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2006-10-31T10:16:00.000-03:00

Feel my power, baby! Carlospoker 1st/83

2006-09-28T15:51:00.000-04:00

After being away 2 months working for Carlospoker.com, and playing live only a couple of tournaments, I hit this one right of the bat!

Once again it shows that poker wants me in!

Sixth Sense again, won by me, maybe 6th handed is my game?. And all while working at the office!

Hope this brings new confidence in my game, specially now that there are a couple of good live tournaments coming!

So... Shorthanded isnt my game? 1st/59 Shorthanded Tournament

2006-08-15T22:24:00.000-04:00

Hell Yeah!

It's good to finally win something. I havent played in a few days because most of my bankroll has evaporated, and the other part was stuck between BJ bonuses I couldnt complete.

So I decided to give it a go, to this small shorthanded tournament. After all I havent played Holdem in a while, and I've been reading so much Pot Limit Omaha 8 or better... so... it was cheap.

And guess who took all the chips?

The heads-up match was exhausting. We played for almost an hour. The other guy was getting all the cards, and played as straightforward as he could. In the other hand I was keeping the pots small, playing every single hand (I only folded 32o).The match went my way for a while and I got a chip lead of 2 to 1. However then I ran card dead, and the flops were helping more to my opponent. I had him so measured though, I avoided losing money many times when hge was holding two pair, and checking the river to me.

However after 30 minutes we started to get very close, and I lost the chip lead. After some moves I recupped the lead, then after some very tough hands, I re-raised all in with a pair of fives preflop, hoping he would call and show high cards. He called, and showed Jacks. I was dead thinking I had played for almost an hour headsup to only get in this bad shape.

Then I thought... he wasnt giving any action. So, no matter how many small pots I could take from him, it was a matter of cards mostly.

I rivered a straight and it was over. Sorry.

1st place, thank you.

Limp reraise on Aces or Kings

2006-08-08T17:08:00.001-04:00

I gotta be honest, I've done it once or twice during my whole time playing, which is pretty much insignificant in the overall. It is of course a move I dont like.

Thanks to Seth, from Sound of a Suckout, for lighting this topic up.

In my opinion this is a very poorly executed play. However could prove very interesting playing in live, where you can spot someone moving in preflop or you catch some sort of read.

For tourneys this is a good money making move, when there are many shortstacks that are bound to move in. You could even catch a caller in the middle of it, before you reraise again.

There are many players that while on a shorstack will move all in on anything if the Ms are low enough (like me)... so if thats the case you've just stolen last position to act. These shorstacks certianly wont move all in you if you' raise from UTG, because they know you are strong, and they've lost "first in raise momentum".

I do believe that during the last stages of a tournament this could work like wonders.

Limp reraise on Aces or Kings

2006-08-08T17:08:00.000-04:00

I gotta be honest, I've done it once or twice during my whole time playing, which is pretty much insignificant in the overall. It is of course a move I dont like.

Thanks to Seth, from Sound of a Suckout, for lighting this topic up.

In my opinion this is a very poorly executed play. However could prove very interesting playing in live, where you can spot someone moving in preflopr some sort of read.

For tourneys this is a good money making move, when there are many shortstacks that are bound to move in. You could even catch a caller in the middle of it, before you reraise again.

There are many players that while on a shorstack will move all in on anything if the Ms are low enough (like me)... so if thats the case you've just stolen last position to act. These shorstacks certianly wont move all in you if you' raise from UTG, because they know you are strong, and they've lost "first in raise momentum".

I do believe that during the last stages of a tournament this could work like wonders.

Card dead... Party Poker 40k

2006-07-24T00:15:00.000-04:00

I guess I've never seen a worst run of cards... I couldnt even die with dignity.

I played for little less than 3 hours... I only saw one pair (fives), in the first hand of the tourney!... After that I made some check raises on top pair no kicker when my M was around 4-5. I doubled up... then raised with AQ to miss the flop (a very coordianted flop against two opponents).

After that I simply ran card dead. I called an all in from a small stack with A7 he had K3 and my hand held up. But other than that I was receiving J2, 93 (hand that I held 7 times!! in the course of 2 hours) 62... and oh yeah 72o.

In fact I made a move with my M around 4, with A7... the shorter stack of the table woke up to TT, that held up... Away half my stack.

The last hand I was only like M=2... so I moved in on the first hand I saw (J9s, actually one of the best hands I caught!)... but the bb had KT.

I ended up 400 or something out of 2500, very far from any money (220). At least I was freerolling thanks to the $30 bonus.

Oh no! 2nd place again (out of 49)

2006-07-07T00:42:00.000-04:00

Well, its a curse. Once again I couldnt close the deal. I played better than my opponent by far. However trailing 3.5 to 2 on the chip count I moved in with KTs, and he calls on K8o. The flop brought an 8th.

And 2nd place again.

As for the standings, this should put me 3rd on the general, and first for the month. Out of almost 500 players is not bad at all.

Sunday its the real deal. If I win there, I'm going for the big bucks on Casino Viña del Mar.

2nd out of 44 5+0.5 CarlosPoker

2006-07-05T00:37:00.000-04:00

I'm a fraud. I couldnt make it.

I retained the chip lead in the heads up session, until this hand devoleped

HAND DETAILS
Hand ID 115088888
Start Date 2006-07-05 06:27:31
End Date 2006-07-05 06:28:10
Pot Size 80,529.32
Rake 0.00
Game Type Hold'Em
Play Mode Real Money
Structure None
Table Stakes Min Bet Max Bet Antes Blinds
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Community Cards A 6 7 Q 6

PLAYER INFORMATION
Screen Name Seat position Cards Dealt Start/End Amount Total Bet Win/Loss Amount
pedropablo 1 A A
40,264.66 / 80,529.32 40,264.66 40,264.66
Victor_Enriq 6 10 J
47,735.34 / 7,470.68 40,264.66 -40,264.66

HAND ACTIONS
Player Action Action Data Time Stamp
pedropablo Set dealer/Bring in spot 1 2006-07-05 06:27:31
pedropablo Ante/Small blind 900.00 2006-07-05 06:27:31
Victor_Enriq Big blind/Bring in 1,800.00 2006-07-05 06:27:31
pedropablo Card dealt to a spot A A
2006-07-05 06:27:31
Victor_Enriq Card dealt to a spot 10 J
2006-07-05 06:27:31
pedropablo Call 900.00 2006-07-05 06:27:34
Victor_Enriq Check 2006-07-05 06:27:36
Betting round completed Last active pot = 3,600.00 2006-07-05 06:27:36
Card dealt to table A 6 7
2006-07-05 06:27:36
Victor_Enriq Check 2006-07-05 06:27:40
pedropablo Bet 1,800.00 2006-07-05 06:27:42
Victor_Enriq Call 1,800.00 2006-07-05 06:27:45
Betting round completed Last active pot = 7,200.00 2006-07-05 06:27:45
Card dealt to table Q
2006-07-05 06:27:45
Victor_Enriq Check 2006-07-05 06:27:48
pedropablo Bet 1,800.00 2006-07-05 06:27:50
Victor_Enriq Call 1,800.00 2006-07-05 06:27:52
Betting round completed Last active pot = 10,800.00 2006-07-05 06:27:52
Card dealt to table 6
2006-07-05 06:27:52
Victor_Enriq Bet 5,400.00 2006-07-05 06:27:59
pedropablo Raise 10,800.00 2006-07-05 06:28:01
Victor_Enriq All-in 36,935.34 2006-07-05 06:28:06
pedropablo All-in 24,064.66 2006-07-05 06:28:08
Victor_Enriq Return uncalled portion of bet 7,470.68 2006-07-05 06:28:08
Betting round completed Last active pot = 0.00
Side pot 1 = 80,529.32 2006-07-05 06:28:10
Victor_Enriq Showdown Show card: Flush
A Q J 10 7
2006-07-05 06:28:10
pedropablo Showdown Show card: Full House
A A A 6 6
2006-07-05 06:28:10
pedropablo Hand result 80,529.32 2006-07-05 06:28:10

In case anyone didnt understood I had the flush but he rivered a full. He played the hand correctly. Should I just call on the river?

Its hard to say.

After that, I doubled up three times. Last hand I went all in with J4o in a flop 455. He made the call on AKo. He rivered an ace.

That was it. And once again I'm not able to close the deal.

The slight chance of winning a million

2006-07-01T00:36:00.000-04:00

I wot a seat to the satellite to the million dollars .. POWER ParadisePoker is offering....

I dont really know what that means.

Out of the final table 11/430

2006-06-22T00:33:00.000-04:00

Once again I couldnt make it. Seems like a curse. I keep making strong showings but no final tables for me.

This time I got out in the outrageuos 11th bubble boy. I made only 1.80 bucks (sorry it was a lowly freeroll, but hey! points to the ranking are points anyway) and about 6 points, which is very lowly. Like Scurvy would say "close but no cigarrillo" (cigar its actually translated "puro" and not "cigarrillo")

As for the ring side of things, -9 for the day. Well, tomorrow is another day... hopefully.

Sunday Tourney, and back to ParadisePoker

2006-06-19T22:04:00.000-04:00

Sunday tourney wasnt good to me. I took the chip lead when we were down to the last two tables, unfortunately my M was in the yellow zone, so I kept playing aggro. Result busted out 17th out of 61... bollocks.

I'm back to ring games, as my main source of bankroll income, and I'm playing the occasional tourney. First hand I play? A2s from the bb... UTG raises to 2x the bb. The button calls and I call. Flop comes 26K. I decide its time to go at it and bet. I bet half the pot. UTG calls, button folds. I had the full buy in, the other player was sort of shortstacked. The turn is another 6. I bet again! The guy calls. The river is a deuce. I'm slighlty concerned he might have the full with the kings, but I think that was a long shot. So I bet, he raises all in (like a dollar more lol) so I call.

Of course I lost the hand (and around a 4/11 of a buyin) for being a dummy... but he wasnt holding kings... he had 68o!!!!!!!

.....

Anyway, I wasnt playing very well... (as you can obviously see). But my eyes were more open than ever. I was understanding a bit more the fish mind... I was using old tricks, like reraising, squeezing (my preflop game at its best).

I say I wasnt playing well, because I couldnt handle 4 tables... big surprise as I was playing 6 at Party. But I was taking more notes. I had aces craked, but due to that I recovered in the next hand by making some tilty moves when I actually had top two pair... busting another player while at it.

In all a very profitable session. Which is good for confidence, again.

Blogger Tourney...not good enough 102/2247

2006-06-18T20:52:00.000-04:00

I couldnt make it. I nurtured a shorstack most of the time, I never got any sort of lucky breaks, never saw aces, never saw kings. Best hand I hels were pocket queens UTG, and it was folded around.

I'm feeling more and more comfortable playing the shortstack, and I think my preflop game has improved tremendously, so I'm really looking forward to not seeing many flops, but rather put more pressure preflop.

