Archive for July, 2008
Redesigning the Poker BankRoll Blog
Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 | Poker News | No Comments
Dear Readers
We now have a completely new design on Poker BankRoll blog. Hope you enjoy it.
Since we are relatively new to the blogging world we would really appreciate any constructive criticism you might have to our new design.
Regards
Your PokerBRB team
SNG Bankroll project update 6
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 | Poker Articles, Poker Bankroll Building, Poker Projects | 1 Comment
I have not been playing poker since my last update July 15th. The reasons are two fold: time and interest.
Time
It´s my holiday now, so I am trying to keep work related activities to a minimum. Why? I am actually very motivated to work on our projects at least 12 hours a day, but it can be a very useful exercise to try to keep away from work. This helps you to stay motivated and will prevent you from burning out.
Interest
It can become very tedious to play poker. Just sitting there grinding, always trying to maintain your A-gaming. I am on a strict bankroll management program, so there is not room for adventure trips to other levels. The problem arises if you start to combine playing poker with something boring or something you have to do, this will in the long run most definitely reduce your chances of becoming a winning player. I aim to have a mental state that poker is fun, thrilling and a dynamic game against other players.
In order to maintain this state I sometime take a break from the game. Other good tactics are to try other games, poker tournaments, or even live poker. I was considering playing some Omaha poker, just for the fun of it. But I finally decided that a break would be best.
Michael, July 29th.
Poker short stack strategy and poker bankroll building
Sunday, July 27th, 2008 | Poker Articles, Poker Bankroll Building, Poker Projects | No Comments
I have made mistakes for sure, but in 99% of the hands I have played I have stuck to my short stack strategy.
Perhaps it doesn’t work. I am however more inclined to blame simple variance.
I have been dealt slightly below average hands, when I have had good hands my opponents hands have been better, and when I have raised with good hands my opponents haven’t called so often.
In addition I am of course playing too high limits which is most likely the biggest mistake I am making.
I still have faith in my short stack strategy, but if I go broke this project will be a good lesson for others and a real life example of bad bankroll management.
Having said that I have actually grown quite fond of my bankroll, so I will be sad if it disappears. It has been with me since the 10th of April where I deposited 30$ into a Celeb Poker account to start a SNG bankroll building project.
My poker bankroll is now 65,78$ after my latest 2 session hours played on 4 tables. The graph below shows my accumulated profit as a function of the session hours I have played.
Good luck out there!
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Malta News
Saturday, July 26th, 2008 | Poker and Life | No Comments
So we are enjoying the summer in Malta with non-stop sun everyday. There hasn’t been a cloud on the sky for the last month or two 
. It is perfect.
Regarding the website projects for poker bankroll building and WOSB the focus has been more on a strategic level. For pokerbrb we are focusing on some of the future cornerstones for the site – that will bring value to the users. It’s a complicated decision process as many elements need to be taken into consideration such as potential traffic, time horizon, competitors, potential for bringing in an income and last how our competences and resources match the different ideas.
For WOSB the situation is a bit different. There the cornerstone or basis for the site is about to be finished. Here the focus is on how we can use WOSB as it is now to create most value for the users. This is actually quite fun because there are so many different ways to go that would be awesome if we realise the ideas. But all can not be made at once so we have to focus on which option has the greatest potential compared to the implementation time and were the greatest synergy between WOSB is.
Well I leave it with that – I’m going to the beach now and continue with my big strategic thoughts
See ya
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Full-body workout program
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 | Poker and Life | No Comments
You might think that this article has nothing to do with poker bankroll building, but in fact I believe that you will become a better poker player if you are in good physical shape. In my opinion mental and physical health go together hand in hand.
In my case, one of my main spare time interests is working out in the gym, so writing an article about my new full body workout program comes natural to me. I have been working out regularly for the last 4 years and the last 6 months I have worked out using more or less the same program 4 times a week. Last week I came back from holiday as decided to change my workout routine for two reasons:
Most experts recommend that you change your workout routine once every two months or so to get the best results. It all has to do with stressing your muscles to induce growth. I guess you could say that my workout routine the last 6 months has been too much routine. I therefore wanted to start changing my workout program on a regular basis; something like once every two months.
Another reason for changing my workout program was that my old program was split into working out two major muscle groups pr. workout. In reality this meant that I was exercising individual muscle groups only once a week, which does not give optimal results.
I concluded that what I needed was a full body workout program that I should follow twice a week. To avoid too long workout sessions I also decided to work out my abdomen separately once a week. A full body workout program should be comprised of exercises that activate several muscle groups simultaneously, so I searched the Internet and narrowed my exercise list down to 13. In addition the sequence by which you perform the exercises is of importance. I like to start with the important heavy exercises that require a lot of power and activate the most muscle mass. By doing this you ensure that you are performing at your maximum level during the most important exercises.
