I used to own and run a poker room until recently I have ceased that business. However I still help out at the new room until they are able to run smoothly. Last night I had to do the buy ins, run the side game (something I picked up in Bangkok), play poker on two tables (yes multi-tabling live), deal when the dealer takes a break, and entertain the players. I was exhausted and I can feel the fatigue kicking in. I am 36 years old and I play poker 6 nights a week.
Recently I got an offer to work overseas. They offered me about 3.8 times my previous salary which although sounds attractive but the cost of living and being away from home, my poker grinding grounds, not really worth it. However they came back with a counter-offer of 6.8 times my previous salary. I am confused. It is great money, but I have to give up my poker lifestyle. There are other sacrifices too and I don't know what to do.
Lately I feel so tired begging people for my own money back. I have so many people that owe me so much money its not even funny. Every day I take like 1-2 hours of my time keeping in touch with these people, finding where they are with their money situation, when I can get my money back etc. Having a fixed income does sound attractive again. However I play poker 6 nights a week now. Lately on a semi downswing, but still I am enjoying the grind. But if I work full time I would probably have to give this up, but weekend poker trips are still okay.
Sometimes on the poker table or in the poker scene you meet different types of people. Some a really nice and can be friends for life. But others they are out to get you. They know you're the "enemy" on the table and they treat you the same way outside of the table. Yesterday I caught someone trying to cheat on the side game. However I kept quiet as not to point fingers, but by doing so someone else thought I was the one being unethical. I am tired of this life that people keep questioning your intentions when I am pretty sure I am one of the nicest guys on the table. I for one let people owe me money for so long. I try to coach weaker players so that they can fend for themselves. Now some of my students are winning my money. But I don't mind. I treat everyone like friends, but not all treat me back the same way.
Yeah sure, full time employment I also had my fair share of assholes. They would back stab, play politics, gang up on you, bad mouth you etc etc. I have seen some of the worst in the world. But the prospect of being the top guy in the whole company sounds intriguing. Worst case is people will hate me and talk bad about me. But I will still be the boss. Muahahahaha....
At this crossroads at the moment. Where should I go, I still do not know. But I know is, poker is still a bit part of my life.
Thursday 27 August 2015
Wednesday 26 August 2015
Sick hand, bad fold?
Just finished playing a long session, second to last hand, I was on the button with
5 players limped to me so I just limped the button. Sb raises to $30 (we were playing $5/$5) 4 players called and I called too. Flop came:
Sb initial raiser bets 95 into a pot of 180. Bb calls, guy in late position calls. So I put the two callers on draws, possibly flush draw or at least straight draws. The pot is now 465 and I reraised to 430. Initial raiser tanked, asked me if I had a set of 3s, mumbled to himself if I have J8, J9 of hearts etc. Then goes all in for 1020 more. I thought for about 3 minutes and then folded.
My reasoning:
1. BB and another guy called, so villain should be able to put them on draws. That makes my hand more unlikely a draw. So my reraise means strength, and my sizing indicates super strength. So if he can shove there he must be good.
2. He asked me if I had set of 3s. Why not ask me if I had set of 8s? He might have set of 8s, Js there.
3. Preflop he raised $30. 8s seem more likely than overpair or Jacks. I doubt he had a draw there and I managed to get all draws to fold.
4. If I had over pair in his spot I would either fold them (since I only committed $30+$95) or just flat the $430 if I think I am against a draw. If turn is a brick, I can call another bet or shove or I can donk shove.
5. I can't be on a draw. Even if I had a monster flush draw, I want a multi way pot. Especially if I can put the other two callers on draws. Because 1. They might have my outs and 2. If we all hit the draw together I will get paid. So therefore I thought a good player would put me on a made strong hand instead of a draw.
I tanked and then folded my J3 face up. He flipped over Queens. I over analysed. I would fold queens there if I were in his spot. If he raised $95 and no one called and then I reraised, then it would be a different story. His shove with over pair would make sense. But having two callers and a reraise, the reraise is highly unlikely to be a draw. It should be an easy fold for the queens or peel the turn to see a blank before committing all the chips if you think you're against a draw.
Anyhow, it would have been a 1.8k profit pot if I had called. But sigh..... I am not upset with my fold. I am just upset that I over estimated the guys poker analysis.
Sb initial raiser bets 95 into a pot of 180. Bb calls, guy in late position calls. So I put the two callers on draws, possibly flush draw or at least straight draws. The pot is now 465 and I reraised to 430. Initial raiser tanked, asked me if I had a set of 3s, mumbled to himself if I have J8, J9 of hearts etc. Then goes all in for 1020 more. I thought for about 3 minutes and then folded.