I did misplay a hand which was the turning point. We were doen to about 150, I was UtG + 1 holding ATs. The player UTG with a shotstack raised to around 4 times the bb, leaving himself about 9 bb himself. Since I've seen play that way before, I decided it was likely he was holding some sort of hand, but not that strong. So I decided to isolate him by raing around 2.5 times the pot. Everyone folded to the cutoff, an aggressive player that moved in for around 11k more for me (I was with 27k or so left) The UTG player called and then I just coudlnt get away. It was around 4 to 1 so I called.

They all held better hands, of course. AK and AQ. I couldnt improve and an ace flopped. I wasnt going for this sort of action. However I had to call based on pot odds. Bedides I was in the middle of yellow zone.

I think my play was risky, but you've gotta make this sort of moves from time to time (I think). Afterwards it was pretty much orange to red zone strategy, finally busting out when the biggerstack at the table was in the SB putting me all in, while I held A9 on the bb. I called, but he showed AQ, and an Ace flopped. That was it.

I didnt really like the awards that were given (I'm not talking about the packages here) as it seems this tourney (that only payed 50 entrants) was much more of a satellite anyway.

Update. The ticket I won the other day (edited)

2006-06-15T21:43:00.000-04:00

I've busted out only around 20 minutes after all started when I raised from the button with JJ, against several limpers. I get a call from an average stack, like my own, The flop comes 3J6, with two clubs. I bet half the pot he calls, the turn is an offsuit 7... He checks, I bet 400 into a 750 pot, he moves in for 900 (500 more), I called and he shows 45o for the straight.

I failed to improve in the river, and I was down to my last 150 (blinds 20-40) I moved in from the button, an AQ called flopping a full.

That was it for me.

Thanks anonymous for pointing my error.

Update Carlos Poker 200 Freeroll

2006-06-14T21:18:00.000-04:00

Ok, this tourney does give points towards the ranking. But I busted out on my first hand. I got the dealer button, along with KJ. I see in front of me 5 limpers, and I decided to raise to 200 (blinds 10-20, stacks started at 1k each). Only one caller.

The flop comes King high, all hearts. I move in. He calls holding TsJh without any pair. He got the flush on the turn.

I'm out!

BTW, I, after succesive mails, got PokerChile to change the ranking point structure. More on that later.

CarlosPoker $1000 guaranteed: 13th out of 172

2006-06-14T20:23:00.000-04:00

First time I play this tourney, and its my first (and prolly last) in a long time, as I've been playing Blackjack, and playing only the CarlosPoker quallys.

I played well throughout the tournament, although this one wasnt particularly clean, like all the last ones i've played. I sucked out this time when I hit a Jack with AJs vs AQo. I was running short so I pulled the trigger with this very good hand for the situation.

The last hand was heads up, the chip leader limped in UTG (a very laggy player, rather on the lucky side), and it was checked around to me in the bb. My M was around 12, which was about average. Only 13 players left. I checked my JhTh

Then, after the flop I was raising all in. He showed me rockets. I thought he was on AQ.

The pot odds were correct, so I went for it. But I didnt hit any of my many outs, and I was out of the tourney. I got some money, but couldnt made it to the final table, althought this tourney didnt give any points. I was the only chilean player anyway within the last 5 tables.

I think I made the right choice. If I'd won that pot, I'd be on a huge chip lead, and prolly making a strong run for the first place.

Bollocks!

I made the cut again 35/406

2006-06-13T23:17:00.000-04:00

Once again I place high on the freeroll and I got the ticket for the Coquimbo semi final.

Bad news? I wont be gaining any points for the ranking as they decided to give (PokerChile) points only to final table players.

It is of course, absurd. In this tourney 10/400 is around 2.5%. Thats the worst distribution ever.

3rd out of 423

2006-06-08T00:56:00.000-04:00

Today I played the awful freeroll that offers $200 USD in CarlosPoker... obviously not for the money, rather than for the points it awards to the Chilean Ranking in Pokerchile.com.

Its certainl a headache, as the blinds go up every 7 minutes, and theirs no ante, so the blinds go up exponentialy. Notwithstanding once again I made a good tourney... I did grow up according to the average at the tourney, and there was never any chance for me of catching the chip lead. I was the small stack... all the later stage of the tourney. And that's something I love.

Chilean players are mostly loose calling stations. So you just have to pick a hand and try to get lucky... pairs go up in value like you wouldnt believe. Now, dont get crazy playing the suited connectors, as the blinds are so short that you are just giving away your money. I doubled up (always with the best hand) around 3 times the whole tourney... I acquired my chips through uncalled all ins, blind stealing, and reraising the LAGGy players that are able to let down hands... using notes like they were the bible.

Aggro till the end! I kept creeping in with well timed steals, and got up to third. I would have win (if it werent for my bad play? no!) I got aces craked when we were down to three by A2 off! Yoohoo!

I should say I'm running good? Not Blackjack wise at least. I should say the tourneys I've been showing are the only one's I've played... its not that I'm only showing the goos results... so yes, I'm running good (but getting unlucky at the end!)

Another ticket finish 34 out of 346. Lost to a one outter

2006-06-07T01:12:00.000-04:00

Well, after playing tthe bleeding freeroll I got the ticket. 50 tickets towards the satellite were given and I finished 34th. This also should give me some points towards the Chilean ranking in which I am 4th for the month, and 50something for the year.

As you know I started only a week ago.

The freeroll was obnoxious, as the blinds lasted only a around 7 minutes. So it action alright. I did very well, doubling up with the best hand, and I was lucky they held up. Of course, I stole blinds furiously, and put tremendous pressure on the shortstacks, as they were happyly blinded away.

The last hand was a pain. I was in the bb (with a 14k stack, blinds 2k-1k... yes and I was above average!) with QQ. A very loose big stack (18k) called then a short stacked moved in for about 1k more (lol!) The dealer goes all in, the sb goes all in (I had them both slightly covered) and I know I'm way ahead... I go all in as well. The big stacks finally makes a crying call with TT. The others turned up K9 (sb), the dealer shows JT, and the short stack shows a pair of 6s.

The flop were all blanks, as well as the turn... but after a huge! pause in the game, the river was the only out... a TEN! If I would have win that hand I would have been chip leader for around 50k!

Thats the way things go sometimes... once again I'm happy with my play, I'm making more moves, playing the odds, betting and raising like a lunatic, taing down pots. I know I'm very volatile, but that's alright, I always play for first place or broke on this tourneys, although I wont make a stupid play that could cost me the ticket in the bubble. I know how things work.

15th out of 61

2006-06-04T23:47:00.000-04:00

Although I havent played any tourneys lately, I did play today on the Package To Casino Pucon thing, that I had entere through the satellite.

I rebuilt from nothing and took to the chip lead. After the first break I was down to 1100 with blinds 75-150. I, happyly, pushed all in from UTG with KTs. I got a call from the chip leader with AQ. I got a K on the flop and doubled up! 5 hands later I again doubled up with AA vs the same player. And then took a few small pots to take the lead.

Then the next hand devoloped. We were down nine handed. Binds were 200-400 no ante. Its folded around to me in 5th pos, I see AsKs, so I raise it to 1200, I get a call from the second biggest stack at the table, an aggressive loose player. and the bb calls. I didnt have any info on him, and he was sitting on a medium stack. The flop comes Jc7s3s. Pot is 4k, my stack was around 9k then. I bet 2k, the LAG player flat calls, and the bb pushes all in to around 2.5k more for me. So I see that my odds are pretty good, and reraise all in. The LAG player folds. The bb shows AhAc for an overpair (i thought he had a set somewhere), and the flush never came. I was down roughly under 4k. The blinds went higher, right after that hand, to 250-500.

After a round, I'm on 5th pos again, when I push all in with AJo. I get a call from the LAG player with KQs. The flop brought a Kingm and a gutshot straight draw for me. My outs (aces and queens) never came and I busted 15.

In all I'm very happy with my game. Unfortunately I busted 15. So my ranking will be down after this tourney. They gave points only to first 12 players, and only the first two were sent to the Casino Pucon.

I went for broke... I said: "only two will advance so I need to win every chip"

2nd out of 57. Carlos Poker Satellite

2006-06-02T01:16:00.000-04:00

Yes, I made it... I got the ticket to the Final Satellite to Casino Pucon... the package is worth 600 USD. The ticket I won is 20+2. So, only 1 player for every 30 will be going there. I hate Carlos Poker for several reasons... the software is slow, the blinds levels are only for 10 min, and in some levels I can swear I only saw a hand or two. I never came as the underdog the whole tourney. Except when heads up. I had the chip lead when this key hand developed. I was pushing the other guy around (he told me he only played play money!) so he took a stand... reraised all in preflop... with A5, I was ahead with AT, but the flop came with 5A3, and that was it... I could never recover, and the next hand I was all in with AJ, and he made the call with pocket 66 that held up. The rest is history.

This puts me around 50 in overall PokerChile Ranking. It takes in consideration only satellites and freerolls played on CarlosPoker.

I'm just wishing the blinds levels were longer... PStars 15 minutes seems about right for me.

Once again PokerStars Blogger Tourney

2006-05-31T17:31:00.000-04:00

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.

Registration code: 2494956

3 + .03 PokerStars Tournament, 12 out of 1350 due to Internet Connectivity Loss

2006-05-30T12:16:00.000-04:00

Just when I was saying Mark that I would start playing tourneys, I pull this out of a hat. 1350 players, and I finished 12th. This is my best result in a tournament considering entrants. Out of the last tourneys I've played the results are:

Multipoker 5+.5 (last year): 1st out of 60: $171 USD
Multipoker 20+2 + Rebuys addon (last year): 4th out of 20. Bubble Finish -82 USD
1st Blogger Tourney (last year): 93rd out of 1046 Cap finish
Party Poker $11 Regular: 3rd out of 450, $495 USD
PokerStars 3 + 0.3 Regular: 12th out of 1350. $31 USD

Other tournaments played: -$35 USD

The main thing is that the tournament was amazing. In my 3rd hand of the night I managed to reduce my stack to 650, out of the 1500 I started with. Then after some double ups I got up to the top 10.

After that things went great. I doubled up on a great hand, where I cheked my bb with Th9h vs the sb that was a player who had me barely covered. The flop came 7c8hJc
He bets out and I raise. He calls inmedialty. The turn is the Qc. The flush card scared a bit. He made a probe bet, which I called. Then an offsuit Ace fell. He bets I raise, he raised all in and I called although it was a very scary board just on pot odds. He had As8d. So:

Then I busted a small stack when my AT hit a T on the river against his AQ. It was only 5% of my stack so I decided to call.

Then things went awful wrong. After the bubble My QQ went in against KJ who flopped 2 pair. My stack was reduced to 5500 with blinds around 400-800 with some sort of ante. RED ZONE Strategy!!!!!!! SO I climbed up to 17k, which was still very bad with the blinds about to become 1000-2000 with 75 ante. Then I hit my lucky break again and climbed up to 52k for 10th place:

Then after 20 more minutes:

Then 30 minutes after I was down to 50k again. But I hit some flops and ended up back for 1st.

