So, i’ve about figured myself out. I go into a game hard, lose my money, learning a bit about the players, before tightening up. Knowing this, i’ve tightened up earlier in the game and i’ve begun to reverse my losses online. It is really clear to me that i am much more impulse and out of control online. Knowing this, i must adjust or give up the game. So far, adjusting is proving to be a success.

Tip of Month: The Short Stack

Well this may not be a regular feature, but periodically I’ll share a tip that ranges on the blatenly obvious. Today’s Tip: Go after the Short Stack. In tournaments, that’s pretty much the rule, but i’ve found that in cash/ring/side games, that the guy with the short stack, likely got the short stack by being a lousy player. Yesterday, I worked that information like magic, to help a couple of guys reduce their stack to 0.

This isn’t fool proof, but remember to watch the action so you can find the guys who are trash cards and fishing for hand.

By now you must be totally wowed by my use of language! Yes, whether it’s French, German, or even Japanese, i can find a word, sometimes 2, to make it seem as if i do more than sit in front of the computer all day! LOL

So, i continue to talk about the lousy play i’m exhibiting at the online tables. I realized that anyone reading this might want to get a piece of my stack by looking for me online. Well i’ve been playing at Party Poker and the increasing popular Aloha Poker, so if you see me, say hello as you take my money!

This Software Is Rigged: and other rants!

So the two most common outburst seen/heard at the online poker table, is 1) the guy you just beat calling you a moron and 2) the guy who’s AA pocket pair just lost yelling “this software is rigged”! In both cases, the guy making the comment probably isn’t qualified to make reach the conclusion.

The flaw in the in the rigged software scenario is the motive. Why would a poker room, that keeps a rake off every real money game need to cheat? With operators like Party Poker sporting revenues approaching $1 billion, via poker rake, what need or incentive would the operator have for risking their business with “rigged” software. People who distrust any online gaming business, seem to forget that all casino games have a built-in edge/commission/profit for the house, so there is plenty of money to be made, without any cheating.

The reason that so many people seem to draw out a win with a crappy hand, is that so many people play crappy hands that you normally do see make it to a showdown. i think someone is less likely to hard play a suited 3-9 at a casino, either out of fear of embarrassment or not being able to keep a strait face. Either way, i think the online bad beats and miracle hands are a function of too many people playing too many hands.

Well i hate to admit, that I, the 1250 ish(and dropping) top pro player (according to http://www.pokerpages.com/ LOL) have been losing at online ring games. Yes, i can’t seem to play a good game online, without tilting and losing my game stake. No, this is not to say that I don’t ever go up while playing. In fact, i usually start out by winning some hands, increasing my stack by 50% to 100%, then I lose discipline and lose my winnings - plus the original stack, before cursing a bit and shutting the game down.

Is this the Poker version of the Yips? Is this like my golf game, where I inevitably start out well, lose focus, discipline and fall apart in the 2nd half of the game?

Well, I for one think it is. All tasks that require thought/focus can be effected by the player’s mental focus and discipline. The difference between Tiger Woods and the also rans, is his consistency. And when Tiger loses focus, even his game can stink.

What is the solution to this Yips/Choke problem that i’m having? Well for playing online it’s all about keeping focused. Since i have a short attention span, I will beginning limit my play at ring games to 30, 45 and 60 minute sessions and compare my results.

Remember, if you aren’t playing as well as you can or should, then don’t just whine, do some research to figure out the problem and a possible solution.

Yes I owe any readers out there an apology for waiting a couple of weeks to wrap up my tournament experiences, thoughts and comments. I’ve been busy playing poker online, several hours a day (and doing quite poorly).

In an effort to make this easier on me and maybe quicker for you, i use the ever popular TOP list:

Top 5 Tournament Tips

1. Dress Comfortable, layers, bring drink, snack, entertainment, etc.
2. Play some live cash games or tournaments to reduce your nervous engery.
3. Plan on having short breaks infrequently - seat, do your lavatory planning with that in mind.
4. Be polite, friendly, but don’t push the quiet guys to speak, they’re quiet because they want to be, just like you want to talk.
5. Play slowly, you can’t win on the first day (of a multi-day event), but most people will lose on the first day.

Top 5 Cruise Highlights

1. Card Player Cruises largest poker room at sea.
2. A veranda cabin, especially if you smoke.
3. Grand Cayman, what a vibrant place, with a beautiful bay for diving/snorkelling
4. The Spa - buy the packages when you board, don’t wait till the last 2 days to check out.
5. Getting off the ship and heading home. Even a great trip needs to end.

So, I’ve played my first big, multi-day tournament and finished in the money. I’m one of the top players in the world according to Poker Pages. Don’t believe it! Playing a tournament like this is a bit stressfull, especially the first time you play. Once you get over your nerves, you’ll find a tournament is like any other event that brings strangers together. Most people look to find a “group” inside of the crowd to hang out with. Poker players are of all sorts, some loud, some quiet, some smokers, some drinkers and unfortunately some dickheads. In general, you’ll find most people are pleasant. The first group people find is the Smokers group, which when i’m gambling, i’m usually part of. On the cruise i met a lot of Danes, Americans, plus some Canadians and Swedes, everyone was friendly and trying to have a good time.

Top 5 Cruise Tips

1. Remember that card you hand the bartender is attached to your credit card
2. Check BEFORE you pack if there is really a formal night, we had 1 “optional” formal night. Didn’t need the suit.
3. Don’t forget just because it’s winter and cold at home, it’s sunny in tropics and sunscreen costs $10 on the ship
4. Don’t plan on using the internet, the ship has service, which cost 50 cents a minute and is slower than the worst dial-up speed you can imagine.
5. If you need to be in contact with land, by phone, rent a satellite phone. Ship to Shore Phone is about $15 a minute.