Pokerstars Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP)

It's getting close to that time of year again. The SCOOP at Pokerstars encompasses 66 events over a 10 day period between April 2nd - April 12th. Over the course of the 66 events, over $30,000,000 (that's right 30 MILLION) will we awarded.

To get ready for the SCOOP, I thought I'd post my thoughts about why skill is much more important than luck, in a Lettermanesqe Top 5 list.......here we go......

No. 1 - Robert Varkonyi

No. 2 - Chris Moneymaker

No. 3 - Jamie Gold

No. 4 - Jerry Yang

No. 5 - Me!

The above five reasons, are clear indications of which is why playing poker is clearly a game of skill”

Wait, those are clearly reasons why Poker involves luck! From The Free Library.Com

Here are the 5 top reasons why poker is not a game of luck...

1. Poker involves discipline, patience and focus. Without those aptitudes, you couldn't win at a poker game since the opponents can easily distract you.

2. Poker requires the skill of psychology to assess the opponents? hands. You have to be able to reads your opponents and carefully evaluate every single move they make.

3. Poker requires mathematical intelligence to calculate things like pot odds, implied odds, and outs, which are very important factors to determine who?s going to win.

4. Just like chess, poker requires the brainpower to plan ahead, to make a solid strategy, and to properly combine the cards before making a decision.

5. Just like any other sports, poker requires knowledge and years of experience before someone can be a professional player. The more you play poker, the better you will become.

So bring your skill (some luck can never hurt either) to the SCOOP which starts on April 2nd at POKERSTARS!!!

All signed up!

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker! Bloggers can register for to play for free in the WBCOOP, if you don’t have a PokerStars account you can get your Poker Download here.

Registration code:
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923253

WBCOOP - It's that time again!

Pokerstars is running their Blogger tournament again. Last time I played I placed in the mid 20's out of a huge field. While I was not able to take it down, I played well enough to win an iPod Nano (back when they were new).

While I don't imagine that I'll finish as high again, I'm up for the challenge.

For information, check it out at http://www.pokerstars.com/blog_tournament/?utm_id=6

The tournament is Jan 25-30th.

Wish me luck!

A bunch of stuff

First off, I've given up(for now) on multi-tabling the low limit (10NL) tables on full tilt. The last 2 sessions I found myself getting bored quickly and then donking of a buy-in or 2. I've been playing quite a bit of Heads-up SNG on both tilt and stars with some success...so I think I'll continue that. I find that I can keep my attention when I have to play every hand.

A while back I posted about a guys weekend involving a bunch of gambling and various "sporting" activites. The weekend went off and was a hit. We had eight guys (including) myself and competed in eight events. The total buy-in for all the events was $100 plus expenses ($12±) and beer. The events, buy-in and payouts were as follows:

1. Homerun derby (wiffleball) $10 - 1st-$50 and 2nd-$20
2. Darts (cricket) $10 - 1st-$50 and 2nd-$20
3. Poker Tournament $25 - 1st-$125 and 2nd-$50
4. Heads Up Tournament $15 - 1st-$75 and 2nd-$30
5. Pool (8 Ball) $10 - 1st-$50 and 2nd-$20
6. Bowling (3 game total) $10 - 1st-$50 and 2nd-$20
7. Putt Putt $10 - 1st-$50 and 2nd-$20
8. Beer Pong $10 - 1st-$50 and 2nd-$20

We started Friday at about 6:30pm with HR Derby. I sucked hitting only 5 hr's and didnt advance to the second round. The ultimate winner never used all of this outs in any round. This was very fun, only problem was that we couldn't drink while playing (in a public park). (Me - 0 points & $0)

The next event was Darts which we started at about 9:30ish. It was a bracket format and I ended up taking 2nd place. We ended up have a NL cash table with the players who were waiting to throw darts and the players just jumped in and out of the poker game when it was their turn. (Me - 8 points & $20)

The third and final event of Friday was the poker tournament which started at about 12:30am. This event had the highest buy-in/payouts. We started with 5,000 in chips with blinds of 25-50 and 15 minute levels. I went on a rush late and ended up winning after flopping 2 pair with A7 vs A5. The results of this tournament decided the seeding for the Heads up touranement which was the first event played on Saturday. (Me - 10 points & $125)