After that a key hand devoloped. I had 99 in the button, a new player to the table with a stack around 75k raises. I just call, relying on position. We see the flop heads up: QQ2. He bets, and I decide to raise as I dont think he's holding a Q. I thought he could be on AK, or even weaker. I raise him around half his stack, after some hesitation he pushes in, and I think he doesnt have the Q for sure. I think I'm beaten but the odds were just huge! It was only 33k more for me and the flop contained around 90k already so I called. He flipped over JJ. My stack was down to 39k or something. Two tables, and the money was big only for the first 5 players so I decided to give it a shot. I came back to 56k, with an M of 6.
Then we went on to the last break:

Things went very bad there. A minute before break would end, with only 14 players left, with me around 56k on the button the connectivity was lost. I tried and tried, and even contacted my company's support. It was their fault, they had some issues around my neighborhood.

Today in the morning I see this. Its a sour 12th place.

Maybe I should keep playing tourneys. Thank you Action Dan. What d'you think?

2006-05-26T00:30:00.000-04:00

Well, I wish I would have known how to take screenshots when I got 3rd place at the Party Poker $11 regular. I won $500 USD that time. I havent played online tourneys since then, but today I was bored and decided to take a shot. Played 3 tourneys, a Carlos Poker Freeroll (worth for Chilean Ranking) busting out just before the first break (I hate freerolls, except Blogger Freeroll). Then I played some PokerStars 3+.03 where I busted nearing the bubble. And this small 2+.02 Carlos Poker Tourney. Mostly out of fun. I arrived to the table 15 minutes late (a level and a half). Then, after some riff raff, I'm back in the (small) winner circle.

The UFT Tourney

2006-05-24T16:53:00.000-04:00

Universidad Finis Terrae has made a great tourney (its no longer that great though, as I busted out). The blind levels go up every 30 minutes, which is about 20 hands a level, the cards and chips have the WPT logo, and they have some great sponsors. Red Bull actually gave each player an energy drink! Oh yes, we started off 1000 in chips, with blinds 10-20 (M = 33.4)

I tried to make the game at my table distended, and it work. My table was a mixed bag, with a loose calling station holding great cards, the other players were tight, and yes they were aggressive. In fact every pot was contended, the raising was mostly standard.

We started out 7 handed in every table, but my table was six handed as player never showed up (he did better than me though). I thought it would be great for me, but the calling station was carrying everyone to showdown. I ran pretty card dead, and every time I had a mediocre hand (even for shorthanded standards) the pot was contested, or I was out of position.

A key moment: The cut off raises 3x bb the sb calls (with the huge stack, calling station) I moved in with AJ (hoping to squeeze). Action fold fold.

Unfortunately after never filling an open ended straight draw with odds, I became the table shortstack. My M was about 12 after the level change, and then things went downhill. I went all in two times (from cut off with A8s, action was fold, fold, fold) And two hands after that, in the big blinds against a limper and the sb (big stack, new to the table) with QTo. The limper with an average stack called half of his chips with QJ. And I was eliminated.

Those three were the best hands I saw. I would have been more aggressive, if it werent for the calling station, that got really lucky, and because Ì just couldnt find any hand. I can remember, 92, 74 two times in a row, 82, 72, K2 UTG and so on.

A friend of mine from the friday games busted two guys (one of them was a friend of ours) both time he was holding aces.

After that I dont know, as I busted and left.

----------

As for bonus whoring, Bettson paif off 40 out of the 50 EUR that was the bonus.

PokerStars once again! Blogger Tourney!

2006-05-23T22:45:00.000-04:00

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.

Registration code: 7330476

Again! Yes, PokerStars has made it again. Dont you find? Another freeroll for Bloggers. I just hope this time I'll get more than just a cap.

Btw, that's the cap I'll proudly wear tomorrow in the first live chilean tourney I participate in. Universidad (University) Finis Terrae has come up with what appears to be a good tournament, although just 14 out of 197 players get paid.

I wonder what would Bobby Bracelet (from "Based on years of experience") will do this time to participate in this tourney, as he need a blog at least two month old. Good luck Bob.

And then things got worse

2006-05-19T00:48:00.000-04:00

Yes!

I just get into my usual 4 tables, when the first hand deal to me after I post my BB is..... KK!!!! According to my small sample size on PokerOffice my worst hand of all times, and yes, I am able to get away from it.

SO!!!!

Four limpers... (this is full ring, the games were very juicy) then the Cut off raises (4x bb) the button cold calls. I see this and pushed in. I thought, none of the limpers are likely to call, so I put in the squeeze, and I need to go through the original raiser and cash in!

Actually, none of the limpers called.... the raiser started thinking. My guess: "Maybe this guy knows something about the squeeze? Could be? I dont really remember where I read it but... he's pushing with Ax here for sure! The first hand he gets on this table and he is all in already. This guy is a bluffer!"

All this time I thought, call! call! I knew I was a favourite to anything that wouldnt call in a heartbeat.

So he calls. With AQo.

But that's nothing! The button also calls, and yes, on a heartbeat. He had rockets.
He had both of us covered.

The rest is history: Flop Axx all clubs (and I have the Kc!!!!) turn bank, river blank. All over for me, another buy in please!

Again in Riverside (Paradise Poker)

2006-05-18T22:32:00.000-04:00

Well, back to hold em. I was having a blast, playing the usual fishy tables, with juice flowing around 40% preflop. Its a great place, and as I've said before, its my favourite poker room. Although I was born and raised at PokerStars (riverstars).

However, things turned around pretty fast. I closed the session with -38.

It all came down to this three hands.

In the cut off I raised to 4x the bb. I had AKo. I get a caller, the sb. The flop comes Axx (rags). I made the standard value bet for half the pot. The guy calls after some hesitation. The turn comes a ten. I bet, and he raises all in (for around 2.5 odds for me) I call. The river is a jack. He shows AJ and rakes the pot.

I couldnt lay down this hand. Me: 55. 1 limper, me, and the blinds see this flop. 5TQ. The limper (mid position) bets 3/4 of the pot. I raise standard. The bb calls, and the limper calls. The turn comes 9, putting 2 clubs on board, I bet the pot. The bb folds, the limper calls. The river comes another ten for my full. The guy bets half the pot, i raise all in and lose to QTo.

Then I get kings. On the cutoff. 4 limpers ahead (yeah really juicy) I bet 2 times the pot. The big stack calls. The flop comes JT9. two clubs. He bets, I raise all in (I hold the Kc) he calls with QQ. He rivers an 8 and busts me.

I havent been able to win this month.

The Worst Day

2006-05-17T01:36:00.000-04:00

I've just ran incredibly unlucky. After playing at CasinoEuro, depositing the 222 Euros needed for the 50% up to $111, I'm very down on my luck.

After wagering the required 3,330, the withdrawal was just for 133 Euros. I can't believe this just happended. I played the same strategy, the same minimum bets, and I cashed out that misery. There goes the winnings for this month.

I'm desolated. I wish a miracle would occur.

Everybody loves to Party?

2006-05-16T00:28:00.000-04:00

"It's my party and I cry if I want, cry if I want to...
You would cry too if it happened to you"

Leslie Gore- It's my party

I just hate that song.

I couldn't stop thinking about it though, while burning my Party Poker bonus. I think Barry Greenstein has this song in for Phil Hellmuth bio at his website.

Well, after the riff raff, I ended up receiving only $21 out of the $75 bonus. I hit some bad stretches, and I think I played poorly the first hour. Not that poorly, though, as I could have lost much more. I think its variance (I would like to think that) at least on some cases. As for the others "money losers" I had Aces cracked (preflop all in) vs 99, a couple of runner runner... and so on.

I did come back from the dead, as I was actually behind for the first 2 hours, with half the bonus burnt I was behind for 50! That's including the bonus! So, a $75 run for the last hour and a half is not so bad.

And as Mark always says to me: "any win is good"

Thanks for the support.

The photo is the penalty that would have carried Villarreal to the Champions League final. My favourite player (Juan Roman Riquelme) loses the coin flip vs Arsenal goal keeper Jens Lehman. The Villarreal qualified for the Intertoto last weekend, with a penalty (this time a goal) shot by Riquelme against Racing from Santander. That shows... everything can be accomplished through determination and courage.

The Blackjack revival

2006-05-13T00:30:00.000-04:00

Yes, what I thought to be impossible has happened. I'm back to blackjack (online this time, and bankroll affordable)

Cherry Casino is offering a whooping $111 bonus ($222 deposit needed). You have to wager 13x the bonus+deposit. That means that for the full ammount you need to wager $4.390. Blackjack is allowed. I reccomend playing the BJ 1/40 flash, that means you can bet up to five hands at a time.

Remember the referal is VictorEnriq.

I just turned the 222+111 into $477.00!!! (good money for me these days) And only by betting the minimum!

Goodluck!

William Hill difficulties

2006-05-08T23:39:00.000-04:00

As I tried burning my monthly William Hill bonus, I realized that I wasnt able to see neither the cards nor the chips that are supposed to be in front of me in order to play.

After double checking my Macromedia Flash Player, and trying different resolution settings on my monitor, I had to settle and I inmediatly sent a query to WH support.

Hopefully they will come up with an idea. I already tried downloading the software again...

Otherwise I'll have to burn it through Video Poker, again...

3rd out of 550. Party Poker $11 Regular Tourney

2006-05-02T17:33:00.000-04:00

About a week ago Party Poker gave me a $20.00 USD cash bonus. In order to withdraw, I needed to complete 200 raked hands. As I thought it wouldnt be a very good idea taking them to the tables, I thought why dont I give it a try in the old tournament arena?

Well... after 3 tourneys I was down to my last 12 bucks (of the bonus). Coincidently a tournament was a minute to start... $11 USD buy in

I took the shot.

I played very tight aggressive on the first rounds... I managed to double or triple up just before the breaks, and I was always a little above average. I flopped set's and I was lucky enough to triple up on two ocations which left me chip leader for the last 100 players. When we got down to the last two tables, I lost the chip lead... in fact I went down to 3xbb.

I managed to get through and to recover the chip lead, all in the course of 10 or so hands.

I ended up 3rd place finisher, after two guys got on fire, by busting every short stack while I ran card dead. The final hand came with me on the bb with J9, the sb raised with 44. I re raised all in, and after some hesitation he called. I never improved and lost the race.

I took about $500 which is not bad.

I wish I would have taken the $1300 though

Finally

2006-05-02T17:31:00.000-04:00

I was finally able to post something after a long time. It seemed like Blogger had some issues with me! Join the gang of heartbroken ex's

Drinking on Easter

2006-04-16T21:56:00.000-04:00

Na' Just joking. I didnt drink anything this easter, but a cup of wine on saturday, nothing to do with any religious believes, but rather the enjoyment of a long weekend on Laguna Verde, about 280 miles west from Santiago.

This week Villarreal faces British own Arsenal. I'll be keeping an eye on that game as well as Groguet (above), the yellow submarine thats the teams pet.

Good Luck Pellegrini!

A thing or two (or three)

2006-04-10T13:30:00.000-04:00

First of. I played the "live" game once again. Its not so live anymore! The blinds are longer now, which works great for me, and I tried adding a new level of blinds for the first level. It was accepted. Its no longer 100/200, the new level is 100/100.

