Moms' ghost or TV on the blink....

I got up at 4 am yesterday to get ready for work, turned on my lappy and went to get my coffee. When I got back to my room, my tv was on. Since I was still half asleep, I figured I had turned it on. So, I turned it off, took my coffee outside to have a smoke and when I came back in the tv was on again!?! No one else was awake so it had come on by itself. I have never used the sleep timer so I knew it wasnt preset to come on. While I busied myself getting ready, it came on again. Totally freaked me out lol. So I set up my video camera and recorded it, thinking moms ghost "old jeff" was playing tricks on me. It turned on once again and there was a white image on my video camera screen with a diagonal (not vertical) line going thru it, but looking directly at the tv the screen was solid blue. I'm not saying all this because I think it was "old jeff" but I've never seen a tv go out like that, turning on and off all by itself.

Never Too Old....

I received my first lesson module today. I am now studying to be a medical transcriptionist. I am really excited about this and can't wait to get started. It will be a new adventure as well as new career. Which means my poker exploits will take back burner now lol, but I'll still be donking on the tables now and again. Until next time......

My day..........

Spent most of the afternoon watching English Premiere Soccer. My favorite team is Sunderland altho I like to watch all of them.

I almost forgot to get my lottery tickets for tonight, phew lol. The powerball is now at a whopping 213 mil. I would gladly split it with 5 or 6 people.....I'm not greedy ;p

Change

It's been 2 years of constant change, since I last posted. My BF from work, sent me this graphic as a reminder to keep going forward. Personally, change scares me, the familiar is so much easier to deal with I suppose.

I am still playing online poker and recently started playing alot on pokerstars. My username is mimi2mik if you want to catch me on the tables. I am currently trying to rebuild my account by using my accumulated points in freerolls.

I have decided to try and keep this blog current, but it won't necessarily be all about poker. Thanks for dropping by...........

KQs Rock!

Ok,so I haven't posted recently.Actually,I've posted twice,then deleted them.I was going through some personal problems,and said problems surfaced in those posts.Since I really have no desire to be seen as a cry baby...I deleted them.lol.

Things are going well in our Poker.com forum league.YAY! We are currently in 1st place,and intend to keep it that way.Congrats to my teammates for an awesome performance in last nights games.Woot!

Sound Off America !

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, is sending a few bills back to Congress to have them "revisited". Among those bills being "revisited" is... the Port Security Bill that Senator Fisk used to attach the Internet Gambling Bill to...and got it passed. Please voice your objections regarding this bill and how it was passed... Her email addy is: AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov It is imperative that we all send an email to her voicing our objections to the gaming bill. Send this to your friends, your enemies and anyone you know who was directly or indirectly affected.

U.S.A. Players !

Welcome to OK USA Poker!

OK USA Poker is here to defend your rights to play online poker. As you may already know, the US congress has recently taken action to try and prevent Americans from playing online poker. The manner it which it was taken has millions of Americans outraged. We are donating 50% of our profits to help in the fight to protect online poker! So, when you play here, you will be helping the cause and helping to keep the ability to play online poker. Enjoy!

The Staff of OK USA Poker

OK USA Poker is pleased to announce our “no-fixed-expiry” 100% Initial Signup Bonus Program. Deposit money at OK USA Poker for the first time, and we will match that value into your Bonus Account. Just by having fun and playing Poker, you will be meeting the Release Criteria and be receiving deposits of $20 in to your Cash Account.
How does it work?
OK USA Poker will match 100% of your initial deposit and award you up to $500 Bonus Dollars. These Bonus Dollars will be automatically released to your Cash Account in increments of $20 for every 200 OK Points you collect.

What makes the Bonus so special?
There is no fixed expiry date. You are given 30 days to complete a $20 increment. That is: You have 30 days to clear your first $20 increment. Once you do this, the clock is reset and you again have 30 days to clear your next $20 increment, and so on. So please take your time and enjoy the site.
How do I earn OK Points?
1 point is awarded for each hand you play, where the minimum rake is $0.50.
1 point is awarded for each $1 in Tournament Fee.
Conditions?
Minimum deposit is $50. Maximum Bonus match is $500. Each $20 increment must be collected within 30 days of each other – meaning, once you collect a $20 increment, you have 30 days to collect the next $20 increment. This will continue until (i) you have exhausted your Bonus Credit, or (ii) 30 days has elapsed without collecting a $20 increment.


