Archive for September, 2008
Poker Freeroll September 19th
Monday, September 15th, 2008 | Poker Freeroll | 1 Comment
Hi All.
We have a freeroll at Poker Nordica coming up this Friday. Last time we played at Poker Nordica, September 7th, only 4 people showed up and our moderator Mepusica won the tourney.
Will Mepusica defend his status as the King of Poker Nordica?
As always everybody is welcome as long as you make a post the freeroll thread on our poker forum. The password will be send a few hours before the kick off.
Just an reminder, we keep the password tight as long as possible, otherwise we cannot guarantee that only members of PokerBRB and Poker Bankroll Blog are the only participants.
Poker Nordica accepts US players and offers 30% rake back if you sign up through our Poker Nordica Rakeback page.
We have a freeroll at Titan Poker on Saturday. I will keep you updated.
Enjoy!!
/Michael
New rating system on the Poker Bankroll Blog
Sunday, September 14th, 2008 | Poker News | No Comments
Dear Readers
The Poker Bankroll Blog now has a new rating system. We are really pleased about it and hope to get as many votes as possible on our great posts.
In addition the posts have been shortened on the front page to give you the reader a better overview. We hope you like the changes.
Best Regards
The PokerBRB team
The pro’s and con’s of multi-tabling
Saturday, September 13th, 2008 | Poker Articles, Poker Strategy | 14 Comments
Ever hear about the guy who plays 8, 12, 16, or 24 tables at once and wonder how they do that? How do they keep track of so many opponents in order to put them on a hand? How can they steal if they don’t know how their opponents play? What are the benefits of doing this? What are the pitfalls of doing this? These are interesting points when thinking about multi-tabling.
Now, by no means am I a skilled multi-tabling player. I’ve only been working on this for a few months now, but I can say, I’m really starting to see the benefits of this.
Before I go talking about the pro’s and con’s of multi-tabling, let me talk about the things you should consider before playing many tables at the same time.
The first thing is your screen. It’s not that you need a 30″ screen to play, it is just that you need the proper resolution to be able to have many tables on your screen at the same, without overlapping. When your tables overlap, the games will get confusing when it is your turn to play on a table and you can’t find it quickly. So try to stick with what ever # of tables your monitor will be able to show at the same time.
The next thing to remember is that you need a proper Bankroll in order to play multiple tables. If you currently maintain a 25 buy-in rule to play a tournament/cash game, then you can’t play 2, 3, 4, or more of those games at the same time, if your BR is only at 25 BIs, as you will be taking a major hit in your bankroll. Example: BR = $55 and tourney is $2.20 BI. 1st tournament is 25:1 rule, but 2nd tourney is 24, 3rd is 23 and so on. So although you are close to your bankroll rule, you are starting to move away from it. On the other hand, if you had a BR of $60, you could play 2-3 tables at the same time and not be going below your 25:1 rule. Just something to keep in mind when deciding whether to multi-table or not.
In following the above guidelines, another item to consider is the game you play. At first you should stay with the buy-in and game you are most comfortable with instead of multi-tabling at different buy-in/games. For example, if you are decent at $2 SnGs then multi-table them instead of 1 SnG and 1 cash, or a $2 and $5 SnG. This keeps you in the same frame of mind for all the games instead of trying to play 2 different styles while keeping your bankroll moving at the same rate. Also try to avoid 18, 27, or 45 player SnGs, or even Heads-up games, and stick with STTs as they are easier to follow.
This then leads to proper table selection. I understand that it is not always easy to pick tournaments that have plenty of ‘fish’, but if you plan on playing multiple cash games at the same time, then you should really review your stats (Poker Tracker/Hold em Manager) to see where the fish are congregating in order to maximize your opportunities to make money.
Finally, another thing to consider before multi-tabling is your current focus/attention span. If you are distracted, or foresee that you will be distracted while playing, stick to 1 table. The more tables you have going on at the same time, the more you need to be focused.
Now let’s talk about the Pro’s that I see about playing more than 1 table at a time.
If you are a good player, you can make money much faster by playing multiple tables at once. Since you are playing multiple tables, you need to make fast (somewhat accurate) decisions. You accomplish this by keeping things simple and playing ABC poker, i.e. play the monsters and muck the junk, which, in turn, should increase your bankroll at a faster rate than playing a single table at a time. Keep in mind that odds show that you will still lose, on occasion, with a monster hand, but over all your tables you should be able to absorb that single hand loss. A good way to make your decisions easier, is once you see your hand and know your position at the table, make your decision and don’t worry so much about what is happening before you. If you decide to muck, use the fold button and then move on to the next table. If you are going to play, then try to fold the hands on your other open tables, that you have been dealt pre-flop. All this makes everything go a little smoother as you won’t be getting buzzed by the other tables to act on your hand, while you are trying to focus on your current hand.
