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Justin Shronk Memorial Charity Scholarship Tournament on FTP - Dec 6th

Posted by: on Dec 1, 2009

Tagged in: Untagged 

Justin Shronk was a staple in the poker community, not only as a player but also as the Producer at PokerRoad and previous stints with Cardplayers "Circuit" show as well as PokerNews.

He passed away at the tender age of 27 just shortly before this years WSOP, and a scholarship was setup at Temple University in his name.

Here are the details of the event:

Tournament ID: 121607994
Title: Justin Shronk Memorial Tourney
Game: NLHE
Buy-In: $5+$5
Starts: Sunday, December 6 at 18:00 server time (6 p.m. EST, 3 p.m PST)
Password: Justin Shronk (title case, with the space)


Half of the buy-in goes to the Justin Shronk Memorial Fund at the Temple University School of Communications And Theater (SCT). This is the same fund for which Brian Lemke provided a $20,000 lead gift after winning his WSOP bracelet this summer.

The Justin Shronk Scholarship will provide scholarship support for students majoring in Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Mass Media within the School of Communications and Theater. Students must have financial need, and there is a preference for a student who has a deceased parent. While a student at Temple, Justin’s father passed away and he considered dropping out to help his mother. With her encouragement, he remained at Temple, graduated and went on to start his career. The recipient of the scholarship should also exemplify some of the same characteristics that Justin exhibited during his life—an absolute passion for everything media, a great wit and sense of humor, loyalty in his friendships, and someone who would take a job for less money to be able to do the work that he loved. With a generous gift earlier this year from Brian Lemke, Justin's cousin, the scholarship was permanently endowed and will honor Justin's memory in perpetuity. We are hoping to raise additional funds toward the endowment through this tournament to increase the amount available to award to deserving students in Justin's name year after year.




Justin Shronk Poker Player  Justin Shronk PokerRoad

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Tilting Donks Part 3....The Saga Continues

Posted by: on Nov 22, 2009

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Mr Banners campaign to rid the world of Donks Continues.....Doc

by John Yossarian

There are things in life I do not understand:

-Why private companies, independent owners, cannot allow smoking in their business.
-Why owners cannot decide if his/her worker can drink on the job.
-Why those with numerous DUI's are given consideration in the court system.

What has happened to our societal choices? What has happened to individualized businesses'?
Why is that the minority have the voice of the many?
Who decides what is best for me: government/state or myself? If there is no monetary value in punishing criminals, is justice being truly 'blind'?

I digress.

Making your way in the world today.
Takes everything you’ve got.
Taking a break from all your worries.
Sure would help a lot.
Wouldn’t you like to get away?
Where everybody knows your name.


So, where does one go to get away? Surely it isn't a bar, anymore.



After telling my significant other that I was going to a Donk event, I grabbed my secret cigar case, beer chips and jumped into the bat mobile. I am a secret crime fighter. My secret powers are the ability to do basic math and employ basic logic through a memory log. I use these powers to tell others how they are wrong and I am right.
And I am, most of the time, right.

The fall breeze pushes through my window while my cigar smoke fights to escape. My vehicle glides along the frosty road at a smooth pace. The music penetrates the hollow core that shelters me. Nothing could be better. Life's simple subtleties can only be appreciated in a later stage of life. My current destination is to another BadgerDonk (.com) event. However my mind is on other issues. Because I know once I enter my place of refuge, I will encounter the resistance. They are those who have decided what is best for me. Inside my home and outside. So, I prepare for the battle (of cards and wit) with those who think they know what is best for me. And they are, all of the time, wrong.

This event is unlike the TavernDonk (.com) events. There are no 're-buys' (buying rounds to get chips). Once you are out, you are done. The blinds are more reasonable. However, the payout is horrific. 1st-3rd-get credit for food/drinks at the bar. How convenient for the establishment. But it gets better. You can pay $5 dollars, to get more chips, and the money goes into a pot called "Last Donk Standing". The Donk, whom sucks out the most, gets the pot. Yet, the 50% of the pot goes to the person running the event. WTF?!
Your scenery is a typical sports bar with outdoor volleyball court, karaoke stage, big stage for hicks to pounce and pool tables. Every man's dream. A home away from home. Except for mine. I hate pool. Tavern league volleyball? Are you fucking kidding me? And every time I hear someone attempt to sing at Karaoke night, it makes me wish for instant execution. As for the dancing, those days are long ago. The only good spot, if I was single, would be up at the bar. The scantly laid plethora and array of fish. Pick your fish. They fry. You go home with it.

