2011 WBCOOP!

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker! The WBCOOP is a free online Poker tournament open to all Bloggers, so register on WBCOOP to play.

Registration code: XXXXXX 365483

Is it bad to use your run good on a freeroll?

Yes, I realize it's been quite a bit since I have posted anything of the endeavor. For the most part, things are on the recovery phase after having some bad times. I'm sure I don't need to elaborate as we have all had those. Still frugal, still on the path.

I enjoy listening to podcasts almost more than music on my iPod when I am busy doing work or commuting to and from the work place. Aside from my normal sports related ones, I have a number of poker-related ones that I look forward to when they come out. One of the poker-related ones that I like that is unique in its approach is "Gambling Tales" with Falstaff and Special K. My good friend OhCaptain turned me in to these guys a couple years back, I believe after he met them in person at the winter blogger gathering in Vegas (I need to figure out a way to get there next year... Maybe I can sell pieces of myself, in keeping with the frugal tradition).

Starting new this year, the Gambling Tales guys are hosting a freeroll at Full Tilt on a weekly basis for listeners of the program. I decided to check it out, and when I registered for the $50 freeroll, there were only 30ish people registered. I figured my chances were decent for some return on investment (which was 0 :D ), so I registered. When I then logged into the tournament on Thursday night, I was shocked to see that it was full, meaning 1000 people had registered. It seems as though the password got out to the russian sites, because at least 50% of the people at all the tables I was at were from Russia. Either that or Special K and Falstaff really have a way with the Russkies.

On my first table, there was only one other active participant, who happened to be 2 to my left, which is terrible when there are so many dead stacks. After avoiding too much confrontation, I got to different tables with different players, also with dead stacks mixed in. Because I was looking at the prize structure and seeing that the return could be less than $0.10 even if you cash, I didn't focus really hard for quite some time. I organized my office, paid some bills, watched some movies, and probably ate some food.

Once the dead stacks were all elminated, I was still sitting pretty decent. Since I was not paying too much attention and no one at my early tables was chatty (or maybe they didn't speak english), I can't tell you what happened, but ultimately where I started to remember was when we were down to two tables and Falstaff actually was at my table. Here, there was actually table discussion, which was what I was really hoping for with this freeroll, more than the potential return. Avoiding getting into bad or marginal spots, I survived to the final table, last in chips at that point with about 6 BB or so.

Staying out of the way, shoving and getting called with worse and holding, and just stealing where possible, I managed to get to heads up, only with a 1:7 chip deficit. I would have been happy enough with that, but a few races later, I ended up winning the whole thing! The reward for this unbelievable accomplishment? See for yourself:



So my question is, is it bad to use so much rungood for less than $10 in 4.5 hours? I guess it is nice to be the inaugural champ of the Gambling Tales freeroll at least. Thanks boys!

It's that time again!

Blogger Tournament at Pokerstars.com

I played in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker 2010

Contemplating the 8-game SCOOP

Although I have only played one 8-game mix tournament so far (which netted me a $33 ticket to the upcoming SCOOP events), I am seriously contemplating taking a dive and giving it another go at the $33 SCOOP 8-game mix being held May 13th at 14:00 on the PokerStars clock (which is unfortunately 1:00 PM for me). Being as I have a full-time job as a normal working individual, I may find it hard to get out of work for a poker tournament though. Although I know How to Play Pot Limit Omaha (which is a game I find extremely entertaining) and How to Play 7 Card Stud (which is a game I can't stand), I don't think that I can rationally justify the time away for mixing it up with some of these entertaining times. Why is it that the SCOOP tournaments just assume that everyone interested in them is a degenerate that can play at any time of the day? :D

I guess maybe I better keep looking for a better option outside of the work day...

Getting excited for the 2010 SCOOP

With the schedule being released for the 2010 SCOOP Poker Tournament offered over at PokerStars and with my two $11 tickets and one $33 ticket, I am perusing through to see what tournaments would be the best. I think I am going to play Event 19, the 2-7 triple draw event for sure, but other than that, I am not sure. Any suggestions on easiest field?

Here is the complete schedule:

Event 1: No-Limit Hold'em with Re-buys Six-Max
May 3, 2010
Low: $5.50 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
Med: $55 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed
High: $530 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed

Event 2: Fixed-Limit Badugi
May 3, 2010
Low: $16.50 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed
Med: $162 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
High: $1,575 buy-in, $75,000 guaranteed

Event 3: Pot-Limit Five-Card Draw
May 4, 2010
Low: $11 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed
Med: $109 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
High: $1,050 buy-in, $75,000 guaranteed

Event 4: No-Limit Hold'em Heads-Up Match Play
May 4, 2010
Low: $16.50 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Med: $162 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
High: $1,575 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed

Event 5: No-Limit Hold'em
May 4, 2010
Low: $11 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Med: $109 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed
High: $1,050 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed

Event 6: Mixed Hold'em Six-Max
May 5, 2010
Low: $22 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Med: $215 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed
High: $2,100 buy-in, $400,000 guaranteed

Event 7: Seven Card Stud
May 5, 2010
Low: $33 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed
Med: $320 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
High: $3,150 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed

Event 8: Pot-Limit Omaha Heads-Up Match Play
May 6, 2010
Low: $22 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed
Med: $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
High: $2,100 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed

Event 9: No-Limit Hold'em
May 6, 2010
Low: TBD buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Med: TBD buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed
High: TBD buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed

Event 10: No-Limit Hold'em Ante-Up
May 7, 2010
Low: $16.50 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
Med: $162 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
High: $1,575 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed

Event 11: Fixed-Limit Omaha High-Low
May 7, 2010
Low: $55 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
Med: $530 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed
High: $5,200 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed

Event 12: No-Limit Hold'em 2x Chance Turbo
May 7, 2010
Low: $16.50 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
Med: $162 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed
High: $1,575 buy-in, $750,000 guaranteed

Event 13: No-Limit Hold'em Shootout
May 8, 2010
Low: $22 buy-in, $15,000 guaranteed (Quadruple Shootout)
Med: $215 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed (Triple Shootout)
High: $2,100 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed (Double Shootout)

Event 14: Pot-Limit Omaha with Re-buys Six-Max
May 8, 2010
Low: $16.50 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Med: $162 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
High: $1,575 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed

Event 15: No-Limit Hold'em Big Antes
May 9, 2010
Low: $22 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
Med: $215 buy-in, $750,000 guaranteed
High: $2,100 buy-in, $750,000 guaranteed

Event 16: No-Limit Hold'em Two Day Event
May 9, 2010
Low: $22 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed
Med: $215 buy-in, $1,500,000 guaranteed
High: $2,100 buy-in, $2,000,000 guaranteed

Event: 17: Pot-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha
May 10, 2010
Low: $16.50 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Med: $162 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed
High: $1,575 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed

Event 18: No-Limit Hold'em Four-Max
May 10, 2010
Low: $33 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed
Med: $320 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed
High: $3,150 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed

Event 19: Deuce-Seven Triple Draw
May 11, 2010
Low: $11 buy-in, $25,000 guaranteed
Med: $109 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
High: $1,050 buy-in, $75,000 guaranteed

Event 20: Seven Card Stud High-Low
May 11, 2010
Low: $22 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
Med: $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
High: $2,100 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed

Event 21: No-Limit Hold'em
May 11, 2010
Low: $11 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Med: $109 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed
High: $1,050 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed

Event 22: Razz
May 12, 2010
Low: $22 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
Med: $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
High: $2,100 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed

Event 23: No-Limit Hold'em with Two Re-buys & One Add-on
May 12, 2010
Low: $22 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Med: $215 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed
High: $2,100 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed

Event 24: Eight-Game
May 13, 2010
Low: $33 buy-in, $75,000 guaranteed
Med: $320 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed
High: $3,150 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed

Event 25: Pot-Limit Omaha High-Low
May 13, 2010
Low: $11 buy-in, $75,000 guaranteed
Med: $109 buy-in, $150,000 guaranteed
High: $1,050 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed

Event 26: No-Limit Hold'em with One Re-buy & One Add-on
May 14, 2010
Low: $22 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
Med: $215 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed
High: $2,100 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed

Event 27: Fixed-Limit Hold'em Six-Max
May 14, 2010
Low: $55 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Med: $530 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed
High: $5,200 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed

Event 28: No-Limit Omaha High-Low Turbo
May 14, 2010
Low: $22 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
Med: $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
High: $2,100 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed

Event 29: Pot-Limit Omaha
May 15, 2010
Low: $55 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
Med: $530 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
High: $5,200 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed

Event 30: HORSE
May 15, 2010
Low: $22 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed
Med: $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed
High: $2,100 buy-in, $200,000 guaranteed

Event 31: No-Limit Hold'em Six-Max
May 16, 2010
Low: $22 buy-in, $20,000 guaranteed
Med: $215 buy-in, $750,000 guaranteed
High: $2,100 buy-in, $750,000 guaranteed

Event 32: No-Limit Hold'em Heads-Up Match Play Two Day Event
May 16, 2010
Low: $270 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed
Med: $2,600 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed
High: $25,500 buy-in, $750,000 guaranteed

Event 33: No-Limit Hold'em Main Event Two Day Event
May 16, 2010
Low: $109 buy-in, $1.000,000 guaranteed
Med: $1,050 buy-in, $3,000,000 guaranteed
High: $10,300 buy-in, $5,000,000 guaranteed

Going on a bit of a poker hiatus...

Well, it's been about a year into the endeavor of frugality now, and things have been going decently for the most part. I recently redeemed enough points for the hat I described about 10 months ago and also some iron man points for a jacket. Woot...

However, the cash game action has been a real downer lately. I won't bore with bad beat stories, but the pace of Rush poker really makes them come at an increased rate. Getting it all in good and losing three consecutive buyins to three outers is fantastic. Which is why playing poker is clearly a game of skill. The skill to suckout on me I guess.

Looking forward to redeeming my PokerStars SCOOP tickets compliments of the blogger tourneys last month, otherwise there will likely not be much transpiring here. Unless of course I get into discussing the home game action. :D

January 2010 recap

I figured I would give a quick update on the advancement of the endeavor for January. Here are the results, mostly thanks to Rush Poker :D