I have been wondering of late how the changes at PartyPoker influenced (if it did at all) the decision by Betfair to stay with Cryptologic. First of all, PartyPoker cutting loose all of their skins suddenly made the online poker world a much bigger place. Some of these skins will of course disappear, but I’m sure a few of them will hold on and gain a bit of market share as they build up a more loyal customer base. With so many new independents (even if it was against their will), it would defiantly be a much more scary place for Betfair to wonder into at this time.
At the same time PartyPoker also introduced more table games. One of Cryptologic’s biggest advantages was that it offered a lot more than just poker (poker counts about 30% of Cryptologics revenues). So now that the largest online poker gaming room is now offering more than just poker, Cryptologic has a bit more to worry about.
This can also be an opportunity. For those skins that just can’t cut it on their own without PartyPokers massive base, some of them may just move over to Cryptologic so they can once again take advantage of massive community of players. Obviously it is still a bit too soon to see how things will play out, but I for one hope that Cryptologic will come out the better for it, after all, I hold shares in the company after all.
Cryptologic is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol CRYP.
Cryptologic is traded on the TSX (Toronto Stock Exchange) under the symbol CRY.
Cryptologic is traded on the LSE (London Stock Exchange) under the symbol CRP.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Thursday, October 27, 2005
DHS=KGB
Well, now that Meiers is out, things should get interesting. Personally, I’m glad she’s gone, but now we just have to wonder, what’s next? Let’s face it, Bush does not give a rat’s ass about this country, so he just may pick someone else who meets his high standards of quality, ie, ‘I’ve known him/her for more than a decade.’
I can remember back to the 70-80’s in the Cold War era. The big thing was the Russians and the KGB Turn in your friends, family, neighbors, any threat to the state and they would be taken care of. Over there they had absolute power, search, seizure, no courts necessary, they could just do it.
Today, I can remember the 2000’s in the USA and the DHS. Turn in your friends, family, neighbors, any threat to the state and they would be taken care of. Over there they had absolute power, search, seizure, no courts necessary, they could just do it.
I for one find the similarities pretty fuckin’ scary and depressing.
I can remember back to the 70-80’s in the Cold War era. The big thing was the Russians and the KGB Turn in your friends, family, neighbors, any threat to the state and they would be taken care of. Over there they had absolute power, search, seizure, no courts necessary, they could just do it.
Today, I can remember the 2000’s in the USA and the DHS. Turn in your friends, family, neighbors, any threat to the state and they would be taken care of. Over there they had absolute power, search, seizure, no courts necessary, they could just do it.
I for one find the similarities pretty fuckin’ scary and depressing.
Bad Bet
A very painful thing happened on Tuesday night during the private poker game—MOTH held at PokerStars on the last Tuesday of every month. I actually went out in 15th place. I had been playing very tight, my stack was all right, but not great and I finally got my first pair (about 5 minutes before the first break). Well, I bet it very aggressively and got called by a new person who had been playing nearly every hand trying to push people off of theirs, and since the table was by and large tight, he was doing pretty well.
Well, once the pot was decent, I went all in—I mean I had been play so tight all game that you could have stuck a lump of coal up my ass and had a diamond by the break. This person called with a pair of 10’s. We both ended up with two pair, so naturally, I was out, but at the same time most of the table was shocked that he called me with that. At the same time, this person labeled themselves as overly-aggressive and was played as such.
So while I can’t call it a bad beat, it was defiantly a ‘holly shit I can’t believe he called!’
And don’t forget that tomorrow night is the weekly game hosted by Team PokerStars very own Wil Wheaton!
What: WWdN: Up4Poker Invitational
Where: PokerStars.
When: Friday, October 28th. 9:00 PM EST
Password: monkey
Tournament number: 14090593
Buy-in: $10+1
See ya there!!
