LTUFlawless Poker

Great news regarding Full Tilt

2011-11-17T15:35:00.002-06:00

The French investment firm Groupe Bernard Tapie has signed a deal to buy Full Tilt Poker, the online gambling site that was shut down by the federal government for allegedly operating a Ponzi scheme.

GBT has agreed to acquire Full Tilt Poker for $80 million, in a deal that was brokered by the U.S. Department of Justice, according to TK. As part of the deal, Full Tilt Poker had to agree to forfeit its assets to the U.S. government, which then sold the assets to the GBT.

Full Tilt Poker owed as much as $390 million to international players who had gambling accounts with the company when it was shut down by federal authorities in August. About half of those losses are held by players in the U.S.

As part of the deal, the French firm will take responsibility for the burned players outside the U.S., while the Department of Justice will facilitate paybacks to the American gamblers who lost about $150 million. American players will have to apply to the DOJ for compensation.

The federal government has seized the Full Tilt Poker site, which is currently embossed with the seals of the DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The government plans to dismiss the civil forfeiture proceedings. This will have no impact on individual proceedings, but it removes a potential liability for shareholders, as it removes all pending proceeding against Full Tilt.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York pounced on Full Tilt on August 31 and charged executives with raiding the accounts of gamblers who had been promised winnings and keeping the money for themselves.

Source:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Groupe-Bernard-Tapie-buy-Full-cnnm-734536333.html?x=0&l=1

WSOP Circuit Event in Hammond, IN

2011-10-22T01:58:00.001-05:00

Will post some news here once i get some free time. In meantime you can follow me on Twitter @LTUFlawless

Buy piece of LTUFlawless

2011-08-12T01:59:00.003-05:00

Planning on going to some Live poker tours, so if anyone is interested in investing in me, let me know.
ltuflawless@yahoo.com

I will post more details later regarding how many shares Im selling and for what events.

WSOP Circuit 2011-2012

2011-08-01T16:18:00.001-05:00

Will be going on little trip to some of Circuit events.

If anyone would be interested to buy some shares, please contact me at ltuflawless@yahoo.com

Merge Bad Beat Jackpot hits at 800 K

2011-07-19T17:04:00.002-05:00

Here is the hand history of the hand:

***** Hand History for Game 374802411810 ***** (Merge)
$200.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, July 14, 10:10:15 ET 2011
Table Bad Beat Mississippi (37480241) (Real Money)
Seat 4 is the button
Seat 1: TheDonkTrain ( $212.80 USD )
Seat 2: turnturnturn ( $368.13 USD )
Seat 3: jap1234 ( $230.90 USD )
Seat 4: ChaChaBear ( $213.30 USD )
Seat 5: PLOBandit ( $389.63 USD )
Seat 6: Vigtastical ( $442.04 USD )
Seat 8: KamoKrush82 ( $200.00 USD )
Seat 9: ObelixLeGros ( $210.30 USD )
PLOBandit posts small blind [$1.00 USD].
Vigtastical posts big blind [$2.00 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Vigtastical [ Ts Td ]
ObelixLeGros folds
TheDonkTrain raises [$7.00 USD]
turnturnturn folds
jap1234 calls [$7.00 USD]
ChaChaBear folds
PLOBandit folds
Vigtastical calls [$5.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ Qc, 6s, Th ]
Vigtastical checks
TheDonkTrain bets [$13.37 USD]
jap1234 calls [$13.37 USD]
Vigtastical raises [$40.00 USD]
TheDonkTrain folds
jap1234 raises [$210.53 USD]
Vigtastical calls [$183.90 USD]
jap1234 shows [Qs, Qd ]
Vigtastical shows [Ts, Td ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Tc ]
** Dealing River ** [ Qh ]
jap1234 wins $479.67 USD from main pot

New accolade

2011-07-10T19:30:00.000-05:00

Number 15 ;)

Tourney King Low Limit Grand final

Yay

Merge transfer/ deposit

2011-06-16T04:28:00.001-05:00

If you have problems with depositing on Merge- Carbonpoker or PDC Poker, I can help.

Email me to

ltuflawless@yahoo.com

Omaha Hi/LO

2011-06-10T04:09:00.002-05:00

Really getting sick of nasty suckouts in NL Holdem, so decided to change things a little bit. Playing Omaha is really fun and at least you expect to get sucked out and it doesnt bite that hard. And especially Omaha Hi/Lo is really fun game.

For guys, who are kinda afraid to steer from NL Holdem- try it out. And thank me later. You will not want to come back to Holdem anymore.

Lately started playing a lot of Hi/Lo games. Cash and tournaments.

If you are new to this game, Here is little guide for Omaha Hi/Lo starting hands. Check the game out at low limit cash games. And let me know if you like it

Premium Starting Hands

1. A-A-2-x
2. A-A-3-x
3. A-2-3-x
4. A-2-4-x
5. A-2-x-x
6. A-3-4-x
7. A-A-x-x

It is crucial to consider how these hands vary in strength, based on the value of the cards denoted as 'x' as well as whether or not the cards are suited, double-suited or non-suited. If an A-2-K-K hand is double-suited, it is much ber than a hand of A-2-Q-8 that is not suited, yet on the chart, these hands both fall into the A-2-x-x category. And, of course, a double-suited hand of A-A-K-K is much ber than a non-suited A-A-Q-7, again falling into the same category in the chart. So, you must study the overall hand to determine the exact strength. All 'x' cards of 6 through 9 generally weaken a hand but in loose play, these combinations can be b.

The Top Ten List

These are considered the Top Ten hands in Omaha High-Low:

1. A-A-2-3 Double-suited
2. A-A-2-4 Double-suited
3. A-A-2-3 Suited
4. A-A-2-5 Double-suited
5. A-A-2-4 Suited
6. A-A-3-4 Double-suited
7. A-A-2-3 Non-suited
8. A-A-2-2 Double-suited
9. A-A-3-5 Double-suited
10. A-A-2-6 Double-suited

Playable Starting Hands

Below is a list of hands that are considered to be playable starting hands in Omaha High-Low:

A-A-2-x
A-A-3-x
A-A-4-5
A-2-3-x
A-2-K-K
A-2-Q-Q
A-2-J-J
A-3-4-5
A-A-x-x
A-2-K-Q
A-2-K-J
A-2-x-x (suited Ace)
A-3-K-K
A-3-4-x
2-3-4-5 (fold if there is no Ace on the flop.)
J-Q-K-A
T-J-Q-K
K-K-Q-J
Q-J-T-9
2-3-4-x (fold if there is no Ace on the flop).
Any four cards between a Ten and an Ace.

Merge is back up and running

2011-05-29T05:49:00.001-05:00

Congratulations

Merge is down

2011-05-29T03:45:00.001-05:00

Yes, it's down for all of us.

Don't panick

Merge Changes

2011-05-29T03:33:00.000-05:00

Merge Gaming issued a statement which affects players in France and the United States, in short:

1. Players from France will no longer be able to play on any Merge Poker Network site for real money. Their only access will be to the Cashier so they can withdraw their bankroll. This applies to new and existing players.

2. Players from the following US states are now restricted from creating new real money accounts on any Merge Poker Site:

- New York
- Washington
- Maryland
- Missouri
- Louisiana

NOTE: This only applies to new players from these states – existing players are unaffected.

Also, as I am sure you’re aware rakeback will no longer be offered to new players after June 1st, 2011. They will be offering new promotions to replace rakeback, they’re currently in the final stages of planning and we will release information about the new program in the next few days.

Source: Holdem poker Chat

Full Tilt starts paying US Players

2011-05-29T03:32:00.000-05:00

If you live in the U.S. and you used to play at Full Tilt Poker, before they were forced to shut you out, then you probably got an email from the recently giving an update on their plans and progress returning player funds still held up in FullTilt accounts due to the site’s closure of U.S. operations and freezing of U.S. assets.

On Friday the site issued a statement explaining that all player funds in Tournament Dollars (T$) and tournament tickets have now been converted back into cash in the player’s account. Can the players withdraw that cash yet? is the next question.

And the answer is: Not yet.

