Poker Blog & Poker Forum

Let me introduce myself.  I’m AJ… and yes that is my real first name.  I’ve been asked to submit blog entries onto this site from time to time on my personal observations and anything news worthy in the world of poker.  I figured, hey…what a good way to force myself to get better at this game

So, who am I?  Well, I’m a married 45yr old man living in Ontario, work full time as a manager in a manufacturing environment, and got into playing poker a few years ago during the early boom days.  I couldn’t tell you what a Chris Moneymaker was at that time, but I have always been intrigued about the game of poker, and so took it up.  And talk about a STEEP learning curve!  I paid the price for my education to date, and I’m still only realizing that I”m just scratching the surface of the vast amount of knowledge required to really understand poker.  A few years ago, I started my own poker league, and we meet regularly to play tournament No Limit Hold’em, and the occasional cash game as well.  I’m currently teaching myself the correct way of playing in cash games online and have recently turned $50 into about $300 in just under three months time.  I’m also understanding the concept of Bankroll Management, and how necessary it is in order to stay profitable at this game.  I have played other forms of poker as well, like Omaha, Stud, HORSE, and a few others, but my primary focus currently is on No Limit Holdem, so that’s what will be discussed primarily here, although not exclusively by any means.

You’re probably asking yourself what can you learn from a guy like me.  The answer is simply really…most likely, not much.  I’m NOT a professional player.  I’m NOT a high frequency winning player, although I do have records showing that I am break even for the past couple of years.  And thats why I’m striving to improve.  I don’t want to be JUST a break even player, I want to be able to take my game to the next level, and be comfortable playing that level.  Its time to take this game seriously, and I’m learning new skills every single day.  Its my goal to move up online to $.50/$1 NL games in less than one year’s time (currently playing $.05/$.10, and I started at .01/.02 three months ago) as well as play $5/$10 NL live, both with equal skill and ability and be able to show that, yes, I can win at this game.  And more importantly, maintain a steady growth rate in my bankroll.

That’s me in a nutshell basically, just a novice enthusiast wanting to improve his skills and move up to the next level, and I’m hoping that by blogging my successes and failures (otherwise known as ‘areas for improvements’), I can reach my goals in the time frame I have set out for myself.

What can you expect from me?  Well, basically, anything goes really.  I’ll be posting on some poker news from time to time, as well as discussing interesting posts I come across on the various poker forums I frequent as well.   I’ll post some hand histories from time to time as well, and open the discussion up to anyone willing to comment on them.  I might even upload a video or two I have created and show you how I actually play a session (that is, if I can get the damn thing to compress properly).  Mostly though, I’ll be highlighting new concepts and strategies that I’m utilizing as well is not working out for me so well.  Oh, there’ll be lots of opinions as well, and don’t be surprised to see a ‘venting’ post or two either, but mostly I’ll comment on what’s happening in the world of poker in general, as well as my own little poker world.

I’m hoping that this becomes a two way communication between myself as a blogger, and you as the reader.  I’m very receptive to constructive criticisms, and look forward to discussing this wonderful world of poker with you in the future.

On Wednesday, September 3rd, attention from the poker world will be intently focused on Minneapolis, Minnesota, site of the 2008 Republican National Convention (RNC) where John McCain will formally accept his nomination as the Republican candidate for President. Also on Wednesday’s agenda, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), in partnership with the American Gaming Association, will hold a charity poker tournament benefiting the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

PokerStars pros Greg Raymer and Victor Ramdin, two of the most successful poker pros in the business, have confirmed for the event. Raymer won the 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event and pocketed an amazing $5 million payday which at the time was the largest sum of money ever given to a bracelet winner. He has also made a final table in 2005 and 2006 and had a pair of WSOP final tables in 2007.

Ramdin made his first WSOP cash in 2003 and reached the final table of the $1,500 HORSE event this year. He also finished 64th in the 2008 Main Event, taking home $96,500. Ramdin also got the win at the World Poker Challenge on the World Poker Tour during Season IV, netting $1,357,389. The following month he placed 11th in the WPT Championship, cashing for $146,460.

Also attending the charity tournament will be poker pro Chris “Fox” Wallace, who is a premier instructor at the poker training site PokerXFactor. Wallace confirmed that three-time WSOP bracelet winner Barry Greenstein will also be in attendance.

