The Micros - Episode 3

Hell Yeah! New episode is out.

Conversations With Non-Poker Players

This one is great!

Poker Book

One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey ',The Kid', Ungar, The World's Greatest Poker Player

No strategy here but, a very entertaining read. It's similiar to Mike Matusow's story except Matusow cleaned up his life. Stuey Unger never got off drugs and this is what led to his demise. Unger was obviously the best poker player of his time and some say maybe the best ever. Follow his story from his upbringing of mafia like childhood to poker champion and his downfall related to drugs. He was close friends with alot of the famous poker players known today like Mike Sexton. Alot of his friends say he would have been great for poker television today because of his agressive style of play and his chatter at the tables. Check this one out definitely. One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey ',The Kid', Ungar, The World's Greatest Poker Player

First run at the $12s

I've been gettin my butt kicked at the $12s. I've been running bad too. I don't think I want to destroy my bankroll. If things don't get any better, I'll go back down to the $6.50s and work on my game before I go back to the $12s. I'll wait to see how it plays out. My bankroll has been as high as $1359 but, I'm down to $1214 right now.

The Micros

Episode 2

Definitely not as good as episode 1 but, still good.

Best Poker Websites

Look at the right hand column of my blog for my favorite poker websites. How much should you have in your bankroll to play specific limits? Want to know the best forums to learn poker strategy? Learn about rakeback. Get all the tools you need to help you win at poker. Find out what U.S. cities have poker rooms. Know the odds of poker. Get all the latest news in the poker world. Everyones favorite poker tours: WSOP and WPT. And there's more. Click on the links and explore.

Poker Book

Mike Matusow: Check-Raising the Devil
This was a really great read. You won't find much strategy here but, it's very entertaining. I had no idea Matusow went through so much. He's lead a very colorful life from a poor upbringing, drugs, jail, dealing poker, high stakes poker, and a champion many times over. I remember seeing him for the first time on a WSOP episode. It was the year Raymer won. I thought Matusow was such an asshole and I remember saying, It's like he's on drugs or something. Well, he was. He suffers from depression and other things. Basically, he self medicated himself before seeking professional help. I won't go into any more detail because I don't want to ruin a good read. Check this one out and you won't be displeased. Mike Matusow: Check-Raising the Devil

Hands Free Poker

Personally, I wouldn't buy this because it seems like my voice would give out after awhile. Also, it's a little slow and I could get alot more accomplished faster with a mouse or Xbox 360 controller. I think this is for someone who doesn't play long sessions or they have carpal tunnel syndrome and this is the only way for them to play. However, it looks really cool and would be a neat toy to have. It's an interesting idea. If you have a game controller, they have software you can purchase. Enjoy the video.

The Micros

Holiday Special

I missed this one. Not as good as the first one but, still good. The end with Erik Seidel was funny.

Poker Leaderboard

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I finished 2010 with a goal accomplished. I'm #12 on the Sharkscope Leaderboard for NLHE Turbo 9 Man $2 or less. It's only the micros but, I've always wanted a star on Sharkscope. TBH I never thought I could do something like that. I played just over 2000 tournaments at this level with a 9% ROI. I think that's good especially considereing the rake at these low levels. 20% rake for the $1s and 12.5% rake for the $2s. I'll be looking forward to the $6s because the rake is just under 9%. My bankroll is at $1051. I'm way overrolled for the $6s but, I'm working my way up the limits. Just hope the $6s treat me as well as the micros.

3 handed tough decision

Villain is a good regular. I didn't know if I should push or fold on the turn. I actually thought he was very strong when he limped. I thought about shoving pre flop but, I was worried about my instinct that he had a huge hand. Guess I should have gone with my gut. Any ideas here?

Full Tilt Poker $2 + $0.25 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t250/t500 Blinds - 3 players

Hero (BB): t5110 10.22 BBs
BTN: t3180 6.36 BBs
SB: t5210 10.42 BBs

Pre Flop: (t750) Hero is BB with 9 Q
1 fold, SB calls t250, Hero checks

Flop: (t1000) Q K T (2 players)
SB bets t750, Hero calls t750

Turn: (t2500) 6 (2 players)
SB bets t1750, Hero raises to t3860 all in, SB calls t2110

River: (t10220) T (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: t10220

Hero shows 9 Q (two pair, Queens and Tens)
SB shows A A (two pair, Aces and Tens)
SB wins t10220

SNG Grinders

This website rocks! I always wanted to sign up for one of these training sites but, just never got around to doing it. I improved my game tremendously because of SitnGoGrinders.com. There are videos to watch of some of the best online players in the world and you get to look over their shoulder to see how they play. They discuss what they're doing and why they do it.

There's a forum to post hand histories and ask questions. Regular forumers will give good advice and the instructors monitor the forum to answer any questions. If you have a question about one of the videos, post in the forum and the instructor who made the video will answer for you. That's awesome! Also, there's articles written by these top online players.

They have 11 instructors and some guest instructors too. Each instructor teaches a specific type of NL Holdem. Whatever your game, they teach it. From HU, 6, 9, 18, 45, or 180 man. Low, medium, high stakes. Turbo or Non-Turbo. They don't have an instructor that does Super Turbos. They do have one that does DONs.

