In CEB View’s last Talent Matters post we discussed how difficult it is to work for a bad boss. Bu
One of the great things about online casinos, rather than the brick and mortar variety, is that
Card counting worked for a while. Books have been written on the escapades of card counters and
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Everyone is back and ready for action at sanghoki HQ, and we all hope everyone has enjo
The Bible makes it apparent that understanding is essential to salvation. In fact, those “
The strategy for splitting pairs in blackjack is often misunderstood. It’s not always about g
I have mirrors on my wall. This made not sound strange to most readers, but most of you have never seen the inside of
Everyone is back and ready for action at sanghoki HQ, and we all hope everyone has enjoyed their holidays and played plenty of poker! Our
Rewind 12 months and everyone who knew a little or a lot about Facebook ads for real estate and achieving top ranking on Google would
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One of the great things about online casinos, rather than the brick and mortar variety, is that they offer blackjack tournaments. Now, a lot of
I have mirrors on my wall.
This made not sound strange to most readers, but most of you have never seen the inside of anywhere I’ve ever lived. Mirrors on my wall is a big deal. It’s part of the home makeover master-minded by Lady Luck. And it’s only the beginning.
Now, as I sit in my living room, on my couch, writing this, I can see light and images bouncing around the room.
Reflecting is good.
Looking back, I could have saved myself some money. Perhaps my instincts aren’t as sharp as they should be. That will come with time. Reflecting on this moment, however, is not pleasant.
It had already been an up and down night. I was sitting on a stack of about $550, which was about $150 more than I had bought in for. I was feeling good about my game. I felted one surly old man twice in about 4 hands. That’s what he gets for buying in short and gambling.
Things got ugly when he changed seats, sitting suddenly on my right. It’s not like he started giving me any trouble, it’s just that the table dynamic changed. And The Situs Judi Slot wasn’t feeling so lucky.
Upon reflection, he was my cooler.
I’ve actually purchased 8 mirrors now. Seven hang in my living room. Six of them are just 6 inches by 6 inches. The last mirror is for the bedroom. It’s not for above the bed. At least, I don’t think that’s where she wants to hang it.
I peeled back my cards and saw two black Kings. I raised to $25 and got two callers before it got around to the white-haired man wearing the “Guinness” cap. If he were a little taller, I would have thought it was Iggy travelling back from the future to take my money.
Future Iggy immediately made it $60 out of the small blind. My instinct was to re-re-raise. For an instant, I thought about pushing. I glanced at the other two players in the hand, and it was obvious they were folding no matter what I did. One had already given an audible sigh at the re-raise and the other had his cards in his hand ready to toss them.
“I call,” I said, adding $35 to the pot. I’ll lay this down if an Ace comes, I thought to myself.
The dealer spread out the cards, Ace-rag-rag, two diamonds.
Future Iggy rapped the table. Why? Would he check Big Slick? Not likely. If he had a big Ace, he would have bet it. That either means I’m drawing practically dead or he’s crushed. I suppose I should bet to find out.
“Seventy-five.” I slid my chips across the line and watched my opponent. He waited a moment and then just called. Why? He could be on a diamond draw, but the Ace of diamonds was on the board and he wouldn’t have re-raised me with just diamonds.
The turn was a blank. Future Iggy knocked the table again. Why? If his hand was that big, why not try to get more money out of me? He must have figured I would fire another bullet.
“I check.”
The river was another blank. There was no flush. Future Iggy grabbed a stack of red chips and slid them forward. He bet $100 into a $325 pot. Let’s reflect.
It was a preflop re-raise. A post-flop check-call. A turn check. And a river value bet. There was only one possibility. He had Aces. I could almost justify the $75 I bet after the flop. At least I could see where I stood.
Reflecting back on that moment, I’m not sure why I called.
Mirrors aren’t the only thing we’re buying for my home. The house I’m renting has an unfortunate tile floor. It was likely once white. It’s now an unintended beige color with a strange intentional brown pattern. Lady Luck wants a couple of rugs, one for the kitchen area, one for the living room and one for the hallway. We have a lot to cover.
He had me covered now. I was down to about $300. After two limpers, I raised to $25 with AJs. Four of us saw a flop of Ace-Ten-Ace. All of us checked, ruining my plan to check-raise.
The turn was a deuce. Future Iggy lead out for $50. I raised to $150, about half my stack. I was sure I had the best hand. I doubted Future Iggy held an Ace, and even if he did, it wasn’t bigger than mine.
The other two players in the hand folded. Future Iggy wasted little time in going all in.