Full Tilt is converting T$ at a 1:1 ratio, or $1 for every T$1. All unused tournament tickets are being converted back into their full original cash value. Ring game tickets that were unused, either in full or in part, and have expired as of April 15 (“Black Friday” to the online poker community) have been credited as cash for the full value of their remaining unused portion.

Additionally, players’ Iron Man and Black Card statuses will be left as they are, even if the players can’t get back onto the site.

But what Full Tilt is still unable to do is refund any of these monies to players’ hands. That, they say, they’re still working on.

While many players have vociferously expressed their displeasure at Full Tilt Poker’s holdup in getting U.S. player funds refunded, what with Poker Stars having already begun the task, Full Tilt Poker pro Tony G. issued a Tweet requesting players give the site their patience as they are doing the best they can.

Source:Holdem Poker Chat

Tourney King Grand Final

2011-05-15T18:42:00.001-05:00

Finished 3rd in Tourney King today. 10 % of This tournament was also for my backers who bought most shares during month of April on chipmeup.com
Enjoy free money!

1. Cain-5%
2. NTamosauskas-3%
3. Shawnie2Dope- 2%

Please contact me to arrange the payment for you.

ltuflawless@yahoo.com

On Break. Kinda

2011-05-11T05:33:00.005-05:00

some of you bums maybe noticed i'm not playing too much anymore. working really hard on my new project - Flawless MMA Management.

It takes way much more time than expected, so poker is really in second place now.

check my new website and let me know what you think about it.

www.flawlessmmamanagement.com

Pokerstars Cashout

2011-04-27T21:35:00.002-05:00

Good news for everyone who got stuck with Pokerstars holding on to their money.

Less than two weeks after feds seized Pokerstars domains and froze the money, Pokerstars has initiated cashout options for US players.

You will need to cash out one cashout for entire balance. T$ have been converted to cash.

Good and bad news. Good- everyone will get their money back. Bad- Is it end of Pokerstars in USA? If not, for how long US players will not be able to play on this super size poker site?

Merge Transfer help

2011-04-27T19:43:00.002-05:00

If you can't deposit on Merge network and you need some help, contact me at email ltuflawless@yahoo.com

I can transfer on a few sites, but main one are Carbonpoker and PDC Poker..

I can hook you up with 35% rakeback as well

Another flopped set w 10s 20 min after hand before

2011-04-20T22:19:00.002-05:00

I guess flopped sets of 10s wont work for me tonight

First hand of the day

2011-04-20T21:59:00.003-05:00

10 K GTD. Register late, rebought double right away.

First Hand. Blinds already 50-100

I have 1010, Raise to 450, Gets 3 bet big by bigger stack. Since its rebuy period, why not I will take the flop.

Flop 10A2. Set. I decide not to donk bet and let him get in troube himself.

Check. He checks. Turn K.

I bet around 1500, he shoves. Easy call.

Flips AK for two pairs.

River A.

Thank you very much.

Whats next for online poker?

2011-04-18T04:26:00.000-05:00

There is no entity in the poker industry whose fate did not take a sharp turn Friday.

As we learned Friday, the Department of Justice arraigned 11 prominent members of the poker industry for fraud and money laundering to the tune of billions, among other charges, seized five URLs, froze more than 75 bank accounts and effectively jettisoned PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker from American culture. Now, as the dust begins to settle, we take stock of events as they've unfolded, try to answer some of the questions raised and do some educated guesswork on what tomorrow's poker industry may look like.

Since the announcement:

• DOJ spokesperson Caroline Sullivan confirmed to ESPN.com that Chad Elie and John Campos were taken into custody early on Friday and Bradley Franzen was arrested after the DOJ statement was released. Franzen will be arraigned on Monday in the Southern district of New York.

• Some two weeks after announcing partnerships with PokerStars and FullTiltPoker, respectively, Wynn Resorts and Station Casinos each announced they had terminated their alliances.

• Full Tilt Poker issued a statement assuring players' funds were safe and withdrawal requests would be honored.

• PokerStars made a similar announcement to their clients, adding "outside the US it is business as usual." They also moved their online base of operations to www.pokerstars.eu. Similarly, FTP moved to www.fulltiltpoker.co.uk.

• FTP issued a news release in conjunction with CEO Ray Bitar (who was also charged) in which Bitar voiced his disappointment with the DOJ's decision to bring charges. FTP voiced support for Bitar and the company announced it was suspending "real money" play in the United States, but was continuing to provide peer-to-peer play elsewhere.

At present, there have been no statements from UB.com. PS and FTP have left the U.S. market along with some 25 to 40 percent of their respective customer bases. What now?

For the market:

While the events of the past month (namely, the partnerships between land-based and online casinos and the recent experiments in limited legalization in the District of Columbia) suggested forward momentum for the online poker industry as it was constituted then, now that momentum shifts back to land-based casinos and online operators that have stayed out of the U.S. market or have limited U.S. play to non-real-money play. Both bwin.party digital entertainment and Zynga appear to be in good shape to capitalize on Friday's developments, with the former's reported search for partnership with a land-based giant seemingly intact.

The departure of Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker leaves a large gap in the U.S. poker market which other operators may seek to exploit. While the threat of additional arraignments looms large, we may see reflections of late 2006, when Party Poker's departure from the U.S. market in the wake of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act's (UIGEA) passing was seized as an opportunity by PS and FTP, among others. It's been almost five years since PS and FTP made the decision to continue their operations in the U.S., and it took that long for the DOJ to build its cases against them. 2011's renditions may see that as plenty of time to build their coffers.

For legalization efforts:

While some are seeing Friday's events as a step backward as legalization/regulation goes, not everyone is taking that point of view.

"If the legal goal was to get a legalized federal landscape, it still is," said Alexander Ripps, legal analyst for GamblingCompliance.com, a group that focuses on the independent analysis of gambling operations. "This just provides more incentive to get things done. This could long-term be a good thing for those efforts. It could press action and ultimately in the long term, that's in [the poker industry's] interests."

Ripps' assessment suggests Friday's events could act as a call to action. This marks the first time that American players have been left without what many consider to be secure options as online play goes. A resulting outcry could serve to inspire politicians to action.

The removal of PS and FTP from the equation also gets legislation over a tricky hump, trying to create the infrastructure of a new industry where one was already in place. Where past legislation has often tried to incorporate the industry as it was, the guess is that will no longer be the case.

For organized poker:

Less than 24 hours after the DOJ's announcement, PokerStars was cutting guaranteed tournament purses in half to account for the lack of U.S. player involvement. The educated guess is that online tournament play, while continuing on outside the U.S., will see player and prize pools shrink.

Studies have shown the affect of online poker on live poker room numbers is minimal, but for centers like Las Vegas, which have seen a recent dip in travel and tourism dollars, this could provide a small boom. Not all live poker will benefit, though.

From 2009 to 2010, the World Series of Poker main event saw attendance increase by more than 800 players, but a portion of their entries came from online satellite tournaments that allowed winners to qualify for a fraction of the price. With the U.S.-based WSOP now forced to be vigilant against such qualifications and so many of their customers faced with suddenly unavailable poker bankrolls, many are preparing for reduced attendance. Professional poker player Tom Dwan put his guess for attendance at 5,144 on Twitter and many have suggested even fewer.

Where the WSOP leads, others will follow. The end of the satellite system for U.S.-based tournament circuits like the World Poker Tour and North American Poker Tour will likely lead to reduced attendance. FTP said its recently announced ONYX Cup has been canceled and other similar PS/FTP related entities seem likely to follow suit.

For the sub-industries:

A loss or decrease in advertising revenue from PS and FTP will send shockwaves through the sub-industries built around online poker. Many poker television shows, deprived of sponsorship and advertising money, will be forced to make do with greatly reduced budgets or fold up shop. Similarly, most poker media have been financially supported by the sites in banner ads and advertising pages. As such, revenue -- and therefore jobs -- will be lost.

In addition to media, other businesses like poker training sites could see business suffer. "It definitely can't be good," admitted Phil Galfond, one owner of poker coaching site BlueFirePoker.com. "I have to think we'll be hurt. We have a lot of U.S. customers who won't be able to use what we teach them now."

