Tournaments Are Bad = Hulk Smash!

[Part 2 of 2] - Part 1 here.

While understanding the allure of tournament poker, there are also reasons why MTT poker might not be the best use of your time at the felt.

Time is money and tournaments don't pay you for your time. You can play tremendous poker for 5 hours and lose to a bad beat. With the turn of a card, you're eliminated with nothing to show for it. 5+ hours with an ROI of -100%.

I have to say this often tilts me and I haven't quite found a way to overcome it. Usually I'm mentally exhausted and have to take a recess from poker for about 24 hours (or more).

(Remember Grasshopper... playing good poker sometimes has to be it's own reward.)

Opponents in a tournament are not your friends. While you may know a few folks at the table, no one is going to willingly help you win a tournament. In fact, quite the opposite is true: Your opponents will angle shoot or cheat you every chance they get.

There are several examples of this. The one that comes to mind is the most recent WCOOP main event at PokerStars, where a top finisher was disqualified for multi-accounting.

Heck, the only live casino tourney I've ever played had two Pakistani brothers who were eventually DQ'd for continuing to talk their native tongue (to each other) during hands.

The poker sites & casinos are no friends either. The sites are basically paid for running the tournament. While they want the tourneys to appear fair, many sites do little to stop cheating.

Here is an excellent essay (NSFW avatars & replies) by Dan Druff. It discusses the "fairness" of online poker, given the cheating scandals unearthed at AP and UB.

Also, live tourneys are rife with problems, people shorting pots, etc. that tournament directors and floor people have very little intention of policing. You must be keenly focused and aware to avoid collusion and angle shooting.

Don't forget that unless you are a great tourney player, the rake you pay in casino MTT's (usually a pretty steep 20%) is not worth it.

Variance is a bad mutha. MTT's have the highest form of variance in poker. This means you can play well above expectation and not see one cent. I have linked to a post by Bodog Ari before, where he states he has never cashed in more than 4 consecutive tourneys, and that he had once gone 38 consecutive tourneys without a cash.

He is one of the best 100 or so tourney players on the planet and this is well within "normal" variance. I went 1 cash for 24 tourneys to start 2008 and I was ready to pull my hair out. To be a good tourney player you must handle rejection repeatedly.

To sum everything up, I find playing tourneys to be occasional fun but I do not yet have the stamina to grind them daily. (And this comes from a winning MTT player).

I prefer to play a regimen of cash games, where I can earn rakeback for my time at the tables, and I can use my patience to wait for the nuts without fear of getting blinded off.

Yet every spring I find that moment when the WSOP satellites begin and I still think I can donk my way to fame and fortune. Thankfully that moment only lasts for a week or so.

OT: George Carlin & The American Dream

While I am optimistic for change in our country, I'm realistic. I'll let this comedic genius express my view better than I ever could (NSFW):



Thanks, George.

I hope we find a new voice that can see through all of the bullshit.

Fantasy Baseball Redux

I'm back playing fantasy baseball every day. I'm running about a 70% win rate this month.

I was very disappointed back in April when I stopped. The sites I used were having technical issues and the player pools were not consistent.

So far, these issues seem to be resolved. It makes a huge difference in the EV (being able to apply up to the minute info towards roster selection).

Now if I could just get the one guy ahead of me on the leader board to give me a little more action...

Don't forget about the reload bonus going on at Fantasy Sports Live. If you are signing up for the first time, use bonus code BUFFALO to get a 20% bonus.

Sick, Sick Beats Today

Please don't read if you hate bad beats.

First tourney, 3rd hour, 24 left, 12 from the money:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6877722949: $10 + $1 Tournament (52163252), Table 11 - 300/600 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 17:42:48 ET - 2008/06/18
Seat 2: TimJim123 (7,917)
Seat 3: dfazman (47,416)
Seat 4: 66Buffalo66 (5,529) <- Hero
Seat 5: boy-0-clown (3,275)
Seat 6: lizzy25 (7,000)
Seat 7: smokestackcc (1,800)
Seat 8: RogersW (7,674)
Seat 9: RentMoney3 (63,132) <- Tournament Chip leader
boy-0-clown posts the small blind of 300
lizzy25 posts the big blind of 600
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 66Buffalo66 [4h Ac 2h Ks] <- Hero gets hand on the button
smokestackcc folds
RogersW folds
RentMoney3 calls 600
TimJim123 folds
dfazman folds
66Buffalo66 calls 600
boy-0-clown folds
lizzy25 has 15 seconds left to act
lizzy25 checks
*** FLOP *** [8h Kd 2d] <- Win high 784/820 times here(95.6%), scoop 318/820 times(38.8%)
lizzy25 checks
RentMoney3 bets 1,200
66Buffalo66 raises to 4,929, and is all in <- Hero gets money in
lizzy25 folds
RentMoney3 calls 3,729
66Buffalo66 shows [4h Ac 2h Ks]
RentMoney3 shows [6h Ad Qc 3c] <- Obviously playing for low/chop
*** TURN *** [8h Kd 2d] [4c] <- Win High 36/40 times here(90%)
*** RIVER *** [8h Kd 2d 4c] [5d] <- Donkey catches runner runner wheel to scoop, IGHN
66Buffalo66 shows two pair, Kings and Fours, for high and66Buffalo66 shows 8,5,4,2,A, for low
RentMoney3 shows a straight, Six high, for high andRentMoney3 shows 5,4,3,2,A, for low
RentMoney3 wins the high pot (5,979) with a straight, Six high
RentMoney3 wins the low pot (5,979) with 5,4,3,2,A
66Buffalo66 stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 11,958 | Rake 0
Board: [8h Kd 2d 4c 5d]
Seat 2: TimJim123 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: dfazman didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: 66Buffalo66 (button) showed [4h Ac 2h Ks] and lost with HI: two pair, Kings and Fours; LO: 8,5,4,2,A
Seat 5: boy-0-clown (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: lizzy25 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 7: smokestackcc didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: RogersW didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: RentMoney3 showed [6h Ad Qc 3c] and won (11,958) with HI: a straight, Six high; LO: 5,4,3,2,A