After winning the SNG I drew the 8 seed in the HU tournament. It was by far the longest of any HU tourny which I ended up losing. I got thrown into the losers bracket and won my next two matches scoring myself 2 points in the overall competition. (Me - 2 points & $0)

Next we headed to the bowling alley for some pool and bowling. I think I found the only bowling alley in the world that doesn't have draft beer, so we ended up paying through the nose for beer for the next 4+ hours. I won my first pool match when my opponent scratched on the 8 ball. Had an easy run in the 2nd round and ended up taking 1st overall when my opponent again scratched on the 8 ball. (Me - 10 points & $50)

Bowling may have been the most fun event, with HR derby a close second. I rolled games of 114, 164 and 127 which was good enough for 3rd place. (Me - 6 points & $0)

After bowling we headed to the Putt Putt course. After 18 holes I was tied with one person for second place. The winner made and ace on 18 to lock it up. Me and the other guy had a 3 hole playoff that ended up going 7 holes. I took it down with and ace after he had a 2. (Me - 8 points & $20)

After putt putt we headed back to my house for beer pong. It was a bit anticlimatic as I had already locked up the overall point total and prize ($100). But for good measure I beat my first round opponent without him making one cup, my second round having to drink 2 cups and my final opponent having to drink 1 and then knocking out all 5 cups in a row. (Me - 10 points & $50)

Everyone had a blast and we are already looking forward to doing it again. This year was the Lucky 7's party (7/7/07) and next years has already been named Crazy 8's (8/8/08).

Finally, I final tabled a 180 man $4.40 on Stars last night. I played very tight and was able to win most of the hands I played. I got to the final table with about 22k in chips and was in 4th place overall. But I didn't last long.

Blinds 600-1200-100 (i think)

Hand 1. I raise to 4k from early position with A10 suited. Next to act pushes all-in for 7.5k. I call and he shows AJ and I don't improve and have approx 17.5k left.

Hand 2. I raise to 4k from middle position with 44. I get re-raised to 9.5k by a deeper stack. I contemplate pushing, but I feel like I'm against and overpair and fold.

Hand 3. I have about 11.5k left and get dealt AQ. I raise to 4k and get 2 callers. Flop comes 655, first guy checks and I push my last 7.5k into a 13k± pot. Chip leader calls and shows 63 and IGHN.

Played bad and some bad beats

Dropped two buy-ins in 30 min. Key hands...

Me: AA Villan: OJ
Flop: 10 7 10
Turn: 8
River: 9

Me: AA Villan: 87(hearts)
Flop: 6 10 4 (hearts)
Turn: x
River: x

Me: 10 10 Villan: A5(hearts)
Flop: 6h 4h 9x
Turn: 8h
River: Jx

Me: AJ Villan: 10 10
Flop: K Q J
Turn: A
River: 8

Other hands I paid off bets because I had to see it......sooo stupid.

On a side note, I've been running goot playing heads up. I'm 4 for 4 on pokerstars and 4 of my last 6 on tilt.

Bankroll - $577.38

Exodus 3000

Exodus3000 is a cash-payout game, meaning that after earning a predetermined amount of in-game money, a player has the option to cash-out.

The game itself is set roughly 1000 years into the future after the Earth has been rendered uninhabitable due to a global catastrophe. The survivors of the human race have fled to Mars where each player has an individual homestead. From their homestead they must venture out and explore the surface looking for volcanoes which can be mined for Mars Dollars, ruins which often hold hidden caches of valuables, outposts that allow players to purchase upgrades for their in game stats, and settlements which provide mining and searching bonuses for both their governors and joined members. The Dig feature to the game has been made available which gives you a shot at some extra MD or prizes. Abandoned Homesteads now fill the game map where inactive players once had a homestead. Different Cards are now available for a player to collect.

It takes roughly 20minutes to go through the allotted 250 daily moves, and I find it to be a good work break.

If you want to check it out click on the banner below or the link under "Links" on the right.

If not for 2 hands....