For the poker star system:

It became evident when PokerStars ended its agreement with 2004 WSOP champion Greg Raymer the company was tightening its belt as far as player sponsorships went. Now, the real tightening will likely begin. PS and FTP both have a number of American pros under contract whose sphere of influence is no longer a viable market. Many American pros, especially those who wear the FTP patch, had deals that paid them based on the number of hands they played on the site. As they can no longer do so while staying on U.S. soil, if those players are allowed to continue with their agreements, they'll need to move out of the U.S. in order to continue collecting.

For the biggest stars, there could be bigger issues based on the close relationships they have with the sites. This is a part of the story many industry insiders will watch intently.

For the players:

Friday's events have left players with more questions than answers, most of them concerning the status of the money they have online. While both PS and FTP have issued public statements assuring that payments will be processed, a number of players found themselves unable to withdraw funds Friday. This may be due to the number of requests that needed to be processed.

For professional players, the choices are limited. Some, such as 25-year-old Aze Gallo of Florida, are considering moving out of the country. "Honestly, I'm mostly thinking about it because of being disgusted about living in a country that would ban online poker," Gallo said when contacted by ESPN.com. "I'd rather play poker abroad than do something else in this country at this point. I feel like my country is trying to make money in the guise of holding my hand."

Galfond, who plays cash games at the Internet's biggest tables, said it will likely be some time before the high-stakes games are up and running. "As of now, I don't feel comfortable having a large amount on any site other than Stars or Tilt, so I don't know if the games will move over somewhere. I assume things will take a while to work themselves out. I think there's just a ton of uncertainty."

There may be grounds for the belief money will be returned in the way the DOJ's 2007 case against Neteller played out. In that case, funds at Neteller, an e-wallet where users at that time were able to deposit money into online gambling accounts, were frozen after the U.S. Attorney's office filed charges and arrested the company's founders on money laundering charges. The DOJ and Neteller negotiated a deferred prosecution agreement that allowed Neteller to reimburse customers. Paul Hugel, a defense attorney with Clayman and Rosenberg in New York, represents several online gaming companies. He weighed in on the Neteller comparison:

"From the players perspective, my sense from the Neteller prosecutions is the government had a lot of leverage because they had people in custody," he said. "I don't know that's the case here. Eight of 11 defendants are outside the US, still at large. I don't know if the jurisdictions in which they're presently located will be cooperative in their extraditions and you can't tell from what the government made public how much money they actually seized. It looks like the only money seized was that in the U.S. It may be the companies are still in control of the players' funds or the government may control some of them. That would make a big difference from the players' perspective."

"The DOJ could in theory take the position that all this money is subject to forfeiture," he continued. "Even though the players committed no crime, the government's position could be that once the money is sent to the online companies, that money becomes proceeds of unlawful activity and subject to forfeiture. That said, I'm not sure the government would try to seize money that is clearly in player accounts, it's just that they could try to do that. I think at the end of the day, it's more of a political decision than a legal decision."

There are more bases to cover in the days that lie ahead for an industry shaken to its foundation. We'll continue to bring you coverage as the poker industry's new face emerges.

Alternate solution for online players after "Black Friday"

2011-04-16T19:46:00.000-05:00

www.ltuflawless.blogspot.com

If you haven't been living under a rock the past couple of days, you would already know about US Gov's crackdown on biggest online poker websites - Full Tilt, Poker Stars and Absolute Poker.

In poker world it's being called "Black Friday"

Even though these websites released public announcements that US players shouldn't be worried and that ther money is safe, there are a lot of players looking skeptical and wanting to get their money out ASAP.

It seems that there will be quite some time until everyone will be able freely withdraw their money and everyone has started looking where they could be playing poker while the dust settles between Largest poker sites and US government.

From my personal experience I would suggest to join merge network. I personally have been playing there for several years and so far never had any problem with them.
Top notch graphix, good promotions. Network is especially good for mid-stake players.
Merge Network has severel seperate clients. As a player I have tried pretty much all of the sites on Merge and I have two of my favorite skins.

1. PDC Poker
I am playing on PDC myself. Even though I tried the other skins, nothing compared to this one. All merge skins have seperate promotions. PDC's usually are the best.

Also, if you deposit on PDC using code RBPDC, you will get market highest 35% Rakeback. Rakeback is being deposited to your account everyday at 00.00 am PDC time

2. Carbonpoker
Carbopoker is sister site of PDC. Recently they absolutely revamped their website and it seems they are kicking it into high gear. Carbonpoker is being promoted way more than PDC. Even though they both are being run by the same company and all promotions are the same, it just seems that Carbon is the favorite over little sister PDC by its bosses.

They are both pretty much the same. Biggest difference- Client Colors- PDC is red, Carbon is blue, websites themselves are different and that Carbon is being more promoted than PDC.

Since they are being run by the same company, all reload/ first deposit codes are the same. So, if you decide to go Carbon route, you can easily use RBPDC code for your 35% rakeback.

There are few other ones but after checking them out, I always was coming back to my main one- PDC.

If anyone has some questions, you can email me at ltuflawless@yahoo.com.

Official Pokerstars statement

2011-04-16T16:51:00.001-05:00

"As you may have heard, we have had to suspend real money poker services to people based in the US due to legal developments there. These developments are confined to US and not have any impact on your ability to continue our services.

Please be assured player balances are safe. There is no cause for concern. For all customers outside the US it is business as usual.

The PokerStars website has been moved to www.pokerstars.eu, and our Support Email address is now support@pokerstars.eu. We apologize to our players for any inconvenience caused by this disruption.

Please be aware that we are currently experiencing a very high volume of emails, so our response times are delayed. We will answer player emails as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter."

Puke

2011-04-11T22:07:00.002-05:00

6th time in the row 2 places away from money in Second Chance/ High Roller.

This time AK vs A9 preflop.

PUUUUUUKE

50 K Sunday GTD

2011-04-10T16:49:00.004-05:00

KK vs JJ preflop.

Blinds 50-100. Everyone still with starting stacks.

I raise preflopto 450, guy overshoves all in his 5K.

Flips JJ. 2 outs....

Like its not enough against me. Flops J.

Thanks for playing.

Second time in the row 7th in High Roller

2011-04-10T16:47:00.002-05:00

5 get paid. 7th.

AQ vs AJ preflop. River J.

Todays High Roller Tournament

2011-04-07T00:16:00.003-05:00

In second chance and in high roller busted 2 places away from money.
awesome.

Can't beat them- Join them...

2011-04-04T15:57:00.002-05:00

Good news For all you fucks who are mad at me for winning.

Everyone has a chance to get a piece of my winnings now.

I'm back to chipmeup selling my daily tournaments.

I accept Full Tilt, Pokerstars, and Merge payments. Transfer me money and send me an email to ltuflawless@yahoo.com letting me know how many shares you are buying. Once I confirm the transfer, I will reserve the shares on chipmeup.com

Here is my chipmeup profile link:

http://chipmeup.pokernews.com/player/LTUFlawless

Not a bad day for me... Finally

2011-04-04T03:20:00.002-05:00

There were some crazy moments today.

Of course usual BS in some earlier tourneys, with some sickest suckouts.

However, I got some breaks in some later tourneys.

Chopped for first place in Daily High Roller. I think in that one sucked out once in mid tourney with AQ vs AK. Wasn't for all my chips, but still. Rest of the tourney played pretty ok and made to HU. Chopped with zeegstah.

Cashed in 4K GTD. Busted 10th. A rag w 10 rag preflop. Guy was stealing from me and got called. Flop rags, Turn rag, River 10. Thank you very much.

7,5 K GTD was most fun. Everything was going well, made to cash. No drama. Was always 1st-2nd in chips. Got little break when 3 guys at the table got booted for some time. To be honest didn't even notice it, I just thought they were playing tight. But it wasn't too long, bcs break time came and everybody but one guy came back...

In top 3 I got some beautiful suck out w 99 vs KK. Button raised, I 3 bet w 99 on SB, BB shoves. I have little more than 13 BB left, can't afford to fold it.

