The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King

I just finished reading The Professor, the Banker and the Suicide King by Michael Craig. I have to say, it's the best book I've read in a while. And I don't normally read books written by people who are still alive.

The book doesn't necessarily make one a better poker player but it made me think about being a professional poker player more than before. Maybe it doesn't sound so crazy after all. Everything he said about the characters were dead on as the way they are here. Poker does transcend race and age and everything else that keeps people apart. It doesn't matter if you're a pro playing in the Bellagio or a rounder playing in The Metro, everything's the same.

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This month I'll be rebuilding my bank roll again. This time I'll do it right. I'll put 20k in the cage at The Metro and leave it there. That's only for poker and I won't take out anything from that except to play poker. I'll build it so I can move up.

Fold AA?

It's been a while since I encountered a hand worth writing about and this ranks near the top of the list. It happened during a PokerManila satellite for the P3M tournament this coming March. There were around +/- 45 players who joined, 21 of which were initially set to have seats to the P5,000 buy-in main event.

This is how I remember the whole scenario. Pardon me for writing a very long post.

There were around 28 players left. I had a healthy stack of about 25,000 to 26,000. Blinds were 500/1000 with 100 ante. People were starting to tighten up as we were approaching the bubble. I was in middle position with AA. I raised to 3500. Everybody folded and I showed my aces. Ariel saw the aces and commented that if I had limped, he would have gone all-in and he would've been in trouble. I replied that if I had limped and he had gone all-in, I probably would've folded my aces as I would be risking too much of my chips as he almost the same amount of chips as me. Besides, if I did limp, I would only have 1000 invested and I didn't think it was worth it.

An orbit later with the blind still at 500/1000, I got AA again. I was again in middle position and I raised it again to 3500. Ariel was in late position pre-flop (button or SB, I can't remember) and he raised all-in. I had around 27,000 to 28,000 and I had him covered by a little more than 1000. I tanked.

My initial thought was he had KK or QQ. I didn't want to go against those. He could have low or middle pockets but with the cards that I've been advertising, I doubt that he'd re-raise against me with those cards. He could have nothing because I said that if he'd push all-in that I'd fold even AA. There's a chance that he has Ax but that's not too probable. And there's a smaller chance that he has AA as well. I decided that he has big pockets and I don't want to be chasing an ace if he hit his trips on the flop and be busted out with only a few people left.

I said "fold" and I showed my AA. I never thought I would ever say that I folded AA pre-flop, but I did. Ariel was a sport and he showed his AA. We both had the same cards and he won the hand without contest.

If I knew that he also had AA, I would've called in a heartbeat. Sklansky said that "Every time you play a hand differently from the way you would have played it if you could see all your opponents' cards, they gain." Does this mean that since I would've played it differently, I actually lost?

Mathematically however, I really had way too much to lose if I had called. All 21 winners would get the same seat which has the same value. I wouldn't need to win 1st place; I just need to outlast 7 people. With my stack, it would be easy for me to do that. My stack wasn't enough to guarantee a seat because the blinds are going to increase but it won't be hard. With the bigger picture in mind, my decision can be seen as sound.

But since there's math involved, there's nothing better than AA and if I won't call with AA, what else would I call with? AA can play against any hand and it'll still be a favorite.

The argument can go both ways and there may not be a right or wrong in this particular case. But I think that just by thinking about it this much shows that my game has matured. I also don't have any reservations about my decision and I'd probably do it again in the same scenario. I won the seat and I think that it made folding aces the right decision for me.

Neil arce places 2nd in pokerstars

Neil Arce remains to be the most decorated Philippine-based poker player today. He just recently placed 2nd place in the PokerStars' Sunday Warm-up. You got to hand it to Neil. I don't think anyone in the country has accomplished what he has in the recent past.

I just can't wait for the Neil Arce Cup this March 2010.

Sent from my iPod

Poker Income IPhone and iPod Touch App

I've been looking for a way to track my bankroll for a few years. Before, I tried to keep track of it through Microsoft Excel. But it proved to be too tedious. Recently, I've found an easier way. This is through an iPod application called Poker Income.

Poker Income can show hourly rate, which games are worth playing, it tells you how you're running, etc. Everything I was looking for in a bankroll tracker. And it's right in my pocket. No need to remember my playing details until I get home to my laptop.

I'd definitely recommend getting this app even if you're just a casual poker player. Get this at the App Store.

World Blogger Championship of Online Poker

This will be my 2nd time to join this PokerStars event. All bloggers are given a free pass to be a poker champion. I was able to make it to the main event the last time. I hope I'm able to win it this time.

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker! This PokerStars tournament is a No Limit Texas Hold’em event exclusive to Bloggers, you too can take part by registering on WBCOOP

Registration code: 013659

Ad from the web...

Here's an ad i chanced upon on the web. The ad doesn't provide that much info so i decided to email them. I'll be posting their reply when they do reply.

Online Poker Player
(National Capital Reg)

Responsibilities:

Play of at least 15-30 games per employee during the work day. Limits to that based on losses and skill level. Maintaining play consistent with the strategy and performance guide we will provide, but also a moderate understanding of game play is a plus.

Requirements:

• Candidate must possess at least a Bachelor's/College Degree , any field.
• At least 4 year(s) of working experience in the related field is required for this position.
• Preferably 1-4 Yrs Experienced Employees.
• 4 Full-Time positions available.

Sent from my iPod

The Metro Ultimate BMW Freeroll

The Metro Card Club is going to have another freeroll for regular players. Players just need to complete 300 hours of play from Jan 1 to Mar 31, 2010. After completion, they will be registered to the freeroll for a chance to win part of the 1.5 Million guaranteed total pot and a brand new BMW.

This is definitely much more manageable than the 150 hours required last November.