I did some searching on the internet about training sites and this one fit my game the best. Other training sites concentrated on cash games or some were more well known for large MTTs. If you're looking for STT or smaller MTT instruction, this is the place for you.

I could go on and on about how great SitnGoGrinders.com is but, you'll have to find out for yourself.

SNGwiz

This is a great tool for all SNG(Sit N Go) players. The end game or short stack play is so critical in SNGs. This little device is used after you have completed a tournament and you want to review your shoves(all ins). Did I make the right shove here? Did I make the right call there? Fire up SNG Wiz and this computer program will tell you what you did right or wrong.

I've played over 4000 tournaments and I wish I knew about SNG Wiz earlier. I could have saved tons of money. Oh well. I've used it my past 2000 tournaments and my results speak for themselves. I was ranked #12 on the sharkscope leaderboard for 2010 and one of the reasons is SNG Wiz.

SNG Wiz teaches you proper ICM play. Simply put, ICM is a way of representing your equity in a tournament based on the remaining stack sizes and the payout structure. Essentially, it calculates what your chips are worth in a dollar value based on how your stack and the payouts would influence your finish on average. In practice, ICM calculations will allow you to to compare the amount risked by making a specific play to the potential reward.

If you want to learn how to shove properly, give SNG Wiz a try. You won't regret it.

Rakeback

Why do I like rakeback? Because it saves me alot of money. I play the micros and I have made over $300 more because I have rakeback. It's definitely worth it and it's nothing but a plus to have it. I'll explain how casinos use rake and how I get rakeback.

The Rake: The online poker casino where you play takes a rake for each tournament or for each pot in a cash game. If the tournament is an $11 buy in, $10 goes to the prize pool and $1 goes to the casino. For a cash game, each pot that is won, the casino takes a percentage of money from that pot. That's how the casino makes their money.

Rakeback: I play at Full Tilt and I get 27% of the rake back. It adds up especially if you play higher stakes. Most online casinos allow 30% or more Rakeback. Every Friday I see new money in my account automatically. I do nothing at all. The rakeback provider I use is called Rakeback.com. Make sure to add my name(MainEventMike) as the referral. This next sentence is important. Register for rakeback before you sign up to a new poker room.

Here's some information directly from their website:
How It Works
Getting rakeback is as easy as downloading a poker client.
We provide download links and codes to software of online poker rooms, which have rakeback added on as an extra service. You just play poker and get rake back!

1) Create New Poker Account
Select a new poker room from rakeback offers. Our tracking links ensure your new account is receiving Rakeback, but to take advantage of any bonuses - please enter the code (if applicable) when opening your new account.
2) Play Poker as Usual
Once your rakeback poker account is set up, all you need to do is play poker. You can see your daily rakeback accumulate in our online Rake Tracking service.
3) Get Rakeback and Watch Your Bankroll Grow
Rakeback is automatically paid directly to your poker account once per week or month, depending on the poker room.

Are you playing at Full Tilt and don't have Rakeback? If you have an established account at Full Tilt, go to the website listed below(As long as you signed up at Full Tilt directly through their website, you can still get rakeback).
http://www.rakebackpros.com/
***If you have any questions, leave a comment.

Vegas Trip Report

Just returned this afternoon.

2 cash game sessions: MGM $-121, Imperial Palace $+145. Ridiculous donk at the MGM. I made a stupid call on the river because I was frustrated. I knew exactly what he had. I have AK on the button make a standard raise and he calls with A2s in the BB. Pot has $21 and the flop is K and 2 hearts. He bets $10 I raise to $45, he calls???? WTF? Turn is a heart. He checks, I check. River is a K and he bets $40. I go into the tank and from his horrific earlier play, I put him on the flush. But, I still call. I guess I suck. LOL. Oh well. I was just getting ready to leave too.

I played 13 tournaments. Imagine that.

Aria: this was the blogger tournament. Over 100 players, I finished 35th. Brian finished 16th. Brian ran into some bad luck just before the final table. He got all his chips in with AA vs 99. If he won the hand, he would have a monstrous chip stack. I think you know the result of this one. He collected a few bounties and won his entry fee back. I had a big chip stack early from several average sized pots. Then, I ran into flopped quads vs my top pair A kicker and that took more than half my stack. I played the short stack for about 2-3 hours and never could get a decent stack before getting knocked out with AQ vs AK.

Caesar's Palace: played 2 of these. typical donk suckouts....end of story.

Oshea's: 10 tournaments. They gave me a free t-shirt. I think because I played so many tournaments there. I had 3 cashes. 1st, 2nd, and a 4 way chop. 2 of these tournaments there was only 5 players. The crowds were hit and miss. Definitely not as many as the summer crowds. Typical Osheas players....awful. I had some really bad beats at the wrong time. Otherwise, I would have more cashes. One crucial hand at the final table: I have about 8BBs at the time and you know the structure at Osheas. If I win this hand, I triple up and I'm a huge chip leader with 8 players left. Yes, I'm not kidding. Huge chip leader with 25BBs. LOL. UTG shoves with JJ, MP shoves with AK, and I'm in BB with KK....duh....call. Flop...AJ4....Fuck! Turn....Q. River.....T. Phew. At least I chopped the pot with the AK player. Can I have one of those crucial hands hold up? Jeez.

