 1 of the tournament, since I now have two more days to … Read full post

EPT Barcelona 2006 Day 4

I show up early at the casino to make sure I have time to register, and who should be next to me in line but Yurian? We’ve got time to kill, so we get lunch along the waterfront. I let him choose the place, and he selects what is essentially … Read full post

EPT Barcelona 2006 Day 3

Once again I awake to pouring rain, but yesterday the precipitation tapered off by mid-afternoon, so I don’t stress about it and just go downstairs to see what our free breakfast buffet looks like. My understanding was that the continental breakfast you get at an American hotel (coffee, juice, pre-packaged … Read full post

EPT Barcelona 2006 Day 2

The Rain in Spain

When I wake up, it is morning, and we are about to land in Barcelona. I meet up with 10K-in-Clay, whose real name is Dan, and his girlfriend, Danielle (Dan and Danielle… cute, but maybe a little too cute). Dan is a 19-year old Canadian about … Read full post

EPT Barcelona 2006 Day 1

I take a short flight from Boston to Philadelphia, then a long one from Philadelphia to Barcelona. 2p2’er 10K-in-Clay is on this flight and has told me I should be able to recognize him because he’ll be with his purple-haired girlfriend. I introduce myself briefly, agree to split a cab … Read full post

EPT Barcelona 2006 Prologue

I qualified for EPT Barcelona largely by chance. After having a great time and cashing at the WSOP, I had the desire to play more big live tournaments and the bankroll to take some shots at them. Unfortunately Poker Stars runs most of their satellites on weekends, and I rarely … Read full post

WSOP 2006 Day 4

I get back to my room about 2AM Friday night, exhausted from another long day of poker, but there are no more days off, and I need to be in my seat at the Rio and ready to play at noon on Saturday. I wake at 9AM, head down to … Read full post

WSOP 2006 Day 3

About 1150 players begin play today, and 873 will win a prize. Obviously no one wants to finish 874th, and so an interesting dynamic will develop: some players, especially those with the fewest chips, will tighten up considerably, passing up even rather favorable opportunities for fear of going home empty-handed. … Read full post

WSOP 2006 Day 2

Thursday night I’ve got a meet-up with a contingent of online poker players with whom I regularly discuss poker strategy. This is my first time meeting most of them in person, and it was a blast. Unfortunately, I had pre-paid $55 for the event, which was to include entree (salad, … Read full post

WSOP 2006 Day 1

Thursday night, after having dinner with my father and brother, who have come out to support me for a few days, at their hotel, the Stratosphere Towers, I took a cab back to the Monte Carlo. It is only 8PM, but I need to get an early start in the … Read full post

WSOP 2006 Prologue

As most of you know already, I’m playing in the main event of the World Series of Poker this week in Las Vegas. A lot of people have asked me to keep them updated about how I’m doing, so I thought a series of e-mails would be the best way … Read full post

How I Became a Poker Player

Learning the rules of poker is actually one of my clearest early memories, and I have no idea why, because I don’t think I was especially interested at the time, and I know I promptly forgot them. But I distinctly recall sitting on the hardwood floor of a Baltimore row … Read full post

Ten Ways to Improve Your Bubble Play

Why are tournaments so profitable for a smart poker player? It’s because you are always getting a giant overlay. In a 180-man Stars tourney, for instance, you are competing against no more than 100 opponents, and quite often less. In other words, there are at most 100 other players trying … Read full post

Profitable Situations

Introduction

How much would you pay for a program that allowed you to see your opponents’ hole cards? Wouldn’t it be even better if you had a program that gave your opponents whatever hole cards you wanted them to have? And if you had such a program, you wouldn’t just … Read full post

Introduction

One of my major goals for 2007 is to get my life in order. I’ve been a semi-professional poker player for about two years now, and the game has been very good to me, but it’s not what I want to do with my life. I still haven’t figured out … Read full post