I find an isolated seat at the bar to avoid social contact. With Excalibur in hand, I order a Guinness. Today I have money to burn so I order the good stuff. Tokers do I hate Miller. From my seat I can see the tables all set up. In fact, some Donks have started to play. Sign-up starts in half an hour. Just enough time to pollute my lungs and..

-"Hey, what is that?" - Some trout asks, interrupting.

"What? This? It's a cigar. Do you mind" - Asking as if I care, but being polite in return.

-"Those things are stinky! Enjoy them until July. The smoking ban goes into effect then." -She says, smiling, sitting three seats AWAY from me. Stupid bitch. She is referring to the smoking ban in all bars and restaurants that will be enforced in July, 2010.

"Yeah, I know. It's a win-win situation." - I retort.

-"Huh? No, I am fine with it. I can't stand the smoke. Wait, what do you mean?"

"Beginning July, you won't have to worry about my cigar, and I won't have to worry about you." - smirking.

I get up from the seat and exit stage left. Enough small idle chat. It's time to get down to business. I pay the $5 dollar penalty fee, grab my bag of chips and find a seat. The table is full of old-timers who have been playing this game badly for at least 20 years. They think they understand the game and how it should be played But, they are wrong. Two of them see that I have brought a cigar. It sits, because of my thoughtfulness, on a table a few feet away. Three of them are cigarette smokers. An older lady (rather kind I must say) asks what brings me out. Instantly I knew they were regulars and I was thought of as the outsider.
"Oh, nothing much. Just needed to get out and stretch my lungs and liver. I thought why not kill all three birds with one stone and play poker. You?"

-"No work tomorrow. You?"

"Nope. I wish I did."

*silence*

-"Where do you usually play?"- she inquires.
"I usually play ****** and *******. But I was in the neighborhood."

I know she is what she is really asking. But my answers politely say "bugger off".
Play starts with blinds at 200-400. My stack is at: 8000. The first two hands go around. I limp in next to the big blind with K-5. Not my usual hand I'd be in, with my position, but I thought I could take the blinds on the flop. Folds around to small and then big.
The flop comes: 4-J-5

I bet 1,200, to take it there. Call from the small blind (SB). Fold by the big blind (BB). I take a moment to look my donk in SB. About 20ish. Has his MP3 on, with his hat hanging Dan Harrington style. He looks the part but doesn't seem to play it.
Turn comes: 2

I check, he checks.

River: K

I check, hoping to get a bet. Donk bets 800. I raise it up to 3000. He calls instantly, flips his hand and says "I got you on the river." But he did it with an almost bravo, as if he KNEW he won. What confidence he has, in what will turn out to be a losing hand...

He shows: K-4

Now, usually, I'd flop it. But, I am the dark hero. The lesson starts now.

"Nice hand, good hit..."

I slowly turn the hand on the table while taking the chips.
The conversation turns, while shuffling is occurring, over the hands.
The Donk remarks something to another person "I was in the small blind. Not sure what was going on there..."

He turns to me, adding me into this conversation, and quips "So what was your excuse?", with a smirk and look of inquiry.

"I was in there to steal your pot."

The donk slumps back in his chair and turns silent.

But I have the Donks on a picture. They envision the dark hero as a blind stealer. A gambler without math. Oh, how wrong they are. My set-up works as the next few hands I get paid off.

5-5, raise 3x preflop. I hit trips. Check, bet, check bet. I get paid.

8-8, raise 3x preflop. I turn trips. Bet, call. Bet, call. I get paid.

A-A, limp in. Raise by BB. Reraise, call by BB. Flop is random, I bet out. He folds.

K-10 in SB. Flop gives me "two-purr" (As Negreanu would say). I check, he bets, I re-raised. I get paid.

The young donk and I entangle again. I raise 3x with 7-7. Fold around to him, he calls from the BB. Flop: A-K-A. T
The pot: 3,000.

I bet out 1,500 to see what may be going on. He smooth calls. He must have an Ace or King. I plan on shutting it down on the turn.

Turn: 7

Jackpot! What a luck sack I am. Woo hoo. Time to punish him.