So here it is, my full body workout program in a sequential list:
- Dead Lift; upper, middle and lower back, legs and lower arms
- Bench Press; chest and shoulders
- Leg Press;glutes, quads, hamstrings and calves
- Chin Ups; upper and middle back, biceps
- Military Presses; shoulders, triceps and upper chest
- Pull Overs; chest and upper body in general
- Pull Ups; upper and middle back, shoulders
- Bent over barbell rows; back in general
- Face pulls; upper back, and the back of the shoulders
- Barbell Curls; biceps
- Dips; triceps and chest
- French Press; triceps
- Calve Raises; calves
For the next two months I will be following this full body workout program with many repetitions in each exercise; more specifically I will be doing 15-12-10 repetition sets. The weights will be chosen so that the last two repetitions in each set are difficult.
After two months I will change to 10-8-6 repetitions with increased weights.
Finally to loose body fat I will do cardiovascular training twice a week and also attempt to eat less at lunch time (we have a free lunch buffet at work every day….need I say more)
My goal is as usual to get ripped!
Bookmaker Bonus
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 | Sports and Fantasy betting | No Comments
If you are into online betting the bonus search feature at WOSB could be very useful. Check it out here:
The feature helps you find a bonus that suits you. Furthermore and probably most importantly, it is possible to get a good insight into the financial status of the bookmakers offering different bonuses with the ratings given at WOSB.
There are six criteria you can put on your search. These will be explained here:
Minimum Bonus Rating:
All bonuses are given a rating based on how much value the offer gives you. A rating of 10 is the highest.
Only Show Bonuses With +EV:
The term EV stands for “Expected Value” and is the parameter we use to measure the value of a bonus. If EV is positive you are expected to profit from this bonus. There is a saying that the house always wins; this is not the case when the bonus offer has a positive expected value.
Minimum Bonus Percent:
This allows you to adjust which bonus percent size you a searching for. If you only want 100% sign up bonuses, just type 100 here.
Cash / Free play:
This choise allows you to state which kind of bonus offers you are interested in. The difference between Free play and Cash bonuses, is that you can’t withdraw the free play amount given to you by the bookmaker.
Odds Conditions:
Some bookmakers require that the playing odds have to be over a certain amount before the bet counts towards the rollover, typically over odds 2 (even). If you select “No” only bonus offers that do not have any requirements are shown.
Prepaid / Initial Rollover Requirement:
If a bonus is Prepaid it is given to you when you make your first deposit. Alternatively some bonuses require you to place some bets before you receive the bonus offer.
Michael, 23 July 2008
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We are busy improving our sites
Saturday, July 19th, 2008 | Poker News | No Comments
Bad news for the Poker Bankroll Blog, but good news for the PokerBRB community:
We are very busy improving the PokerBRB community sites and will therefore be posting less on the Poker Bankroll Blog in the near future.
You will be able to read new post 3 times a week, primarily on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Regards
Your PokerBRB Team
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Poker buy in strategy – full vs short stack
Saturday, July 19th, 2008 | Poker Articles, Poker Strategy | No Comments
I have been cleaning up in some of my old bankroll building update posts and decided to make a new post about my observations so far regarding playing with a full buyin or using a short stack strategy as the one I have described in one of my previous posts.
Keep in mind that all of my observations are made in the context of poker bankroll building on low limit tables. That is, the first steps one goes through in the process of building a poker bankroll. Also keep in mind that my observations might be biased by the fact that I have been playing online poker for quite a few years now….I know the game well.
Full buyin_pros and cons:
+ When you hit a great hand and get action you are potentially playing for your full stack
+ You can control the pot odds
- Often when raising with premium hands you will only pick up the blinds
- You need to be very patient, most of the times you will leave the table with a few dollars of profit
-/+ The average low limit player doesn’t understand fancy plays, so bluffing your way to a pot is usually unsuccessful. On the other hand you will often get paid with high pair/high kicker against high pair/low kicker.
Short stack strategy_pros and cons:
- When you hit a great hand you will not be playing for the largest possible stack
- You cannot control the pot odds to the same extent as when you are playing with a full stack
- You will not develop more advanced poker skills
+ You get called more often when raising with premium hands, because people generally don’t respect short stack preflop raises.
+ When you hit a great hand, and go all in on the flop you will get called more often by players with worse hands because the money you add to the pot will be small compared to their stacks
+ Your decisions are made a lot easier because you most of the times will be either all in or will have folded.