Now, whether you are a good player or not, you can lose plenty of money fast if you multi-table. That, I would consider a major con against multi-tabling. It just takes a series of bad beats, or bad decisions and you are out 3, 4, 5 or more buy-ins in a short amount of time (depending on how many tables you are playing). Another thing against playing in multiple games at the same time, is that you can’t, or won’t, get a read on your opponents. So their bets have to be taken at face value, as you have not really been watching them play. This also means that you miss out on possible money making situation. Whether it be mid range cards that you would have played had you only been playing 1 table, but decided to let them go due to being involved in another table, or because you didn’t use your position to win a pot. Another downside of playing multiple tables is that sometimes you have to act fast which could lead to making a bad decision which could cost you plenty, if not all, of your chips. This tends to happen late in tournaments, when the action is faster due to the limited players at the table.
To avoid this blog running on forever, I’ll stop there. By no means are the items listed the only things to consider, as I’m sure there are plenty more. Just remember, if you are going to play more than 1 table at the same time, take it slow and play smart. Over time you should be able to increase the number of tables you play. Finally, don’t be afraid to let tables timeout if you are involved in a hand that could either make or break you.
Good luck at the (multi)tables.
A Man, a Spider, and a Question of Ethics
Friday, September 12th, 2008 | Poker and Life, Poker Articles | 4 Comments
There are a few things I figured out the other night -
The ceiling in my bedroom has 414 of those little paint swirls in it, the wood paneling on the far side of the room has 88 grooves, and a spider, whom I’ve aptly named ‘Toby’ seems to do nothing more that move back and forth from my dresser to the television for hours on end.
All of these facts are useless to me and I honestly had no intention of ever discovering them, least of all my little spidey friend, but a recent discussion with a fellow card player got me thinking…. and thinking, and thinking all night…
The topic of our discussion was about accidentally seeing a card during play – this peek can come from the dealer tossing too high, a player that doesn’t protect their hand, or a slew of differnet happenstances that occur on the felt. There are courses of action to follow if any of these should occur, that is, if you don’t want to kill the deal and start again (the option to redeal is always available). If for example, the player in 3rd position gets a card face-up, dealing continues until finally it is replaced after all the hands have been dealt and the troublesome exposed card becomes the first burn card.
This is all well and good, but not even close to what kept me up all night counting swirls and wood paneling – it was a simple comment from a player that swears he would never admit to seeing a card, something I am soundly against – or so I thought. Although it is unwritten and impossible to enforce – I think it’s the fair and honest thing to do to announce you got a peek. It was the way he worded his position though, “…I use everything to my advantage, that’s my job description…” that made me think twice.
Hmm, maybe he’s right. The job of a card player is infact to use every advantage he/she has to beat their opponent whether it be a tell, knowledge of some personal hindrance (i.e. just broke up with their girlfriend and feeling blue), or strong betting patterns – but what about something so critical as being able to know a card that is out of play? Not every time, but in some percentage of the time, there are so many ways this small factoid can change the play of a hand. This goes against my own personal judgment, but almost makes sense when put just the right way… and what if other players feel the same – would they then have an additional advantage over me if I’m one of the few that does honestly announce accidental peeks?
Much like Toby, creeping back and forth from dresser to television and back to the dresser, this question stalked me all night, changing my mind, then changing it back. A matter of ethics perhaps or just another piece of useful information? Finally, I had enough and realized that a decision had to be made. Compromise isn’t always pretty, but it is necessary: Dealer’s fault- announce the peek; player’s fault- use the information.
I figure benefiting from a dealer’s mistake endangers my karma, but if my opponent holds those cards just a little too high…their just asking for trouble.
Now that I’ve settled that – I need a tissue; Toby’s going on a cruise.
Wishing you Big Flops and Bigger Pots,
Delik
Freeroll September 13th at Titan Poker
Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 | Poker Freeroll | No Comments
Hi Guys
We only had 4 participant in our $50 freeroll last week, and it was won by no other that the famous PokerBRB moderator Mepusica (known as Mark on the Poker Bankroll Blog). You can read the summery of the tournament in this thread on the poker forum.
I for one will not let him win again. So join our $50 freeroll on Saturday at Titan Poker. Server Time 21:05 CET and entitled “BRB Free Roll”. This Tourney is for members only!! So luckily it is free and easy to become a member Just sign up to our poker forum.
Don’t play smart against `not so smart` people
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 | Poker Articles, Poker Strategy | 8 Comments
That’s the expression right? Or is it stupid people? Either way, I can certainly relate. During the past 2 weeks I have been getting my money in good a lot and getting called by donkeys and losing a fair bit. If you’re like me when you hear people say stuff like that you wonder how accurate and honest they are being so I’ll give you 2 examples that happened in the same night online.