And in four SnG's I got a first place finish and a second place finish. Its no longer 6-7 handed, its now 8-9 handed. Its much more comfortable for me. It is now a +EV game, reducing some variance with the new features. I saw more raises though, and not that many calls. But the players are still weak, in exception of two very good LAG players. These two will be a force to be reckon with in the next games, if they keep up the improvement.

The stakes went a bit down, which is not good for the profit, but is better for the game. Now everyone is having fun. Although there's still enough competition.

....

Don't tell me anything about Davis Cup. I think that the game Gonzalez vs Roddick was something very sad for the sport. Davis cup or Mafia Cup?

....

Chilean poker players are playing at Carlos Poker.com. They started yesterday in a $1000 USD freeroll. Around 350 chilean players played but i couldnt. I havent been able to register, there seems to be a problem with the page. This wednesday is the next event. Hope to be there, although is a very bad blind structure. Pokerchile.com has started a ranking, but I dont think its good enough. The tournaments, according to people that played there, suck. And big time.

....

I may start playing the bloggers tournament "circuit" this month. I'm not sure, though.

Playing in Paradise

2006-04-06T23:44:00.000-04:00

On monday I started playing at Paradise Poker again (do you think someone would let me enter the "other" paradise????) and its been a superb experience... as it always is when I play there. The games are softer than ever... which is great. I'm up for the bonus, although I have suffered major bad beats (as usual when the games are soft)

Today I'm particularly proud of me, because after a great start I suffered two very bad beats against two middle stacks (i'm buying in for the full ammount as reccomended by Poker Cats and Mark, from the Surly Poker Gnome) and it was back to the start. I'm proud that I was capable of mantaining my head cool, and kept played accordingly. Which turned out great as I recovered from a bad session yesterday, when I lost some money on bad plays. I think I could squeeze more on a couple of hands tonight, but in all I think I played very decently. Played for a half an hour more than usual, and I would have loved to keep playing, but I decided to play time, as I always have.

The games were pretty good and I wasnt tired. But after two of my games broke, I decided to leave.

Another thing is that I love playing Paradise Poker, and my results are better there. It could be due to that I play only 3 tables there, and not the usual 4. The interface is so good too, that maybe it all adds up better. The game pace is a bit slower than most card rooms, but I prefer it that way. I always come back to Paradise after playing at other sites. Its a very good experience, and I think more people are playing there today, than a few months before.

Good luck at the tables!

Is a good poker player born or made?

2006-04-05T21:48:00.000-04:00

In a recent 4 part article of Alan Schoonmaker to Cardplayer.com ("Planning your personal Development") he tries to guide players to accomplish their poker goals by taking among other things their assets and liabilities. Its very good, and you should read it.

I think that being a poker player is very much like being a good leader. Is the leader born or made? According to different courses that i took during my military years, neither.

I think if we ask the same question about poker players on most online forums the larger pecentage would say "made". But I think they would be wrong. I think the answer is neither as well.

The same goes for pilots. When we started the military pilot training we were 64. All very good cadets (3 years of proof), with all the medical and psychological abilities needed to become pilots. Only 23 have a license today. The other's had to stay in the ground.

Now, some people say "everyone can learn to fly" and inmediatly they add "with enough time, money and discipline". And I somewhat aggree.

But to become the best? Then, I think, others factors appear. Some factors that you cant learn, or get with time and practice (or money).

First of all, I think you must be smart. Alan Schoonmaker in its article says that if your IQ is 118 and you are above 80% of population that's great, but he thinks that you are under the poker player average. And I agree.

You need to be confident and brave(as the same article continues, and as Barry Greenstein says on "Ace...") not everyone can try to pilot an F-16, and not everyone would put $200.000 at stake without thinking "I could buy a new house with that money". But how can you "learn" bravery? Or confidence? Go try some seminars, but most likely its whether you have it or you don't.

Can you multitask? You can learn that ability. Sure. But are you capable of making the right decision involving a lot of money (whatever that is to you) by taking under consideration all the aspects of the game. Its not that much "feel" due to experience, rather than the ability to think straight under pressure in details of the session (or former knowledge of a person, or type of person/player)

And I think that's very hard if you dont have some talent to it. I think its hard to think under pressure (and i think its difficult for most people to think on many things at once to try and add up, even without pressure). In the military they train you to do so. Specially to pilots, as they are the most dangerous weapon a country could have, in terms of people. But I dont think the vast mayority goes through thiss kind of process in their lives. As Barry Greenstein noted on page 70 of "Ace on the river" its quite possible that a good poker player won't come from a wealthy family or enviroment, as they could be spoiled and would lack the strenght in character needed. To be "psychologically tough" you need to fill it out with something. A hard experience, a troubled childhood, or something like it.

To conclude, I think most people lack the abilities needed. Some are lucky and lack the abilities that can be learned or taught. And other wont be so lucky. But you don't need to be world class to excel at poker. After all as Schoonmaker noted repeatedly on his "Planning...", you may have many assets in your game at some limit, but push it higher and those assets may become liabilities.

V for Victor... y?

2006-04-04T14:39:00.000-04:00

Alex: Hi Hi Hi there!
Droogs: Well hello!

Timeless quote from "A Clockwork Orange"

Yes! Chile is ready for some new casinos! So! A very old news prove to be true, and 23 new world class casinos are on their way to be build in a place near you (if you happen to be near Chile, anyway)

But that's not important. What is it then? Well, first and foremost Marcelo "Chino" Rios is back to tennis, and has already won the first event of the ATP Merryl Lynch Tour of seniors. The first "latino" to get to ATP #1, is already #1 in the seniors circuit. With only 30 years, and without losing a single set during the whole event, "Chino" took the cup of Doha, Qatar.

I just wish chilean people (and the world) get to see the magnificent talent of this huge tennis player, known to cognoscenti as the "best wrist in tennis history", back in the ATP Proffessional Circuit. We'll see what happens.

...

In another side of tennis, Chilean Davis Cup team (2 time World Champions, Dusseldorff 2003-2004 and Olympic gold in singles and doubles) is ready to defeat the USA this weekend. USA chose a grass surface to try and win us, but it doesnt matter. In the words of "Chino" Rios about Wimbledon "Grass is good for two things only: playing football (soccer) and feeding the cows".

Chile will try and make history by feeding A-Rod with some grass.

Good Luck!

Thanks UB for retaining my bankroll

2006-03-27T20:12:00.000-04:00

I'm thinking that this could be very well the last time I play at UB. I can still remember the last time UB support and I exchanged mails. They were sending a check, instead of my usual Neteller account.

This time something worse has happened. They have my entire (very small these days) bankroll lost somewhere around bermuda triangle. I made a withdrawal on Friday, that it was processed according to their data on Saturday. Yet, the money hasnt appeared on my account, and its no longer "pending" at UB.

No one answers my mails. I'm on my third already.

What should I do? Any lawyer that would like taking this case pro bono? I'm losing a lot of time = money, as its my only source of income these days.

No one needs a translator, or writer over there??????

A 2 dollar profit (the live game)

2006-03-25T11:54:00.000-04:00

After 3 hours of play, and 3 sit and go, I ended up with that miserous profit.

The structure has changed a lot. They play 10 minutes blinds, you start with 5000 in chips, and the first level of blinds is 100-200. Its very very fast, with a winner usually in an hour. We started playing 7 handed.

The first game we played, I started really conservative, as the game was being shooted up right from the start, and not from the aggresive players. There was this new guy that was trying to teach me how to play that was really aggressive, but very weak. LOL.

After only 2 moves, that turned out alright I was in third position, out of 3! in 15 minutes of game. The blinds were starting to catch up. After 2 double ups, I was back on track.

By the time we started heads up, Yoyi had about 70% of chips, however I was on the bb, cutting my stack in a third. He went on to put me all in, which I called hesitantly with Q7 off, as I knew he was weak from a tell that he has. But he was stronger than me with K8off. The flop brought a 7, but the river was a king.

First place got 25 dollars, while second just gets its money back (4 dollars that is)

The second game was for only 14 dollars. I started shooting it up from the start and won it.

The third game was for 29 again, but after a bad couple of moves in my part I was crippled, and in a monster hand I got all my money in. The flop was Q87. The turn was a 5 and I went all in with the double belly buster (T9s) against a pair of rockets, an AQ, and a pair of 8s (he was all in preflop)

I failed to improve and the rockets took out 3 players in that hand.

At least, I know I wasnt being cheated. They know too little to try it.

I think the game still is +EV, but the swings are higher now, with that structure thats really fast. I'll try to get them out of that SnG mentality if I can.

Is it +EV???? I feel like I'm quite ahead of the pack. But, I'm almost forced to take a lot of coin flips in order to win it. Is it +EV?

The live game... 5 months later

2006-03-24T17:32:00.000-04:00

"I'm doing you a favour
As I'm taking all your money
I guess I should feel sorry
But I dont even trust me"

Megadeth - Train of Consequences

I'm trying to get back on the game... thats quite definitive. So, its goodbye drinking buddies (for a while), goodbye girl (just for a week!) and goodbye vacations. Its time to get back on track.

So! That means I'll be playing a lot online, right? Not quite. I already started there of course, but I really want to feel what is like playing live again. But for me here, and for the moment, it means only one thing. The live game. It used to be pretty "live" as far as I can remember. That is, because I can still remember what happened 5 month ago. It was my second time on that game. And I won it.

So why in the world wouldnt I be back next week? Pretty simple. When we were playing four handed, a very weird hand came up. The two most aggresive and stacked players (yes, I was being run over) clashed in a very bogus hand. They started raising each other on a very scary flop. They were heads up for that hand, and preflop there was no action. I was wondering what could they have on a rainbow KJ8.

The bettor was Oswald, and the raiser was Jose (kinda wasted). The way I saw it both were stone cold bluffing. Trying to outbet the other player. When the turn came and brought a 7, they got it all in (Jose being with less chips, by a mere one unit chip). Jose turned over J4 (for second pair) and Oswald showed Q2 for a stone cold bluff!

Even more, I had folded a queen.

The river came (the dealer was a very good friend of Oswald, an Army officer, that outranked me) and brought the only card that could help. The queen.

I didnt say anything at that time, but I grew suspicous. Specially because with all the show they put out in the showdown, that someone could have tempered the deck.

..........................

However, after I became the chip leader I joked to the officer, that was dealing again: "...just dont bring any more of those weird looking queens".

And that was it. From that moment forward Oswald (one of the most respected of the group, and one of the better players) started discusing my attitude, and so on.

I finally won the game, and went home. But I couldnt return.

.........................

Today I made a call to Jose. He's somewhat advocating for my return. Let's just hope that it all works out alright. And that the old fight be forgotten...

Vic is back! Back with a vengeance!

2006-03-23T16:02:00.000-04:00

Finally I'm able to return from the most weird and long vacation ever.

Some very strange things happened to me....

For starters:
I'm married now!

Poker arena, here I come!

Poker Break... drinking at Ruby's

2005-11-26T10:37:00.000-03:00

"While the sun is bright
Or in the darkest night
No one knows
She comes and goes

Goodbye, ruby tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still I’m gonna miss you..."