2nd tourney, 10 of 18 remaining:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6881900457: $10 + $1 Sit & Go (52271377), Table 1 - 50/100 - Pot Limit Omaha H/L - 23:12:12 ET - 2008/06/18
Seat 1: 66Buffalo66 (1,730) <- Hero
Seat 2: I_PLAY_AT_TILT (1,605)
Seat 3: OTONYO (1,255)
Seat 8: hase1729 (4,225)
Seat 9: mamababy (7,205) <- Chip leader, catches 4 wheels in 32 hands
mamababy posts the small blind of 50
66Buffalo66 posts the big blind of 100
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 66Buffalo66 [Qh Kh 7s Kd] <- Kings in the big blind
I_PLAY_AT_TILT folds
OTONYO has 15 seconds left to act
OTONYO folds
hase1729 folds
mamababy calls 50
66Buffalo66 checks
*** FLOP *** [8h 2h Kc] <- Top set, 2nd nut flush draw. Win high 802/820 times here(97.8%)
mamababy bets 100
66Buffalo66 raises to 500
mamababy calls 400
*** TURN *** [8h 2h Kc] [Tc] <- Win high 37/40 times here(92.5%)
mamababy checks
66Buffalo66 bets 1,130, and is all in <- Hero gets money in
mamababy calls 1,130
66Buffalo66 shows [Qh Kh 7s Kd]
mamababy shows [3h 6s Jh Ad] <-Playing low/flush, behind in every way
*** RIVER *** [8h 2h Kc Tc] [Qs] <- Donkey catches gutshot straight, continues to run like God.
66Buffalo66 shows three of a kind, Kings, for high
mamababy shows a straight, Ace high, for high
mamababy wins the pot (3,460) with a straight, Ace high
66Buffalo66 stands up <- Tilt ensues, computer shut down.
I_PLAY_AT_TILT stands up
OTONYO stands up
hase1729 stands up
mamababy stands up
No low hand qualified
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,460 | Rake 0
Board: [8h 2h Kc Tc Qs]
Seat 1: 66Buffalo66 (big blind) showed [Qh Kh 7s Kd] and lost with HI: three of a kind, Kings
Seat 2: I_PLAY_AT_TILT didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: OTONYO didn't bet (folded)

Just a prelude to why tournaments are bad.

Fantasy Sports Live Reload Bonus (or) Sign Up Bonus

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If you haven't signed up yet, you can get a sign up bonus of 20% on an $100 deposit. Use bonus code BUFFALO at the sign up page. (It is much easier to clear the sign up bonus. Just enter enough contests to equal the amount of your bonus.)

I have not publicly endorsed any one fantasy site over another, but FSL has worked hard to get my play. I will say they have the best customer support - far surpassing the other sites.

FSL is also running a baseball promotion, offering $100 for the first player to score 100 points in a ranking cap (non-salary cap) contest.

I have some poker posts to finish up, but I also have a new project in the works I'll talk about soon.

Interlude: What An Interesting Week

Before I get to the bad side of tournaments, just a few random thoughts:

-Holy motherf***ing drama bombs, Batman. Bloggers are upset about a lot of things and feelings are hurt.

-Don't lend money to poker players. Just don't. Staking a player is fine, but don't lend your good money to someone with poor money management. Sweeping generalization of the day = most poker players are bad with money.

-Even if you write a post (or complete blog) as a joke, don't delete it. Stand behind what you wrote. Deleting it only suggests you have something to hide. (Heck, even Poker Champ is still around.)

I'm still bummed my original blog got hijacked a few years back. I still wish it were around to reflect upon, even though some of the posts were quite lousy.

-Blogger tournaments have changed for the worse. I already knew this, but now it's common knowledge. Back in the day, blogger events were just a plain old private tourney, no value added shit. I just wanted to play to see how I stacked up against the other bloggers. Usually I could learn something to improve my game and discuss a play in a CIVIL manner with another blogger.