My reasoning:
1. BB and another guy called, so villain should be able to put them on draws. That makes my hand more unlikely a draw. So my reraise means strength, and my sizing indicates super strength. So if he can shove there he must be good.
2. He asked me if I had set of 3s. Why not ask me if I had set of 8s? He might have set of 8s, Js there.
3. Preflop he raised $30. 8s seem more likely than overpair or Jacks. I doubt he had a draw there and I managed to get all draws to fold.
4. If I had over pair in his spot I would either fold them (since I only committed $30+$95) or just flat the $430 if I think I am against a draw. If turn is a brick, I can call another bet or shove or I can donk shove.
5. I can't be on a draw. Even if I had a monster flush draw, I want a multi way pot. Especially if I can put the other two callers on draws. Because 1. They might have my outs and 2. If we all hit the draw together I will get paid. So therefore I thought a good player would put me on a made strong hand instead of a draw.
I tanked and then folded my J3 face up. He flipped over Queens. I over analysed. I would fold queens there if I were in his spot. If he raised $95 and no one called and then I reraised, then it would be a different story. His shove with over pair would make sense. But having two callers and a reraise, the reraise is highly unlikely to be a draw. It should be an easy fold for the queens or peel the turn to see a blank before committing all the chips if you think you're against a draw.
Anyhow, it would have been a 1.8k profit pot if I had called. But sigh..... I am not upset with my fold. I am just upset that I over estimated the guys poker analysis.
Saturday 22 August 2015
Ten "Commandments" of Poker 3 - Thou Shall Not Take the name of "Poker" in Vain
Too many times I have seen players lose and then say, "it's poker". Well yeah, poker has its ups and downs, your swings are as brutal as the next guy. However it is not always poker's fault. It might be you. Lately I've seen a few players overplay their top two pairs, or over-shoving their flush draws or combo draws and when they miss, just say "it's poker".
People say "shit happens". Well if it dropped on your head while you were walking around oblivious of your surroundings then yeah. But if you see it from afar but you still walk straight ahead, well my friend, you made it happen. Poker is a fair game. Over time your good decisions will pan out and your bad decisions will cost you. But if you got it in bad and blame it on poker or luck, that's your own fault.
What I've learned recently:
1. Check raise or reraise draws - there is a tendency for inexperienced players to just call with draws. Some better players at least know they are calling at the right price. But I've learned that in order to maximise EV in the end you are suppose to raise (in position) or check raise (out of position) certain draws.
For example you flop the nut flush draw. Player ahead donk bets or c bets. You raise by 2.5x. What that does is that you announce that you are strong. Unless the bettor has super monster, he is unlikely to reraise you. Secondly he is wary of your strength and might check to you on the turn. That means if you don't hit you can get a free card. Or you can bet turn to take down the pot. If he does reraise you on the flop then you can decide to call or fold based on the odds.
2. Smallish reraise of monsters pre - we know we have to protect our big pockets, and sometimes the game is so crazy the standard open raise is 7x. So we assume if someone opens 5x we have to make it at least 20x to get people off. Sometimes you do, especially if there are callers already. But this situation is if for example someone opens to 3x, you are next to act, or no one called between you and raiser, how much to raise.
Raiser opens 3x, comes to you, you can make it 8x - 9x to go. 8-9 may be a smallish bet, but the fact that it is a 3 bet makes is much harder to call. Someone maybe wary if they called your 9x and the initial raiser comes over the top and they are in trouble. The beauty of 9x in this situation is you can push off those stupid cards, most suited connectors but the initial raise will be priced to call you with a weaker hand. This way you don't lose value because you will still pick up a limper. A small raise may also induce a light 4 bet.
Good luck
People say "shit happens". Well if it dropped on your head while you were walking around oblivious of your surroundings then yeah. But if you see it from afar but you still walk straight ahead, well my friend, you made it happen. Poker is a fair game. Over time your good decisions will pan out and your bad decisions will cost you. But if you got it in bad and blame it on poker or luck, that's your own fault.
What I've learned recently:
1. Check raise or reraise draws - there is a tendency for inexperienced players to just call with draws. Some better players at least know they are calling at the right price. But I've learned that in order to maximise EV in the end you are suppose to raise (in position) or check raise (out of position) certain draws.