Just click that banner and use bonus code "gunner" for a 200% initial deposit bonus !

I'm still here...

Well it's been a little while since I've posted on my blog. Haven't had a whole lot to say about poker,since I was going through this incredibly aggravating time of trying to deposit.
Which brings up the subject of the assinine law that is now in effect in the USA.As far as I'm concerned,it was just another example of special interest groups,getting their way,and the rest of us got screwed.Enough about that.

I have a wonderful friend who helped me with my depositing dilemma,and am now happily playing my tournys once again.Take that Bill Frist!

Season 11 of the poker.com forum League,will be underway soon,and my team The KingQuistadors have two new members. Welcome to Gene1047 and Hearts26! Looking forward to a fantastic new season, with the best damn team around.

See you at the tables and good luck!

The State of Poker : from the PPA

The State of Poker
By Michael Bolcerek, president, Poker Players Alliance

Tonight, in an annual tradition, the President of the United States will address the Congress, his cabinet and our country on the “state of the union” and the goals of the government for 2007. It is not likely the president will include the “state of poker” among his crucial national issues. Thus, I would like to take this moment to provide an update on where poker sits today and examine how you and the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) can continue to work together to preserve and protect the game we love.

As we know painfully well, poker has come under vicious attack over the past year. We continue to learn on a regular basis about home and tavern poker games being raided by law enforcement and how charitable Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments are being shut down. Perhaps even worse, we have seen the federal government’s full force efforts to curb this American tradition from the Internet. Legislation aimed at prohibiting you from funding your online poker accounts passed the U.S. House this summer, then was quietly slipped into a port security bill, literally in the dark of night, which was signed into law on October 13. During these troubling times, the PPA has given you a voice to express your opposition to the government’s intrusive actions and to rally in a united fashion against these constitutional incursions.

The impact has been jarring, as the largest, publicly traded online poker operators shut down services to U.S. players. While many reputable sites still offer services to U.S. players, recent actions to close down payment processors and to subpoena banks are clear indications that the federal government is aggressively pushing the online gambling prohibition.

We don’t have to tell you that a prohibition won’t work, and in fact will likely cause many more problems than it aims to solve. The unintended consequences will soon be apparent and all the good intentions of protecting children, helping problem gamblers, and ensuring the integrity of financial transactions will be lost as rogue sites and unregulated payment methodologies surface to replace the trustworthy operators the government is driving out of business.

The PPA is not standing idly by. Poker should be exempt under the new law and that exemption is our primary goal. I have spent a good portion of January in Washington, D.C., meeting with lawmakers and others to get support for legislation that would provide a “skill game” exemption for poker. We hope to have a bill introduced very soon and then bring to bear the voice of more than 135,000 members of the PPA to push Congress to do the right thing. This would be a very positive development for the game. For the past year, we have been on the defensive, but now is the time to go on the offensive and get a bill introduced.

This year we will also be taking the issue directly to Members of Congress in their home districts, to truly nationalize the debate. We had a tremendous response from our members about becoming PPA grassroots representatives on the state and regional levels. Soon we will be announcing our positions across the country and engaging U.S. Representatives and Senators where they used to feel safe from facts and spirited debate.

While we are working toward the short-term goal of a poker exemption, the PPA will also be laying the foundation for the eventual U.S. regulation of online poker. This is the only proven public policy for online gaming. Licensing, regulating, and taxing online poker is technically feasible and the sensible and fiscally responsible thing to do. We will be working with others in Washington to move Congress in this direction.

Finally, we not only rely on your active participation but also on your active support to achieve our goals. Our new site now offers no cost introductory annual memberships. Please help us build our membership to enable us to deliver a full house to Congress and stop further threats to our game. Tell your friends, family, and fellow players to become members of the PPA. We also offer an ability to upgrade your membership from introductory to full membership and beyond. Our new and improved Web site, www.pokerplayersalliance.org, gives you tools and information to help our cause, as well as make it easier for you to donate to the PPA. I hope you will make a contribution at http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/donatenow.php.