Well, once the pot was decent, I went all in—I mean I had been play so tight all game that you could have stuck a lump of coal up my ass and had a diamond by the break. This person called with a pair of 10’s. We both ended up with two pair, so naturally, I was out, but at the same time most of the table was shocked that he called me with that. At the same time, this person labeled themselves as overly-aggressive and was played as such.
So while I can’t call it a bad beat, it was defiantly a ‘holly shit I can’t believe he called!’
And don’t forget that tomorrow night is the weekly game hosted by Team PokerStars very own Wil Wheaton!
What: WWdN: Up4Poker Invitational
Where: PokerStars.
When: Friday, October 28th. 9:00 PM EST
Password: monkey
Tournament number: 14090593
Buy-in: $10+1
See ya there!!
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Bubble Tilt
Is there such thing as Bubble Tilt? Of my past six tourneys, I have finished twice in the money and four times I bubbled out! Being so close and yet so far is pretty bad, but when it happens so many times in so short a time period, it can almost make you sick to your stomach.
Oh well, just let it all go and get ready for tonight. This evening I’m in a $10+1 private tourney on PS. With a bit of luck I will land in the money this time, and trust me, my bankroll can use it! One of the tourneys I bubbled out on was a $10+1 just like this one, and since my bankroll was only $30ish, there is 2/3 all tied up. Add on losing those others and it will pretty well be depleted if I don’t make some cash here soon. Good thing Friday is payday…LOL.
Now there’s a goal, make your bankroll last 3 days till you can add on to it. All in all, on reflection it hasn’t been too bad. My original $25 bankroll has lasted me two months, playing between 3-9 hours a week and tonight will be my 3rd $10+1 tourney, I guess I haven’t been doing all that bad. One of the $10 tourneys I bubbled out on (that hurt) and the other I placed 7th (3 paid) so I’m getting there (I hope). But without a doubt, I can’t afford more that 2 of these private $10’s a month (a total of 5 are open each month), so I will need to pace myself and play smart on my very low-limit games and build up some cash to cover them.
Oh well, just let it all go and get ready for tonight. This evening I’m in a $10+1 private tourney on PS. With a bit of luck I will land in the money this time, and trust me, my bankroll can use it! One of the tourneys I bubbled out on was a $10+1 just like this one, and since my bankroll was only $30ish, there is 2/3 all tied up. Add on losing those others and it will pretty well be depleted if I don’t make some cash here soon. Good thing Friday is payday…LOL.
Now there’s a goal, make your bankroll last 3 days till you can add on to it. All in all, on reflection it hasn’t been too bad. My original $25 bankroll has lasted me two months, playing between 3-9 hours a week and tonight will be my 3rd $10+1 tourney, I guess I haven’t been doing all that bad. One of the $10 tourneys I bubbled out on (that hurt) and the other I placed 7th (3 paid) so I’m getting there (I hope). But without a doubt, I can’t afford more that 2 of these private $10’s a month (a total of 5 are open each month), so I will need to pace myself and play smart on my very low-limit games and build up some cash to cover them.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
PokerStars Blogger Championship
10/23/2005 2:58:30 PM
Table 43 of 180, total of 1473 players.
Starting in the SB with a 52s—fold
10/23/2005 3:04:58 PM
Lost our first one already, AA v 72s, our Laggy Hectorjelly’s HAMMER got a flush!!
10/23/2005 3:09:49 PM
Be nice to get a hand to take Hectorjelly down a notch or two!!
10/23/2005 3:11:02 PM
Keeping my head above water, $2,090 in chips.
10/23/2005 3:16:19 PM
blinds are up to 15/30—looks like they go up every 15 min. We seem to have 3 no-shows at our table, I hope to outlast them! At least I get to steal their blinds every now and then!
Down to 1392 people on 155 tables.
10/23/2005 3:28:35 PM
My first big bad hand of the day, just lost about $150, my 88 went from 30 to 60 so I called (jmoney2424 is pretty Laggy). I had a weak flush draw and a decent straight draw. Had a bet of 30 and the river helped my straight and then an A on the river. He bet 90 and I called, he had been holding pocked A’s.