For example you flop the nut flush draw. Player ahead donk bets or c bets. You raise by 2.5x. What that does is that you announce that you are strong. Unless the bettor has super monster, he is unlikely to reraise you. Secondly he is wary of your strength and might check to you on the turn. That means if you don't hit you can get a free card. Or you can bet turn to take down the pot. If he does reraise you on the flop then you can decide to call or fold based on the odds.
2. Smallish reraise of monsters pre - we know we have to protect our big pockets, and sometimes the game is so crazy the standard open raise is 7x. So we assume if someone opens 5x we have to make it at least 20x to get people off. Sometimes you do, especially if there are callers already. But this situation is if for example someone opens to 3x, you are next to act, or no one called between you and raiser, how much to raise.
Raiser opens 3x, comes to you, you can make it 8x - 9x to go. 8-9 may be a smallish bet, but the fact that it is a 3 bet makes is much harder to call. Someone maybe wary if they called your 9x and the initial raiser comes over the top and they are in trouble. The beauty of 9x in this situation is you can push off those stupid cards, most suited connectors but the initial raise will be priced to call you with a weaker hand. This way you don't lose value because you will still pick up a limper. A small raise may also induce a light 4 bet.
Good luck
Thursday 13 August 2015
Seoul Walkerhill Poker Room REVIEW
I have been to Seoul two times and both times I coincided my trip with the Asia Pacific Poker Tour stop. Usually that is around April which is Spring time in South Korea and the weather is a bit cold. Seoul is a beautiful city, but I feel like it is more like an outdated Japan. Things are expensive, food isn't that nice, and neither are the people. Don't get me wrong, Koreans can be pretty nice people, but on the whole, and I like to compare them to their neighbours the Japanese.
Anyway this post is a review of the Walkerhill Poker Room rather than Seoul itself. The poker room is located at the Walkerhill Hotel and Casino on top of Walker Hill. The casino is beautiful and only foreigners are allowed in, so prepare your passport.
There are about 10 tables available but usually 4-5 are filled with games ranging from USD1-2 to USD 5-10 sometimes. The 1/2 however plays more like a 2/4.
The players are usually regulars and of course during tournament times you get your tour players as well. That being said the game is not that tough but not soft either. The room offers free snacks like frozen yogurt with walnuts (my favourite), dried squid, nuts, instant noodles and free drinks. However it is recommended that you tip the waitress that brings you the food or drinks.
The room also offers a bad beat jackpot for aces full of tens or better beaten by another hand. Both hands must use all hole cards and it must go to showdown. Apparently everytime during APPT season, due to the bigger number of games running, someone is bound to hit the jackpot. The jackpot usually gets up to over USD 10k which is pretty cool.
Rake I believe is 10% capped at 5bb but I may be wrong. The dealers are all female and they are pretty and friendly. However I suspect most of them if not all have plastic surgery of some kind done.
Tuesday 4 August 2015
Melbourne Crown Casino Poker Room REVIEW
First of all Melbourne is a beautiful city, really great food, cold in winter but still bearable, the people are a bit rough on the edges though, especially some they have prejudices against Asians.
The Casino is beautifully located next to the Yarra River and right in the middle of the city. We stayed at an apartment 5 minutes away. The casino is pretty big and lots of people, the poker room is tucked on the basement floor with about 20 odd cash game tables and about another 15 for tournament only. Tables range from $1-2 to $5-10 with the occasional big game like $20-40 and $5-10 PLO. The action is 24/7 and usually you're on the queue.
Plenty of recreational players to keep the game interesting. Big portion of retirees who are tight passive usually. Some occasional Asian businessmen throwing money around. The game is pretty soft but there is always a resident shark or two especially on the 5-5 and up.
Rake is usually 10% capped at $15 which I feel is pretty high. No flop and chop pots are still raked, and every time you sit down to a new game you have to pay $5 time charge. But rake is not the biggest problem. The problem I feel is with the buy in maximum. For $2-4 the max is $400, which is 100 big blinds. That is considered a pretty short max buy. For the $5-5 it is at $700. So say you're down $1500, it is really hard for you to launch a comeback with $700.
Tables are clean and nice, the chips are a bit lightweight for my taste. No comps, no free food or drinks. Some sports on show but usually Australian sports like cricket, Aussie rules. Players are usually pretty cool, nice conversation, jokes here and there. But you get some grumpy old men, sore losers, and hit and runners.
All in all if you're looking for non stop poker action it is a great place. However I've been to better. I will write some more about other poker rooms I have been to but I can say there are at least a few much better than here.