I stick with my original plan. He checks, I check.
River: 4

He bets: 6,000. He leaves 2,000 behind. I flat call.

He shows: A-J

"See, I was nice, I didn't even re-raise you."

He is not amused.

Random Donk - "Wow, you're getting a lot of good hands there. I wish I could play as well."

Two Donks look over, as to agree, as to say 'you're lucky, kid'.
"It isn't the hands but the players paying me off. I'm playing quality hands and getting called down by garbage. Whose fault is that?" - I reply with a swig of my beer and head for a puff of my fine cigar.

*End of conversation*

Final table begins and I am Jamie Gold's big stack. So, I head to the bar to have an affair with my cigar. I could tell a few people were annoyed at this. Who cares. I'm like a rich republican; let them tax me so it can feed the poor. Fair.

I come back 20 minutes later and knock off another donk who pushes his stack in on the flop with Ace high. I call and proceed to river him with the best hand. A few hands later I catch rockets and just smooth call. The BB checks, the flop comes and he also shoves. I insta-call and he knows he is beat, getting up from his chair.
Final three people.

I let the two young donks fight. One hits a bitter end and it is heads-up. I offer a money split of the "last donk standing". The pot is at $30. WTF?! I know at least 20 people paid the $5. But the person running the event is also the same person who I smashed earlier on. He doesn't want to cooperate. I give the other donk the 1st place, so he can have the 'points' and larger bar tab. Tokers, I don't need them. Consider it charity.

I head to the bar for one last drink. I offer a drink and a nice tip to the bartender. He turns it down saying he isn't allowed.

"Why?"

- "New legislation coming out it."

"Oh yeah. Shouldn't your owner decide what is best for his own business?'

- "Yep! End of freedom. Sorry bud, but thanks anyhow"

As I end this conversation, I hear the end conversation from two young perch.
- "Maybe he wants to buy us shots. I don't think he is anti-social"

I am the only ONE left at the bar. They are obviously talking about me, without talking to me. *sigh*

The other girl remarks "Oh, never mind, he is married, right? Check for ring. Yep! Married!"

After hearing this, I head for the door. I don’t deal with bottom-feeders.
http://www.pokernations.com/HOUTS/blog/423/

Is Mr. Banners Saga over? Will he succeed in his campaign? I'll let you know..Doc

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Tilting Donkies Part 2

Posted by: on Nov 22, 2009

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The Saga continues as Mr Banner finds a new Bar...Doc
by John Yossarian

This is footage of the local events for those of you who have never experianced this venue. I may or may not attend. [I did not record this]:

Be warned, what you are about to see may permantly damage your brain from all the non-sensical plays and idiotic remarks.

http://www.youtube.com/v/Eq86vwc6RCg


I attended another event this week. God help me.

Strolling in half an hour early, I paid my $5 dollar 'chip-up' (pot) and found a seat at the bar. The bartender recognized me immediately and poured my drink. Predictable? Never.
As I downed my Miller product, I notice the ritual beginning at one of the tables.
A few players like to create a table orgy, sitting together, and are unwilling to move. So, they come early, find their table and put their chips down. Marking their territory without lifting their leg. How very interesting. The bar quickly fills up with donks. The person running the tournament, our local drunk, downs a shot before signing-up more people. Give him another hour and he'll be running his mouth and talking to us like an overpaid, resentful kindergarten teacher. Shouting at us: “You never listen! No, I didn’t say we started! I’ll tell you when!”

“I’ll chip you up when I do. I see you. Don’t worry about what I’m doing…”



Good times await us all.


With the cheap alcohol fogging my brain, I ponder my ritualistic actions. How much serotonin is being released by coming to these events? What urges do I feed in sacrificing my time and money in attending? Am I really that sadistic?

Before I could calculate the improbable odds of finding a good player and a good beer at one of these places, a break in action…


“Shuffle up and deal!”

It’s time to play. But all I can envision, as I push off my stool, is this as a intervention of some sorts, than a poker event.


Time for donkie anonymous. -“My name is Matt. For years now, I have been calling with 2-5. I’ll go home and close the door to find my favorite hand on the computer. No one knows its me. But, I’ll start calling down pots with it. It empowers me.”



-“Hello. I’m Jason.”