Rolling Stones - Ruby Tuesday

So! Last 2 weeks the poker has been little to non, but that's ok. I felt like I needed a break after burning out for 2 or 3 months straight (up to 10 hours a day of multitableing... and yes, i said months!)

Yesterday after taking some of the damned heat of Santiago's sun (this town keeps getting warmer!) I decided it was time for a quick drink. So I drove to a mall near my house, which claims to be the biggest in Latinamerica. I'm like... whatever! They don't even have a decent bar in it... maybe malls don't usually have bars. Who knows? Why not, right?

That's when I realized it was 16:30... which means HAPPY HOUR at Ruby Tuesday! I love those skirts, but I couldnt find a beatiful girl at the place. Anyway, I know this about barmaids... "Barmaids and hookers: if you fall in love with them, and you start thinking they're yours, you are out to a long road of dissapointment"

Or something like it.

So! I decided it was time for a little (after all I was driving!) alcohol consumption! Although I rally wanted something stronger, I went for not-tell alcohol, VODKA. I took a couple of Caipiroskas, which is brazilian caipirinha but with Vodka instead of CaÇasa. It consist of frappe ice in a tumbler with limes in it and sugar. Its a very good, light and refreshing drink... perfect for the hot afternoon I was facing. That was when my good friend Rodrigo Fefo (short for FErnandez FOntena) arrived, and after a few lucky's and drunk stories we head out for dinner. Yeah, we actually left Ruby's for dinner at some other place. It turned out alright, as the Doggi's personel were very friendly girls that were kinda looking interested on us! Nice start for friday afternoon! The hot dogs were awful though, only the avocato was worth it.

All in all, a good afternoon. The evening held some promise, but it was dissapointing, everything was packed as it could be. I drove to my girl's house quite early... and things started to get better ;) Dont know how long it will last this time though. My guess? Let's leave that for another entry.

Drinking Pisco!

2005-11-23T23:14:00.000-03:00

"with the platinum blondes
and tobacco brunettes
I'll be drinkin' to forget you
lite another cigarette
and the band's playin' something
by Tammy Wynette
and the drinks are on me tonight"

Tom Waits- Warm beer and cold women

I've seen that my blog has been neglected of others aspects of my life that make it more meaningful. I'm talking about flying and drinking. Flying of course is what I do (I'm the pokerpilot after all, am i not?). Maybe some other time I'll write about that.

But what about drinking? I've been unfair to my drinks. Time to change that. (check the Modern Drinking Mag link, you wont be dissapointed)

As I drink a fine "piscolita" I try to remember some of the amazing stories that came across my life thanks to the drinking. I wouldnt know where to start.

First of, for all of you that dont know PISCO is the equivalent to your US Jack Daniel's, scottish whisky, mexican Tequila, to russian Vodka, japanese Sake, and whatelsenot. Its a traditional drink made of grapes. DO NOT CONFUSE WITH CHILEAN WINE! Chilean wine is as said by cognoscenti the best or second best of the world (the battle is close with France)

Pisco, is the favourite drink at the parties here in Chile. Its the favourite drink of most. Its brewed mostly in the 4th region of Chile, at the Elqui's Valley. One of the most beautiful places on earth, with one of the most magnificent drinks on earth. UFOlogist also think that its one of the most important places on earth for ufo activity, but I digress.

Peruvians think that PISCO is theirs. WHATEVER! I just want to drink it. I havent tasted pisco from Peru, but I will as soon as I have the chance. In fact I'll share some of our own chilean pisco with any peruvian who'd like to share. Specially with a girl. I digress.

If you ever have the opportunity to drink this incredible drink, please take it. You'll be doing yourself a favour.

Pisco can be mixed with Coke, for the phenomenal drink called PISCOLA! (piscolita, for the intimate friends) However most of the tourist will drink Pisco Sour, which is great too. Mark can give account of that at The Surly Poker Gnome, though he might blog about some less important matters of life such as poker. Imagine that! Poker over drinking!.... Wait... my mistake.

I should rename the blog to Vic, The drunken poker pilot. The drunkard pilot... he also play cards. Maybe not.

The most important brands of Pisco here in Chile are: (in the order that I prefer)

1.- Mistral (Gabriela for the friends) Rate out of ten: 8 to 10 depending on its proof
2.- Alto del Carmen (Carmencha for intimates) Rate: 7 through 10

3.- Capel (standard value/taste... a minus average drink) Rate: 4 to 5. Pub-like taste.

Of course there are many others... If they didnt make the list they are not worth it.

I ran out of drink now. More to come on drinking if I dont pass out first... LOL

The hottest babe on earth (Erica Campbell)

2005-11-20T17:11:00.000-03:00

There are so many! I dont know where to start.

But I found one that stole my heart. Her name is Erica Campbell. Yeah, she's a porn star. Yeah, I know... so what? She was playmate of the year 2004, and its about to win that title again. You can always check her site at www.ericacampebell.com and vote for her.

C'mon We can make it!

First No Limit Tournament in Chile, Casino de Viña del Mar

2005-11-10T17:31:00.000-03:00

Following the example of Daniel Negreanu and Paul Phillips and their repproval of the Tournament of Champions (although I dont read the blog of the latter) I'll critizice the First Tournament of No Limit Hold'em that starts today in Viña del Mar, Chile. I'm quite aware that I dont have the same coverage that they have, lol, but anyway this is my way of saying "NO!" to its bad organization.

First of all, you (the reader... if any!) must know that the Casino de Viña del Mar, is the greatest Casino in Chile, and its reputation is the best on the business. Like the Bellagio of yours, keeping the proportions in place of course.

The Casino decided to take a good number of players under their wing, by hosting the FTNLH that was actually an initiative of PokerChile.com that was to be held on Las Brujas event center. This tournament was postponed due to its ilegality. So Casino de Viña, decided to host it. I was very enthusiastic about it until I read the fine print.

Here are some points that I'd like to discuss:

1.- Buy in: 250k chilean pesos. Thats about 500 US dollars. And in Chile about twice the minimum salary. I think its little high for Chile, but its pretty cheap to international standars. However if we are going to host an international tournament, shouldnt it provide the same characteristics and promotion.

The 250k buy in, gives you entrance to the tourney and 5 millions (yes, millions) in chips. You may think this is a little deep. Well.. you are wrong! and the next point shows why.

2.- Blinds: The blind structure is regular. Small Blind and Big Blind. The starting level its 50k and 100k. That means that you have 50x times the starting level of blinds. Yeah I think its alright, although high for certain standars like the WSOP (example the main event all players start with 10k in chips with the blinds at 25/50)

If this doesnt make you dizzy on the speed limit, well check this out.

3.- Blind levels: The blinds will be raised every 20 minutes! WTF is that? Playing on a brick and mortar casino, how many hands do you get to play? Less than 10 hands! Now, think that its even worse, because all the players have so little chips in front of them, they might be using a lot of time on each hand Lets say in average about 8 to 11 hands per level! So much worse that online sit and go's! The 2nd blind level is 100k/200k... thats insane. That means that in one hour of play the blinds will be 500k/1million! So if you have played normally and you havent win anything above the buy in, you are now officially in THE RED ZONE, and about to be blinded away. Good luck with that.

4.- Its a classification process. You dont get to keep your chips. Its just a qualy the first day. The second day there's a second chance lottery. Every player that busted out of the game is able to rebuy for 350k.

5.- The final day all the players will have new chips in front. So everything you earned throughtout the tournament is back to 0!

Now this only gets worst. Although the promotion of the tournament indicates a 90 million prize pool, well, only 15 million are guarranteed.

I have the money, I have the time. But there's no way I'll play in it. The luck will be much more of a factor above skill or anything else. Its better if I buy a lottery ticket.

I hope someday someone would realize that this kind of tournament doesnt make any sense.

Till then, I'll just have to play the usual home games, and of course online.

Modern Drunkard Magazine

2005-11-08T19:20:00.000-03:00

"Show me the way to the next whiskey bar
oh, dont ask why"

Alabama song (Whiskey bar) - The Doors

A new link to this boring blog of mine is added. And I'm not talking about EMOL for anyone interested in chilean news, but of NEW DRUNKARD MAGAZINE!

What a great piece of reading!

I have laughed for many hours reading its archives, and I tell ya' its manditory for all you drunkards like me!

I'll take an excerpt from one of the columns, this time "Wino Wisdom"

“The optimist sees the glass half full. The pessimist sees the glass half empty. The drunk says, 'Are you gonna drink that'?"
Robert G. eschewing the philosophical for the practical.

“You’re paying off like the world’s worst slot machine.”
Rick E. watching his friend regurgitate expensive scotch outside the Whiskey Bar.

“The damn wagon’s too crowded anyway.”
Anonymous drunk about to take a fall in front of the Lions Lair Lounge

“She spilled a beer on me. That’s foreplay.”
Paul responding to either clumsiness or a come-on in the Satire Lounge.

Thanks MDM!

Ultimate Bet... ultimate slow withdrawal

2005-11-06T16:29:00.000-03:00

I've played in Ub almost since I started playing online. It was a good experience till last tuesday. I made a withdrawal for a certain ammount of money, thinking that it would take (as it usually does) within 24 hours.

Bloody wrong!

ITS SUNDAY NOW! and I havent got any response to my mails to its support, and the withdrawal is still "pending"

Is this by any means "normal"?

WTF!

Good day / Bad day- Halloween

2005-11-01T22:47:00.000-03:00

I had a pretty weird day for a monday. It was halloween of course. Here in Chile 1st of novemeber its a holiday (I'm not sure if its international). So I decided taking the full 4 day weekend.

The day was starting great. I was pretty tired as I didnt catch much sleep that night. As I was driving back home in the morning, right after I left my girlfriends house, I caught the first red light. As I waited a police car got behind me. They started making weird signals. So I tried to pull over (still on the red light) and they kept making signs. I couldnt understand. After a while I understood that my door wasnt closed properly. I said thanks and moved on.

After that they passed me, but they were driving so slow I was getting bored. I decided to change lanes. Two minutes after I changed, the bus in front of me got a flat tire. I tried to change lanes again, but the traffic was awful.

After some waiting, a bus (yeah! all of you who know how our public transportation is, will understand that its nearly a miracle!) gave me enough space to get out.

These two little (but weird) incidents, I didnt caught one single red light! And it was a 20 min. ride!

-------

As I got home I couldnt get any sleep.

In fact I had to go to the mall to buy a prescription for my mother, and to buy a couple of things on the market.

I took the car about 18:00, but I didnt realize that it was monday. So the traffic was horrible. Even worse, I couldnt find a parking space!

After a solid 20 minutes of search I got one. The little errand took a full hour, as both trhe drugstore as market were crowded as hell.

When I was leaving the parking lot, I got caught on the exit, as the streets were full. I heard about 5 horns, and two rude fellows started critizing my driving skills, cause I was blocking the walking path!

WTF! I couldnt move the car an inch! As the street was so damn occupied, and no one made a single efford to give me any space.

....