Dammit.
I had about $150 left in front of me. I had already ruled out AK or AQ. He would have played it differently. Was he slow playing AT? Wow, what a cooler. The only other hands he could have that beat me are TT and 22 and A2. Was I that unlucky again?
He had me covered. I was going to go broke here. Do I really save $150 when I think I might have the best hand? Then again, why would he push if he wasn’t sure. I wish I had folded. But I didn’t. And he flipped pocket tens.
Hanging in front of the windows throughout my house are horizontal blinds. They’re ugly and not always functional. Lady Luck wants to replace them and I can hardly disagree. We’re going to have to buy curtains.
It should have been curtains for me after that hand. With luck like that, why keep playing? Instead, I bought back in and decided I’d win some of my money back.
And I did. From down $500 I made $300 of that back. I knew I could beat this game. And I knew I could beat this table. My mantra was win big pots and lose small ones. I had called off $250 in river bets on hands that I could have folded.
Shortly before my night was over, I was dealt pocket Kings again. With four limpers, I raised to $20 out of the SB. I got two callers.
The flop came down J97. It was time to check-raise. I had wanted to do it all night but hadn’t had a chance. I knew the next guy to act was going to bet. He was aggressive and talkative. He was the one I talked about in the preview post.
“Check,” I said.
“Let’s just make it 100,” he announced moving a stack of reds into the pot.
Perfect, I thought, ready to move all in behind him.
“I call.”
I heard it, but I wasn’t sure where it had come from. I knew I hadn’t said it. The old guy in the 9 seat was moving chips into the middle. I was confused. Could I be that unlucky again?
It’s back to me. There’s no way I’m calling. The way my night was going I was probably facing T8 and JJ. And even if they both didn’t have me beat, I know one of them did.
By the end of the hand, the loud one was all in and the 9 seat had called. The board never improved my hand and when the loud one flipped his Rockets, I couldn’t believe how simultaneously unlucky and lucky I was. When the 9 seat disgustedly mucked, I couldn’t believe how stupid he was. I guess I had him beat.
For the second time in the night, I was dealt KK while someone else was dealt AA. The first time, it cost me big. It could have cost me everything, but the Ace on the flop actually saved me money. The second time, it only cost me $20. It could have cost me everything, but the jackass in the 9 seat must have thought his top pair was good.
With the $400 left in front of me, I knew it was time to go. I kept telling myself I was unlucky, and I suppose I was. KK into AA twice and flopping trip Aces against a boat. That’s not a good way to make money. But I got up knowing it could have been a lot worse.
Besides, I still had money left for curtains and rugs.
Everyone is back and ready for action at sanghoki HQ, and we all hope everyone has enjoyed their holidays and played plenty of poker!
Our December promotions were a huge success, and we are currently processing all the prizes and tournament results to ensure everyone gets their well-earned rewards. Up until the very last hours of 2007, players were committed to earning those extra Comp Points and winning those elusive Secret Santa Sit’n’Goes, proving the dedication of our community.
Coming up this week is the highly anticipated Choose Your Own Seat tournament, which will feature a grand total of 430 players competing for a $12,500 seat to any major tournament in the world! The action is scheduled for Saturday January 5th at 14:00 server time, so don’t forget to drop by and find out who the live seat winner will be!
Stay tuned for all the upcoming surprises in 2008 at CarbonPoker, it’s a new year with a great outlook for poker on a worldwide scale. Have fun at the tables!
Meanwhile, back at CarbonPoker HQ…
Even with all the action going down at APPT Sydney, business remains as usual for our online players. Naturally, this means yet another $20,000 Guaranteed tournament on Sunday, and the action was swift at the final table.
It took only 37 hands to progress from the final seven players to the eventual winner. DBC920, Laubi00 and SublimeChick stood strong as the final three, but Laubi00 suffered a downfall to take away $1636.80. After a flop of 9 T 5 rainbow, Laubi00 was convinced that his KT would hold up, but DBC920 held pocket fives for a set and the win as the turn and river blanked out.
Yet another final hand was set in stone pre-flop, as both remaining players decided to throw all chips in with their hole cards. SublimeChick thought her AJ offsuit was sublime, and DBC920 made the call with pocket Deuces.
Blank, blankity blank. That was the sound of the flop, and the Deuces were good. The turn was another big blank, and the Deuces were still the top hand. All SublimeChick needed was an Ace or a Jack, but not only did she not get either, DBC920 picked up another Deuce for an unecessary set and $5319.60 in winnings.