Blinds are now 25/50 and there are 1297 people on 144 tables.
My stack of 1,860 is now below average of 2289
10/23/2005 3:35:09 PM
DAMNITALL, just had KQ with a TJx board, bet was 80 to me, was about to go 150 when a dog snoot hit my arm and I FOLDED, arrgh!!
10/23/2005 3:40:33 PM
Seems like the only cards that are any good are the ones I fold, my best hand in quite some time just came up, T9, so why not, course I get raised and I call and the flop sucks so I check and get a huge raise…oh well I really didn’t want to place in this one…
The freakin’ no-shows are doing better than me!
10/23/2005 4:00:37 PM
Finally picked up a couple of decent hands, up to 2510, putting me on average for the table, one big stack at seat 9 with 5375, still the average now is 2781 with 1059 players on 118 tables.
10/23/2005 4:12:26 PM
Just went all-in with my JJ v. Hectorjelly (he initiated) and showed AA, was gonna go puke till I rivered a J!! 5195 in chips!!
10/23/2005 4:23:18 PM
Just made a stupid play, took my A4s to a 2BB raise (I was in the BB). Crap flop and fold, down to 4395. Blinds are now 100/200.
10/23/2005 4:29:30 PM
Well, we have officially outlasted ½ the field. We are now at 661 players on 74 tables.
Huge stack just moved in to replace Hector, 19000+!!
Well, not anymore, just took a big hit.
10/23/2005 4:38:23 PM
Cards, cards, cards, where are all the card?!?! Stack down to 3670, so sad…
10/23/2005 4:43:03 PM
HAMMER time…and folded.
10/23/2005 4:46:24 PM
Out in 408th place…oh well.
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Budohorseman [Jc Qd]Budohorseman: calls 200HugoBall: foldsjmoney2424: foldsthebrux: foldsHedman75: raises 600 to 800occabid: foldsmattmrob99: foldsQuilantis: foldshartman77: foldsBudohorseman: calls 600*** FLOP *** [Jh Ah 3s]Budohorseman: bets 600Hedman75: raises 5960 to 6560 and is all-inBudohorseman: calls 1345 and is all-in*** TURN *** [Jh Ah 3s] [8s]*** RIVER *** [Jh Ah 3s 8s] [3h]*** SHOW DOWN ***Budohorseman: shows [Jc Qd] (two pair, Jacks and Threes)Hedman75: shows [Ac Kc] (two pair, Aces and Threes)Hedman75 collected 5790 from side potmattmrob99 said, "gg"
Just a bit shy of making it into the top 25% and about 220 spots out of ‘the money’ or actually ‘the prizes’ in this particular case. Oh well, had fun and got some experience while I was at it, not too many dumb calls, but I should not have played that last set out of position, forced me to put too much into the pot and then have to call it, after my 600 bet before he put me all in, if I had folded I would be down to having to play the next three hands or be blinded/anted out of the game…
Table 43 of 180, total of 1473 players.
Starting in the SB with a 52s—fold
10/23/2005 3:04:58 PM
Lost our first one already, AA v 72s, our Laggy Hectorjelly’s HAMMER got a flush!!
10/23/2005 3:09:49 PM
Be nice to get a hand to take Hectorjelly down a notch or two!!
10/23/2005 3:11:02 PM
Keeping my head above water, $2,090 in chips.
10/23/2005 3:16:19 PM
blinds are up to 15/30—looks like they go up every 15 min. We seem to have 3 no-shows at our table, I hope to outlast them! At least I get to steal their blinds every now and then!
Down to 1392 people on 155 tables.
10/23/2005 3:28:35 PM
My first big bad hand of the day, just lost about $150, my 88 went from 30 to 60 so I called (jmoney2424 is pretty Laggy). I had a weak flush draw and a decent straight draw. Had a bet of 30 and the river helped my straight and then an A on the river. He bet 90 and I called, he had been holding pocked A’s.
Blinds are now 25/50 and there are 1297 people on 144 tables.
My stack of 1,860 is now below average of 2289
10/23/2005 3:35:09 PM
DAMNITALL, just had KQ with a TJx board, bet was 80 to me, was about to go 150 when a dog snoot hit my arm and I FOLDED, arrgh!!
10/23/2005 3:40:33 PM
Seems like the only cards that are any good are the ones I fold, my best hand in quite some time just came up, T9, so why not, course I get raised and I call and the flop sucks so I check and get a huge raise…oh well I really didn’t want to place in this one…
The freakin’ no-shows are doing better than me!
10/23/2005 4:00:37 PM
Finally picked up a couple of decent hands, up to 2510, putting me on average for the table, one big stack at seat 9 with 5375, still the average now is 2781 with 1059 players on 118 tables.
10/23/2005 4:12:26 PM
Just went all-in with my JJ v. Hectorjelly (he initiated) and showed AA, was gonna go puke till I rivered a J!! 5195 in chips!!
10/23/2005 4:23:18 PM
Just made a stupid play, took my A4s to a 2BB raise (I was in the BB). Crap flop and fold, down to 4395. Blinds are now 100/200.
10/23/2005 4:29:30 PM
Well, we have officially outlasted ½ the field. We are now at 661 players on 74 tables.
Huge stack just moved in to replace Hector, 19000+!!
Well, not anymore, just took a big hit.
10/23/2005 4:38:23 PM
Cards, cards, cards, where are all the card?!?! Stack down to 3670, so sad…
10/23/2005 4:43:03 PM
HAMMER time…and folded.
10/23/2005 4:46:24 PM
Out in 408th place…oh well.
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Budohorseman [Jc Qd]Budohorseman: calls 200HugoBall: foldsjmoney2424: foldsthebrux: foldsHedman75: raises 600 to 800occabid: foldsmattmrob99: foldsQuilantis: foldshartman77: foldsBudohorseman: calls 600*** FLOP *** [Jh Ah 3s]Budohorseman: bets 600Hedman75: raises 5960 to 6560 and is all-inBudohorseman: calls 1345 and is all-in*** TURN *** [Jh Ah 3s] [8s]*** RIVER *** [Jh Ah 3s 8s] [3h]*** SHOW DOWN ***Budohorseman: shows [Jc Qd] (two pair, Jacks and Threes)Hedman75: shows [Ac Kc] (two pair, Aces and Threes)Hedman75 collected 5790 from side potmattmrob99 said, "gg"
Just a bit shy of making it into the top 25% and about 220 spots out of ‘the money’ or actually ‘the prizes’ in this particular case. Oh well, had fun and got some experience while I was at it, not too many dumb calls, but I should not have played that last set out of position, forced me to put too much into the pot and then have to call it, after my 600 bet before he put me all in, if I had folded I would be down to having to play the next three hands or be blinded/anted out of the game…
Friday, October 21, 2005
Back in the game
Well after about of week of sng’s without a single finish in the money, I finally had one last night…yeah for me!! My first one of the evening I went out in 10th, three short of the money and my departure put everyone else into the final table…so sad.
After a short break I sat back down and got into another sng. It was going pretty well, managed to get my stack up a bit and then just hold it there for what seemed like forever. As time went on, I eventually found myself at the final table again, and it was about frickin’ time!
As I gaze around the table, I find myself in 4th seat, and about ½ the chips are being held by three of the nine players. And so it begins, after a bit, one is down and we are now on the bubble. A few hands later and the next one is gone, yeah I’m in 7th and in the money! Of course 2nd stack is immediately to my right and is very aggressive. I try to get my chips in where they count, and eventually I manage to double up. Not too much later, one more down, and that big stack to my right is not so big anymore.
As play continues, I keep watching people drop off. I’m in 6th, now 5th, now 4th, hey, things are going my way!! Then I have an ‘Oh Shit’ moment when I realize that I have taken few of those chips and now all the other stacks are getting huge. Now I’m in 3rd and within two hands, I find myself going heads up! I’m all psyched up, but my opponent has about a 5:1 chip advantage on me so I have some work to do.
Based on the blinds, antes, and my stack, I’ve got about 4-5 hands I can play assuming I fold them all, but that’s not what we are here for. The first hand was unimpressive, a weak pair (55 or 77 don’t remember which). So I did a 2BB raise and he folded. Hand two was interesting.
AhJd
I pushed in ½ my stack and got a call…
JhAdXh
Top two pair plus a heart flush draw so I went all in and got a call…
Turns over 7h8h…crap!
Tc…now if I can just avoid a 9 or a heart…
And the river is….
3h….crap!
Oh well, what can you do. Since I bet ½ my stack pre-flop, I probably just should have went all-in and maybe gotten a fold, but I wanted something he would play so I could get me some chips before the blinds went up again. Who knows, maybe I’ll cash in tonight!!
After a short break I sat back down and got into another sng. It was going pretty well, managed to get my stack up a bit and then just hold it there for what seemed like forever. As time went on, I eventually found myself at the final table again, and it was about frickin’ time!
As I gaze around the table, I find myself in 4th seat, and about ½ the chips are being held by three of the nine players. And so it begins, after a bit, one is down and we are now on the bubble. A few hands later and the next one is gone, yeah I’m in 7th and in the money! Of course 2nd stack is immediately to my right and is very aggressive. I try to get my chips in where they count, and eventually I manage to double up. Not too much later, one more down, and that big stack to my right is not so big anymore.
As play continues, I keep watching people drop off. I’m in 6th, now 5th, now 4th, hey, things are going my way!! Then I have an ‘Oh Shit’ moment when I realize that I have taken few of those chips and now all the other stacks are getting huge. Now I’m in 3rd and within two hands, I find myself going heads up! I’m all psyched up, but my opponent has about a 5:1 chip advantage on me so I have some work to do.
Based on the blinds, antes, and my stack, I’ve got about 4-5 hands I can play assuming I fold them all, but that’s not what we are here for. The first hand was unimpressive, a weak pair (55 or 77 don’t remember which). So I did a 2BB raise and he folded. Hand two was interesting.
AhJd
I pushed in ½ my stack and got a call…
JhAdXh
Top two pair plus a heart flush draw so I went all in and got a call…
Turns over 7h8h…crap!
Tc…now if I can just avoid a 9 or a heart…
And the river is….
3h….crap!
Oh well, what can you do. Since I bet ½ my stack pre-flop, I probably just should have went all-in and maybe gotten a fold, but I wanted something he would play so I could get me some chips before the blinds went up again. Who knows, maybe I’ll cash in tonight!!
What: WWdN: Decker711 Invitational
Where: PokerStars.
When: Friday, October 21st. 7:00 PM EST
Password: monkey
Tournament number: 13788952
Buy-in: $10+1
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Laying Down a Good Hand
I had a moment of revelation today. Been reading up on poker and have read about a bajillion blogs and message board posts on the topic of folding a good hand. Not really that I did not understand the concept, I have done it myself dozens of times already. I had just been misunderstanding what they were saying. I had been reading “good hand” as “winning hand.”
By that they mean being able to lay down AdAc with a board that shows JhTh9h 8h Ks and everyone else is betting 30BB. Granted this is painfully obvious, but it also refers to laying down a low straight or flush, weak sets etc.
That little bit of clarity has made many of the posts that I have read make much more sense than before. Of course now I have a bunch I need to reread now….
By that they mean being able to lay down AdAc with a board that shows JhTh9h 8h Ks and everyone else is betting 30BB. Granted this is painfully obvious, but it also refers to laying down a low straight or flush, weak sets etc.
That little bit of clarity has made many of the posts that I have read make much more sense than before. Of course now I have a bunch I need to reread now….
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