Call.

Board all rags. Riverrrrrrrr 9. Ugh, havent felt that feeling how it's awesome to hit 2 outer in a long time :)

However soon after that doubled up another guy w AK vs 66 and back to even stacks...

Another interesting big hand, busting third guy and sending me to HU:

I am on Button (with ~65K), Raise standard w 77. SB (~90K) folds, BB (~50K) calls.

Flop K87. Yummy. Flopped a set. However two clubs.

He checks, I bet 2/3 of the pot.

Calls.

Turn 8. Full house. How I can get most chips out of this hand? he checks again, I bet a little bit more than half pot. He calls.

River 7.

ok, now I know im not losing. he checks, I bet and guy check-shoves. YUMMMYYYYYY.

Guess what. Flips K8 for full house. Slow played his ass till death. Not that I would of folded flopped set though..

Absolute cooler.

And tirade starts. How lucky I am and all other shit. 1 outer and stuff like that. Totally forgets that he was behind pretty much entire hand. Preflop behind, on flop behind, caught up on turn, but lost on river.

Can't say I wasnt lucky though. One of us was getting coolered in that hand. Lucky me, finally I didnt get sucked out.

Heads up was pretty fun.

OgKoosh offered to chop and I didnt really mind it. Before he offered to chop, stacks were ~95 K : 85 K. I had a little bit more. But after few hands that he had won, he suddenly decided to play it out. 90 K : 92 K.

Hu took pretty good 10-15 minutes. But started accumulating chips and didnt really look back. Got him to 1:6 chip disadvantage and all in fest began.

Last hand 9dQd against his 8cAh. All in preflop. Not too bad, two suited live cards, considering stack sizes and blinds.

Beautiful flop two diamonds. Added extra outs.

Turn Kd. yay.

River meaningless deuce.

Finally won some, bcs lately it seems now matter what I do, I will still get busted either on bubble or in min cash...

Will try to make to top of Topurney Kimg Leaderboard, bcs last month didnt play many tourneys, because of my Trip to Spring Break poker Classic. About that one maybe later. Maybe. I'm lazy ass. I know. Never covered Chicago Poker Classic yet either.

And this is how I busted from High Roller tourney...

2011-04-01T22:14:00.003-05:00

All in pre-flop. Should I mention I wasnt' surprised?

Great two bustouts from biggest Daily tourneys.

I love poker

Puke....

2011-04-01T21:31:00.007-05:00

$2,5 K Second chance GTD.

OK, there was one little joker in this tourney, which had no clue wtf he was doing, but still managed to win it.

Why I know he had no clue- first flag was when he didnt realize how much is min raise preflop and was surprised that he didnt need to double other guys raise. He kept talking how site let raise less than a minimum. When he actually d\idnt know what minimum was. There was one guy who still bothered to explain, but I dont think it helped at all...

Anyway, doesnt really matter. What matters most, that he had to be out numerous times, but would pull some miracle card out of his butt and double and stay alive. And what sucks most- biggest double ups were late in the tournament against me.

First one- he raises, I 3 bet w AK. Insta shoves with ~20 BB left. Flips A9. Of course catches on Turn 3 outer.

I suck it up, since was deep enough and I know chips will come back... However playing good is not enough...

7 players left. I'm chip leader.

Raise w QQ, get two callers. flop 688. I bet, one guy folds and our genius shoves his HUGE stack. I'm tanking for a while, and totally don't see any sense in hand. Decide I am ahead and call.

Dude flip 45. Gutshot for tournament life. Guess what, 7 hits turn. river blank.Beautiful. Everybody at the table were kinda wtf was that, and he says, oh they were soooted.what can I say. Can't argue. He is right, they were suited...

I go down to 6th place with ~7,5K left. 5 Get paid. Couple hands later, guy raises again, like every previous hand. I shove my stack w KQ and even before he calls I know I'm ahead. Like that would be enough...
KQ vs QJ. Flop AJJ. Congratulations!You finished 6th. Bubble boy

And guess who wins the tournament?

Not sure how to win tourneys anymore. I would love to read books he had read :)

Preflop AA vs AA vs KK. Yummy

2011-03-30T22:16:00.001-05:00

Todays bustouts

2011-03-29T22:43:00.002-05:00

Daily High Roller- 77 vs A3. Preflop 10 K GTD- QQ vs A4 suited. Preflop 2,5 K GTD- J10 vs J6. Preflop

Tough luck

2011-03-29T16:16:00.003-05:00

One of my students- switchman1 yesterday absolutely dominated the 3k GTD tournament. Busting everyone on final table left and right. Going to HU, he had 4:1 chip advantage over the opponent. And usual Merge fuck up happened. His screen froze and for more than 10 minutes only after rebooting twice he got back into the game, while his opponent was stealing the blinds. He finally came back and had left only 200 K vs opponents 120 K with blinds 10k-20k. Switchman tried to make a come back, but it was a little too late. really tough luck. Such a great play throughout the tournament and merge had to freeze. I hate that new merge version. Why to fix whats not broken? GJ switch. I know it sucks when its not your fault whe you lose the tourney. I have been there too...

King Marlo wins 10 K GTD

2011-03-29T16:11:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to my poker student King Marlo, who won his first ever 10K GTD on merge last week.

This is his first significant win in his poker carrier. I really hope my little lessons are helping him ;)

Beautiful...

Another Student shows some promise

2011-03-21T01:58:00.006-05:00

Here is email I have received from one of my students- "KingMarlo"

"Hey David, just wanted to show you the results from 5 games yesterday - my first tourneys played after working with you. The only one I didn't cash was a bad beat right before the money (AK lost to AQ) otherwise easy cash too. Implementing some of you methods/thoughts already paying off. Thanks again!

andrew"

I'm really glad for guys like him. Andrew is really nice guy and I hope with my help he was able to improve his game a little bit.

I can promise, soon you will see him climbing to top of the leaderboards.

Good luck at the tables, KingMarlo.

Todays High Roller Tournament

2011-03-18T00:20:00.004-05:00

Finally took it down. Wasn't too easy, but finally won flips that mattered and didnt have any of my usual brain farts to call some shorter all ins w marginal hands.

After being pretty short all tourney long, finally started moving up the list w 7 players left. Long story short- became chip leader, busted couple guys and squeezed the bubble like a sponge. Can't say I wasn't getting cards though. Whenever somebody would try to stand up against the bully, I would wake up with pair of 10's or AK. And what most important my all in hands would finally would hold... I busted last remaining guys and went to Heads Up.

So, we go to HU with DaduhWeeWah. For those who dont know, Daduh is one of the guys I remember from my first days on PDC. We started playing pretty much around the same time. He kinda went to play cash games and I stayed with MTT's. But lately I see him doing really good in MTT's

Anyway, so we get to Heads up. I have like 4,5:1 chip lead.

That bastard doubles up against my two pairs with his double gutter all in on flop. Bad news. Don't want to give up my lead...

Few hands later I Cut his stack almost in half with turned straight. Not even sure what he called me with on river. Anyway, back to comfortable lead.

And the last hand happened.

Blinds 600-1200. Stack 30K vs 110K

I raise on Button to 2520, Daduh 3 bets to 5000.

Flop 68A. Two clubs. Obvious C-bet. 5000.

I call. Turn 9.

Pot ~20 K. Daduh ships his remaining 20K. Tank time. First instinct- Desperate all in, hoping for fold. And golden rule- go with your first instinct. So, I think about the hand and decide its either absolute bluff or I am sitting on couple outs. But I can't let him have 40 K and give him a chance to come back into the game...

I call with my lowest pair and no kicker. He flips K10. Nothing.

River Blank 9. Yummy.

Finally won that damn tournament. took me a while. And Porkface cant brag about his accolade anymore, that I dont have one like his. When I actually have 13 more he will never achieve :)

Todays Jewels

2011-03-15T23:49:00.005-05:00

"I hope you die today"

2011-03-15T22:08:00.005-05:00

$16.50 Buy in tournament.

Guy loses a pot and wishes the other player to die. Internet poker players at their best.