Congratulations to all the winners in this week’s Sunday 20K, we had a massive turnout of 315 players, proving the popularity and action of the big tournament is a big draw for the best online players.
Halo77 & The Prince Do Battle!
Possibly the world’s most loved player, Scotty “The Prince” Nguyen, sadly put an end to Halo77’s main event assault.
After cruising through to Day 2 with 101,000, Halo77 was looking like a seasoned pro and a great chance of making the money.
After taking a couple of small hits early in the morning and laying down several hands to an overly aggressive player, Halo77 was still looking the goods and settling into his groove.
It wasn’t until late into level 14 that things started to get crazy! Halo77 made a minimum raise from an early position and caused the table to fold around to Scotty. After taking a moment to consider “The Prince” made the call and the action was back on the BB.
Once again the BB, who had been a lose cannon all morning, once again pushed all-in for 100,000. Halo77 had been patiently waiting for him do make this mistake and quickly made the call for the remainder of his chips.
Unfortunately, Scotty wasn’t going anywhere and also made the call for a 3-way all-in!
Big Blind (lose cannon) – 5
Halo77 – 10
Scotty – K K
With nobody improving their starting hand, this signaled the end for Halo77 and his APPT main event.
Despite finishing a short of the cash, Halo77 can hold his head high and be proud of his performance: 93/561 players
10-3 Is The New Texas Dolly!
After managing to survive a grueling 14hr Day 1, the happy-go-lucky Flail1 was always going to have to let his tournament ride when he returned for Day 2 with only 15,500 in chips.
Sticking true to his word he pushed all-in on his first hand, only to be called by another short stack (7,500) at his table.
The showdown revealed: Flail1 – 6s7s Vs AsJs
The flop came with three spades, but sadly Flail1 was unable to improve to a straight flush and handed over half his chips to the nutflush.
With less than 1.5 orbits remaining, Flail1 made his move and pushed his remaining chips into the pot. The rest of the table quickly folded, but the table chip leader couldn’t resist and made the call.
Showdown: Flail1 – 10c3s Vs AcJc
With neither player improving their hand on the flop and turn, it all came down old faithful – or better known as the dreaded river! Never in my life have I been this excited to see, you guessed it – a of 3d! But this wasn’t the end for Flail1. Within a matter of a few hands he was at it again and after several quick double-ups, Flail1 is sitting on a cool 70,000 in chips.
Rewind 12 months and everyone who knew a little or a lot about Facebook ads for real estate and achieving top ranking on Google would all speak of “the algorithm” the worlds best kept secret. Technology so advanced that it can deliver us what we want to view by typing keywords into a blank box. They would speak of keyword density, H1 & Meta tags. So is it a surprise that arguably our planets most technologically advanced company in Google has introduced a new feature to allow users to hide sites they deem as irrelevant to their search and another feature to vote using the +1 button for content they deem relevant and want to endorse. No Way!!
Human interaction is the most powerfull endorsement there is. Even more powerfull than “the algorithm” itself. because once an item, an article or a product has human endorsement it can be trusted, respected and will increase in popularity.
Through out life we always look for endorsement we love it when good things are said about the service we have provided. So what do we do with these endorsements? Well most people would file them in nice plastic folders, neatly filed in a lever arch labeled “MY TESTIMONIALS” only to be brought out when we present to a new prospect who has already chosen us as one of only a few to potentially deal with.
So how can we get our testimonials out to a new audience, the audience that hasn’t already found us but is looking. We publish them. We optimize them and we share them.
I recently found a wordpress plugin that enables me to archive all my testimonials on one page titled “Testimonials” It’s out there for the world to see. It even has a digital form so that happy clients can easily and quickly endorse my service.
The plugin is called Collision Testimonials. Like all plugins. It’s a matter of downloading and installing it on your blog. All you need to do then is navigate to Testimonials Section on your dashboard and start entering them one by one. You should also create a seperate page titled “Testimonials” and copy and paste the shortcode which you can find in the tags section of the plugin. Done.
To see the plugin in action just navigate to my testimonials page.
Now all of the reasons why people should be choosing you to sell or manage their properties are there for all to see. inlude a link to your testimonials page in your email signature. Link to it from your social media profiles and agency website. Ultimately your testimonials will be infront of more people then ever before and I dare say that that will help you win, win, win.
“Each round all participating players must get an opportunity for the button, and meet the total amount of the blind obligations. Either of the following methods of button and blind placement may be designated to do this:
(a) Moving button – The button always moves forward to the next player and the blinds adjust accordingly. There may be more than one big blind .