*Hi Jason*

“This is my first time here. I don’t know why I am even here. Someone told me I needed help. I’m still unsure. I mean I win every week, so I know I don’t have a problem. “



Each table has bags of chips filled with 1,500. Blinds start at 25-50. Since I donated $5 to the pot, I get an extra 3000 in chips. I find a table with an open seat, avoiding the orgy table of donks, putting down my beer, open my bag of chips and look around. Let’s meet our Contestants:




Seat One: Drunkey ‘drunk’ McColley. He is your typical Irish-American. There is no drink he will turn down. There is no pot he hasn’t ATM’ed his way into. And there is no way he understands what is going on. Barely able to keep his balance on a level stool, he is constantly looking for the waitress while not paying attention to the game. Guaranteed you will have to deal for him, count his chips and stack them (after he beats you in a pot, after ATM’ing you), and wipe his ass. However, he is, for all purposes, what keeps these events afloat. His deep pockets fatten the owner of these events. Seat Two: Random ‘girl’

You can double down on knowing she was brought by her boyfriend and has no clue what she is doing. Her low cut shirt shows off her best qualities, while her eyes say, “I don’t want to be here.” The life expectancy of her at this table is as short as Nicole Smith; and just as meaningful. Seat Three & Seat Four: Newcomer

I feel for these individuals. Fresh from their local home game, after finding the website, and heading down to ‘try it out’. They have no clue about what is going to happen. Their innocence is so refreshing. I remember the enthusiasm all to well. One hour later, they will, as I did, feel like a young catholic boy. Seat Five & Seat Six: Professional ‘tavern’ Player

They rank high on the ‘tavern’ point system. You can count, having them sit at your table that numerous rounds will be bought to 're-buy'. They will justify whatever plays (rationale) backed by their high points and numerous “final table” results. Yet, they play 5 days a week, spend hundreds of dollars on beer (when it should be spent on a ‘How to play Poker for Dummies’ book), and lack any real substance in their life except for these achievements.
Seat Seven: Me.



More to come….
http://www.pokernations.com/HOUTS/blog/422/

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Mr. Banner - my Life, my curse-Tilting Donkies[Prequel]

Posted by: on Nov 22, 2009

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We've all been down this road.. Doc

By John Yossarian

Just call me Mr. Banner, an Allusion to the big green guy?".
I stroll from bar to bar playing local 'free' tournament events. Of course there are plenty of perks. The website sucks you in with its advertising:
-Waste your life every night, drink enough beer and you may find yourself with enough points to cash in for a monthly tournament. Lowly cash prizes and ultimate bar fame awaits you.-
I am a sucker for beer; I can't help myself to be recognized by lower life forms.
Damn you poker gods.

I started playing poker after a freak 'accident' one night. My friend raised 5x the blinds with his Kings and got called. The flop: A-K-3
So, my friend pushes and gets insta-called by the lone stranger. He shows: 2-5
I didn't know what to do or say. Everyone stared at the stranger, looking (pleading) for an explanation. But the dark figure looked confident, even beneath the dark, smokey shadows. He knew it was coming.

The turn came the a 10 followed by the wrecking of a river the 4.
I lost my friend to the river, never to be seen again.



In attempts to understand and prevent the future wicked poker beats, I immersed myself for days inside my office. I tried to bring myself down to the level of a typical poker player. And then I dropped down even one more level. Immersed within my room, I undertook extreme punishment playing for hours on PokerStars and PartyPoker. My bookshelf lined with Carl Sagan, Walt Whitman and Dickinson was replAced by Mad Magazine, The Onion and Stephen King. Vast amounts of hours were wasted watching Fox News and the cult-classic, The Matrix. On my 18th consecutive hour of a trolling a 1-2 cent table on PokerStars, a freak accident occurred: I started winning with garbage. I raged hard at the table, winning pots, calling others 'idiots' for knowing pot odds. I passed out 3 hours later and awoke not knowing what happened. I logged back into PokerStars. My account, which I started with $2.53, was up to $156.39!
WTF? My results from the history of hand play showed a Hitler’s list of victims I put bad beats on. I was horrified. What made me do this? And, more importantly, why? Shamed, I logged off, closed my accounts, burned the books and headed out into reality. In hopes of a better answer. A way to reclaim my normal life.