Tired as you can imagine, I got home, but I couldnt get sleep because my little brothers were all over the place with the halloween costumes. After that my 15 year old brother said he saw a weird thing on the condominium, and my mother was very scared. (this is a ten year old condo, but weird things, such as "ghosts" are seen every once in a while. I havent though!)

I ended up as the brave one, trying to calm both of them, as I've never seen anything weird. And I sometimes come back home very very late.

So! I didnt went to any halloween party, as I was too tired, but I couldnt recover any sleep at all, thanks to a ghost story that frightened my family.

In all, a day that held some promise, but ended up awful. I really enjoyed Daniels(http://pokercats.blogspot.com) entry about Halloween.

Thanks a lot lad!

Some hands...

2005-10-26T18:53:00.000-03:00

The Inaugural Blogger Championship is over, and before I start forgeting things I'll write a summary with the crucial moments that I had while I was playing.

I started with 2k on chips, on a 4 (later 5) handed table. The rest of the players were sitting out. The game started unusually fast even for a shorthanded table. My position was great, because I was the last to the right of the sitting out players (they were all sitting together). The other players were contesting each hand and the chips were flying for the first rounds from hand to hand. I took a couple of pots by raising aggresively preflop. Then a huge hand came out, leaving the weakest player crippled to half his stack. The guy with most chips raised my bb from the button (a large raise 5 times the bb). The sb called. I had AJ, and decided to pull a squeeze, raising 2 times the pot. I won the hand. After that hand I took the "dead money" as the other players were a little worried about raising me (maniac!)

With so many blinds taken by me, I was at 3k, when the shortstack goes all in for 500 or so. Everyone folded to me and I raised All In with AQ. A new player to the table called for 2.5k. Oh no!

The small stack showed a pair of jacks, the other player showed Kings, and I was in a hurry. The flop brought an ace and two players were busted out.

I kept playing great poker, using my large stack without ever having to show a hand.
I made it all the way to 15k.

Thats when a new player to the table came in. After about a round I noticed he was playing very aggresive. He had about 11k. Then this hand came up. He open raised for 600 (bb 200at that time) the sb fold, and I decided to give it a shot. I called with Kh7h (yeah not too good a hand, but I couldnt let him keep taking the blinds with so many players still sitting out! that was my job!)

The flop comes AJ8. I wasnt happy but I already decided check raising no matter what the flop was. He bets 1000 on a 1400 pot. I checked raised for 3000 (2k more to him). He thought about two seconds and called. And I was in a hurry. The turn was a ten! I had a double belly buster. I remember straight from SuperSystem "always call when faced a double belly buster, the implied odds are huge" He bets 2500 and I call.

The river was a Queen. I made the straight.I bet somewhere between half and 3/4 of the pot (a little less than half his stack) and he inmediatly called for 2 pair Aces and Queens. He had 4k left. And I was over 21k.

Inmediatly after the hand he went all in. I called with Queens that made top set on the flop against his AK. I was on 4th place for the tourney.

However after that hand I was moved to another table where I ran card dead for a about an 40 minutes. I think I'm comfortable playing the big stack, but I was running cold. And the table was very active with 3 small stacks, and the rest were only medium stacks. The table had a lot of railbirds, all talking about how "this table is to sweat". I was watching very aggresive play. And being a full table people were playing great hands all the way. I couldnt catch any cards!.

I was being slowly blinded out, and I took a few pots with a couple of low pairs. As I was playing very tight people respected my raise. The this hand came. I had a pair of 4s on the cut off. I raised 3 times the bb with a limper on 3rd, the only one who called and raised all in for 3k more. I called. He was raising every pot with his short stack so it was an obvious call. He showed J7off a stone cold bluff. However he caught a jack on the flop.

The next hand I held a pair of tens. The cut off seat took a moment before going all in (he had about 8.5k about 5k more for me to call). I had 20k. I decided to call, as we were 250 players left and I was slightly under average with 15k in case I lost. The guy turned over kings. I couldnt catch anything and I was down to 15k.

After that the game was becoming very volatile. A lot of new players were playing very hard against the already tough table. I sat and watched my stack get down to 13k (way under average at the time) There were 150 players left and I was 70th by the time.

Then the cut off seat raised 3 times the bb and I went all in from the small blind with AQ. He didnt make the call. I was back to 17k. I couldnt catch any cards, and at least one player was always open raising so I couldnt call with nothing. There was no way I was going to bluff a re raise, because they were getting called a lot.

Then the bubble burst and I was at least with a hat. There was nothing I could do anyway because I wasnt getting any cards. Until this hand came up.

I was playing (folding) very quietly, when I got a pair of 4s on late position. Two players limped in from early position (something quite unusual for the table). I decided to go all in. It was about 10k more to the callers. I thought the only way for them to call was that they had a big pair and were trying to re raise. I didnt think someone could make the call with medium pair, because it was almost 3/4 of each of their stack. And I was right. They didnt make the call. The BB did. He called... almost for all of his chips...I knew right there I was facing something big, he was enticing another call!
!
He had Kings, and that was it. 93rd place and a cap for the chilean poker pilot!

T-Shirt and Cap finish...93rd out of 14XX

2005-10-23T23:02:00.000-03:00

Today the Inaugural Blogger Tournament was held at PokerStars. It was abso-bloody-lutely great. I have to recognize that I had a huge experience. The players were all in a great mood, everyone trying to have a blast. And it was contagious. I guess this one has to be one of the greatest tourneys I've played, mostly due to the great atmosphere that I had.

Kurokitty (Daniel) and I make it to the tourney, and unfortunately Mark didnt. Yet he finished around 600, just by sitting out.

I'll wrap it up for today (details coming soon) by saying that I had a "money finish". I won a T-Shirt and a hat courtesy of PokerStars store for my 93rd place finish.

Winning the live game

2005-10-18T22:06:00.000-03:00

After being the first one out of last friday night SnG, I promised myself that I would show them how ahead of the field I was. Actually it was me who wanted to know if that edge was real... or if it was only on my mind.

So! I went there after playing a lot of Sng online that week, and 2 tourneys. A pot limit event which I won, and a No Limit event in which I ended up 6th over a field of 270 players.

As you might think, I was very confident on my habilities, after regaining it online. I went thinking that my game was very sharp, and that if the cards went good I could win it.

After 3 hours, 3 players had busted out, and I was sitting on the same chip count as I started. The difference was that the blinds had already tripled up.

There was 5 other players. The champ, I'll call it W, was sitting on a huge pile of chips. He busted all of the players so far. He was playing very aggresive raising, re raising, pushing in, the whole enchilada. The second chip place was a player we'll call JM, he is very aggresive, very capable of bluffing deep into the hand. Third place in chips was a guy we'll call L. This guy was playing very solid. We also had another player playing solid poker, we'll call him Y.

The table looked like this.
L 150 chips JM 200 chips
W 300 chips
blinds 5/10* Y 200 chips
Drunk/weak player
50 chips
Vic 100 chips

*I should mention that this level is the highest blind level, and that it mantains throughtout the game, unless the last 2 or 3 players decide other thing.

I was starting to get uncomfortable with my chip count. Other than that I was feeling bad with my position, I had W, raising me every time. And worst JM sometimes reraised him. So, I was unhappy. The cards were also pretty cold for me that day.

Suddenly I realized that I needed to start choping blinds, playing aggresive the short stack. Taking a hand and commiting. After that I saw a chance when I caught a pair of threes. It seemed that everyone was limping in. It came to me on the bb. I raised the pot (about 40) everyone folded. I was down up to 150 or so.

After two more hands I raised on the button with A6 suited, with one limper ahead (L). I said "20 more". The small blind (Drunk) went all in for his 21 chips (1 more for me). The headache started when L started counting his chips. He goes all in, making it 20 more for me. I looked at him for awhile. I knew he was weak. I had him on two high unpaired cards. "I have the worst hand, but I call"

And I was right. Drunk player shows J8 diamonds, L shows AT spades, and I turned over my Ac6d. I wasnt happy. The flop brought a 6! and two diamonds. However both failed to improve and I was over 200!

We were playing 4 handed. W had about 350, JM (probably drunk at the time) had about 250, i had about 200 and Y had 200 as well.

Then this hand came up.

W and Y called and I checked the bb with JToff. The flop came 785 rainbow. W bet a weak 10 into a 30 pot. Y folded, and I called. I was thinking that the 9 of course would be ideal, but that maybe a jack or a ten would be enough. I didnt think he had the straight. When a 4 came on the turn i had a headache. W checked. He had the straight i could see it cristal clear. In my mind 67 came as his hole cards.The river was the beautiful 9 of hearts. The card known in gypsi magic as "a whisper of love, a whisper of hate". I knew I had the nuts, no possible flush, no possible full.

Acting disgusted I checked. He bet 20. I took forever. I said "you cant have a nine in there!" And raised him weakly. He said 70 more inmediatly. I looked like I was in pain. Everyone was silent. They were all looking at me with pity. I took forever saying "if you have that nine I'm dead... I'm all in, only 12 more to you"

He called, and looked like he was going to faint when I showed him the jack high straight. I, suddenly and by miracle, was the chip leader.

W was down to 150 and very upset. Then he started raising like hell. Eating a lot of blind. He was up to 200 when he got into a huge hand with the JM. He was very drunk. The flop came KJ8. The got into it very deep. The turn had JM all in. JM showed J9 for a pair of jacks. And W shows Q9 for a stone cold bluff. The river brought a Queen.

..........

We made a deal. The third place would get his money back. Second place would double up his money. First place would take all the rest about 7 times the buy in.

We started the game with me on second chip position. He started leaning on us. And he was taking a lot of chips. I was being dealt very roughly. I couldnt do much. I was hoping to hit second place and try to break him heads up. I just couldnt change gears. He was making us play for all of our chips.

Then i got tired. I had to make a stand. I was in the bb. W raised to 3 times the bb on the button. Y folded. And I called with T2 spades, the famous Doyle Brunson hand, with the clear idea of pushing with any Ten or deuce. Or with 2 spades.

The flop came 232 rainbow. W bets... I raised. He thinks for awhile and reraises all in. I called inmediatly. He showed pocket nines, and he lost control when he saw my hand.

Both turn and river were blanks. I had almost 75% of the chips.
----

It all went perfect there. I started playing a lot, and taking a lot of pots. W went all in with A9 suited in an ace high flop which I called with AQ, the turn brought an innecessary Q to give 2 pair.

Then heads up I got as aggresive as I could. However the cards went awful. I had a huge chiplead but Y doubled up playing solid poker (He rarely bluffs, and he got a lot of cards).

I was out of focus.

I decided to concentrate. And I raped him.

I didnt play all the way. I chopped him up. He finally decided to push all in with a straight draw but he lost to my top pair.

And I was the champ!!!

The Live Game

2005-10-17T21:55:00.000-03:00

I don't usually play live poker... as stated on Marks Blog, its hard finding a poker game here 5,589 miles from Vegas. But, I finally found one... and a good one.