(b) Dead button – The big blind is posted by the player due for it, and the small blind and button are positioned accordingly, even if this means the small blind or the button is placed in front of an empty seat, giving the same player the privilege of last action on consecutive hands.”
Poker tradition has a lot to do with the fact that both of these methods are in widespread use, but neither method is superior in all situations. The moving button makes sure no new online casinos with no deposit bonuses gets the advantage of last action twice on a round (a big advantage at no-limit or pot-limit play). On the other hand, a player may get to post a blind when on the button, which is more advantageous than posting in front of the button. The moving button creates a situation where two big blind s may be posted on a deal, which speeds up the action. At tournament play this speed-up can be undesirable, as when dealing is being done hand-for-hand to balance the pace of play between two remaining tables. A cardroom may either decide for the sake of simplicity to use only one method, or decide to tailor the method to the game and situation.
“A hand with more than seven cards is dead. A hand with less than seven cards at the showdown is dead, except any player missing a seventh card may have the hand ruled live.”
“If the cards are prematurely flopped before the betting is complete, or if the flop contains too many cards, the boardcards are mixed with the remainder of the deck. The burncard remains on the table. After shuffling, the dealer cuts the deck and deals a new flop without burning a card.”
“If the dealer turns the fourth card on the board before the betting round is complete, the card is taken out of play for that round, even if subsequent players elect to fold . The betting is then completed. The dealer burns and turns what would have been the fifth card in the fourth card’s place. After this round of betting, the dealer reshuffles the deck, including the card that was taken out of play, but not including the burncards or discards. The dealer then cuts the deck and turns the final card without burning a card. (If the fifth card is turned up prematurely, the deck is reshuffled and dealt in the same manner.)”
The portion of this rule saying the dealer does not burn a card on the redeal is misguided. It is much harder for the dealer to control the card to be dealt if a burn is required. The applicable sentence in the rule should read, “The dealer then cuts the deck, burns a card, and turns the final card.”
URGENT!!!: Otis makes the final table!!!!!!
This is a complete violation of the rtp online rules and could result in my dismissal from the event entirely.
But I’ve always been known to challenge authority, so here it goes.
Thanks to my untimely exit from the Media Event, you’ll get “live” updates of the remaining last-longer participants. Here’s how we stand:
Change100: 4700
Otis: 2000
Tuscaoosa Johnny: 1900
Live updates below….
***********************
9:26pm: Alas, it is over. Otis tried a steal from the small blind with T3o but the BB called in a shot with just K9s. Otis had more than enough chips to cripple the guy, but it didn’t seem to matter to him. Well played, Otis!
9:18pm: Otis is at the final table meaning he’s won at least $100 for a charity of his choice and could win up to $10K for his charity. He’s got 30K, which is slightly above average with 9 left, but his M is terrible, meaning everyone’s M is terrible. He’s actually sitting about 4th in chips or so.
By the way, in the memory of our good friend, Chris Gulfman, Otis’ donation will go to the American Cancer Society.
8:55pm: Otis skillfully draws two people all in preflop while in the Big Blind holding Q’s. That takes real skill folks. Like Harrington-skill. They hold up against Denny Crum’s KQ and some guy’s 77 and Otis is now the chipleader at about 50K, that’s more than a 5th of the chips in play with 13 left.
8:35pm: Quick gallery:
8:31pm: We’re down to 18 players and on break. I just witnessed a three-way all-in: AJ vs. TT vs. QT. Any guesses on what won? A Queen on the river sent two packing. Otis has about 19K and his M is about 4 when we get back (blinds are 1000/2000/300). There are three short stacks alive and a number of players close to Otis.
8:10pm: Cindy is out, thanks, in part, to Otis. She got in with AJs vs. a shorty’s JT and Otis called with 66. A 10 on the turn gave the shorty the main pot but the side pot went to Otis and Cindy was out. The plan was to have her tilt Otis by saying, “I kissed Isabelle Mercier last night,” but Otis never really gave her the chance. Otis is still at about 20K.
7:55pm: Otis is HUGE! He crippled the lovely Cindy Margolis when he caught trip K’s and she had Aces up. But she fought back a few hands later, A6 vs. A9. Flop came down 6-high, but I said, “Dealer, she needs a 9.” And guess what? Otis is at about 20K or so.
7:29pm: Tragedy strikes. Change100’s AJ ran into QQ and she’s down to T350. Blinds are somewhere around 1000000/2000000 or something. Needless to say, she’s all in as soon as the break’s over. Otis is still looking strong, although I think I’m going to give Cindy Margolis some ammunition to tilt him.