The PPA is expecting a good turn out for its charity poker tournament with 125 players participating and more than 200 total attendees at the event which takes place tonite at 116 First Avenue North in Minneapolis. A VIP reception is being held from 10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., with the tournament kick off to immediately follow. All proceeds will be donated to the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) which was also the beneficiary of money raised at the PPA’s event at the Democratic National Convention last week where over $60,000 was raised.

The only way for players to enter the Minneapolis fundraiser is through purchasing one of four sponsorships:

• Royal Flush Sponsor ($10,000): Eight playing seats plus four spectator seats during the tournament
• Full House Sponsor ($5,000): Four playing seats plus two spectator seats during the tournament
• Individual Player Seat ($1,000): One seat at a poker table
• Individual Spectator Seat ($250): One Spectator seat during the tournament

Besides raising money for a worthwhile charity, the ultimate goal of the poker tournament is to create goodwill among Republican Congress members.

Suicide threat averted attributed to quick thinking

Mike Matusow can now carry the unlikely title of “Hero” after he intervened and helped save a man from killing himself. The details of this event are just now unfolding but the word is that Mike, in quite the unselfish manner took the opportunity to talk the Full Tilt Poker player “stevesbets” out of taking his own life.

While taking a beating at the hands of Mike and fellow pro player John D’Agostino, stevesbets finally fell off the deep end and threatened to commit suicide –

stevesbets: its really so sick
stevesbets: how do i never even get a piece
stevesbets: doenst matter if i’m a head
stevesbets: behidn
stevesbets: makes no differnce
stevesbets: omfg
stevesbets: i’m just gonan kill myself
stevesbets: ivelost 150k todya
stevesbets: at 200 400 and 300 600
stevesbets: no point living
John DAgostino: believe it or not, me too
John DAgostino: i ran like you are at 1-2k today
Mike Matusow: if u killyourself who willme an ddags have to play

It’s been confirmed that since that exchange took place, not only did stevesbets send Mike a personal Thank You note but also a new copy of “Typing for Dummies”.

In light of the recent breakdown by (non) recovering alcoholic Scotty Nguyen the WSOP announced today that Beer Pong will be added as a $500.00 event.

“Ratings have soared based on the Internet forums discussion and all around buzz about Scotty and his demonstration of superior drinking skills during the 50K HORSE event. To capitalize and continue our quest to innovate and showcase the talents of our poker players, we’re proud to add Beer Pong as a bracelet event in 2009” – an unnamed WSOP executive stated.

The event will certainly be a popular one with poker professionals such as Men “The Master” Nguyen, who will join his fellow Nguyen – Scotty as the poker world elite battle it out for the cash and the title. There’s a strong rumor that a trophy will be awarded with the bracelet in honor of “The Prince of Poker”. The winner will be expected to drink copious amounts of cheap beer from the trophy cup in homage to Mr. Nguyen but will not be allowed to berate everyone afterwards.

Satellite events for the WSOP 2009 Beer Pong event are expected to kick off at college campuses and Scotty Nguyen’s house very soon.

NBC has announced that the 2009 season of their popular poker show, Poker After Dark, will be hosted at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.  The Golden Nugget Casino is part of ‘Old Vegas’ and is located on Fremont Street which has remained largely unchanged over the years.  The area’s casinos have struggled because tourist interest has moved to the newer section of Las Vegas.  The Golden Nugget is showing signs of going under, however and is constantly coming up with new ways to lure gamblers to them.  Recently, they have held several notable major tournaments, including Continental Airlines tournament where the winner took home 21 million frequent flyer miles and now Poker After Dark is the latest event to boost the casino.

Filming is set to begin October 26th and run through November 5th at the Golden Nugget’s newest events center.  The show will once again be hosted by Leeann Tweeden for all 60 episodes.  The show will be staying with their existing format of a six handed $20,000 buy in winner takes all but with the addition of more cash games.  Back by popular demand will be the high-stakes live game format which debuted on the current season of Poker After Dark.

The show has showcased some of the world’s best poker talent like pros Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu and Doyle Brunson who has all made multiple appearances and are slated to return for more.

The fifth season is scheduled to begin airing on December 29th at 2:05 a.m.  Each week’s tournament will air Thursday through Saturday at the same time.  Special one hour “Director’s Cut” episodes recapping the week’s action can be viewed on Sundays at 1 a.m.