Ever since, I have been roaming from bar to bar, looking for the perfect poker game. My current sites are on a local tavern tournament, where it is 'free' to play. But I fear my inner darkness. Sometimes, playing with the nubs, I find myself twitching. They do things that make no sense.
The bad beats make me mad. I try to warn them. No, please don't. I plead. "I'll even SHOW you my rockets. Just don't call!"
But they ignore my miserly play and obvious good cards and reply (with a twinkle) "But this is my favorite hand!"
It blows up in front of me. All their years of failed high school math and useless G.E.D. education come to the moment when they say "I call" and show me Q-6.
I turn the color of rage. And I decide to make them pay.

The world goes black. And my inner hulk comes out to play.

Against all rules of poker etiquette [no such thing] and social decency, I rage and troll.

I want to hear their shrivel voices cry from within their beer belly chests. I want to see their confusion as to why they lost with their "suited" Q-6 (and I show 2-7, with a smirk on my face).
I want to feel the never-ending, harboring, festering frenzy of rage after I troll them for hours about playing "suited" Q-6.
This is my story; one man, hiking from bar to bar. Look for the inner peace. Follow my journey.
http://www.pokernations.com/HOUTS/blog/420/

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A New Strategy for Tilting Donks Part 1

Posted by: on Nov 22, 2009

Tagged in: Untagged 

Hi, while reading through the blogs on another site I ran across this "GEM". A guy walks into a local Tavern Bar Tourney. Plays the "Smart" way only to get his Ass handed to him on a plate so he decides to play their game. Read on ..It had me rolling in the floor.. Thanks to John for allowing me to repost this here.. Enjoy.Doc
Where: Local 'donk' tournament event (last night). This is a 'free' event with money in the pot.

Who: 50 donks in attendance.

What: Texas No Limit Why: I am sadistic; I am unsure why I went...

How: I drove there.


Situation(s): After playing, and losing, a total of 3 quality hands in 2 hours, I go on 'Donk' tilt  . Time to start feeding them some of their own crap.
I start the "F**k you, beat this", all-in push.

Donk tilt hand #1

Blind: 100-200
My Stack: 2,200

Me:  All-in (blind)
Hand: Unsure, didn't look.

Donk 1: (4,300) Call
Donk 4: (1,900) Call (all-in)

Flop: 2-9-10
Turn: 3
River: Jc

Donk1: J-K
Donk4: 2-2

Me: 5-10c

Well played. But, did I succeed?

Donk Tilt Factor: 3 are slightly annoyed. The others thought it was a decent play.
Outcome: Not successful enough. Time to keep moving forward...

The very next hand....

Donk tilt hand #2

Blind: 100-200
My Stack: 6,600

Me: All-in (blind). Big Blind.
Hand: Unsure, didn't look.

Donk 5: (3,000) Call

Flop: A-Q-9
Turn: 7
River: 2

Donk 5: J-J

Me: 2-9

Nice! You are on your way, sir! Now I am starting to wonder why I ever played 'good' cards like pocket aces or A-K. Pftttt, this is the real way you win.

Donk Tilt Factor: Donk 5 is stunned. Two donks are starting to mutter to themselves. One asked me if I wanted to "go home or not". Outcome: Fail! I have not gotten through to them. Forward hoooo!!

The very next hand....

Donk tilt hand #3

Blind: 200-400
My Stack: 9,900

Donk 6: Are you going to push in again?
Me: No, I am going to wait for rockets; I am playing tight.

Me: All-in (blind). Small Blind.
Hand: No clue. Beer #alot. *Where am I?*

Donk 6: (10,800) Call

Flop: 3-4-10
Turn: A
River: 2

Donk 6: 7-7

Me: A-J


Donk 6: "Dude, what's wrong with you? If you want to go home, just give us your chips. No need to waste our time."

Me: "My Pot Odds had me committed to play hands out/in of position because of they were suited. I am new to poker, sorry bro."

Donk 3: "Can I get a table change!! Hey, Brian [tournament organizer], can I move?!"

Me: "I'll make it even and look at my cards next time before shoving in. Fair?"

Donk Tilt Factor: Heavy. Now they are starting to complain.
Outcome: Sucess! A few more blows and I may be able to break their wall of ignorance. Er, nevermind, they are donks.

The very next hand....

Donk tilt hand #5

Blind: 200-400
My Stack: 20,400

Me: All-in. Fake look at cards. Act impressed.
Hand: Who knows. I think it was Miller-Jack.