2007 will be an important year for poker. With your help and continued support we are optimistic that poker will remain a great American tradition.

U.S. Cracking down on Banks ?

HSBC, Dresdner Kleinwort, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank are among the banks which have been issued with subpoenas in a shock and owe crackdown on online gambling investors by the US DoJ.

THE US Department of Justice has ordered the world’s biggest investment banks, accountants and law firms to hand over all e-mails, telephone records and papers connected with internet gaming firms as part of an investigation into illegal online gambling in America, the Sunday Times reports.

According to Jenny Davie of the Sunday Times the subpoenas do not reveal whom the Department of Justice is targeting. But some believe the ultimate goal is to find information incriminating the founders of the online gambling firms.
This investigation is likely to ignite a confrontation of unparalleled magnitude between the United States and the United Kingdom governments.
"The Department of Justice has taken a shotgun, not a rifle approach in relation to lots of gaming companies and has just asked everyone to hand over all the information they have.” A source of the Sunday Times said.
All investors in publicly traded online gaming companies may be affected by this investigation, described as one of the biggest “fishing expeditions” ever undertaken by the Department of Justice.
The United Kingdom government is unlikely to seat by the sidelines and watch the Americans chase and arrest investors in the attempt to seize their assets.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which seemingly sparked this investigation, contains exceptions which make it void and null in any international Court of Justice outside the U.S.
Exceptions such as interstate horse racing online betting and intrastate online gambling among others will contribute to repeal future money laundering charges, the U.S. DoJ preferred legal shortcut to obtain extradition of non U.S. citizens from other sovereign countries.
Interestingly enough the IRS allows illegal bookmakers to file their tax return imposing a 2% flat tax on the bookmaker’s handle (business volume) and guarantees that no information will be disclosed to other government agencies, making the U.S. government beneficiary of illegal proceeds and direct accomplice of the laundering of monetary instruments upon acceptance of taxes.
“The U.S. Department of Justice recent determination to catch up after 15 years of inaction should draw everyone’s attention.” A well known bookmaker who wishes not to be named told TheOnlineWire.com. “What they are doing is directly linked to the exceptions contained in HR 4411 [The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act]. They [U.S. Department of Justice] are probably preparing the grounds for an onshore online gambling monopoly, making sure that no one other than the ones who originally lobbied for the exceptions will benefit from it.”
“Think about it, the DoJ resources aren’t unlimited.” Our source continued. “It takes someone very powerful to sponsor, promote and ensure that such wide range investigation gets off the ground.”
Needless to say current and former investors in publicly traded online gambling companies should not travel to the United States at any time and for no reason whatsoever to avoid possible legal consequences that may range from questioning to arrest.
Current and former investors should also be warned that the United States government may seek seizure of their assets in the United States.

So close...

I finished 18th in the 1000 freeroll last night. I am happy with the way I played,but disappointed I didn't make at least final table.I was getting great hands,and then nothing.With the blinds up to 4000/8000,I pushed 12K in with 99.I got called and lost to 10 10.Ouch!Would've rather lost to AA or KK...lol.

I think I need to take my friend Nokys' advice and shoot for higher buyins.I'm doing ok with winnings,but not really building the bank I want.To be continued...

Thought my streak was over....

but I was wrong.Phew!Sunday was a good day with league MTT and the Ladies tournament,but,the rest of the week looked bleak.Lost alot of my bankroll,with tourny buy-ins and trying my luck in the new 5 card draw.Yesterday was a good day both in tourneys and at the cash tables.I placed 2nd in a $200 freezeout(rivered or may have taken 1st) and I finished 4th in the $3 NLHE.

Season 10...

of the forum team league is under way.Saturday was the first MTT,and KQ's(my team)did great. I came back from last to finsh second,and my teammate carz990 took 1st.

Didn't do well in Sundays' SnG tho.We are in 2nd place at the moment.Scores are pretty tight,so will have to play our best game,to push out in front.

If this something you'd be interested in,check out Poker.com and the Poker.com forum,and join in the fun.

Another Win....

in the $3 Freezeout.Woot!