First off, let's explain the basic rules of this game, as I probably will be posting some of the action on future entries. You buy in for a good ammount, the game is not penny money but its not that big to be intimidated, for that you get 100 chips. Its a Sit and Go, and usually we set an hour for the last reload. You can only reload once you bust out. You can't have short buy ins. There's no add on either. The prize pool is somewhere around 12 times the buy in. And the only winner is first place, though deals can be made. The game is seven handed or so at full. The game as you can imagine is No Limit.

To give you an idea of the prize pool, if you take the full ammount you can party up your arse two weekends, drinking a lot. Ok... maybe not that much drinking... lets say that you cant drink all of it alone on a full day, unless you are drinking on a very prestigious night club, with the 2k escorts.

So its good money.

The game is every friday, and they all know each other pretty well. As a newcomer I only knew one of them, and I knew nothing of the rest (poker/life wise).

As a result of my first day (night) I caught good hands early on, and it was a massacre. I was pushing everyone around, and in the first two hours (in this unusually slow pace game) I had tripled up. The truly important thing was that I was the table captain.

But then someone decided to play sheriff. And it was a good player. The guy (I'll refer to him as W) was their champion. He had won it back to back almost every week. He was the only one who had me a little bit worried as he was playing solid. However he changed gears pretty well. He let me go for the first hours and then make the move. And I was suddenly feeling uneasy.

Another problem had crossed my mind... I knew I was ahead of the field almost in every way, but I was having a lot of trouble with "the live game"... chip counts, turn to play, concentration, etc.

So when he put the pressure on me, I was feeling it. I was playing Loose Aggro, and that is not my favourite hunting ground. At least not for the first hours.

7 handed can be pretty much the transition for short handed. And I was feeling on limbo.

The other thing was that the blinds were coming up furiously, and players with short stacks, were starting to play all the way. And I felt some beats. I lost the chip lead soon enough, and 15 minutes after the rebuy period was over I was out of the game.

I got caught by the world. I mostly played blackjack live , and my light experience on that matter got raped. I felt the need for chips after losing the chip lead (with the best hand everytime) and because the blinds were running me over. I wasn't thinking straight.

So! I was the first one out. All the others got to rebuy, and I couldn't due to my lack of concentration... I never looked at the watch.

I went home and I thought for a while on the mistakes I made, the plays I've seen, and did a little thinking on the other players. I gave a lot of thought to the actual game structure... and it paid off.

I won it the second time I played it.

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

Oh yeah, next time I'll explain all about it!

Angry again...

2005-10-14T19:45:00.000-03:00

So what were the results for Chile?

Well... I can't imagine a worst scenario.
Chile tied against Ecuador, Colombia won as well as Uruguay.

So, finally the miracle didnt arrive.

Uruguay is off to a rematch vs Australia for an entry to next World Cup to be held next year in Germany.

And Chile? We'll have to wait for another 4 years...

Chile vs Ecuador (The Battle for Germany 2006) vs Uruguay vs Colombia

2005-10-12T20:51:00.000-03:00

Well here we are, once again Chile can't make the qualy for a Football (soccer for US) World Cup. So, we are on the last match, and we don't really need to win it, its mandatory, and then, and only then, we need Argentina to beat or tie Uruguay on Montevideo. Thats the only way for Chile to be in the next World Cup. Other than that we also depend on Colombia's result with Paraguay.

To make things even more tricky, on the last classification for the World Cup (Korea/Japan 2002) Argentina recognized an arrengement with Uruguay to tie this last game, that way Uruguay could make it to the World Cup. So there's been a lot of words fired out through Los Andes.

Anyway, we are minutes away from the moment of truth--- Chile needs to win to qualify to a rematch, only if both Uruguay and Colombia are beat, or tied.

Blogger Tournament

2005-10-06T13:07:00.000-04:00

I have registered to play in the
Online Poker Blogger Championship!

This event is powered by PokerStars.

Registration code: 8686145

WSOP 2005 Main Event, Final Table coverage on CardPlayer.com

2005-10-04T22:47:00.000-04:00

I've just ended hearing the 14 hour audio coverage of the final table of the WSOP 2005 Main Event. For any of you interested its downloadable from their website. Its marathonic, and its divided on 8 chapters, one for each elimination.

Its the first time I hear something like it, and I enjoyed it a lot. Phil Hellmuth took the lead during the whole broadcast (taking obvious breaks), Jeff Shulman stayed there until the end too. Daniel Negreanu, Jennifer Harman and Erick Lindgren took a few hours each, and Layne Flack, Chris Ferguson, John Juanda and David Williams amongst others had some appearences as well.

I think it was most enjoyable and a good learning experience as the pros couldnt see the hole cards, and they were trying to get a read on the players, and by their comments we can understand the different views that each one could have about the same situation.

Phil Hellmuth did a great job (IMHO), taking the lead during most of the 14 hours that lasted.
Daniel Negreanu was very refreshing as well, but I think each of the pros that were there made great comments.

As a whole, I think it was very interesting.

Bad beats, tough breaks, losing streak and a comeback!

2005-09-19T21:48:00.000-04:00

I started working on the biggest bonus I' ve ever tried to clear. The 20x Multipoker Bonus. My bankroll knows its needed, very much indeed. And of course I need the experience as well.

However within the first 5 days the 500 deposit was pretty much crippled thanks to the worst losing streak I've had on my short poker "carreer".

12 buy-in lost.

The courage started to wear off. The awful questions appeared:
Am I playing the same game I always play?
Is it that the enemy has grown stronger?
Are the cards "running cold"?
Is it "bad luck"?
Am I the worst player ever?
Am I?

Some of the questions I could answer. But the last 3 I couldnt. Aces all in preflop cracked vs 84off, QToff and to Queens 3 times!
Kings NEVER WON a SHOWDOWN in over 5 days and about 3000 hands!
The worst were those where I was ahead by a lot. Examples-

I raised to 4 times the BB with JJ, one of the blinds raise the pot. I call reluctantly, thinking I'm obviously facing KK or AA. The flop comes 88J ! I bet, he raises, I re raise, he goes all in! I called.

I was right. He had Aces, and of course the river was an ace.

The same thing happended to 8s. I flop the full house, aces call, and get a river aces to beat me up.

The second best syndrome RIGHT THERE!

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

But I wont share anymore Bad Beats. I know there were many flushes beat against full house on the river and such. The worst was having two bad beats at the same time on different tables. 50 out the window!

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

But it all comes back! Or it should. And in a 3 day rush I recovered and showed a small profit. I'm laying down more hands than ever, trying to play the odds and trying to bet for value when I think I have the best hand.

I flop quads 3 times on 3 days. That helps!

The waiting

2005-08-29T20:49:00.000-04:00

"life is on the wire, the rest is just waiting"
Papa Wallenda, the famous high-wire walker

As used up as this quote might be, it's quite accurate to show what is on my frame of mind right now. Thanks to Fernanda for the idea, since it was her to whom I was talking when the thought came to my mind.

As an ISTP, I'm an adrenaline junkie, and sensations rule my life. Not that I'd be jumping off a building every time I get a chance, but certainly I'd think about it ;)

However, the truly problematic thing on my life, is to answer this plain question: What about the waiting? I thought I was patient enough, yet I was wrong. Although tantric meditation has helped a lot, I'm still thinking on the waiting, and the desastrous effects on my life...

To the waiting I must thank for so many different things, I can't even start a list. A lot of it has to do with alcohol (oh no, wait. alcohol I'm thankful for) and some ugly g.... (no, don't get me started on that one)

I do think the waiting has brought me some good things on life... books mostly. And culture of course... and I think I can't be grateful enough on this subject.

Other than that...

Strange Days

2005-08-22T15:26:00.000-04:00

Strange days have found us
Strange days have tracked us down
They're going to destroy
Our casual joys
We shall go on playing
Or find a new town

Strange Days - The Doors

And the strange days are in my life indeed... and its so exciting the way things are going... Strange voices appear every now and then... yet they seem so familiar to me. The smell of adrenaline all over me, once again... the life going wild as ever... The Strange Days have tracked ME down... and I'm as prepared as ever!

On a whole different subject the Empire bonus is my new casual toy, and I shall go on playing, till the bonus is burnt... hopefully with a nice profit.

I'll be back soon.

Hiatus

2005-08-18T21:19:00.000-04:00

(hear me)
and if i close my mind in fear
please pry it open
(see me)
and if my face becomes sincere
beware it
(feel me)
and when i start to come undone
stitch me together
(see me)
and if you see me strut remind me of what left this outlaw torn

The Outlaw torn - Metallica

I'd been away of the poker tables these last few days. I was wondering how could I do that... since I was in the biggest rush of my short poker carreer. In fact... I still don't know, honestly.

I just suddenly stopped playing....

But the time is soon at hand. A new bonus has appeared and this hiatus is about to be over. And thats great.

I think I only have to get in the right feeling...

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

Every day Im getting more and more interested on absurdity. I think I may make an entry of such style... i guess we'll see (although the entry of I want you, and We can Work it out made no sense... i know, and the Outlaw torn thing, didnt either... i know)

Listen... Do you want to know a secret?

2005-07-28T01:28:00.000-04:00

You'll never know how much I really love you
You'll never know how much I really care...

Do you promise not to tell....
Closer...
Let me whisper in your ear...

Do you want to know a secret- The Beatles.

I remember a couple of years ago. I met this little lady... and I thought she was the woman of my dreams. As you might suppose I lost my mind. She was so beautiful (to me) She looks like a dream I use to have frecuently while I was growing up.

She was so clever. Her mood was like mine most of the time... and she was so interesting. She still is I guess. The thing is I wouldn't know. She's not part of my life anymore. Probably (and I'd bet on this) she won't be ever again. I'm no longer sad about this fact. I understood with time that I arrived 5 minutes late. And if I, somehow had some kind of chance, I blow it. I was so eager to do something... that I took all my efford in just one shot... and missed.

Yet destiny is so sharp... and took another shot at me. As the first bullet only wounded me for a time.

This time some things have changed. I wont be so eager to shoot my foot this time. If fate wants to shoot me again... well she'll have to shoot me herself. Hopefully she'll miss.

I have always been a thrill seeker. No doubt about it. And I think that to be my worst enemy. This time the thrill is in my life... so bad I can't take no more. Its out of control. If I go and catch this new opportunity I'm given I might be entering the no return point. So I need to regain a certain ammount of control in my life, before sailing into far deeper waters.

Here's the catch... If fate knows me as much as I know myself (and thats not much, take my word) she only has to give me a push... and I'm taking this plane off, regardless of the weather.

And this finally brings me to the one thing I have noticed for sure. When the time comes to take an important decision... I realize I don't have a choice....

For the things that truly matter, there is no choice.

We can work it out....I want you (she's so heavy)

2005-07-24T19:22:00.000-04:00

Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend
I have always thought that is a crime so I will ask you once again

We can work it out- The Beatles

I want you. I want you so bad, its driving me mad.
She's so............... heavy!

I want you (she's so heavy)- The Beatles

This entry is hardly about poker. I just love these songs and wanted to write something about it.

