Harrington's Book

I started reading Dan Harrington's new book last night. It is called Harrington on Hold'em, Vol. 1. It in he talks about strategic play, the tools you need to survive and make it to a final table in no-limit hold'em tournaments. I have to admit that I was curious about it. "Action" Dan is known for tight style of play, yet he made it to back-to-back final tables at the Main Event facing two of the three largest fields of players to date.

Like I said, just starting reading the book and haven't run across any good details. I am sure that there will be some great tips...

Until next time...

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone...

I played some live poker last night. It felt good to hold some cards and throw around chips. I hadn't played live in a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, that was the best part of the session. I played 10-20 last night and didn't fair too well. All night long I was up and down, up and down. I'd take a huge pot, but it really wouldn't be that much since I was down already. Basically, it gave me more chips to play with and try to string things together. In my opinion, I didn't think my play was bad. My buddy, who I go with, even told me that I played well all night. The flops weren't hitting me at all. It is very frustrating...but I will keep playing, its all part of the game and the learning process.

I have a couple of days off (love the holidays). I want to try and post a review of the Final Table Poker DVD with Phil Gordon. I think it is one of the best instructional DVD's out right now. Click on the link above or to the right to learn more. A poker player who wants to learn and perfect his/her game will definitely get something out of the DVD. So hopefully I will get that review written and posted to this blog before next week. In the meantime if you want to learn and practice online, I suggest playing at Party Poker. Click on the link to get a 20% deposit bonus up to $100 or use the bonus code "dvan47" to get a free tournament entry.

Until next time...

Comments

I just realized that I had the comments settings set to only allow comments from certain people (registered users of blogger). The settings have been changed, so now anyone can comment on my daily posts (Hint Hint). The only requirement that I put is you use word verification, so I know you are a person and not a bot leaving spam comments. Thanks again....

Welcome to all the members visiting from the SA Poker Club. I hope you visit often and look for my daily updates.

Until next time...

Sit N Go's

I had to satisfy my itch to play some cards yesterday. I jumped online and played in a few $10 SNG, while watching football of course. They were just your garden variety 10-person, $10 SNG. The winner takes half, second gets 30% and third gets the remaining 20%.

In the first SNG, I don't remember any great exciting hands except for a laydown that saved my $10 on the first hand. I was dealt As-Qs in the small blind. One player in middle position limped in and another in late position had made a standard raise. The action was now on me in the SB, so I decided to call the raise. I know what your saying, A-Q against a raise out of position? It was early and the blinds were low. I called and the middle position player called as well, so there were three of us to the flop. The flop comes Q-x-x rainbow, no straight or flush draws out there (top pair, top kicker for me). I was first to act, so I bet out about half the size of the pot. I wasn't in real danger with this flop, so I wanted to get a little action with my hand. The middle position player folded and action went around to the raiser. He thought for a few seconds and then raised. I was curious with the raise, but was reasonably sure I still had the best hand and called. The turn card was no help to me and I didn't think it helped the other player either. I bet out and got raised again. Now, I thought that I might be in trouble. I went back to the action preflop. He just limit raised (doubled the BB) and raised again on the flop and turn. He could obviously beat a pair of queens because he now bet three times at the pot. Since there were no straight or flushes out on the board, I concluded that I must be up against A-A or K-K. I folded to his raise on the turn and showed my A-Q. He didn't say anything but everyone else thought that I made a nice laydown. There wasn't much action for me after that, I folded and bought my time for what seemed like forever. Once we got down to five-handed, I changed gears and went to aggressive mode. I ending up winning the SNG after felting the rest of the table.

In the second SNG, I ended up taking second place after surviving a few beats. All in all it was a nice afternoon, I was up $60 after playing in the two SNG. Also, the Cowboys won and still tied with the Giants for first place.

Until next time...

No Poker

No live poker for me this week. I usually go and play in a live game on Friday nights, but not this week. I had some other things planned last night and couldn't find the time. Also, a friend of me is getting married today.

I had been playing in this game for the last few weeks and been enjoying some moderate success. It's a 10-20 limit game with a full table and lots players who are ready to gamble. This is the highest limit that I have been playing so far (besides no limit). This a dangerous limit where you can lose a lot of money very quickly. On the other hand, you can win a lot of money just as fast. I have experienced both sides of the coin, but have had more success than failure in limit.

The holidays are coming and Thanksgiving is this week. It could further put a cramp in my live play. Hopefully, I can return to playing live in a few weeks. I do play online, but I enjoyed playing live more (Try Party Poker). There's something about holding cards and throwing chips around.

Until next time...

Still Working Out The Bugs

It has been a couple of days, I am still trying to figure out this site and all the features. Plus, I just really haven't had time during the week. Hopefully this weekend I can sit down and figure everything out. Then I will really start posting some meaningful thoughts about poker among other things. Until then, keep checking back...

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog. I am going to try and post some of my thoughts and experiences on the game of poker. I have been playing cards for as long as I can rember, but I have only been playing poker seriously for about the last year and a half.

Check back often as I add some new things and share some of my experiences while continuing to improve.

Thanks.