Interview With Jennifer Harman

Interview With Jennifer Harman

By Steve Marzolf

Jennifer Harman has clinched two WSOP bracelets and despite her penchant for high-limit cash games, won more than $1.5 million in tournament play. Besides donning a Full Tilt jersey and writing a chapter in Super System 2, Harman tries to keep her free time free, but she parted with some of it to tell us about tough swings, the Corporation, and her fight with kidney disease.
Jennifer Harman

You grew up playing poker, so were you a total shark by the time you were in high school?

"No. I wasn’t. When I started going into casinos and playing when I was 16, I felt like I knew nothing. It was a real reality check because everybody was so much better than me. I had a fake ID, but actually, I never got carded. Isn’t that weird? I don’t know if I was winning for the first two years or not – I probably wasn’t. It takes a little while to learn those games."

Any wild tales of underage casino hopping?

"Not really. I remember one of my very first hands I played in texas holdem. Before I went to play in a casino, I went and watched one of my father’s friends play. I watched him for about two hours, sitting behind him, and I thought, ‘I can do this. I can play this game.’ So, the next day I was going to go down and play, but I had an eye doctor appointment first. I got to the casino, and my eyes were all dilated. We were playing seven-card stud, and I couldn’t even see the up-cards because my eyes were so dilated – everything was so blurry. Here’s my first time playing in a casino, and I can’t even see the cards."

So, did you essentially become a pro the day you turned 21?

"Not really. I had no plans to become a professional poker player. I wanted to move out of Reno, and I decided to go to L.A. and got a job as a bartender at this Japanese hotel downtown. I was working there for about three days, and I ran into a friend from Reno at the grocery store in L.A. He told me I had to go down to the Bicycle Club and play poker because these games were amazing. I went down there and immediately quit my job after five days and started playing poker. But, I never thought it about as my profession. I was just having fun playing poker and I would get a job later."

Was there a point where you did feel like a pro?

"Yeah, but it was years later – like 10 years. I was just having fun; that’s not a job. I was in L.A. for about two years; then I went to Maryland. I gave up poker for a year, started a business and went broke. So, I had to come back and play poker because I was in debt. I’d never been in debt in my life, so I borrowed some money and came to Las Vegas. I might get yelled at for this statement, but I feel like all players have to go through Las Vegas to become great players because it has the toughest competitors. That’s where you get your learning experience. I may be wrong, but that’s my opinion."

You’re also known as a cash game player, where most pros rarely play them and mostly play tournaments. Why do you stick with them?

"Cash games are what poker’s all about. To be a professional poker player means freedom, and that’s what cash games are – they give you that freedom. You don’t have to set your alarm, and you play when you want. You go on vacations when you want, and that’s the ultimate freedom. Whereas tournaments, you do have to set your alarm and take your dinner breaks and go back and do it again the next day."

What are the tradeoffs between tournaments and cash games?

"Tournaments vs. cash games … Tournaments can change people’s lives. They can win a big pay day, and their life is changed forever – tournaments are over $1 million for first place. It’s a small buy-in compared to the prize pool."

Tell us about the $4,000-$8,000 game at the Bellagio – that’s one of your regulars, right?

"Yeah. It’s way too high. It’s a big game; a lot of great players play in it. You always have to be on top of things and focused. I played until 5:30 this morning, although the game started at 10, so it’s not that bad. Everybody’s yawning, but they’re still on top of their game. You always have to be focused and read every player. It’s a very mental game, and it can be exhausting. But, it’s so competitive that it’s a rush when you play well or bluff players whose greatest strengths are reading players. Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negrenu – they all play it."

You said the limit is too high, how so?

"You see people lose a lot of money, and it can be painful. I’m sensitive. Sometimes it hurts you too when you see somebody lose that kind of money. And, it really hurts when you lose that kind of money. You just have to be really detached from money and think of it as chips. You have to have a lot of confidence to take those kinds of swings. I’ve lost $450,000 in one session and I’ve won about $470,000."

That’s like half a million in one night...

"You just try not to think about it. Please don’t say that: ‘half a million.’ That’s just one of the challenges. You can’t be attached to the money. You need a pretty big bankroll to play that game; I’m probably the poorest player at the table. If someone’s taking a shot, they could do it with half a million. If you’re ready to play non-stop … it just depends what you feel comfortable with. Some people would do it with $1 million and a half, others would need $5 million. It all depends."