Kinda was feeling bad for the guy, but here is his rant after he got busted an hour later:

Typical online thugs. Would love to see this happening in real life

Great time to lose connection

2011-03-14T22:14:00.003-05:00

Dominated pretty much all tourney. Had pretty much more than 4:1 chip lead going to HU.

First hand in tourneys HU I get AA, guy pushes all in and..... I get booted for 15 minutes.

Came back , message pops up.

Congratulations, you finished second...

I hit one too

2011-03-14T21:55:00.005-05:00

and of course get bithced at that this is how I win my tournaments.

People forget that rebuy tournaments are a little bit different before the break. But I dont really care explaining...

Great flop for my hand. Open ended. Pretty much best what I can expect....Hit my straight on turn, and of course bitching started...

AA. All in on turn. Outcome is obvious

2011-03-14T21:51:00.001-05:00

First all in of the day

2011-03-14T17:49:00.001-05:00

All in on turn. Of course 3 outs are enough...

ok, i give up

2011-03-13T22:13:00.001-05:00

all in on flop.

I guess its nothing I can do to win a hand today.

I love poker

AK vs K10

2011-03-13T21:15:00.002-05:00

Awesome run continues

2011-03-13T20:47:00.005-05:00

All this is happening in one day.

Not really believable, but thats how I run. Its really messed up, when call w KK vs 99 and you think you are losing anyway.

There are few other tourneys today, I'm sure I will have more posts like this...

AQ vs A3 preflop

2011-03-13T19:43:00.002-05:00

Same 50K GTD.

Will it ever end? And how big my stack would be by now if this shit would not happen?

I sucked out, i sucked out

2011-03-13T18:53:00.002-05:00

desperate all in with rags. got called by A rag. guy commits almost all of his chips to call with A 6. Good job.

miracle- I did hit my 3 outer.

It's sad, when poker is being won like this....

another one

2011-03-13T18:41:00.002-05:00

66 vs AA preflop.

And all this is happening in one day. I think is trying me to see how long I can take this before I quit

I will keep them posting for todays tourneys..

2011-03-13T17:42:00.001-05:00

How many times per day can pair lose to under pair?

2011-03-13T16:27:00.003-05:00

Lets add another one to the list. 1750 GTD. All in preflop

I dont think I can really win anything anymore

2011-03-13T15:27:00.007-05:00

Doesnt matter if I get a monster, it's pretty much given, that I will run into bigger monster.

Or if I have a monster, it will get obviously cracked...

Pretty bad run, when you cant win a SINGLE hand if you get QQ or KK. And AK I think is not even playable anymore...

Here we go again

2011-03-11T23:00:00.003-06:00

Busted from Daily High Roller Tournament w AK vs AJ preflop. J on river.

Yummy. Before that of course lost a 99 flip vs AQ.

But that doesnt end the fun.

Piture of 2,75o GTD. Blinds 250-500. Starting stack 12 K. BB stack 10 K

Raise standard w A9 in Cutoff. BB calls

Flop 2h9c4c. Top pair top kicker. BB checks. I bet 2/3 of pot. BB Calls.

Turn Jc . BB shoves his remaining 6+ K

Tank time. First instict- abosulte bluff. Not sure what you can check call and shove on turn with. Slow played overpair or set and doesnt want river 4 card flush? or smth like 9xKc?

Golden rule- go by your first instinct. after thinking a little bit, decided that hand makes no sense at all. Bets hadn he might have- high flush draw w a pair on board.

I call. 21 K in the pot.

Guy flips As5s. NOTHING. Gut shot with one card to come. 4 outs. Like this would not be enough.

River 3. Straight.

MAYBE one day I will win against gutter with one card to come. Maybe.

Welcome back to online poker

2011-03-08T01:24:00.002-06:00

Here we go again.
Came back from little break and thought maybe will start things fresh and nice.

yeah right

AK loses to AJ pre flop in Daily High Roller tournament on Final Table.

AA gets cracked by 99 in 10K GTD, after playing really solid all tournament long and building pretty nice stack. So, instead of having 120 K and being chip leader with 23 ppl left, I bust out even before getting into money.

Fuck that noise

switchman12 wins 3 K GTD

2011-03-08T00:23:00.003-06:00

Congrats to my poker student- switchman12 taking down 3K GTD. He outlasted 377 players and took home the gold.

Great job ;) Like I said before, my own goal is to make sure my students know what they are paying for.

I think todays win paid for lessons in full... And I'm sure there are many more wins like this to come.

Keep it up, switchman12

Major staking deal struck with fellow merge player for Chicago Poker Classic

2011-03-01T19:56:00.002-06:00

This combo is a Chicago Poker Classic bundle deal exclusively for DJ Orsher.

Tournaments incuded in Combo:

Monday, Feb 28
Event #5 NLHE – 12pm – $240 – 10k added / Paid 100% by backer

Saturday, March 5
Event #9 6-max – 12pm – $350 – 15k added/ Paid 100% by backer

Sunday, March 6
Event #10 NLHE – 12pm – $240 – 10k added/ Paid 100% by backer

Monday, March 7
Event #11 NLHE – 12pm – $240 – 10k added (1-day event)/ Paid 100% by backer

2 (two) second chance tournaments at 7 PM any chosen day. $260 / Paid 100% by backer

Total Amount= $1330

Term and conditions.

1. All money won in any event of this combo will be chopped 50-50. If a total amount of money won in this combo is less then 5 K, winnings will be chopped without deducting any USA Federal and State taxes. If total amount won is equal or more than 5K, money distributed to both parties will be as follow:

a) USA Federal and State Taxes will be deducted from the total amount.

b) Stake back deducted and returned to DJ Orsher

c) The remaining amount will be chopped equal amount of 50% for the player and 50% for the backer.

2. If any of the tournaments will not be played for any reason, DJ Orsher will be issued a full refund for that event.

3. Money Transactions will be done via Carbonpoker website transfers.

4. DJ Orsher will be informed of any progress in the tournaments via my own blog at www.ltuflawless.blogspot.com and/or my Twitter account @LTUFlawless

5. For every Event bought, DJ Orsher will receive a free 2% share of Monthly Tourney King Grand Final, where I will start with custom top 3 stack. Total max of 10% of the tournament shares.

6. I agree to sell 10 % Main Event shares for lowered price of $4 at 0.1% per share. Value is 128%

If backer buys 20% of ME shares, price of the share will be $3.5. Value is 112%

If backer buys 30% or more of ME shares price of the share will be $3 and value goes down to 96%

Stakeback is included in ME as well.

7. This combo and Main Event are to be treated as seperate events.

8. DJ Orsher agrees to buy 20% of Main Event Shares for $700 Total. For that I will bundle stake back in order to give backer greater chance to get his investment returned.

Possible scenarios:

1. I cash in in combo event, but dont cash in ME. DJOrsher gets stakeback $1330 and then chop 50-50. Depending on 5K limit before or after taxes. DJOrsher doesnt get stakeback from ME shares.

2. I dont cash in Combo, but I cash in ME. ME will be over 5K , I take the taxes off and enter the amount in CMU. DJOrsher gets ME cashback by the shares bought what CMU tells me to pay + $1330, since I bundled it with Combo events. CMU chops for everyone else who bought ME shares.

3. I cash in both- in any Combo Event and Main Event. DJ Orsher get stakeback of $1330 for Combo and gets paid for Main Events shares as everyone else.

4. If I cash less than $1330 in combo event. For example $1200. Everything goes to DJOrsher.

Chicago Poker Classic Main Event

2011-02-26T13:14:00.002-06:00

Best tournament for my playing style. Great Tournament structure starting with 30,000 chip stacks.

Main Event has added 60 K added to the prize pool.

As a bonus, all backers will receive a free share in my next Months Tourney King Grand Final on Merge.

If you have any questions or offers to back full event, I am open to discussions. Please email me at ltuflawless@yahoo.com.

I accept Merge, Fullt Tilt, Poker Stars or Chip me up as form of payment

More about the tournament can be found on Chicago Poker Classic official website. www.chicagopokerclassic.com

My backers will be informed about my progress during tournament via my Twitter account @ LTUFlawless.