This entry is about these two songs, that are turning very swiftly in my favoutite Beatles songs.
Both have hit me, really hard. The first one is a song that speaks to me about how we normally end up fighting stubbornly. Why is so difficult to comprehend that other options are available to solve a certain situation... McCartney wrote it for a fiancée, with whom eventually broke up. Life is certainly short. And its the chance to make it alright. I will take the opportunities that are at hand, fearing always the dreadful truth... life is running out. I'll make my best efford to do so, and just hope its enough...

The second song was written by Lennon, for Yoko Ono. The song is quite powerful. Lyrics wise is very simple, yet the song is a rollercoaster of emotions. I like it a lot, specially since it shows the really big enthusiasm for the girl in question, the object of desire. From that point of view both songs are trying to show different sides of a coin. Yet I don't see duality. After all its not duality... its the same coin.

Maybe we should take McCartney's advise, and take Lennon's enthusiasm and just enjoy life as it comes.... after all:

"All the lonely people, where do they all come from"

But thats another song.

PS. Maybe there's no sense in all of the above.... probably. Yet I hope this is the first of a series of post about songs.

Bubble boy frustration

2005-07-21T18:08:00.000-04:00

Today I've played 2 tourneys. Both at Multipoker. In the first we had a 10+1 buy in. The field was 50 players. I got to do some nice tricks and ended up in third place (being the short stack as I entered the final table). I got 75 bucks for my third place finish.

Yet the second tourney was the one that mattered. The $1000 NL Holdem. It was 20+2 buy in (rebuys during first hour and 1 add on allowed) The field seemed nice with only 20 players. Here's the catch. First of all I've never played such a large entry fee tourney. I always play at the 5s or tens maybe. With the whole "enchilada" (after buy in, rebuys and add on) the thing cost me 80+8 dollars.

I couldnt play a hand the entire first hour. So I rebuyed to 2300 chips (1500 per rebuy) and the last 3 hands I made some decent chops (not hands) and ended up with 7000 (oh yeah i made a rebuy in an all in, he never called but i made the rebuy anyways). So with the add on i started as second to the chip lead with 9250.

After a lot of chops and 0 hands I made to 12000 or so. Thats when I entered the final table as 3rd to the chip lead. After some huge hands I got the chip lead, though very close to 2 other players. When we got to 5 players the thing started to be rough. The third place in chips was caught by other player and lost half his stack. The next hand we got the 5th place finisher. Liquidated by me. The next hand was the one that made me lose the tourney.

As a chip leader with over 29000 I got QQ out of the BB. By the way, Ive never been on a final table where the ladies (QQ) didn't appeared at least once on my hand... they have never lost... till now.

The button (the players who was third in chip lead but had lost it) with a 10K stack made a move. Raised 2 times the bb. Sb folds. And I call... hoping to make a move after the flop if no overcards appeared. The flop comes all low cards. So I go all in. He calls and shows AA and holds up.

I was down to 10K. So I started playing cautiously. The stacks were 29K, 20K and me and some other player down to 10K each. Then the 10K players started playing very very actively. And I noticed the technique. Everyone would fold and the blinds were eating me alive. I couldn't get a hand. So by the time I got 88 I raised all in. (blinds 750/1500) But the small blind, with the huge stack called with AK. The flop brought an Ace and I couldn't improve.

The tourney only paid the first three places.

I can't believe my frustration.

Ultimatebet $3000 NL guarranteed- Disaster

2005-07-20T02:17:00.000-04:00

After a huge first hand (where I played Q8 spades out of 3rd position, like they were pocket rockets, and getting a lucky straight on the river) I kept playing my normal poker. When we got to the first break I was 4th for the tourney. The thing was this... when I bought in ten minutes before the tourney started only 100 players were registred. But when the tourney started there were 400 players!

So I thought "this was a mistake".

After the break I had a new table going on. With a guy busting a huge stack in 3 hands or so. This guy X, had re raised my bet 3 times in the last few rounds, having me folding. The player X was a solid player, that had me covered. He wasn't loose aggresive. But it seems that every time I raised (first in raise) he inmediatly re raised. And I was folding. I checked the hand history, to see if maybe he had a tell on me, but it was a longshot. He only saw me a few rounds, in which I opened changing the ammount randomly.

Thats when I got AQs out of the bb. He was on the button and called. Small blind called and I raised to 4 times the bb. He calls after some thinking, and the small blind folds. The flop comes 932, with 1 spade. I took a shot at the pot (pot sized). He re raises to half my stack. This really made me mad. Again he re raised me. I noticed if I just called I would be on a inflection point. So, mostly out of desperation I re raised all in. If he folded he'd be on 9000 or so, 7th place roughly. If he called he'd be 3000, rating average.

Before going all I considered the stacks, and of course what I thought he had... And I thought he had nothing. AJ or AT was my best guess. Even something weaker. You might be thinking he flopped a set.... but that was a long shot. I couldnt believe he would plain call against the blinds with 99 on a full table. Maybe treys or deuces. But hardly those hands would call a raise. Maybe not... but I thought he didn't.

And I was right. After some thought he calls. And shows a pair of sixes. I failed to improve and he took the pot.

And I was out of the tourney in 90th place. Out of 400. Tough Break...

I'm aware of the mistake I made. i should have fold the re-raise. Or even a check raise, since I think he would have bet. After that I went all in. That was a mistake too. I should have stayed with 6k that was way above average.

The thing was that I thought he wouldn't call. And he shouldn't. Maybe the flop didn't help. But I could have had an overpair to his sixes.
Here's the thing though. I can't blame him. He did the right thing... he won the hand... wheter his call was appropiate or not thats another subject.... My all in was questionable.... and that is the mistake that cost me the money... not his... but mine.

Still.... that was a frustrating thing.

On philosophy...

2005-07-19T02:08:00.000-04:00

For as long as I can remember this word has been running through my mind. And all of you who actually know me (the real person) are familiar with the fact that Im a writer, and more importantly a reader.

And although Im only 21 years old, I have read a lot, even after these last years of dried pages.

Only a few years ago I realized that existentialism has been a part of me as a whole. I didn't realize that... it just hit me senseless. But as a confirmated catholic as I am (was) most of the people would say that I was facing a contradiction (those people never read about Kiekegaard, Gabriel Marcel or Paul Ricoeur)

I won't even try to define my predicament on the subject as it certainly would take too long (and certainly nobody wants to read about it, not in this poker blog anyway) but I'll say this: if you are unable to hear different points of view, then you shouldn't be trying to tell "your" truth.

As my personality kept growing stronger (and far ruthless I might add) I noticed the inmediate need to control this. I wasn't hearing the others. If I got in a discussion I wouldnt listen, nor talk with them, I would try to break the others, and finally destroy their arguments, I would try to make them yield. I was blinded by a huge ego. Yet I wasnt even hearing myself.

Thats when meditation practices came in handy. I started (unconsciously) reading eastern philosophy... Zen, Tao and Tantra. Over the last 4 years I have taken its "teachings" into my life, and into every aspect of it. Lets at least say I've tried to. I'm still so hard headed.

I'm looking forward to be able to keep this constant learning process. It has obviously been a great help, and it only gets better with time. I can't name an aspect of my life that hasnt been notoriously improved by it.

And what about poker... yeah... what about it... If you ever seen me in a table and think Im short tempered.... well let us say that if it wasnt for meditation I'd be broke by now.

To my friends (that don't care about poker blogs) and are here anyway

2005-07-19T00:31:00.000-04:00

For those of you that got here because I told you to come yet you can't care less about poker, is that I'm writing this piece.

First of all if you don't know the reason why this blog is in english then you may find useful to read "to blog or not to blog" first.

As many of you know I am a card player. You all at least have heard some story about me in a Casino, losing or winning money, or maybe you even got to see me while at it. Or maybe you were on the hotel near by.
Well its true. I play cards, and a lot. The people that plays with me say Im good at it. I say Im just lucky. But the truth is that I work and sweat for being a best card player. I have invested money (my money) on it. And also a lot, a whole lot of time in to it. And as most of you know, time for me is precious. You all know that! I got to do something otherwise I'd be bored, which I hate.

So... thank you for stopping by...and if you don't play poker, but still want to read... then go to those entries with a non poker name!

Tournament vs Ring (cash) games online, The luck factor

2005-07-18T19:19:00.000-04:00

This is certainly one of my favourite discussion topics. And one of the most difficult for me to take part of. I certainly enjoy playing (winning) tournaments. Ever since I started playing (and not stinking, thats another topic) I have played three times the Sunday $500 NL in Multipoker, and the results are 6th for the first time (on the bubble) out of 40, then 1st and 6th (8th was the money spot) out of 50 players each of those times. I think that tourneys are so much fun because of the important role luck takes on them. Online specially. I'm not saying that succesfull tourney players are "a lucky bunch". All I'm saying is that the luck factor is much stronger specially on internet, due to the small time on each blind level. So sometimes you are just taking the coin flips. When I won the tourney I mentioned early, I took a gutsy call. Here's the hand in question:

I was the second to the table chip leader, and 4th overall. There were only 2 short handed tables (seven in mine, and six on the other) when I get AcJc out of second position. My image was a healthy one (not at all Mike Caro healthy, much more Dan Harringtons healthy) all the other players fold to the button who raises big time. I had a pretty clear image of what he had... medium pair. I had seen him showing 8s and Ts the same way, so I re-raised (I had him covered, but if i lost, my chip count would be in a serious inflection point) the guy took forever. And goes all in (he was pot commited if he called) As I was pondering a call I realized I'be below average, with very short time to pick up more pots. So I called (remember I had him on medium pair, and his actions after I raised look much more out of desperation at the time) so I took what I thought to be a coin flip when he turns over AK offsuit. I had a nervous moment as I realized the huge dog I was (Im thinking Siberian Husky like, maybe even Rottweiler like) the flop was xxQ and no clubs. So Im in pretty bad shape. The turn was the JACK! and the river was a blank. And I took the biggest pot in a long time, and got the chip lead, to finally win the tourney.

So, yeah. Luck takes a major place in tournament game.

I never wanted to play that much on the ring games. I wanted to bonus hunt and that was it. But then as I kept playing towards bonus clearances I noticed that ring games were very exciting. The adrenaline pump was huge, specially in the lower NL stakes, since a lot of players are happy to go All In against your premium pair with nothing (the adrenaline comes after your aces lose far too many times to random hands like a few days ago I lost to 95 off). After that happends a couple of times you are pumping adrenaline when a maniac goes all in preflop and you are staring at your rockets or (even more) to your cowboys.

I will write about this topic a lot more more in the future.

To blog or not to blog

2005-07-18T01:24:00.000-04:00

Yes. Finally I answered the bloody question that has been in my mind for a few days. To blog or not to blog?

And. Yes. I took the decision after some time... it wont hurt to say that it was a gutsy decision... like on the tables anyway... though as you might suppose, it doesn't always pay off.

First things first. English is not my native language so both grammar and orthographic errors are to be expected. Yet I can't write it in spanish mostly due to poker terminology is in english, and spanish is definitely in debt to the beautiful game. So all the english teachers out there just look elsewhere, otherwise just forget the terrible damage I might be doing.

Another thing worth mentioning is that my english has both american and commonwealth roots.

So sorry again.

With that out of the way, its time to shuffle up and deal!