During the first example I was playing a 10 cent 20 cent cash game at a table that was mostly playing tight with one loose player who limped into most pots and had shown a couple of big bluffs. I was playing a variation of a short stack strategy and had built up to $12.50 from the $5 I sat down with and was debating leaving the table when I was dealt KK one off the button. By the time the action got to me there were 3 players in the pot for .60 or a total of $1.80 with both blinds to play so there were some good implied odds as well but I decided to raise to $1.80 to weed things out a little .. This was going to be my last hand anyway; I think it’s because I had been playing a tight SSS that only one player called my raise, the loose bluffer. The flop turned over 5H 10H QS The bluffer checked it to me and I decided there was enough money in the pot and I didn’t want to let him hit a big card for free to I put the rest of my $12.50 into the pot and he called with …. 2H 4H he hit a heart on the turn for his flush, one of my Ks was a heart so a heart on the river would have given me the better flush but the river drew a blank. So, buddy was willing to put $12.50 into a pot that was raised before the flop by a tight player with 2 4 suited before he hit his flush. How do you play against that?
Right after this tournament I moved to another site and played in a $5 6 player tournament and made it to the bubble. When I get to three handed poker later in a tournament I have a rule that generally works well for me regardless of chip count, table image etc. My rule three handed is that if I like my hand enough to play it I raise it and if I don’t like my hand enough to raise I don’t play it. Both of the other players were playing pretty tight and there weren’t too many outlandish bets or anything. During the hand in question I picked up KK (oh shit, I just had this hand busted at the last table) so I decide to pop them all in and take down the blinds right now, fold fold would have made me the chip leader so I didn’t mind not building a pot here and I also didn’t mind if I got called weak, which I did. My one caller turned over K 9 BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU CAN’T FOLD K9 TO AN ALL IN WHEN YOU ARE ONE SPOT WAY FROM MAKING THE MONEY, RIGHT? Flop, 9 7 9 turn and river drew blanks and I’m done.
I am not kidding you when I say that I have been getting called weak (A LOT) lately and my hands have not been holding up but that’s poker sometimes. Here’s something I figured out during this run. As you get better you will be getting your money in with the best hand more and more often, some of those hands will get called and sometimes the donkey will hit what he needs to beat you. But, if that’s what they mean when they say “don’t play smart against stupid players” then I have to disagree, keep playing smart, keep getting your money in ahead and you’ll make money even if the poker gods smack you upside the head every now and again.
Hope you’re all playing the PBR freeroll on Saturday at Titan. I should be there.
Limit rush
Monday, September 8th, 2008 | Poker Articles, Poker Strategy | No Comments
As you might know, I won the first PokerBRB freeroll yesterday at Poker Nordica. “Alas, I did not enter” might be your immediate response. Don’t worry, we have 3 more freerolls planned for the following 3 weekends so there are still plenty of chances to beat the PokerBRB champ.
What you might not already know is that I threw away my 35$ winnings in less than half an hour on a Short Stack Limit Rush. For those of you who don’t know what a limit rush is, here’s an explanation:
A limit rush is where you take some predefined amount say 10$ and buyin at the largest table possible. If you double, you leave the table and buyin at the next level. You keep doing this until you go broke (which is almost always the case when limit rushing) or you cash out with a considerable amount of money. It’s basically the get rich fast scheme.
Anyway, after my failed limit rush I reflected on what I had done. Usually most of these limit rush attempts end in going broke, but at least it’s fun and if you are lucky you get to play on limits you have never tried before. Yesterday was however different. My mindset was not focused on getting rich fast but instead on going broke fast. So I played terrible poker and sure enough went broke, and my limit rush attempt wasn’t even fun. I’m not quite sure yet why my mindset was so messed up but I think I have learned a lesson.
Whenever I win small amounts by playing freerolls on other sites than Everest Poker - where my bankroll is situated – I will spend these winnings on buyins to tournaments. I have never entered a tournament with the intention of losing it as fast as possible. If I want to attempt a limit rush again, I will do it with my bankroll money because I respect it more.
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PokerBRB freeroll end result 7th of September
Sunday, September 7th, 2008 | Poker Freeroll | 1 Comment
The first PokerBRB tournament has ended
Here’s the end result:
Mark: 35$
GEORDIEKILLER: 15$
Anders: 0$
allinflorin: 0$
Poker freeroll practical information
Sunday, September 7th, 2008 | Poker Freeroll | 1 Comment
Hi guys and girls
I have sent a PM to all active users on the PokerBRB forum with the password for tonight’s freeroll on Poker Nordica. The Tournament name is PokerBRB I.
If you are not yet an active user of the PokerBRB forum, simply make a reply to the freeroll thread and I will move you to the active users list and send you a PM with the password.
You should already be able to see me registered for the tournament under the nick “mettemusen”
See you at the tables!
Poker Freeroll September 7th
Sunday, September 7th, 2008 | Poker Freeroll | No Comments
Hey All
Just a reminder of our $50 freeroll tonight. The tourney is at Poker Nordica at 9 PM CET. Only requirement is that you must post a message in this thread on our poker forum.
You can also receive a rakeback deal at PokerNordica (Accepts Americans). Check out the details here:
Please contact us if you have any questions.
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