Stakeback offered!

If anyone is interested in getting piece of the shares for Main Event, go to

http://chipmeup.pokernews.com/player/LTUFlawless

Good job Switchman12

2011-02-26T01:42:00.004-06:00

Another student shows some promise...

We just started with switchman12, but I see he is doing pretty good himself.
I was watching the 10K GTD tonight and he was absolutely dominating the tourney up until final table.
However, there were couple questionable plays, especially one which cut his stack almost in half with overplaying AK.
But he did good job and finished 3rd cashing in 1 K. What sucks most, there were couple key hands what would of changed his payout.
One of them was when with 3 players left in the tourney both opponents went all in. The deeper stack had AQ and shorter flipped A4. It seemed switchman12 was heading to HU, until miracle river 4. What a heart breaker. That would of guaranteed 2K and shot at 1 K Extra.

And the main hand would of put him to HU again and with dominating 3-1 stack, when switchman12 raised on button and BB reshoved. Players flipped their cards and BB showed KJ against Switchmans AQ. Flop all rags didnt change situation, just got closer to heads up match, but Turn hit J. River 10 didnt help and stack was cut really bad. Last hand A10 vs AJ didnt improve and he had to take only 1K home.

Only a few tough suckouts and the 2 K difference.

Oh well, that's poker. I'm just happy the stacks were pushed in the middle with the best hand when it mattered.

Maybe next time, switchman !

Unlucky Mindukas... Ouch

2011-02-24T20:14:00.001-06:00

Not much you can do here. 44 cant fold anyway. 9's were very short, so doesnt really matter, but from where that case 4 got there?

@LTUFlawless

2011-02-24T19:46:00.002-06:00

Since the whole world is tweeting, I guess I will try it as well.

Mostly created this account for my Chicago Poker Classic Events to inform my backers how I am doing in the tournaments.

So, from now on, all haters can get back at me on Twitter @ LTUFlawless

I will have my Twitter on blog as well, so people would be able to see what is happening just by checking my blog.

Chicago Poker Classic

2011-02-24T11:58:00.003-06:00

Next week most likely will be out and wont be playing much online poker. Chicago Poker Classic is in town and really would not want to miss it.

I will play most of the events. If anyone interested in staking, please email me ltuflawless@yahoo.com

And if anyone is going there too and would like to meet, let me know as well. We will have little Merge reunion ;)

Samkarmaguy

2011-02-23T19:42:00.002-06:00

I want to congratulate one of my most promising students, samkarmaguy, who won Perth ANZPT Live event Package on PokerStars last week.

Not sure how much I helped him , but I am really happy for Sammy ;)

Good job!

Sick hand

2011-02-23T19:03:00.003-06:00

First level of the tournament. 3 All ins preflop. Of course AA would not stand a chance...

Variance

2011-02-22T22:10:00.004-06:00

Haven't played for a few days to reset my head a little bit, but I guess when you run bad, you can take a month off and you will still run bad.

It seems its impossible to win a flip, win any 60-40 or if I make some great call, other guy will get some runner runner anyway. It's just so sick, that it seems you dont want to look at poker any more.

However break helps a little bit. Yesterday played really solid, didnt make stupid mistakes. Ran deep in pretty much all tourneys, however it didnt turn out to be any good cash wise. Bubbled in 3 tourneys out of 8 played. Sickening feeling.

Today tried different approach. Took sick risks, flipped huge stacks. Never won a single race which would actually matter in the tournament. Made some sick calls with A high, but still got sucked out. Sometimes it just seems like nothing will ever work.

Variance is a bitch. But blaming suckouts is for noobs. Even though it seems everyone just keeps sucking out on me, gotta deal with it.

meh.

I hate poker

Poker Tips-Beginners Should Play Bigger Pots

2011-02-12T23:17:00.004-06:00

By Daniel Negreanu

The best players in the world rely on small ball poker when playing in No Limit Hold’em tournaments. And though it is the optimal strategy, it’s not meant for players of all skill levels. You must have superior hand-reading and people-reading skills for it to be effective.

You’ll play a lot of hands in small ball poker which means you’ll often face difficult situations with marginal cards. That’s why this approach is simply too advanced for beginning players.

Here’s the first tip for beginners: Avoid playing small pots against experienced players because you’ll almost certainly be outplayed after the flop. Instead, make much larger bets before and after the flop. Also, play fewer hands, especially when out of position.

On the other hand, experienced small ball players should come in for a slightly smaller raise when they are first to enter the pot. A raise of 2 ½ times the big blind is about right.

Say you’re dealt 7c-8c with the blinds at 50-100. A skilled small-baller would raise the bet to 250. Not so for a novice player; he should avoid playing the hand altogether.

You see, experienced players can get away with playing more hands pre-flop because they are less likely to make mistakes after the flop.

A novice, though, needs to play much tighter before the flop. And when they do get a playable hand, they need to make larger raises -- as much as five times the big blind.

Large raises serve multiple purposes for the beginning player. They apply pressure on skilled opponents who like to play a wide range of funky hands. They also improve the beginner’s chances of taking down the blinds and antes without a fight. Finally, they can help novices avoid difficult decisions after the flop by inducing skilled opponents to lay down their hands.

Remember, this isn’t the optimal tournament strategy for skilled players; it risks too many chips in relation to the expected small payoff. It works for novice players, however, because their primary goal should simply be to stay out of trouble and survive.

Here’s the second tip for beginners: Use the same big betting approach through to the flop as well. For example, with 1,200 in the pot, make a large bet to apply maximum pressure on your opponents. A pot-size bet ought to do the trick.

A bet of that size, though, is clearly too steep for an accomplished small ball player. It’s too exploitable and forces skilled players to assume much more risk than is necessary. Instead, small-ballers Big bet poker is effective against small ball players because it forces the skilled player to wait patiently for trapping situations. Yes, this approach does make the beginner more susceptible to a trap. But the pro must still catch strong cards in order to even consider calling a big raise, and that’s not easy to do.

should bet around 700 chips for which they would gain virtually the same information as the beginner’s 1,200 bet – but at much lower cost.

Big raises by inexperienced players cause advanced players to operate outside of their comfort zones. That’s because skilled pros hate playing big pots unless they have the nuts, or something close to it.

Sick 3 days

2011-02-12T23:05:00.002-06:00

3 absolutely exact days in a row.

Scenario- get deep in one of main Merge Daily tourneys, then get sucked out once or twice. And after just start going downhill. Don't even cash. Bust on or around bubble.

Gotta go to drawing board and change some things around. Obviously doing smth wrong

3 days in a row on one of Main tourneys get to HU and after putting all the chips in the middle with dominating hand, ALL 3 times got sucked out. 1K difference each time. Total 3 K in 3 days. So sick.

No more poker for tonight. F that

Fan mail

2011-02-12T17:11:00.004-06:00

Fan mail is the best. Sometimes people are nice, sometimes they are not.

I'm happy I get more nice emails than not.

But this one is funny one:

--- On Sat, 2/12/11, telenutz@aol.com wrote:

From: telenutz@aol.com
Subject: Merge
To: ltuflawless@yahoo.com
Date: Saturday, February 12, 2011, 5:27 AM

Yo--

What happened to goldenbear? He change his name or went on another merge site?

Coaching rates?

MIke

My answer:

Yeah he changed his name.

$*** an hour

--- On Sat, 2/12/11, Telenutz@aol.com wrote:

From: Telenutz@aol.com
Subject: Re: Merge
To: ltuflawless@yahoo.com
Date: Saturday, February 12, 2011, 3:13 PM

then how did you know he changed it faggot?

liar kunt

die of aids

My answer:

ok, will do

What a day

2011-02-12T01:52:00.003-06:00

Got Sucked out in HU for 1K difference ...

Bubbled in High Roller tourney after ran like god in the beginning. wasted all chips to point where had to push with crap and sucked out with runner runner. Then Won 3 flips against Abraham. After that sucked out two 3 outers. And just to bust on Bubble with QQ vs AA.