The last tournament I played was the 4 way chop for $210. I tried to get the table to chop at 6 people but, the chip leader, a young German dude said, "No Way." He said, in a thick German accent, "What you need to be somewhere?" I said, "No, i'm just trying to make everyone some money." Everyone agreed to chop except him so, now everyones gunning to knock out the German. Down to 5 players and young German meister is short, UTG and shoves with A4s. The big stack snap calls him with 44 and the German goes down. Everyone was quite happy to see him eliminated. Victory is sweet when an asshole gets knocked out. Overall at Osheas I was up a whopping $40.
Overall trip $-216.

It was a good trip and looking forward to see Scott play in the WSOP in July

The Micros

Episode 1

This is hilarious. Thought you guys might like this.

Desperation move

I was getting very short and had to do something. I checked SNG wiz and I actually made the right play. I came back to win this one. Sweet!

Full Tilt Poker $2 + $0.25 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t120/t240 Blinds - 6 players

UTG: t1880 7.83 BBs
MP: t3060 12.75 BBs
CO: t4930 20.54 BBs
BTN: t1080 4.50 BBs
Hero (SB): t720 3 BBs
BB: t1830 7.62 BBs

Pre Flop: (t360) Hero is SB with 7 8
3 folds, BTN raises to t1080 all in, Hero calls t600 all in, 1 fold

Flop: (t1680) 2 7 3 (2 players - 2 are all in)
Turn: (t1680) 9 (2 players - 2 are all in)
River: (t1680) J (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: t1680

BTN shows Q K (King Queen high)
Hero shows 7 8 (a pair of Sevens)
Hero wins t1680

AKs facing re raise shove from TAG

Still early and not sure if I made right decision. 1200 to call to win a 2000 pot. If I lose, I have 5BBs left. I've played some with this guy. He's a bad player but, really tight.

Full Tilt, $2 Buy-in (40/80 blinds) No Limit Hold'em Sit'n'Go, 8 Players

Hero: 1,900 (23.8 bb)
tilda88: 1,575 (19.7 bb)
Deganel: 1,410 (17.6 bb)
Aegis HK: 2,065 (25.8 bb)
Stam31: 1,260 (15.8 bb)
SBerlynas777: 2,300 (28.8 bb)
prado cash: 1,570 (19.6 bb)
KS KS KS KS: 1,420 (17.8 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A K
Stam31 folds, SBerlynas777 calls 80, 2 folds, Hero raises to 320, tilda88 raises to 1,575 and is all-in, 4 folds

Results:

Spoiler:

840 pot
tilda88 mucked and won 840 (520 net)

Finally my KK beats AA for once

I know, I know. I suck at online cash games but, I wanted to clear some of my bonus. This probably wasn't smart of me to play NL 1/2 but, I got lucky. I played some Rush Poker. Played it safe and quit when I was ahead. I could have run into some trouble if this K doesn't hit me on the flop.


Full Tilt, $1/$2 No Limit Hold'em Cash, Rush, 9 Players

skiddoo23: $272 (136 bb)
wheatrich: $449.80 (224.9 bb)
weij88: $75 (37.5 bb)
darizho: $232.05 (116 bb)
saleen58: $491.25 (245.6 bb)
Hero: $217.80 (108.9 bb)
dobieatwar: $493.20 (246.6 bb)
EnZziaN: $269.20 (134.6 bb)
dicey-mr-j: $257.10 (128.6 bb)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+2 with K K
saleen58 folds, Hero raises to $8, 5 folds, weij88 calls $7, darizho folds

Flop: ($18) T K 6 (2 players)
weij88 checks, Hero bets $12, weij88 raises to $24, Hero raises to $209.80 and is all-in, weij88 calls $43 and is all-in

Turn: ($152) 8 (2 players, 2 are all-in)
River: ($152) 2 (2 players, 2 are all-in)

Results:

Spoiler:

$152 pot ($3 rake)
Final Board: T K 6 8 2
Hero showed K K and won $149 ($74 net)
weij88 showed A A and lost (-$75 net)

SNG Suckout- ouch

Full Tilt, $2 Buy-in (250/500 blinds) No Limit Hold'em Sit'n'Go, 3 Players


Hero: 5,080 (10.2 bb)
lumpy605: 2,510 (5 bb)
popeweb: 5,910 (11.8 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A K
lumpy605 folds, popeweb raises to 1,000, Hero raises to 5,080 and is all-in, popeweb calls 4,080

Flop: (10,160) Q 2 Q (2 players, 1 is all-in)
Turn: (10,160) 3 (2 players, 1 is all-in)
River: (10,160) 8 (2 players, 1 is all-in)

Results:

Spoiler:

10,160 pot

Final Board: Q 2 Q 3 8
Hero showed A K and lost (-5,080 net)
popeweb showed A K and won 10,160 (5,080 net)