+ You get folding equity (read more about this in my short stack strategy post) for free
Conclusion:
I am in a bit of a dilemma when trying to conclude on which strategy to recommend. If you are a poker novice and want to learn the game I would definitely start playing with full buyins and ABC poker and gradually build your game. If you are an experienced poker player with no money or wanting to start a new poker bankroll from scratch, I would go for the short stack strategy until your bankroll is big enough to play with a full stack at your preferred limit.
Don’t forget to apply bankroll management when playing short stacked. If your bankroll is large enough to play with full buyins at say the 10$ max buyin limits, 10$ should also be your short stack buyin at higher limits.
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Poker Bankroll Skills – Positive Thinking
Saturday, July 19th, 2008 | Poker Articles, Poker Bankroll Management | No Comments
The next skill to look at in the series of Poker Bankroll Management Skills will be positive thinking. The concept positive thinking can be described in many different ways. My favorite definition of positive thinking is:
….a manner of thinking that puts emphasis on processing thoughts in a more desirable and upbeat way…
Positive thinking could also be explained as constructive thinking resulting in a focus on what you want instead of a focus on what you don’t want. You are not into Bankroll Management to avoid losing streaks. You are into Bankroll Management to increase your bankroll in every way possible. Don’t put your focus and energy into bad beats and things that are not working as you will gain nothing positive from doing so. Instead you need to focus on what works in order to earn money.
Why is Positive Thinking important?
There is more to positive thinking than putting your thoughts in a more desirable and upbeat way. There is a mechanism in the brain called the Reticular Activating System (RAS) which sounds complicated but it’s function is quite easy to understand. It is a function that consciously helps to decide which elements to put attention in to. It is only possible to focus on a number of elements at the time so the brain has to prioritize in order to give attention to the most important ones.
So when you focus on bad beats and things that are not working – nothing that helps you will come in to your mind. Instead, by focusing on the best way build your bankroll or how to play a hand the best way – new options and possibilities will present themselves.
How is it developed?
Actually it is not that easy to change the way you think. Many of the thoughts work like habits where you tend to think the way you thought previously in a similar situation. Furthermore it actually feels good sometimes to let out some steam and complain about the bad luck – despite the fantastic play.
One way to change the way you think is by going on a 10 day poker diet. The next 10 days of playing poker you are not allowed to dwell on thoughts that are not constructive. That is, when you catch yourself with a thought that is comsuming resources instead of generating resources you have to change your mindset. You can do this by asking yourself how your poker game can improve from the situation at hand or what kind of experiences you will have gained.
The rule is if you dwell on a negative thought, you have to start all over on the 10 day poker diet.
Other articles in this series:
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Top 11 bad poker habits_the next four
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008 | Poker Articles, Poker Strategy | No Comments
This post is number two is a series of 3 posts covering the top 11 bad poker habits belonging to your PokerBRB team.
Top 11 bad poker habits_the first three covered the first three bad poker habits, and I will now move on the the next four:
Bad poker habit number 4: Showing your hands to your opponents
I see this again and again both in small stakes SNG’s and on the World Poker Tour. People show both their good hands and their bluffing hands when they have made a bet and everyone else folds. I really don’t like this very much. In both cases you are giving your opponents information for free, which just does not make sense to me.
Bad poker habit number 5: Forgetting that multi table tournaments take several hours to win
I tend to always forget this, and it annoys me every time. I often play big Guaranteed Tournaments that usually get more than 1000 registrations and typically start at around 8 pm. You will be playing poker for 6-7 hours to win one of these, which means that it is a very bad idea to start playing when you have to get up at 6 am the next morning to go to work. Nevertheless I do it all the time and after 2 hours of play I start secretly wishing to get knocked out so I can go to bed; it never fails.
Bad poker habit number 6: Calling bets out of curiosity when you know you are beat
I guess you could always justify calling a small or medium bet on the river due to pot odds. But really sometimes you just know you are beat and simply feel compelled to call because you have to see what your opponent has. Be aware that the information you gain by seeing your opponents hand comes at a high price which will reduce your profit in the long run.
Bad poker habit number 7: Swearing at opponents in the chat when you lose your temper
This is probably my weakest point. I have absolutely no acceptance towards fishy players that call a major bet from my side only to catch their 2 or 4 outer on the river. I try to keep telling myself ‘you will earn money from them in long run’ but it just doesn’t help and I usually end up writing ‘you f…..ng noob ba….rd amateur retard’ in the chat. Admittedly it makes me feel somewhat better in the spur of the moment but really it’s a juvenile and unconstructive reaction and my mental balance would be much better off by not losing my temper and simply accepting my defeat with a smile.
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