My poetry paid off...

The poems I was writing was for a ticket into PokerStars SCOOP series. My poetry must have been good enough as, not only did I qualify for a ticket, I nabbed one of the 50 $109 tickets that they were handing out. Now THAT is cool!!!

This, by far, will be the biggest tournament that I've ever played. Based on the entire list of tournaments, here are the ones that I can play:

Event 05-M: $109 PL Omaha [turbo, 1R1A], $100K guaranteed (Monday May 3 - 8pm est)
Event 06-M: $109 PL 5-Card Draw, $50K guaranteed (Tuesday May 4 - 2pm est)
Event 08-M: $109 NL Hold'em, $200K guaranteed (Tuesday May 4 - 8pm est)
Event 23-M: $109 NL Hold'em [turbo, rebuys], $300K guaranteed (Monday May 10 - 8pm est)
Event 24-M: $109 Triple Draw 2-7, $50K guaranteed (Tuesday May 11 - 2pm est)
Event 26-M: $109 NL Hold'em, $200K guaranteed (Tuesday May 11 - 8pm est)
Event 28-M: $109 NL Hold'em (rebuys), $400K guaranteed (Wednesday May 12 - 5pm est)
Event 30-M: $109 PL Omaha Hi/Lo, $150K guaranteed (Thursday May 13 - 5pm est)
Event 38-L: $109 NLHE Main Event - L, $1M guaranteed (2-day event starts Sunday May 16 - 5pm est)

Okay, let's cut this list down a bit. There's no chance that I can play any events that start during the weekday...so that eliminates Events #6 and 24. I also really can't play any of the events during the week with a 5pm start time...so that eliminates Events #28 and #30. I also need to eliminate the rebuy tournaments as I don't have enough bankroll for further buyins. Here is the revised list...

Event 08-M: $109 NL Hold'em, $200K guaranteed (Tuesday May 4 - 8pm est)
Event 26-M: $109 NL Hold'em, $200K guaranteed (Tuesday May 11 - 8pm est)
Event 38-L: $109 NLHE Main Event - L, $1M guaranteed (2-day event starts Sunday May 16 - 5pm est)

Well, that narrows it down substantially. For events 8 and 26, they are expecting at least 2000 runners and, for the main event, they are expecting 10000 (and will get more).

Hmm, interesting dilemma. I know that I'm probably going to be dead money anyway. It also depends on my work schedule. At this point in time, I'm leaning towards the main event. I'll have to check the details but I believe these tournaments pays 20% of entrants. One advantage of the other two events is that the number of entrants is smaller.

This is going to be fun....

Another ode to poker

Our pro is ready for another round,
He needs his poker fix;
But to be one of the best, he needs
to learn How to Play 8-Game Mix.

This type of poker is exciting,
This kind of poker is fun;
It has a plethora of games
So that this pro can make a ton.

There's limit, no limit,
Triple Draw and Stud;
Some players may be great in some
But in others, they're a dud.

This pro plays all these games,
As well as Omaha High/Low;
Although he sometimes curses the man
Who invented the game called "PLO".

However, this pro needs to learn another game
Something to make his thinking mind boogie;
When he looks in the PokerStars lobby
And thinks "How to Play Badugi"?

This game is great he starts to think,
Get four cards of a different suit;
"I can make more money" he thinks,
And build more bankroll for the SCOOP.

He remembers when he started out,
And sees how his game has come far;
By playing at the greatest site...
The mighty PokerStars!!

Full Tilt Steps Status...

I'll keep this short and sweet.....HELLO STEP 4!!!!!!!

Hello Step 3!

Last night, I decided to continue my Full Tilt steps quest and played my Step 2 ticket.

I decided to play another 18 man SNG where top 5 get a Step 3, 6th gets another crack at step 2, and 7th and 8th get a step 1 seat.

This wasn't a turbo per se. The stacks were 1500 with 6 minute blinds (as opposed to 3 minutes with the turbo SNGs). I didn't get my money in bad at any point and just played my usual strategy for fast paced tournaments.

I do remember one hand where I had AJs. I was UTG + 1 when UTG open shoved. This was at the final table and the two biggest stacks were on my immediate left. I figured that this guy wouldn't be fooling around in this spot...so I folded. Turned out he had AK when the BB called him with J9o.

That was one handicap for me when the final table was reached. The top two stacks were on my immediate left...so I couldn't really try to steal when it got to the push/fold phase. Fortunately, I got the cards I needed at the right times.

Anyway, I got to the top 5 and got my Step 3 ticket! Don't know when I'll play next but stay tuned!

Where does the time go?

I admit...I've been a bit lazy with this blog as of late. However, I do have a few things to talk about today...

First of all, I recently completed the Take 2 promotion from Full Tilt for $25 bucks. I think my profit over the promotion was about $15 bucks so it was worth the while. Had some bad luck starting out but things turned around nicely. I'm finding playing cash games via Rush poker is having some dividends. They have since expanded Rush poker to tournaments...so this could be interesting.

They have now also introduced a steps system. I decided to try my luck on Step 0 for $1.10. This was a 99-seat super turbo with the top 30 people getting Step 1 tickets. I had a little bit of luck when I decided to push with an open-ended straight draw on the flop against top pair and hit it on the river.

Super satellites like this are a different sort of beast than regular tournaments..and it can lead to some strange decisions at times. For example, someone pushed in on me and I had pocket jacks. He had me covered plus we were only a couple of spots from the bubble and the end of the tourney. Needless to say, I folded the hand even if it was a steal but the raiser. There were some very short stacks and I was about average...no need to get involved here. Turned out to be the correct decision and I got a step 1 ticket.

From step 1 onwards, there are a lot of choices for the type of event you want to play, there are standard single-table SnGs, multi-table SNGs, turbo, super-turbo...you get the idea. After reviewing the prizes and such for each event (plus seeing what would actually be running in the time I had), I settled on an 18 person turbo SNG where the top 10 get to repeat step 1 and the top 4 get a Step 2 seat.

I just played this using my fast tourney strategy and waited for spots. I was pretty much card dead in the early stages. It is interesting watching people play this event...seems like they didn't have a clue so I thought I was in pretty good here. It quickly got to push/fold stages. Had to shove with 87o and got called with 55. Got a pair on the flop and doubled up. Had no real trouble getting to the final 9....but not without another interesting hand.

I was in pretty good shape with 11 remaining when I picked up AK. Had a guy raise to me in the BB...and I just folded. Seems a bit nitty but there was a real short stack who would be all in with the BB. I decided to just wait until we were all "in the money" as it were and just go from there.

Sure enough, the short guy soon busted and the final table was set a few hands later. My earlier nittiness was paying off as I had a pretty tight image. Now my shoves where getting respect for good hands. People where folding where, based on their stack sizes and the current pot, they could have called with pretty much everything. I don't think anyone really noticed my stack was continuing to grow. Bottom line.....final 4 finish and a Step 2 ticket is in my hands.

Not sure when I'm going to play it. I will just review the games available and make a decision. I may go with an 18-seater again but it depends on the prize payout.