What’s the deal with the Corporation and Andy Beal?

"Andy first came to town five or six years ago. He wanted to play $10,000-$20,000 at first, and nobody felt like they could afford him. And, he likes to play heads-up because he can play more hands; he got bored in ring games. So, we decided in order to make it fair for everybody, that we’d pool our money, have one person play him and take pieces of him. And, the Corporation has grown – from seven players to around 20. When we find out Andy’s coming to town, everybody has to post up and have their money there. If people are in Europe, they’ll make arrangements to get money to the Bellagio. It makes it a little chaotic for people when he comes to town. The bankroll depends on the stakes we’re playing and how much we decide to raise. The limits got up to $100,000-$200,000, but we only played that once."

You’re a two-time WSOP event champ – what advice do you have for amateurs jumping in for the first time this year?

"Get plenty of rest, eat well and stay focused. You’re going to have different decisions against different opponents, and the more you watch them and study them, the easier your decisions will be. In no limit, the biggest mistake I see is a player going all in instead of making a big raise that would be just as effective. They’ll risk all their chips instead of some of them. I think TV has a lot to do with it; especially if you’re a beginner, you have nothing else to go by. The poker on TV is mostly highlights, so it’s hard to understand the whole game."

When we talked to Annie Duke, she told us she gets lots of fawning email about how she should pose naked for magazines and all this stuff – do you have to fend off admirers in such a male-dominated game?

"I’ve been really lucky. The question I get from emails is ‘Will you marry me?’ Maybe I look like a wholesome girl, and they don’t want me to pose nude. The emails I get are more like people saying their proud of me and that kind of thing."

You wrote a chapter of Super System 2, what other projects are you working on?

"Nothing. I like to enjoy life, so I try not to make myself that busy. I might be working on a book about the psychology of poker, but I haven’t decided. The main thing I like to do is play poker, so that’s what I do. The other thing I love to do is be home with my family, so I play tournaments based on geography – what’s close to home? I go to charity events – I really believe in that kind of stuff."

Speaking of charity, you founded Creating Organ Donation Awareness, and have had two kidney transplants now?

"I’m trying to create donor awareness because a lot of people are dying, waiting for organs. People are undereducated on how important it is to give that kind of gift. It is truly a gift. My mother died from the same disease my sister and I have when I was 17. In 2004, I was under the knife during the main event. I wish I could have been in both places, but you have to set your priorities [laughs]. Going through stuff like that always makes you realize how everything is so important in your life. My health now is doing great. As far as I know, I’ll be at the Series this year, and I’m very excited about it. I’m going to take, like, two weeks off and go hang out in Tahoe beforehand so I’m nice and rested. The World Series is long."

This is a screenshot of the New Years Eve tourny.I didn't do well in this,finished in the 300 range.

Poker Royalty Heading Down Under

Tuesday, December 19, 2006


More than 30 of the highest profile poker players have confirmed they are heading to Melbourne Australia for the Aussie Millions Poker Championship in January.

Please heading to the Crown Casino for this rapidly growing event include the last three World Series of Poker Champions, Jamie Gold (2006), Joe Hachem (2005) and Greg ‘Fossil Man’ Raymer (2004).

Other notable players include the Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson, Gus Hansen, Howard “The Professor” Lederer, Kathy Liebert, Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari, Scott Fischman, Marcel “The Flying Dutchman” Luske, and defending Aussie Millions champion Lee ‘Final Table’ Nelson.

The Aussie Millions is growing into one of the leading money events on the international poker
calendar, the 2007 Main Event is expected to attract over 600 players all vying for a slice of the expected AUD$6 Million plus prize pool which will include a guaranteed first prize of AUD$1 Million.

Over 2,000 individual entrants will participate in the two week series of tournaments with an estimated 500 international players flying in from all corners of the globe including the United States, Canada, England,Scandinavia, Holland and other parts of Europe.

If your one of the many players heading down under to join in on the fun, keep an eye out for the Poker.com team including Poker.com's Queen of Hearts Tina!

Rivered And Runnered

It has been a frustrating week on the tables.Even though I've had 3 or 4 final tables,I've been rivered or runnered to death.KK might as well be 23,for all the good it does me.Grrr.I've come to believe the phrase,"Any old Ace will do".Cause you can bet if I have KK or QQ...an Ace is gonna flop,except if I happen to be holding one.