Now events are strife with bad behavior and angle shooting, plus a strong possibility of outright CHEATING. Yes, I said it. No, I have no proof. My point? Remove the incentive to cheat (value added) and you will probably remove the cheating as well.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

I played in the Mini Series of Poker (MSOP) Razz event #26, finishing 26th out of 643 runners. My last three hands were all races, losing on 7th each time.

I also cashed in my first MTT on PokerStars in quite awhile last night. 22nd out of 527 in a tiny PLO8 event. Couldn't catch any cards as the 5th hour started.

I forgot how exhausting playing in these can get. I need to improve my stamina.

You can follow my tournament exploits here and here. Shock of all shocks: I'm actually a lifetime WINNING tournament player.

Simple math, really. Take the lifetime stats from Stars (+19% ROI) and figure out how much I've won. Then take the lifetime stats from Tilt (-40% ROI) and figure out the losses. I've just won more than I've lost.

Tournaments Are Good = Tommy Likey!

[Part 1 of 2]

When I started playing online poker some 5+ years ago, tournaments were it. No cash games. I usually played small events, 50-100 players, NLHE. And I started off well, winning my share of events and cashing a bunch.

While there was the "new car smell" to the whole online scene, there was much to learn about it all. Rakeback and bonuses. Collusion and soft play. Disconnect abuse. Data mining. Multi-accounting and ghosting.

And eventually, poker site misconduct.

So I'm dedicating this post to why I think tournaments are worth playing. I have not been a fan lately, but there are good reasons to play:

-Tourneys are the quickest way to run up a big bankroll. Everybody dreams of pulling a Moneymaker, playing a $40 satellite all the way to a WSOP title. All that you need to play tournament poker is your entry fee and time. Unlikely as it may be, you could enter your very first tournament and have the cards fall your way, resulting in a big score.

Almost every pro on the tournament circuit got there by winning a large sum in a tournament (live or online).

-Tourneys are the best value for your poker dollar. Once you pay your entry fee, that's all you can lose in that event. (Let's save rebuys for another day.) If you are learning the game, there is no better value than playing tournaments. You can literally play (competitively) for hours for just a buck or two.

The largest field I ever vanquished was a $500 added freeroll on UB back in 2003. It took over five hours to take home first place for $125. While the prize is quite small by today's standards, I'm proudest of the fact I beat 2499 opponents.

-Tourneys best protect the weakest players. In a cash game, there are always sharks waiting. Heck, you might already be a cash game shark. But at one point, you were the fish. You learned to become a shark by playing better players.

Not only does a tournament help protect our bankroll, but it allows us to play a wide variety of opponents. While watching good players is a teaching tool, there is no substitute for experience.

Weak players can win in the short term scenario against better opponents. Win a couple of races and you're in the money.

-Tourneys are the way to rub elbows with the poker gods. Poker is one the FEW fields of competition where you can play the very best in the world if you have the money (to enter). Satellite your way into the WSOP and you might sit next to Doyle or Jesus.

You can't just buy a ticket to a Yankee game and take BP with Jeter. Or shoot layups with 'Melo in Denver. But poker is different. High and low society meet quite often. Jerry Buss could well be sitting next to someone who just peed his pants.

In poker, it's more about the fame than the money for many folks. And that's why they play tourneys.

-With tourneys, there's always tomorrow. While this is an optimist viewpoint, it's necessary to maintain the right frame of mind. There is a tournament starting EVERY SECOND online. Wherever you play, there will always be a game coming up soon.

No matter how bad the beat, or how horrible you played, or how bad the tilt set in, your next tourney welcomes you back on equal footing with all other players. You all start with equal chips and the same rules. So have fun and try again.

Good reasoning, methinks. Did I miss anything?

There also reasons NOT to play, which will be covered next time.

Get Off The Freakin' Couch!

I swear I must have mono or some similar virus that sucks the life outta me. All I want to do is sleep these days. Uber lethargic.

Full Tilt is running the mini series of poker (MSOP), running concurrently with the WSOP. Same events, but miniscule buy-ins. Tomorrow is the O8/Stud 8 event.

And for ONCE, Tilt is running O8/Stud 8 satellites. Wow, a satellite for a split-pot event that is not hold 'em. Genius.

Of course, I played three of these satellites and cashed in one, almost making my money back. Since they are turbo, the final table is basically push on 3rd and race. So what can you do.

I did play against Richard Brodie, he didn't fare (13th) as well as me (6th). Here's a useless pic of the action:



After playing a few of these my patience is worn out. I can't really tell if my inability to concentrate is physical, mental, emotional or some combination. I can clearly see why some tournament pros turn to adderall or illicit drugs.

Although playing in the actual event (MSOP #10) is right up my alley, I realize I'm probably dead money in my current state of mind.

Otherwise, I have been playing about 3-4 orbits of cash game PLO8 every night. Just enough to whet my whistle. Poker will still be there if I return to hardcore grinding.