Matt's Blog

Haven't played poker for a couple weeks. Tonight I had the opportunity to play for a few hours. I finished up about $75 which is about as well as I've done for quite a while. I had looked forward to making a little extra money over the summer, but managed to stay pretty much even, give or take. I think my last withdrawl was at the beginning of June. I've also joined a free weekly tournament league. In the last two weeks I've finished 15th and 13th out of about 45. Not bad. I think I'm playing well. The first game I took a couple bad beats one right after the other. In the second I just didn't find any cards. I'd like to play once a week in cash games, working my way to 2-4, but I don't think that's going to happen for a while. Guess I'll just take these opportunities when I get 'em.

At the Table #4

http://feeds.feedburner.com/searscast

The official poker podcast of Brendoman.com

Back in the money playing a crazy shorted handed table at UB.

As always, I'd be interested in any thoughts about the cast, or my play.

Other links of note:

www.pokerdiagram.com where they do this show, but better and longer.

Card Club on Lord Admiral Radio where they say nice things about At the Table.

Music:

Eddie M and Blueshound - Gambling Blues

The Familiars - Mysteries

Captain Cocoa - Butterflies

Basement Apartment - Desert Sky

The Sadies - Why Be So Curious (Part 3)

All available at Download.com

At the Table #3

http://feeds.feedburner.com/searscast

The official poker podcast of Brendoman.com

I'd be interested in any thoughts about the cast, or my play.

Other links of note:

Card Club on Lord Admiral Radio where they say nice things about At the Table.
Music:

Eddie M and Blueshound - Gambling Blues

Bass Line Vitals - Superhero (For GWB)

Falkazone Bass - Rock on 808 (Special Bass Version)

RODJJAH - Locked Up

All available at Download.com

At the Table #2

The official poker podcast of Brendoman.com

Thanks to Mike for hosting, hopefully temporarily, the pod cast.
Mike's poker website

Audacity was giving me some trouble during production because of low disk space. So there are a couple places where the audio cuts out for a few seconds. Hope that's not too distracting.

I'd be interested in any thoughts about the cast, or my play.

Music:

Eddie M and Blueshound - Gambling Blues

Bass Kittens - GameSpot Live Theme (extended remix)

DJ Smash - Gimme Some

Natural Roots - Wind Catcher (2004)

All available at Download.com

Been a while since a poker update. I'm trying to disguise the subject matter because these poker posts seem to bring in the spam comments. Although I must say, MoveableType, I guess that's who's responsible, does a good job of keeping them out.

Anyway, at this point, at about a quarter through the year, I'm up $481. Unfortunately this is mostly due to bonus money. I've been playing mostly $2-4 limits lately and the games are a bit tougher. I've been making money, but not at the rate I did at 1-2. Now I just need to figure out what changes to make, make 'em, and start increasing my earnings. Piece of cake.

YTD +250

Just a quick poker update. Doesn't seem like I've played much lately. Kids have been sick, papers to grade, etc. Recently I've been chasing the bonuse at The Gaming Club (even though I hate their tv commercials). I put $50 in there a couple weeks ago and have turned that into around $200. I've got another couple weeks to collect bonus there and then I guess I'll look for greener pastures. The low level games aren't too bad. But I moved up to $2-$4 games while there (gosh those pots look big), and the players at those tables are pretty tight. I've still got some bonuse money to work off at a couple other sights anyway. Hopefully I can keep winning at the higher level.

A shout out to no limit player Corey at Pokerroom. I don't play much no limit, maybe very small stakes for a little variety sometimes. I do enjoy the single table tournament, usually $10, sometimes $20. That's something I'd like to get better at. Which reminds me, I do have a free $100 tourny buy-in waiting for me at another site. Guess I should get a tournament book next time I cash out, study up, practice, and pull down a couple grand. . .

YTD +94

Back to winning more than I'm losing this week, but not by much. And I got my bonus this week from Pokerroom. So with all that, I didn't have too bad a week. Think I'll try some at Party in the next few days. I did play in a no-limit turbo tournament last Saturday (and had a little help from Maly). It was free, winners got a seat at another tournament. We got ourselves short stacked and went all in with 10-10 against 2 others. But our triple-up wasn't meant to be. One of them caught a jack on the river and we were over. It was fun though, may try another one day.

And this week I've done real well at not pokering when there was playing or snuggling to do with the kids or wife. Who needs sleep, really?

On a side note, the blog software is now having to pick out spam comments from my poker posts. So far just two from an internet poker site. Dirty spammers.

YTD +23

I've been losing pretty steadily for the last few days at the $1-$2 tables, since moving my money to pick up a bonus. I'm think I'm playing ok, just not making money. I did win a $11 single table tourny (sitngo) ($39 profit), otherwise I'd be in the red this week.

(name changed to cut down on comment spam)

I've been wanting to write about poker, specifically Texas holdem', for a while, but wasn't sure what to say. There are a number of poker blogs and discussion boards where one can get better information than I'm sure I can offer. But it's something that I'm interested in. That's actually a bit of an understatement. I pretty much love it. If I have a vice, poker would be it. Not because I lose money playing, because I don't. But because it is very easy for me to spend too much time playing. I have made arrangements with myself not to play when the kids are here and awake, to spend time with them instead. (Although I have sort of been giving Maly lessons. She's to the point where she can recognize good and bad starting hands. If she continues to learn and be interested, I predict a WSOP final table appearance for her.) I try not to play too much when my wife is here and awake either for the same reason. But when the house is empty, or everyone's asleep, it's time to shuffle up and deal, baby!

Lately I've been bonus chasing at Ulitmatebet. Most poker sites will offer deposit bonuses of 20-50%. So if you deposit $100, they will give you another $25, with the agreement that you play a certain number of hands at the site. So that's what I've been doing, and it's been going pretty well. Last night I did have as bad a night as I've had in a long time and dropped $35 pretty quickly. But my bankroll is at about $550 and I'll probably report winnings this year of about a grand. So while I have no future plans of becoming pro, or even semi-pro, it is a fun hobby that makes me a few dollars and gives me some practice in self controll.

In the future I'll write about my poker experiences in more detail. My wife will probably be about as interested in these entries as she is in my brewing journals. Of course the rest of the world will be waiting in eager anticipation.

(name changed to cut down on comment spam)