Similar With 7.5 K. For a long time was 1st in chips until flopped top pair with open ended and lost majority of the chips. then nursing short stack of course ran into Quad Aces. Bubbled.

Awesome. Need to go check my own hand history and fix some shit around.

Here we go again

2011-02-11T18:56:00.002-06:00

Preflop AA vs K3. 85% to win. For K3 of course...

If you run version 5.0 on Merge and it crashes...

2011-02-09T02:35:00.000-06:00

Take the screen shot and send it to me at ltuflawless@yahoo.com

I am bitching to merge about these crashes and they asked me to send them screen shots of task manager while it crashes...

here is what you have to do:

Go to task manager- View> Select Objects and tick the GDI Objects.

this will add another column to task manager.

Once it crashes again, open task manager, save print screen and send the image to me.

If we get more screens shot from different people, it will be faster to finally not to black out in middle of Final table. FFS.

How many times per day AA can lose? So far 3 out of 3

2011-02-07T22:51:00.008-06:00

1.
$460 Sat heads up. First hand. Both MAD deep since the BB was 250 and we both had over 10K in chips since everyone else is busted.... I raise w AA, guy genius decides to shove it w Q5. The rest is history. On flop 762 he had 6%. Plenty. Turn 3 River 4.

2.
Mid tourney of $3,5 K GTD. Raise preflop, two callers.

Flop J52
Bet pretty high on flop just to get check raised all in by 66 with 14%. Of course that's a favorite to win. Turn 6. Thanks for playing.

3.
10K GTD
Raise preflop UTG w AA. BB pushes desperate all in w 57. Flop hits 5, turn 7. Who said 57 wasn't favorite preflop against AA?

I love poker

Poker Tips- Playing King-Queen

2011-02-07T00:42:00.002-06:00

Great article by Daniel Negreanu

The one hand that beginning and intermediate players misplay more often than others is K-Q. The hand looks powerful -- one that would seemingly rank up there with starters like A-K and A-Q -- but it isn't in the same league as those premium cards.

Novice players commonly overvalue the strength of K-Q when they flop a pair to it. Q-5-2 might look like an excellent flop for king-queen, but it can be very dangerous if an opponent has any of the following hands: 2-2, 5-5, Q-Q, A-Q, K-K or A-A.

An expert player is able to fold his king-queen on that flop if he senses that his opponent has a stronger hand. Most amateur players, however, just aren't sophisticated enough to know when to play the hand to the river and when to let it go.

You see, an unimproved K-Q rarely holds up in a race to the river. Even a weak holding like A-3 offsuit will beat it in the long run. If an ace hits, the king-queen is all but dead; if no king or queen hits, the A-3 wins by virtue of simply being higher.

King-queen play is especially important in tournament poker when you’re deciding whether to go all-in or to wait for a better situation.

If a tourney player goes all-in before you, what hands could he have that would mean your K-Q is in good shape? The only hands it dominates are K-J and K-10. It's much more likely that an all-in player has at least an ace; oftentimes he'll have A-K or A-Q, which are both monster favorites over your cards. You'd have just three outs against either hand.

Now let’s say your opponent had a hand like pocket tens. Your K-Q still loses more than 55% of the time. See what I mean by dubious?

I strongly advise players to fold king-queen in the face of an early position raise. A raise from that spot represents a strong hand; one that usually dominates K-Q. However, K-Q is a good hand to attack the blinds when you’re the first player to enter the pot from middle or late position. If that happens, make a standard-size raise. If someone reraises, fold before you get yourself into trouble.

Suited cards usually don’t make a world of difference, but with K-Q it’s often enough of an added edge to allow you to call a raise in marginal situations. Here’s why: You’re now hoping to flop a high pair or, better yet, to catch a straight or a high flush.

K-Q suited versus K-Q offsuit is a significantly better hand in a multi-way pot. The more players that enter a pot, the stronger the average winning hand will be. In a heads-up pot the average winning hand may just be a high pair. But in a five-way action pot, you just might need that flush to win.

Now that you know these facts about king-queen, you can play the hand more reasonably. Yes, it’ll score you some big pots, but don’t get fooled into thinking it’s a premium hand.

Sunday GTD on Merge

2011-02-06T18:07:00.002-06:00

Preflop.
Yummy.

I hate poker

Sunday Millions

2011-02-06T18:05:00.000-06:00

Once again....

Absolutely wasted day

2011-02-04T01:31:00.003-06:00

After busting out from couple Merge tourneys, I decided to go to nearby little casinos grand opening. I was pretty happy to hear they will have Texas Holdem there and thought it would be pretty nice to change it up a little bit to play some cash games live, but I was wrong. Absolutely.

OK, I get to casino, pretty neat, everything new... single poker table. I sit down, ready for some action, and first hand pretty much get bitchslapped learning that instead of NL 2-5, this is a 5-10 Limit table. WTF. LIMIT? People still play that crap? Totally not for me.
Oh well, I suck it up and decide to play some Limit.

And then everything just went downhill. Kinda funny-sad story.
I was trying to get people to agree to play NL, but one old dude was like, oh I like Limit. He said, I don't know you and playing in Casino No Limit is dangerous against strangers. I play limit, so I would lose less. great thinking.
After a girl at the table told him maybe he shouldnt even play poker, I thought his lamp inside the head will explode. That was funny.

First- dealers. I think my dog knows more about poker just from watching me play, than these bums. For like 7 hands the guy didnt even take a rake. I was like whoa, thats awesome, playing like home game. until some bum player asked why he didnt take any rake...

One of good hands, showing how not only the dealer was stupid, but pit boss as well.

I'm on button, everybody folds, I raise w Q rag to $10. Guy on BB announces raise and puts in $20. Dealer return his $10 and says, it's $10 maximum. I was like, did this just really happen? Anyway, the guy kind confused and he is, ok, let's go.
So, he calls only.
Flop all rags. He checks, I bet. He wants to check raise to 20 again and dealer would not let him. Saying that he cant check raise. EEEEK
Turn blank. He check again, I know he must have something and pretty much give up on the hand. I check. River Q. Not too bad, top pair...
He checks again, I bet $10 and he shows JJ. Dealer just simply wrapped the pot for me in a gift bag.
Anyway, I just can't even imagine that we have such a clueless dealer, so I ask for manager. Manager comes, listens to all the story and makes a ruling. - No, you can't raise on flop turn or river. max bet is 10.
Really? Amazing. he said that's the rules here. I asked can you show me the rules where it says you cant raise in poker, he points to wall, where basic rules of poker posted. Pretty much beginners stuff, winning hands and stuff. nothing about betting. Nothing even about Limit or NL holdem.

Ok, I can't sit like this, so we get a general managers ass to poker table, since it seems nobody else understands poker at all.
He comes and it seems the guy understand poker pretty good and we finally agree on betting and etc. Finally, 2 hours into the game we can start playing Limit holdem.

Another funny thing, they had small blind and big blind buttons on the table. We asked, wtf is that we don't need them moving around, dealer said that's for him, so he would know who is big or small blind. how sick is that?

Another fluke. I am on button somebody raises, I fold. Flop.

Dealer looked at me first, like it was my turn to act. I say check. He looks at sb, he checks, BB checks, some dude in mid position checks.
Turn. He looks at me first again. Like button needs to act first. Of course without any cards I check. Everyone checks around. River. Everyone checks, mid position bets $10 and it comes back to me again. Of course my cards in the muck pre flop. I start counting the chips how much I should raise. I announce raise, dealer starts counting the chips. Guy who bet cant believe he just got raised by the guy with no cards.
Funny and sad at this same time.

Oh, there was one dude who tried to put extra cash on the table in mid hand when he had nuts and kinda threw a fit that cash plays.

Kinda new poker experience. And I'm never going back again.

Came back just in time to play in 8K GTD. Played like 6 hands max, bcs always was shortstack. I dont even know how I made to money and busted 5th.

Anyway, that's my wasted day

Nope, AA doesnt win

2011-02-02T19:26:00.003-06:00

11 hand of high roller tourney. Got AA. And of course had to get flushed away...

