Subject: Varia

Cashing a lot is important

Over the past week since I won two tournaments on a Sunday, I have found little success. I had a downswing of about $500 (not much really considering the volume I am putting in), but it was especially frustrating with how deep I was getting into tourneys and just missing the money. For the most part I don't really care if I just squeak into the money in most tournaments. I think it is important in maintaining my bankroll for me to cash in about 1 in 5 as it helps minimize the loses day-to-day. Getting to the money provides another type of flexibility in play; it allows most players to open up their games and they usually play a lot weaker. There are basically two ways to approach the money bubble that I use. 

1. If I am below 25bbs, I will play as few hands as possible and hope to get in the money with the intention of doubling up early in the money and giving myself a chance to win.
2. If I have more than 25bbs, I will gauge the reaction of the table and attempt to raise quite a bit until someone fights back. This will allow me to gather extra (hopefully) conflict-free chips and also give me a perceived image that I likely won't carry into the money section.

Considering the stakes I am playing (about $200-250 a day), having two cashes for $50 can really add up. 

Its been hard getting to my dough

The year has been off to a pretty good start. I have been able to make 3 final tables and profit $8299.42 with an hourly rate of around $80. The issue with Full Tilt and my banking institution is that I would have to go through a third party to get my money. Instead, I take the longer way around and have the money sent in cheques. However, the maximum cheque they will issue is for $2000. This makes it difficult as there are waiting periods for each payment to be requested. I cannot image the frustration for some others that may use this system as it could take weeks to get a big score off the site. I suppose a good problem I would like to have.

FTOPS XIX

Is shite. The site has totally diverted from the strengths I think it used to have. With events now and almost ten games covered they have ruined all three of my favourite tournaments. No Limit Hold'em is the main game still. And will be for the next few years at least. I have a problems with how they are running these tournaments because they are chasing away the regulars like me with how they have set up the schedule. 

My favourite tournaments (not surprisingly the 3 non-turbo, non-rush, non-rebuy) are now eff'd up. The FTOPS #1 has always been played the first day of the event. This year that first day is the Superbowl. Scratch that. Event #22 is a $129 Knockout tournament and usually has the biggest field of the whole series with well over 10,000 people. This FTOPS, they have made this a multiple-entry event. This is an event in which players can enter themselves numerous times in the event and play simultaneously. For me this is a real piss off and I think it should be for a lot of low stakes players because now the high stakes MTT'ers are able to buy 3, 4 or 5 shots into this tournament whereas I am not willing to put that money in for a field that will likely be stacked with pros. The argument goes that if each high-stakes pro enters 4 times than the field will be diluted with pros because most amateurs won't have the resources to throw $500 or $600 into this field. They are doing the same for event #24, the $322 buy-in and I certainly am not willing to put $1300 into that tourney. I can understand why the site wishes to do this as it gives them potentially 4x the rake with little trouble to them, however, I think they may be missing the point of the FTOPS to many people. To me, it is a chance to parlay $26 into a 6-figure score if I can get lucky enough. I think they will lose a lot of the attention from people who don't play often enough that will now be looking at a field that will have 4 entries from all the top 1-2000 players in the world. 

My opinion may change after I see the events, but I don't think I will be playing any of these in the upcoming weeks.

Double Guarantee Week

Starting next Monday, double guarantee week, which comes along once every two months (I think, it could be once a month or once every 3 months, but I don't know for sure) will be starting. With standard prize pools doubled it means the action will be that much juicier. However, what did they decide to do? The people at Full Tilt have made double guarantee week coincide with multiple-entry week. So, for a whole week I should be expecting to pay 4x the amount to play all the tournaments on my regular schedule? If that were to happen I would be looking at $800-1000 a day in tournaments and I do not think I am ready for that kind of volume. To counter-act this, I may drop all $26 buy-ins and over and just play the lower stakes stuff. That won't be too much of a problem as I think I have an edge in most of these fields but it could be annoying. I'll have to report back on the success of that week. I am a creature of habit. Who knows, I may love the multiple-entry week and do really well. We will see.

One Final Table Yesterday

I finished 3rd for $1800 the 11:30am $11 (1r,1a). There was a maniac at the table who was really bad but bad in a good way for him - he was crazy and ran good! I can't blame him for the way he played; he actually took out the only 3 good players at the table making super thin all-in calls and holding up. Down to three handed myself and another player were both around 20bbs and just looking for spots. After he had raised 4.5x from the sb for the 5th straight time, I shoved for my 22bbs with Ah3h and he snap called with KJo (He could afford it) The flop was nothing, I turned a flush draw, leaving him with 5 outs and he hit one on the river. I would have been down 2-1 in chips to him and probably destroyed him heads-up after we took out the other guy but it wasn't meant to be. It was nice to get a cash and get going up again. 

I am really happy with the volume I am putting in but would like to make more deep runs than I have been of late. I'm really confident that I can make a good run at my goals for the year and blogging about it can only help. I am still using Tournamentpokeredge.com and have found it adjusting my game a little here and there.