Played for 45 minutes this afternoon. I ended up down about $5 all because of 2 hands which cost me $18. The first hand I was in MP with 66. An EP raiser made it $0.40 and I called (hoping for a low flop or a set) and the SB calls. Flop was 10 6 2 all diamonds. EP leads out for $1.40 and I raise to $3.50, SB folds and EP calls. Turn is 2c. EP checks and I bet $6.50 putting him all-in. EP calls and shows AA(no diamond). River A. Two outers are tough. (Total pot $20.60)

The second hand I was dealt AA.....

Full Tilt Poker Game #2664677494: Table Decatur - $0.05/$0.10 - No Limit Hold'em - 13:27:45 ET - 2007/06/14
Seat 1: RUSH2100 ($4.30)
Seat 2: imerese0420 ($0), is sitting out
Seat 3: whitespur ($12)
Seat 4: adamst04 ($3.60)
Seat 5: Melmoth ($23.45)
Seat 6: xxBANGxx ($11)
Seat 7: bradwa ($13.15)
Seat 8: OHNOONE ($13.35)
Seat 9: tobytobey ($9.05)
Melmoth posts the small blind of $0.05
xxBANGxx posts the big blind of $0.10
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to tobytobey [As Ac]
bradwa folds
OHNOONE has 15 seconds left to act
OHNOONE calls $0.10
tobytobey raises to $0.30
RUSH2100 folds
whitespur folds
adamst04 folds
Melmoth folds
xxBANGxx folds
OHNOONE calls $0.20
*** FLOP *** [9d Th Kc]
OHNOONE bets $0.75
tobytobey raises to $1.50
OHNOONE raises to $13.05, and is all in
tobytobey calls $7.25, and is all in
OHNOONE shows [Tc Kh]
tobytobey shows [As Ac]
Uncalled bet of $4.30 returned to OHNOONE
*** TURN *** [9d Th Kc] [4s]
*** RIVER *** [9d Th Kc 4s] [2h]
OHNOONE shows two pair, Kings and Tens
tobytobey shows a pair of Aces
OHNOONE wins the pot ($16.45) with two pair, Kings and Tens
tobytobey is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $18.25 | Rake $1.80
Board: [9d Th Kc 4s 2h]
Seat 1: RUSH2100 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: imerese0420 is sitting out
Seat 3: whitespur didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: adamst04 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: Melmoth (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: xxBANGxx (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: bradwa didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: OHNOONE showed [Tc Kh] and won ($16.45) with two pair, Kings and Tens
Seat 9: tobytobey showed [As Ac] and lost with a pair of Aces

I think I played too fast on this hand. His push should have set off alarms, but I was blinded by pocket Aces.

Even though I finished down on the session, I felt like I played well and to only lose $5 after these two hands is a small victory.

Bankroll - $593.93

Short Sessions....

I multi-tabled 10NL for about 30 minutes today, logging 150 hands or so. Had AA twice and got paid both times. First time I raised for EP and was called by the SB. Flop was 98X, SB check I bet, he raised and I pushed. SB shows 78. Turn 9, River 2 and I stack him, too bad he only had about $3.50 to start the hand.

Second time I make a standard pot sized raise from MP and get called by the buttom. Flop is A8X. I check, he bets, I raise, he re-raises and I push. He tuns over 88 for a smaller set. I had him covered and he started with $9.50ish.

So, it was a quickie that saw me up $15. I like the way my graph is looking in my Poker Log.

Tonight I played a bizzare heads up tournament. It was a $6 + .25 turbo on tilt. It lasted all of 4 hands, of which I won them all. I thought I'd post them for my own amusement...