Top Players File a Lawsuit Against the World Poker Tour

A group of world famous poker players will be taking on poker's most prestigious organization, The World Poker Tour.

A lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Federal District Court by seven players against World Poker Tour Enterprises alleging that the World Poker Tour, and its partner casinos have unlawfully conspired to eliminate competition, and violated the intellectual property rights of these players.

The seven plaintiffs in the suit are Annie Duke, Andy Bloch, Howard Lederer, current WSOP Champ Joe Hachem, 2004 Champ Greg Raymer, Phil Gordon, and Chris Ferguson. The seven players held a press conference at the Rio this morning to announce the filing of the lawsuit, and show a united front toward the goal of 'leveling the playing field for all players' when it comes to players rights at World Poker Tour events. The issue is the player release agreement, they say it violates their rights.

This has been a major issue in the past because the agreement gives the WPT the rights to the players names, which will violate alot of contacts that some of the bigger players already have with other sponsors and companies. Some big players have refused to play in the WPT because of these issues. The purpose is to get the terms in the agreement changed and they are also seeking punitive damages.

I took a break...

from poker(wow,it can be done)*lol*and my blog,to view random blogs.Some were quite amazing pictorials.So,if you are taking a breather,wether it be from poker or working online,do a little blog surfing of your own.

Rivered...

but I was expecting it.It's sad when your opponent turns over their hand and you just know,yours is not gonna hold up.

Thank You,Poker.com

For the opportunity to test the new beta version.It's great! Love the 5-card draw and badugi,which I have never played before.
For those who would like a visual...here's one of the new smileys.
Rabbit...

From the Poker.com blog...

Saturday, December 23, 2006
Its pure chaos in the Blogger Poker Tour Grand Final!

20 starters, 1 trip to Melbourne, it was always going to get messy, but who predicted this much chaos!

To be fair this chaos stretches back further than the start of this grand final, it goes back to the last event in the regular season. After moderate results in the tour to that point, Purechaos wasn't figuring strongly in the Grand Final equation, then one had changed it all. Needing to pretty much win the final event to secure his spot in the grand final, Purechaos (Jerry) went one better, he busted out the host of the event, imjusthere4thebeer and took home not just his points for that event (3 place finish in the event) but also the same points as the winner, the hosts bonus!

With so many points from the final even Jerry went straight to the top of the leaderboard with a bullet!

The action started out pretty slow in the grand final, one table in particular really didn't want to play any pots at all it seemed! Even the first of the eliminations couldn't really fire up the tourney, it really wasn't till the tourney closed in towards the final table that the action came thick and fast, maybe it was the improving in the prizes that helped motivate everyone.

Big stacks were mixing it with other big stacks, and there were big casualties, when we got to 3 way action it was two big stacks, and little ol Evil666. One of the big stacks, ZowieZ had been in front for a while but had his stack eaten into by a fast finishing Purechaos. As soon as Irongirl went out in fourth it was live Evil666 was a man possessed. He cranked his game up several notches and pretty soon he was mixing it with purechaos for the lead, and had it not been for what looked like a bluff gone bad this tourney may have finished differently.

That wasn't how this going to finish though, this was a day off chaos, purechaos. Jerry had played very strongly in the later stages of the tourney, laying down hands where he needed to and showing muscle whenever he could, and when he knocked out ZowieZ in 3rd place he certainly had the chips to muscle his way to the finish.

The final hand was a little ironic, Evil666 pushed all-in with pocket jacks and was called by purechaos with pocket sixes. A six rained down on the flop and Evil was eliminated by his favorite hand and chaos reigned supreme.

This is how everyone finished up:

1 purechaos
2 Evil666
3 ZowieZ
4 Irongirl
5 freeroll26
6 imjusthere4thebeer
7 brodoughno
8 ViezeMan
9 JayNYC
10 natsdad
11 EgonOlsen
12 astinaguy
13 kufolem
14 cerberi
15 skinski
16 Hacksaw2000
17 DawgRoyal
18 OhioMike
19 PearlSnapMan
20 iyatoni


Congrats to all the competitors who played this season, the quality of this grand final really reflected the strength of the Blogger Poker Tour.