Donk 1: (2,000) Call
Donk 7: (1,900) Call Flop: J-K-A
Turn: 10
River: 9

Donk 1: K-K
Donk 7: A-4

Me: 8-Q

You are a master! Donk 1: "It's been real."

Donk 7: "Ummm yeah...."

Donk 2: "I hate idiots like this."

Donk 5: "WTF?"

Bystander Donk: "wow....wow"

Me: "I think I'll go to the bar. Blind me off till the final table"



I return, 45 minutes later, and see the final table going. 5 people are busted out already and my chips are start to dwindle. Kind of. I walk up to the table: "I'll be all-in every hand. You to split?"

They agree.

$90 dollars richer.
Donk-tilt status: Master
Outcome: Success

http://www.pokernations.com/HOUTS/blog/421/

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PLO MTTs for Beginners

Posted by: on Nov 18, 2009

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PLO MTTs for Beginners

Today at 9:08 am

Morning all,

I was on another site this morning and ran across this blog by Jack Welch on PL Omaha and thought it was worth reposting here. I don't play Omaha very often because I tend to get in deep and out really quick.. Lol. Jacks' post points out some of the fundamental flaws in the way I've been approaching PL Omaha. I hope you find it as informative as I did..Doc

PLO MTTs For Beginners

Posted: Monday, November 16, 2009 - I have been playing - seriously - Omaha for the last month or so. Oddly enough, ever since I purchased Hold'em Manager. But that's another story. I played mostly PLO cash games and not very successfully.

Then I discovered PLO and O/8 MTTs, which seem to play to my strengths. As all you ladies know, my strengths are patience and discipline. I am virtually tilt less - when sober - and I can play position. Lord knows... Anyway, I have probably Final Tabled as many MTTs in the last month as I have Final Tabled in four years of NLH. I just got knocked out by a three-outer, so I don't even think I am running so freakin' red hot. I just think I have found my venue, so to speak. I am old... it's not a moment too soon.

Below is a bunch of savvy knowledge I purloined from the Internet, which, as you all know, was invented by Al Gore. But enough about him... Please note, I am talking to beginners playing PLO at a low limit in an MTT. You don't play PLO like this in a cash game.

In Hold'em, there are 169 distinct hands. In Omaha, there are 16,432 different possible unique starting hands you can be dealt.

When you are dealt four cards, you are really looking at six distinct hands. Ideally, all of your four cards work together. Success in Pot Limit Omaha depends largely on the starting hands you choose to play.

If anything, the edge a good player has over a bad player is higher in PLO than in NLH, which is excellent news if you're the one with the edge. The edge in a PLO MTT is often simply the cards with which you entered the pot. And as long as the structure of the tournament is good enough, you will have plenty of opportunities to exploit your opposition.

The top 30 Omaha starting hands are as follows:

1. A-A-K-K 11. K-Q-J-T 21. Q-Q-A-K 2. A-A-J-T 12. K-K-T-T 22. Q-Q-A-J 3. A-A-Q-Q 13. K-K-A-Q 23. Q-Q-A-T 4. A-A-J-J 14. K-K-A-J 24. Q-Q-K-J 5. A-A-T-T 15. K-K-A-T 25. Q-Q-K-T 6. A-A-9-9 16. K-K-Q-J 26. Q-Q-J-T 7. A-A-x-x 17. K-K-Q-T 27. Q-Q-J-9 8. J-T-9-8 18. K-K-J-T 28. Q-Q-9-9 9. K-K-Q-Q 19. Q-Q-J-J 29. J-J-T-T 10. K-K-J-J 20. Q-Q-T-T 30. J-J-T-9

Note: All hands in the top 30 must be double-suited.

The best Omaha starting hand is AA-KK double-suited. The Odds of actually being dealt that hand are 50,000-1 against. Even such a powerful hand is just a 3-2 favorite to win against 8765 double-suited.

In addition to the top 30, you will to play wraps, hands like 8-9-10-J, which can result in nice straights. Ideally, you will have 2 cards of the same suit, as this is the only way you can possibly hit a flush.

In Omaha, players rarely have a strong edge over their opponents. Rarely will you find yourself with over 60% equity HU. Each additional player reduces your equity immensely.

The lesson here? Play good hands and nothing else until... Well, you'll know when.

Omaha is considered to be a "nut game". This means your chances for straights and flushes are more important than high cards.