Full Tilt Poker Game #2659985791: $6 + $0.25 Heads Up Sit & Go (20282517), Table 1 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:07:13 ET - 2007/06/13
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to tobytobey [Ah 9h]
Playem9 calls 15
tobytobey raises to 90
Playem9 calls 60
*** FLOP *** [As Qs Th]
tobytobey bets 110
Playem9 calls 110
*** TURN *** [As Qs Th] [3d]
tobytobey has 15 seconds left to act
tobytobey bets 275
Playem9 calls 275
*** RIVER *** [As Qs Th 3d] [7s]
tobytobey checks
Playem9 checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
tobytobey shows [Ah 9h] a pair of Aces
Playem9 mucks
tobytobey wins the pot (950) with a pair of Aces
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 950 Rake 0
Board: [As Qs Th 3d 7s]
Seat 1: tobytobey (big blind) showed [Ah 9h] and won (950) with a pair of Aces
Seat 2: Playem9 (small blind) mucked [Td 6c] - a pair of Tens

Full Tilt Poker Game #2659993188: $6 + $0.25 Heads Up Sit & Go (20282517), Table 1 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:07:57 ET - 2007/06/13
Seat 1: tobytobey (1,975)
Seat 2: Playem9 (1,025)
tobytobey posts the small blind of 15
Playem9 posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to tobytobey [9h 3s]
tobytobey calls 15
Playem9 checks
*** FLOP *** [2h 6s 3c]
Playem9 checks
tobytobey bets 60
Playem9 calls 60
*** TURN *** [2h 6s 3c] [5h]
Playem9 checks
tobytobey bets 90
Playem9 calls 90
*** RIVER *** [2h 6s 3c 5h] [Ac]
Playem9 checks
tobytobey checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
tobytobey shows [9h 3s] a pair of Threes
Playem9 mucks
tobytobey wins the pot (360) with a pair of Threes
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 360 Rake 0
Board: [2h 6s 3c 5h Ac]
Seat 1: tobytobey (small blind) showed [9h 3s] and won (360) with a pair of Threes
Seat 2: Playem9 (big blind) mucked [3d 8h] - a pair of Threes

Full Tilt Poker Game #2659999043: $6 + $0.25 Heads Up Sit & Go (20282517), Table 1 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:08:33 ET - 2007/06/13
Seat 1: tobytobey (2,155)
Seat 2: Playem9 (845)
Playem9 posts the small blind of 15
tobytobey posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to tobytobey [Ad 3h]
Playem9 raises to 60
tobytobey calls 30
*** FLOP *** [9h Ac Th]
tobytobey checks
Playem9 bets 30
tobytobey raises to 80
Playem9 calls 50
*** TURN *** [9h Ac Th] [8c]
tobytobey checks
Playem9 checks
*** RIVER *** [9h Ac Th 8c] [Kd]
tobytobey bets 100
Playem9 folds
Uncalled bet of 100 returned to tobytobey
tobytobey mucks
tobytobey wins the pot (280)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 280 Rake 0
Board: [9h Ac Th 8c Kd]
Seat 1: tobytobey (big blind) collected (280), mucked
Seat 2: Playem9 (small blind) folded on the River

Full Tilt Poker Game #2660005638: $6 + $0.25 Heads Up Sit & Go (20282517), Table 1 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:09:13 ET - 2007/06/13
Seat 1: tobytobey (2,295)
Seat 2: Playem9 (705)
tobytobey posts the small blind of 15
Playem9 posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to tobytobey [7d 4s]
tobytobey calls 15
Playem9 raises to 60
tobytobey calls 30
*** FLOP *** [7s Kc 3s]
Playem9 bets 90
tobytobey calls 90
*** TURN *** [7s Kc 3s] [Kh]
Playem9 bets 150
tobytobey has 15 seconds left to act
tobytobey raises to 750
Playem9 calls 405, and is all in
tobytobey shows [7d 4s]
Playem9 shows [6c Qd]
Uncalled bet of 195 returned to tobytobey
*** RIVER *** [7s Kc 3s Kh] [9d]
tobytobey shows two pair, Kings and Sevens
Playem9 shows a pair of Kings
tobytobey wins the pot (1,410) with two pair, Kings and Sevens
Playem9 stands up
tobytobey stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,410 Rake 0
Board: [7s Kc 3s Kh 9d]
Seat 1: tobytobey (small blind) showed [7d 4s] and won (1,410) with two pair, Kings and Sevens
Seat 2: Playem9 (big blind) showed [6c Qd] and lost with a pair of Kings

My favorite is probably the last hand... Q6off...priceless.

The bankroll is closing in on $600.

Bankroll - $592.83