Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Coffee and Poker

I've been playing a bit of poker online recently. Some developments...

I've installed pokertracker again on my computer. I think it's impossible to multi-table and play online with out it. My database is small, but at least I can see how I'm rating.

I've reloaded my Full Tilt Poker account with $100. I didn't realize how easy it could be. One quick credit card transaction and I was ready to go.

I started playing cash games on $.25NL and it was really tough. I played very tight/aggressive and managed to come out about $2 dollars ahead after 3 hours of playing. I lost 7 dollars early in the night after my pair of Queens on a Ten high board drew out with a Ten on the river.

My play on Poker stars was really tough as well. At one point I was up to $60 in my bankroll there, but now I'm back to around $30. I think the games are getting really tough. After three hours of playing on line, according to pokertracker most players were Tight/Aggressive or Semi-Loose/Aggressive. I think most of the other players must be using the same strategy as well and 'waiting for a fish'.

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I was listening to 'All Strategy' on pokerroad radio this morning and Daniel N. (I'm to lazy to look up his spelling) was mentioning that much of the poker playing field the players are all playing the same type of style but it's the pro's that make the adjustments to adapt. If all the players are Tight-Aggressive you adapt by adopting a more loose style or vice versa. It's great that the lower-level/micro level players are playing this way, it's a good training ground. But one thing I notice is that many times a raise Under the Gun or UTG+1 is a fold, because most players are expecting really good cards if you are raising there.

This counter-strategy got me thinking about Starbucks. They recently announced that they are not brewing decaf coffee after 2 PM any more. I like their coffee but the counter help can be really snobby sometimes. I hate the counter help that says "we have Tall, Grande, etc" when you order a large decaf. I usually just walk out at that point. Yesterday I asked for a decaf at 3 in the afternoon and a counter person said "we don't brew...." . I walked out at that point and got a decaf coffee at The Tattered Cover bookstore.

Some small coffee shop owner or manager need to put out a sign that says "Freshly Brewed Decaf" in their window ala Crispy Cream's "We have fresh donuts" sign.

I need to lower my playing time. I would only like to play from 8PM to 10PM nightly. There is a 300 point free roll for tournament tokens on Full Tilt and that starts at 8:15PM. I usually get pretty deep there and I want to get a bunch of those tokens before I try to play a larger buy-in sit-and-go. Plus sneaking a few hours at work is not good that's for sure.


Current bank roll
FullTiltPoker: $102.40 (2 $75 Token)
Pokerstars: $29.29 (2 Step 1 Tournament Tickets)
Live: $44.00

1 comment:

Bubba Ninja said...

Part of the reason I don't drink coffee from places like Starbucks is BECAUSE of the pretentous attitude that I would simply rather not deal with.

Keep up the grind man!