I know, I know, I shouldn't play AA that early in the tourney so fast. Of course easily could of folded, but put the guy on flush draw and got a little bit greedy. I knew if I won that hand, people would of had hard time taking them away from me.

Lesson learned

Gotta post this one

2011-02-01T21:31:00.003-06:00

Since I got one runner runner as well, I have to be fair and post that one too.
I pushed all in, closed the window, opened it up and saw that doubled up. Checked the history, holy shit...A9 vs Ak runner runner.

Nasty

These people are just too good for me

2011-02-01T15:39:00.002-06:00

Ok, first tourney of the day. Not to mention that 2 hands before got sucked out w two pairs 94 flop K94. All in on flop vs AA. River A. At least the guy though he was ahead.

But plays like this just blow my mind.

Starting hand on BB I had 3000. SB had 16K+. Blinds 125-250. Mid position limps. SB calls, I check

Flop 53K. All diamonds. All of us check. Turn Ks. Not the worst card for me. SB bets 500. Great time to double up. Of course, can't just call. I shove almost 3 K, mid position folds, sb INSTA calls.

Flips 86. Nothing. River diamond. Monster flush.

I can do any math, count any outs, or whatever else, but I can't really understand it.

Maybe it's just me. Can somebody send me the book these guys are reading?

January's Merge Tourney King Leaderboard

2011-02-01T03:10:00.002-06:00

Of course I will forget to register for Next weeks Grand Final tourney for the cash, like last month, so I guess it doesn't matter :)

PUKE

2011-02-01T01:10:00.004-06:00

8K GTD
Ok, I'm really confused what people think or how they play. I guess, I need to read some new books. Called "How to fold best hand, because anyway you gonna get bitchslapped by gutter"

blinds 200-400. I'm 1st, sitting with 23 K. People around me have 7-8 K max. One guy has 16K+. And of course this happens.

Check the screens shot and there is nothing else to explain...

Great all in checkraise with gutshot on flop. After taking some time remembering all hands played against this guy, I finally grow some balls and call just to see that read was correct, but surprise surprise. Oh, you need a deuce? Here it is.

Sick stuff. If I win this hand, I can go to bed and I make the money .....Instead, next hand I lose coin flip and now for sure can go to bed.

Oh, the very same minute I bust out w AK against A7 preflop on FT 20K GTD.

I hate poker

Do Aces ever win?

2011-01-31T22:45:00.003-06:00

it supposed to win 80% of the time. However, it seems for me it actually loses 80%..And NO, I don't slow play aces.

Yesterday got busted from 75 K W AA vs JJ.
Today On FT busted again after all in on flop in 18K GTD. 28th hand of the tourney. Raised 8x BB, but it didnt make to fold J5 and J9.

Sundays Tournaments

2011-01-30T15:23:00.008-06:00

Merge
Bay 101 shooting star Grand Final
5th QhJh vs 1010 preflop

75K GTD
AA vs JJ. All in on flop. Flop J rag rag.

12,5 K GTD
AQ vs 66 preflop. 14th

Full Tilt
Sunday Brawl

1. AK vs AJ . All in on flop AJ9
2. A9 vs A8. On flop. Flop A82

1.5 Million GTD

1. AcKh vs AQ Flop All clubs w Q highest. All in on flop
2. 22 vs AK. Good all in read on flop 10107. Called All in on flop. River A
3. AhJH vs QsKs. Guy was stealing and it worked out fine. All in preflop. Even though turned Royal flush draw, river was blank.
4. AsQs vs 77 preflop. Min cashed

Sunday Mulligan

1. Straight against nut straight. All in on flop.

Huge Sunday

2011-01-30T00:48:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow I will either will blow big chunk of my bankroll or I will hit something good.

Many huge tourneys.

Merge 75 K GTD and WPT Grand Final

FT sick amount of tourneys, with sick buy ins.

PS Sunday Mills.

IF ANYBODY WANTS TO INVEST, LET ME KNOW.

ltuflawless@yahoo.com

Todays bust outs

2011-01-29T21:22:00.006-06:00

Merge
$7,5 K GTD-
AK vs 33 , Flop A32. All ins on flop.

$10K GTD-
Dont remember

$8k GTD
66 vs KQ preflop. Busted 7th

Full Tilt-
$150 K GTD-
22 vs JJ. Flop J23. turn 3. All in on turn

$66K GTD-
1. AhKh vs 1010 All in Preflop.
2. JJ vs KK. All in Preflop.
3. QQ vs AK. All in Preflop.
4. 66 vs KK. Preflop. Finished 12th

$37K GTD-
1. AsJ vs AQ. Flop Q52. All spades. Committed myself on flop. All in on Flop. Turn, river blank
2. Bluffed into KK.
3. AJ vs 66. Preflop. Second day in a row finished 7th. Was 1-2 for the majority time of the tourney, lost crucial hand against another bigstack w 20 players left w nut straight vs set of Queens with only one card to come. River A paired the board and lost 12o+ K chips pot when chip average was around 40-50 K.

Pretty much broke even for the day.

I hate poker

Full Tilt 66K GTD

2011-01-29T18:57:00.002-06:00

I don't think I won at least one all in w AA vs 66 pre flop on FT or on stars. You can see form earlier huge tourneys and same happened today.

Early in the tournament. second blinds level. Preflop action

Raise, reraise, all in, call.

I'm not sure what people are thinking in $300 buy in tourney with such action w 66 in the beginning of the tourney, but as long as it works for them, I guess it will happen again :)

A tournament win I am really proud of.

2011-01-29T16:12:00.003-06:00

Today I have witnesses pretty nice win and what's important it wasn't me who won it... I am really happy to see that one of my students "mindukas7" is getting so much better at poker. Lately he has gotten really good at low stakes tournaments and shows really big promise in the future.
To be honest I feel even better than me cashing myself in yesterdays 37 K on FT... He outlasted 148 players just to take it all.

Good job, mindukas7. Keep it up!!! I hope to see more of these...

Funny

2011-01-26T22:53:00.003-06:00

I guess it will become pretty popular to bitch at the tables and call me out hoping for 2 minutes of fame.

There was one guy on cash table today who was barking how bad I suck, and that beating porky is nothing. And I should play him now.

I do agree that beating that Jungle bum gives me not even a smallest feather in my cap. But I can assure you all- your little tricks insulting me, in order to get me to agree to bitch slap everyone, simply won't work... There are way too many of the haters. Line is way too long. ;)

There are many regulars sitting at HU tables and you can go bark at them. They will be glad to take your money.

Can somebody explain this play?

2011-01-26T03:31:00.002-06:00

I'm a little bit confused.

AA raise good preflop. Flop 34K Rainbow. Deep stacks, blinds 100-200

BB checks I bet, then he check raises me all in. Flips 109.

Turn 10 River 10.

Not the best way to get sucked out, but I still don't understand what was happening in his head when he check raised me all in. I am loose enough, but I would not be able to pull some stunt like that ;)

Junglepork, you just got bitchslapped....

2011-01-25T19:03:00.002-06:00

Ok, I guess I will have to post what happened in this little match against this little nobody.

For people who don't know the history here, Junglepork, one of the Merge pro wannabes, would not stop bitching at the tables how bad I suck and making up shit accusing me of every possible crap what would get into his big head with very little brain...

Anyway, so he started calling me out how he will own me in HU match.

After telling him that I don't know how to play HU and that he is too good for me, just to boost his confidence, I finally agreed to little 4 HU tables match.

Even though I actually don't play HU at all and at the same time this is just waste of time for me for 2 hours, I thought it would be fun to put this idiot back in his place where he belongs.

Time was set for Tuesday 3pm-5pm

And finally we are at the tables.

The match for me started pretty rough. On one of the tables it seemed I would not be able to win. Two quick rebuys. On others things were going better since he was the one topping up.

Of course Junglepork had to needle me every time I re bought with this little merge emoticon - "whoisyourdaddy"... Funny heh? Wait till it will really gets even funnier...

Before the break the chips started going my way. Everything went back to its rightful owner... Finished first hour being up at least couple buy ins.

Of course then Pork guy started offering deals to move up in stakes, then to extend the game for another hour. