Alright everybody. I know everyone has got to be pretty fired up to hear what this book is all about. I was ecstatic when I bought the book and just as happy to read it. What a fantastic and insightful read! I thoroughly enjoyed every single page.

The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King basically is a real life account of the highest stakes poker cash game ever played. Andy Beal is a billionaire that happens to have an affection for the action that poker can bring him while attempting to appease his ego that he can actually compete and win against the best poker players in the world. The book has its amusing moments as well as times when you just shake your head pondering what you have just witnessed.

I highly recommend this book. Not just because of the big names involved like Doyle Brunson, Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Jennifer Harmon and many other professional poker players. I recommend it because it is an extremely well documented account of how the high stakes poker players mind works and what drives them.

I picked up my copy brand new for $14 bucks. One of the best books I have read about poker in a while.

I did get the opportunity to play the 90 player Deep Stacks Sit n Go on Pokerstars and it went well. However, I did not cash due to a tough beat late in the tournament. It happens. Anyhow, I thought the tournament went well and the number of hands was comparable to the 15 min levels even though there were only 12 mins. The reason is that Pokerstars has an accelerated deal in these tournaments. I am not sure why they do not use this feature in all tournaments but it allows more hands per hour than the normal deal used for the 15 minute and higher tournaments.

The play was typical and chips were easy to accumulate. There were not as many pre-flop all-ins but there were several after the flop. If you hit a set then you were pretty much good to go because top pair had no interest in folding in the tournaments I played. Regardless of my less than stellar results for this newbie format I like the 90 player tournaments a lot and plan to play them quite a bit.

I have a few projects in the works right now and I am looking forward to taking Do or Die Poker to the next level in terms of poker blogs. As soon as I get some confirmation I will let you in on whats going on.

Take care!

This weekend I stumbled into Borders and saw a copy of Poker Pro Magazine. I had heard about this magazine a few months ago but never saw a copy of it anywhere. I decided to pick one up and I am glad I did. I used to be a subscriber to Cardplayer but there were just too many ads for my taste and not enough substance. I enjoy Bluff magazine and All-In magazine as well. However, Poker Pro Magazine had exactly what I believe every poker player is looking for rolled into to one magazine.

First, it is well written and has plenty of strategy based articles along with industry news and goings on in the poker lifestyle. Second, the ads do not take over the publication forcing you to search for articles. Lastly, this magazine is published by a fresh and young team that gives you more in-depth information about the online poker scene than any other publication.

I still subscribe to my regular magazines but I am definitely going to add this one to my arsenal. The 12 month subscription cost is $24 dollars.

You can check them out at Poker Pro Magazine

Yes, you will be hearing a lot more about this over the next few weeks. The NFL does not care to co-exist with online poker or any other form of online gambling. I had no idea they even cared about online poker. However, after doing a bit of homework I found that the only online gambling activity that they do support is fantasy sports which nets the NFL approximately $1 Billion per year.

Imagine that - the NFL protects their own interests. How noble.

As much as I enjoy my NFL football each and every weekend this is a really classless move and the NFL should be ashamed of themselves. Here is the deal as it shakes out today:

A gentlemen named William Wichterman used to work for the NFL as an attorney and lobbyist. He worked for them up until March of 2008. Wichterman is now Director of Public Liaison for the Bush administration. That is called an acute example of a conflict of interest. According to sources it is Wichterman that is pushing for this UIGEA bill to be locked down by the end of January and thereby enforceable on our financial system and the banks we visit.

Once again corporations sticking their noses in places where they don’t belong. Did the NFL think about how  many poker players buy and watch their products?

Maybe they should.

Pokerstars has listened to their players once again and come up with an array of new sit-n-go tournaments for low stakes players. I jumped on last night to play my $4.40, 180 player tournament only to find an entire set of new 90 player tournaments. In addition to the new ones they also added the single table Double or Nothing tournaments too!

First things first.

The Double or Nothing tournaments are just as they are described. These tournaments start as low as $1.15 and play all the way up to a $108 dollar buy-in. Basically you play a normal tournament but only half of the table gets paid “double or nothing.”

The new Multi-Table Sit-n-go tournaments are all 90 player tournaments and have buy-ins as low as .25 cents all the way up to $109 dollars. I played the $5.50 last night and cashed. Each of the 90 player tournaments cash 12 places only.

Lastly, there is a Sit-n-Go Deep Stacks tournament. The other tournaments all have 10 minute levels and 2000 starting chips. The Sit-n-go Deep Stacks tournaments start with $3000 chips and 12 minute levels! Not only are they faster than the normal 180 player tournaments but they give you a bit of an edge in chips plus the structure is such that the good players should find making the final table just a little easier with the smaller field.

I am rather stoked by the idea of these mini sit-n-go tournaments. They are a great idea and another way to build your bankroll.

It has been a while since I posted about making a great move and actually winning a pot. So I am extremely happy to share this moment with you from my last 180 NL MTT. The hand started out with me UTG holding [9][9]. I called and picked up two other callers along with the BB. The blinds are at $100 / $50

The flop comes down [9s 4s 9c] and I quickly realize I have THE NUTZ! Seeing as I was in early position and there was a flush draw on the board I decided to check with three players behind me. I was very sure I was going to get action on the flush draw. Sure enough one of the players bets out $300. I smooth called praying that another spade hit the board convinced my opponent was on a flush draw.

The turn was the [Qs] Bingo!

Instead of checking I bet out $400 knowing he would put the rest of his chips in if I was right on my read. Well, he did re-raise me all-in but he was holding [4c Ad].

Go figure?

I quickly doubled up again and went on to cash in that tournament. The thing about the hand is if I don’t bet out when the spade hits on the turn it becomes obvious that I have the flush or some kind of big hand.

I suppose I should just stop thinking all together when playing online poker.

This game is just way too easy. <insert sarcasm here>

The continuation bet is a topic that is constantly being tossed around poker forums. I belong to about 5 forums and I see this all the time. The thing about the continuation bet is that it is all relative. There are just too many variables to simply say, “I am always going to bet after a raise. No matter what!” That kind of thinking costs you money in the long run because it does not allow you to adjust to your environment.

Most of the time it does make sense to make the continuation bet. It especially makes sense against weak opponents. However, if you happen to be sitting at an aggressive table where chips are flying it might behoove you to shelve the continuation bet in lieu of check calling. This allows you to use your opponents natural aggression in your own favor by allowing them to take the lead when you have the best hand. Obviously if you flop big you have an incredible amount of leverage moving forward with the hand and are in position to get maximum value for the hand.

Sometimes less is more.

Recommended Resources

Although Texas Holdem has the poker world in tight grip there are other games that requires, if not the same, similar skills and strategic knowledge. Many US online casinos offer more than simple roulette and slots. A game that canstimulate the need for speed, skill and odds is Caribbean stud poker.

Where are you in respect to your own poker game? How do you feel about it? Is your game evolving? Each and every one of the aforementioned is a relevant question we all need to consistently answer. You must be capable of being brutally honest with yourself and your game before you can realize any improvement in your play.

For me I am constantly tweaking my game from tournament to tournament. What may be working for me at one table may not work when I get moved to the next. The same sized raise may be small at one table and large at the next. The game and the the players are all moving targets in terms of the variance of the two. I may play tight at one table and be a maniac at the other but if I constantly play the same style I become predictable and very beatable.

By mixing up your play and adapting to different styles of play along with the tables you will keep changing your game by nature and reap the benefits of doing so which translates into winning more hands. Mixing up your play should be high on your priority list going into any poker tournament or cash game.

I just got through reading UB explanation of what went wrong. I gotta tell you that as a computer person it is entirely possible that this scenario could have taken place. However, my issue is that things “happen” at UB far too often for my taste and I am sure the same goes for others. I am not alone folks. Just what the heck is going on over at Ultimate Bet and why can’t they get their stuff together enough to either get it right or get out of the game?

The constant drama at UB is hurting online poker.

Hellmuth said that there was no malicious intent and that he continues to stand by UB. Indeed, that may be true but again. How many times are we going to hear the same story? How many times do we need to see UB catapult themselves into infamy?

I think we have seen enough UB. Just call it a day for all of our sakes.

Please?

Yes, you heard me correct. Another scandal involving Ultimate Bet is rocking the online poker world. This time the scandal involves poker professional Phil Hellmuth. How many times can UB continue to have scandal after scandal and continue to survive? Just the other night I listened to Annie Duke extol the virtues of UB during her interview on Pokerroad. She discussed how she would feel like such a hypocrite for leaving the site and their sponsorship.

Duke was asked why she had not jumped ship like the other pro’s that wanted to save their reputation after the last scandal.

Now all hell has broken lose. From what I have been reading Hellmuth was involved in a $400 / $200 Limit game and the pot got maxed out around $5600.  The flop came down [J][K][K] and Doubleballer held King Queen for trips. Instead of shipping the pot to DB he was disconnected and the pot was given to Phil Hellmuth instead despite Hellmuth having mucked the hand!

Unreal!!!!!!

From what I understand Doubleballer was on the phone with a UB representative and his money was eventually returned and UB apologized profusely. Needless to say playing at UB is a major NO NO and a hazard to your bankroll.

You have been warned!

Over the past 6 months there has been a noticeable change in how online tournament poker is being played. No longer is the standard raise 3 - 4x’s the big blind. Those days are now gone forever. In some ways this is a good thing but in other ways it is very bad. The standard online tournament raise is now simply a minimum raise from any position. Maybe this is because I rarely play above the $30 tournament level but it is a tactic that is extremely annoying despite my being able to take advantage of it time after time again.

I know I have written about this phenomenon previously and how to defend against it but it still shocks me why anyone would want to raise the minimum in a full ring with pocket Aces from under the gun. I just do not understand that kind of thinking. Over and over again I saw hand after hand get cracked and then the player that minimum raise ask the question, “How could you call me with that crap?”, not realizing that a minimum raise prices in almost any hand you can be dealt.

Another strange change to online poker is the advent of the minimum raise after having made your hand on the flop. Probe bets are now being met with minimum raises and causing the min raiser to be sent to the rail more often due to the fact that the min raise, once again, prices in your opponent to make the call to see fourth street.

Bam!!!!

Another min raiser throws a fit wondering how his Ace King could get cracked by a set of Two’s when the board showed [A][K][X][2]. The idea of players not folding is fine with me. I understand in low stakes tournaments players are not going to fold and the variance can get pretty crazy because of this fact. However, when I got called pre-flop for 5k by [7][6]os and my Ace King goes up in flames because the flop came down [3][4][5] it really makes me wonder if I am playing poker or bingo. The concepts of playing poker no longer hold true in the online tournament world. It is a very difficult adjustment to make if you can call it an adjustment at all.

Yes, I ran good for a while and I continue to play good poker and cash but the game has changed again and not for the better. Players no longer use logic or even math in their thinking. It’s all about the excitement of getting your chips in the middle even with the worst hand.

That’s a scary thought indeed.

David “Chino” Rheem continues his run after final tabling the 2008 WSOP. He is now the 2008 Five Diamond Classic winner and took down a cool $1.2 Million in the wee hours of the morning. Chino has had a whirlwind of a year with making a run in the WSOP NL Championship and now the Five Diamond Classic.

Who knows what’s next for this guy?

Congratulations David!

Yes! I finally went out and bought this book after hearing so much about it two years ago when it was released. I just got started on the first 20 pages or so but the book is a very interesting read. It explores the biggest cash game of all time between Texas billionaire Andy Beal and the Las Vegas high stakes pros. I will post a full review of the book as soon as I am done.

I figure I will complete it over the holidays so it won’t be long.

With just 18 players left in the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond Classic there are plenty of familiar faces still in the hunt. Here is a break down of the final 18 players still in contention for the title.

1st: Benjamin Straate (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), $3,197,000
2nd: Brett Richey (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), $2,164,000
3rd: Justin Young (Morehead City, North Carolina), $1,807,000
4th: Evan McNiff (San Diego, California), $1,532,000
5th: Mike Matusow (Las Vegas, Nevada), $1,435,000
6th: Jack Wu (Palo Alto, California), $1,412,000
7th: Amnon Filippi (New York, New York), $1,374,000
8th: Steve Sung (Torrance, California), $1,359,000
9th: Robert Mizrachi (Las Vegas, Nevada), $1,266,000
10th: Hoyt Corkins (Glenwood, Alabama), $1,251,000
11th: Chino Rheem (Las Vegas, Nevada), $1,200,000
12th: Clonie Gowen (Dallas, Texas), $1,049,000
13th: Tom Pniak (Las Vegas, Nevada), $1,041,000
14th: Bill Klein (Laguna Hills, California), $999,000
15th: Ben Tollerene (Lubbock, Texas), $492,000
16th: Nick Schulman (Las Vegas, Nevada), $480,000
17th: Joe McGowan (Las Vegas, Nevada), $420,000
18th: Martin Deknijff (Las Vegas, Nevada), $298,000

Play resumes at 12:00 Noon local time on Thursday.

Sometimes the analytical mind of a poker player can be a hindrance to maximizing your profit. I realize that we should normally stick to solid fundamentals and vary our play as situations dictate. However, playing a hand backwards is a tactic, when used sparingly, that can net you tons of chips and leave your opponent speechless.

The other night I was holding [A][5] suited in hearts. I called a 3x’s raise from the big blind with only myself and the Big Blind in the pot with the raiser. The flop came down [3][X][X] with one heart. Obviously, I am going to fold to any big get but the hand checked around to me and I decided to bet the pot. The BB immediately folded and the original raiser called. At that point I had him on nothing or he may have hit a set. The turn brought another heart to the board. Now my wheels are turning. The better checked to me. I am sure he was hoping I was going to bet out so that he could re-raise.

Nope!

I took the free card and hit the river for the flush. The board didn’t pair and the river was the King of hearts which was perfect. My opponent then bet out and then I re-raised for half his stack. He pushed and I immediately called his all-in bet with the nutz. He turned over a set of threes.

Summary: No, I would not have slow played my set in the same manner and certainly would not have given the free card on the turn. However, by betting out I did not give them impression that I was on a flush draw and made my opponent overreact to the re-raise on the river. Therein lies the power of playing a hand backwards. When the opportunity is right take advantage of it.