Minimize losses. When you lose, lose the minimum amount, and when you win, win the maximum. In MTTs, especially early, I try to get involved risking the least chips possible before deciding if I plan to move forward post-flop. Check for rocks before you dive in.

Let your opponents play trash. Leave weak and marginal hands out of your game.

Watch what hands your opponents show down. And there will plenty of showdowns to inspect. Look for the NLH players who don't yet know - or care - about the 6 possible hands. You don't have to be Stephen Hawking to comprehend you have more of a chance to win with six hands than one or two. A-A-rag-rag rainbow is hardly better than fertilizer. A-A-A-rag is also plant food. Lay it down and wait for an actual Omaha hand.

If an opponent pushes pre-flop, especially out of position, he will typically have A-A. Especially in a low limit MTT. How does your hand play against top pair??

It is difficult to get your opponents to fold, so bluffing is ill advised, especially for those new to Omaha. And don't get worried about being bluffed.

Look for reasons not to complete your small blind. Position is even more important in PLO than NLH, so avoid entering the pot OOP. Even if there are only two players yet to act, that is still a dozen potential hands to defeat.

Essentially, PLO is a post-flop game. With four cards, no hand going to be a huge favorite over any other hand pre-flop, but the pot-limit nature of the game usually prevents all of the money going in before the flop. PLO focuses upon making solid post-flop decisions; this is where your edge lies.

The ultimate overpair is, of course, A-A. A-A in PLO can be more trouble than they are worth; as a new player, you will undoubtedly go broke with them more times than you care to imagine. Try to get in the mindset of only playing your big pairs in PLO for set value, and learn to ditch them immediately if you face any sort of resistance post-flop. Doing so will immediately improve your game 100%.

You're given four cards, might as well use them all. Sets are so vulnerable you're not a guaranteed winner, even if you do hit your hand. Boats, flushes, straights...that's where the glory lies.

PLO is all about connecting hard with the flop. PLO is a game of the nuts. Straights, flushes, sets, full houses - they're all commonplace, so don't be too surprised to see your Queen-high flush or your bottom straight drawing dead when the cards are turned over. With this in mind, only chase draws if you are confident you are drawing to the best hand. You don't want to pay to hit a card that may lose you a big pot.

For the same reason, small pocket pairs should only be played as part of a strong combo hand with both straight and flush potential. These lower pairs are unlikely to make top set when they do connect with the flop. Small sets can be some of the most costly hands in PLO, as the danger of someone having a higher set is far higher than in NLH.

If you see the flop with a small pair, proceed with caution. As a general rule, don't play pairs lower than nines or tens for set value.

Position is more important in PLO as bets, calls, checks and raises give away much more reliable information. There are few hands that can afford to give free cards. With four cards in each of your opponents' hands, the chances of being outdrawn are high, meaning only the strongest hands or the safest of boards are suitable for slow-playing. The information you receive from betting decisions made by the players who act before you is much more reliable than in NLH.

Patience is not just about card selection. It's easier to come off a shortstack deep in a tournament in PLO and still win the tournament than in NLH. A disciplined shortstack strategy is important and overlooked by many who become too willing to gamble in bad spots when short.

If there are three to a suit on board, you can almost always assume someone has the flush in Omaha, and a paired board yields a very high probability of someone holding a tight (full house), whereas that would only be a minor concern in most Hold'em hands.

Tight-passive players are less likely to be steamrolled in Omaha than in Hold'em. Reduced opportunity for bluffing reduces how effectively you can bully a passive player.

Respect displays of strength. Players making large bets in Omaha are far less likely to be bluffing than the same caliber of players in NLH.

Do not get "married" to an eight-out straight draw. In Omaha, it is possible to flop 13-out, 17-out and 20-out straight draws. It is best to wait until you hold one of these draws before you heavily involve yourself in the pot.

Do not overplay unsuited aces: when all you hold are a pair of aces and two unsuited, unconnected rags, there is little you can flop to improve your hand. If you do not flop your set, you're not going to hold up often in a multi-way pot.

The potential to have upward of 20 outs in Omaha allows for drawing hands to be statistically ahead of made hands.

Common Mistakes in Pot-Limit Omaha

1.             Overplaying "Hold'em strength" hands.

2.             Calling with weak holdings and low-outs draws when facing a bet.

3.             Playing too many starting hands.

4.             Not raising pre-flop with premium hands.

5.             Giving free cards or under-betting the pot without the nuts.

What hands to play pre-flop?