7:24pm: URGENT NEWS!!! Otis, now holding the Luckbox, has more than doubled up and now has more than 6K. Change100 is holding steady at 4500. They’ll be a lot easier to follow now that they’re at the same table. In fact, only Cindy Margolis separates them. It’s like a Cindy Margolis threesome there. Sorry, Drizz. In other news, Change100 now has the Luckbox.
7:18pm: The Luckbox lives!! Well, at least in someone else’s hands. I let Change100 borrow it and her A2 tripled up against KT and QJ with a flop of Q22. She’s up over 5K now. Otis needs help, and is currently in possession of said Luckbox.
7:10pm: Otis falls. His A5s from the SB runs into pocket 8’s and only a 5 on the turn is not enough. He’s back down to about 1500. Change100 has 1650. And that “Hollywood Blonde” I mentioned? Well, I got a better look and it’s Cindy Margolis, the most downloaded woman on the internet. Drizz, pictures forthcoming.
7:00pm: URGENT!!! Otis doubles up with a pair of 6’s on the river and takes a commanding lead over Change100. In other, non-last-longer related news, the uber-hottie Shannon Elizabeth (sporting her new Full Tilt gear) is alive with a big stack. I’d give you a smokin’ hot picture, but I don’t have the time. Sorry, Drizz.
6:54pm: We have a casaulty. Tuscaloosa Johnny is out. Not only that, Change100 ran her pocket T’s smack dab into some Hollywood Blonde’s pocket J’s (is there irony there?). She’s down to 2000 and Otis is at 1975. It’s gonna be tight for the last longer!
6:50pm: I’m in the media room which is a long way from the tournament room. By the time I get there and back, we’ll jump 6 levels in tournament and everyone will likely be out. But here goes… be back in a minute…
First, check out yet another big score from Otis. The guy is just unstoppable…
And now, read about some exciting news from the Aladdin. It looks like we’re now confirmed for at least 6 tables by the Aladdin, and there’s a possibility of more. The Aladdin’s poker room will be expanding to two more tables by then.
That means the confirmed list jumps to 55!! We’ll still hold those other 5 seats for pros and invited guests. If things go well, we’ll be able to accomodate all players. The updated RSVP list can be found over at the sbo official web site.
Please make sure you show the Aladdin our appreciation whenever you can. If you’re in Vegas, stop by and say Hi to Edna, the fabulous poker room manager. And then sit down and play a little.
Super Thursday Pt. 2
So, I have an admission to make.
I’ve been playing under an assumed name. I only bring it up, because I’m about to reveal it.
A few people who sweated me in last week’s Super Thursday tournament can attest to this. As I said last week at this time, my plan is to play one large multi-table tournament a week leading up to the June blogger trip to Vegas. Last week I placed seventh and was quite unhappy with my play.
Tonight, I’m happy with all of my plays but my last one. Ain’t that the way it always is?
I’ve actually exceeded my one-per-week plan in the multi-tables. Out of six in the past eight days, I’ve placed ITM in four, including two final table appearances. Tonight was the second final table.
I took fourth. But I should’ve won.
superthurs.JPG
On the final hand, I was second in chips with about 250K. The big stack had approximately 310K. The two remaining stacks sat at approx. 100K a piece. With the blinds at 5000/10,000, I found AKs on the button. As I was planning to play either of the two shortstacks for all their chips, the big stack raised 13x the big blind to 130,000 under the gun.
Yeah, he raised 13x the big blind.
Now, I don’t know what to do with this. From hand number one I’d promised myself I was going to forget about the money and play to win. Every hand. And I did. I was proud.
So, what do I do with ths? I have big slick in spades, on the button facing an unmentionable raise.
Well, I pushed in. All of it. On five cards. The money jump from third to fourth was more than three grand.
I was playing to win.
Actually, I was playing to lose, I guess.
The big stack called with JJ and I didn’t improve.
Looking back, I guess I could’ve folded, but I just can’t see doing that.
The only other move I could’ve made was simply to call for more than half my stack. I would’ve put it all in on the flop, though, because two spades came down on a queen high board. And I’m almost certain Big Stack would’ve called my stop-and-go move. Or maybe not.
Maybe I should’ve thought longer and played the stop-and-go.
Damn it.
So, I’m unhappy with my final play, but not unhappy with making two final tables on two consecutive Thursdays.
I need to sleep.
Note…the big stack ended up taking second after losing a 5-1 chip lead to one of the shorter stacks.
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B17 King Road,London, Greater London, NW18JR, United Kingdom