Melbourne Poker Trip Report
Melbourne is beautiful. I will do a review of Melbourne and the poker room later. But about my poker trip. Bottom line, I lost. I did not achieve what I set out to do. I had a 50% winning rate only and end up having a losing trip. However all is not lost if I have learned something.
1. Preparation is important:
The preparation for the game is just as important if not more important as the game. There were a few sessions I felt I was not at 100%. Maybe I was too eager to play and try to make money for my stakers I failed to recognise that I needed rest more than play. Plenty of rest, water and the correct type of food is key. One session I had a big steak dinner and felt good to play. But when the food kicked in I could feel myself drowsy. I didn't play badly but I reacted badly to a bad beat when my Kings lost to 98s. I couldn't control my tilt the way I normally do.
2. Know your limits:
I played 2 sessions a day. I noticed that I would win my first session, then I would lose my second. It is no coincidence to me now that the first session I would go there after a night's sleep and the second is without a nap and usually after dinner. I think I need to stick to one long session a day after enough rest and proper preparation.
3. Tight Aggressive is the way to go:
Most pros I saw on the tables played tight aggressive. I want to play tight aggressive too but I only had a week in Melbourne so I guess I thought I wanted to play more hands and widen my range. I hit many flops but often get drawn out because of the strength of my starting hands. Tighten up, use position, good music or something to pass the time helps. Wait for good spots.
4. Sometimes you don't need to protect your big hands:
One time I had AK and flop was Kxx 2 hearts. Villain bets, I called. Turn was a blank. He checked. I thought this time was a great time to bet out the flush draw but I checked back.
a) He has a flush draw and he has a 20% chance of hitting. I lose but lose a smaller pot.
b) He does not have a flush draw and has a 12% chance of hitting his kicker or making trips.
c) He does have top pair and I can rep a busted flush draw on the river
River was another blank. He checked to me and I bet pot size. I got called I guess pretty thinly judging by his tank. So I think I maxed valued my top pair.
5. C betting sizing:
I used to C bet dry flops hard and avoid c betting wet boards knowing I will be called. But I realised this is the opposite of what I should be doing. Dry flops mean that others hitting it hard is unlikely therefore a small bet should take it down. Wet flops bet big, because draws will unlikely reraise a big bet to semibluff and when draws call they are usually behind. Only a monster can reraise and you can easily fold.
1. Preparation is important:
The preparation for the game is just as important if not more important as the game. There were a few sessions I felt I was not at 100%. Maybe I was too eager to play and try to make money for my stakers I failed to recognise that I needed rest more than play. Plenty of rest, water and the correct type of food is key. One session I had a big steak dinner and felt good to play. But when the food kicked in I could feel myself drowsy. I didn't play badly but I reacted badly to a bad beat when my Kings lost to 98s. I couldn't control my tilt the way I normally do.
2. Know your limits:
I played 2 sessions a day. I noticed that I would win my first session, then I would lose my second. It is no coincidence to me now that the first session I would go there after a night's sleep and the second is without a nap and usually after dinner. I think I need to stick to one long session a day after enough rest and proper preparation.
3. Tight Aggressive is the way to go:
Most pros I saw on the tables played tight aggressive. I want to play tight aggressive too but I only had a week in Melbourne so I guess I thought I wanted to play more hands and widen my range. I hit many flops but often get drawn out because of the strength of my starting hands. Tighten up, use position, good music or something to pass the time helps. Wait for good spots.
4. Sometimes you don't need to protect your big hands:
One time I had AK and flop was Kxx 2 hearts. Villain bets, I called. Turn was a blank. He checked. I thought this time was a great time to bet out the flush draw but I checked back.
a) He has a flush draw and he has a 20% chance of hitting. I lose but lose a smaller pot.
b) He does not have a flush draw and has a 12% chance of hitting his kicker or making trips.
c) He does have top pair and I can rep a busted flush draw on the river
River was another blank. He checked to me and I bet pot size. I got called I guess pretty thinly judging by his tank. So I think I maxed valued my top pair.
5. C betting sizing:
I used to C bet dry flops hard and avoid c betting wet boards knowing I will be called. But I realised this is the opposite of what I should be doing. Dry flops mean that others hitting it hard is unlikely therefore a small bet should take it down. Wet flops bet big, because draws will unlikely reraise a big bet to semibluff and when draws call they are usually behind. Only a monster can reraise and you can easily fold.
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