1. All top 30 hands with at least one suit and most of the time when offsuit.

2. All suited A-K-x-x with at least one x-card, 10 or higher.

3. All double-suited four in a row of hands, five or higher.

4. All double-suited connected hands, five or higher, with a maximum of one gap between the top two and the two low cards or between the low card and the three high cards. An example is K-Q-T-9 double-suited and J-9-8-6 double-suited.

5. All K-K-x-x double-suited.

As with any poker advice, these are just guidelines to give you a place to start from. The hands you raise and limp with will change depending on your table, your image, your skill and the skill of your opponents.

A hand should not be considered made until the river. The nuts on the flop means very little after the final two streets fall.

It is seldom wrong to bet out with top set in a short-handed pot, even though the board looks scary. Remember, anytime you flop a set, you have about a 34% chance of improving to a full house on the turn and river combined.

Cliff Notes. If you start playing PLO now, you will be ahead of the game. And the crowd. It's that simple.

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2nd Place Chop, $470 in a 6max Game at Stars.

Posted by: SolidSnakeLogic on Oct 19, 2009

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SolidSnakeLogic

Very solid run. 1,800, 000 at the time of the chop.

 I put the pictures up. 

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Do you want to get a part of Phil Ivey's Action....Heres a free shot at some.

Posted by: SolidSnakeLogic on Oct 8, 2009

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SolidSnakeLogic

FTP Promotion “Piece of Ivey”

 

This is an excellent promotion. In order to register yourself click the Requests Tab in your FTP browser, and hit “My Promotions”

 

This promotion allows you to win tickets for random drawings for multiple prizes. Prizes include Cash, and a few different tournaments where you can win a percentage of Phil Ivey’s WSOP cash. This promotion started today, and will run until next month.

 

You can win tickets on cash games, or Tournaments with more than 30 people.

 

Gl to all, hope someone gets a piece!

 

For more information go to http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/piece-of-ivey

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Satellite into the Double Deuce

Posted by: SolidSnakeLogic on Oct 6, 2009

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SolidSnakeLogic

Super Satellite to the Double Deuce

 

SNG Satellites

$1.80 + $.20 ( 3 Tickets Awarded )

$0.75 + $.15 ( 1 Ticket Awarded )

 

Through these SNG Satellites you can win a $5.50 Ticket on Sunday into a 1:4 MTT where you will pick up the $22 Seat to the 200k Double Deuce. I use to get into this MTT weekly because it seems so easy to win the 1st round, and people incorrectly play the ticket tournament which allows a lot of EV in getting into the DD. I recommend playing the $1.80 + .15. With the extremely deep ticket payout in this SNG, it is fairly easy to win. Some weeks I would grind out 20 or so of the satellites just to turn the $2 into T$5.50. Good Luck on the Tables.

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FTOP Warm Up Info Cheap 250k

Posted by: SolidSnakeLogic on Oct 5, 2009

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SolidSnakeLogic

Thanks for reading J - The Snake.

 

FTOP Warm Up

250,000 Guaranteed – 50k Player Max

10 Minute Blinds

$5.50 Buy-In

 

MTT Satellites

Super Turbo 300 Chips 1.50 + .10 (5 Min Blinds)

Turbo 1500 Chips 1.10 + .10 (5 Min Blinds)

 

SNG Satellites

$1.20 + .15 [2 Tickets] (3 Min Blinds)

$0.75 + .10 [1 Ticket] (3 Min Blinds)

160 FTP      [1 Ticket] (3 Min Blinds)

 

            This is an excellent satellite array to start off the FTP’s FTOP series. This Warm up allows players who are not able to get into the high buy in FTOP action, a shot at a 250k Guaranteed. With multiple ways to satellite in players are able to get in relatively cheap. I personally won a few of these satellites and find the play weak at best. Though you will have to fight off a host of players to win the 250k, you cannot beat the price. I feel that it wont hit the guarantee and have some additional overlay to add to the value of the ticket. The 250k Warm Up starts at 3:05 on Nov 1st (Sun). As an additional added value there will be one $525 FTOP Main Event Seat Added to the prize pool. It has 10 Minute Blinds, and right now first is paying around 20k. I hope you decide to try and satellite into this game at least, and I wish you the best of luck.

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