From Dec. 13th

Another win!

Wow,what a week it has been for me.Won my second tournament,the Ladies Freezeout,and got my first accolade.Woot!



My First Royal Flush

I was so excited about winning the Ladies tournament,I forgot to mention I got my first Royal Flush,in the $200 freezeout.My friend NokyJoker added the woot.lol

Early Stages

In terms of strategy, no-limit tournaments are very different from no-limit ring games. You simply can't bluff as much because people's stacks tend to be smaller in relation to the size of the pot. Also, since the amount of chips you win from a bluff is worth less than the amount you stand to lose, bluffing loses a lot of 'value.'

Now, many of you may be confused. Suppose you bluff 1,000 chips at a 1,000 pot and figure you have a 50-60% chance of taking it down. Many of you would think it's worth it to take that risk. However, those 1,000 chips you win are worth less than those 1,000 chips you stand to lose. If you have a 2,000 stack, getting knocked down to 1,000 has much more negative value than the positive value of getting up to 3,000. The 1,000 chips do not represent money. The only monetary value in the tournament is either losing all of your chips or winning them all (and losing them all is more important because you do get a prize if you lose them all in the late stages of the tournament). Losing those 1,000 chips knocks you half the way out, but winning those 1,000 doesn't do squat for winning.

This is not to imply that you can simply fold your way into the money. The blinds will eat you alive. You must win pots so you don't get knocked out most of the time. Towards the end of the tournament, you can think of winning pots to win the whole tournament. However, most of the time you must win pots simply so you don't lose!

Thus, in the early stages of the tournament, you should avoid gambling much. Generally, the amount you win isn't worth the gamble. If you can see the flop for cheap with a suited connector or someone goes all-in preflop and you have [[cards As Ah]], by all means go for it. However, I wouldn't suggest bluffing all-in. In the early stages, you want to win a huge pot here and there because you hold the nuts. Target a bad player and make him pay you off.

Middle Stages

Towards the middle of the tournament, you need to switch gears. Since the blinds get bigger, stealing the blinds will help you stay alive. Here, the 'gap' concept becomes more important. It takes a much weaker hand than usual to raise to steal the blind, but a stronger hand than usual to call a raise. The middle rounds introduce the 'survival mode' concept.

Again, most of the time you will be looking just to survive and increase your stack bit by bit in the middle rounds. You want to avoid confrontation without the nuts and just take down some small pots without controversy.

However, if you are a large chip stack (or even just a medium one), you may want to take advantage of this survival mode. Take control of the game by raising and frequently putting other people at a decision for all of their chips. After all, if they go all-in, they're risking it all but you aren't because you can lose the pot and still keep on fighting. However, don't do this too much. Steal some pots, but don't be so obvious that people will call you all-in with top or even second pair. Also, don't do this against very bad players. They will call everything.

End Stages

Towards the end of the tournament is when the coin-flip decisions become very important. Frequently, the blinds are so high it makes sense for a player with a low or moderate stack to go all-in preflop. Generally, when you go all-in you want to have Ace and good kicker or a pocket pair. If you have Ace and good kicker you are an advantage against all unpaired hands and may even have someone dominated. If you have a pocket pair, you are a small advantage against all unpaired hands and at a huge advantage or disadvantage against other pocket pairs (depending on who has the bigger one).

Generally, if you have one of these marginal hands, it's best to just shove all of your chips in preflop. When you are a low stack, you cannot afford to be blinded away anymore. Once the flop comes, chances are it's not going to be perfect. By shoving in all of your chips preflop, you have the added chance of stealing the blinds and can avoid being bluffed out.

Taken from pokertips.org (contributed to blog by Skinski)

From Sunday,Dec. 10th

Woohoo! First win in almost a year. Great HUs with susiebear30.

Welcome...

Hey All!Welcome to Holdem Or Foldem.My Name is Penny.I play poker at Poker.com,and you may know me as mimi2mik.This blog is undergoing construction,so please bear with me as I get it back.Back? Long Story. So,pull up a seat,enjoy the music,and I hope you will visit again.I will copy some of the more noteworthy posts from my other blog,before I scrap it.Also,please visit my friends' blogs and forums.Good Stuff!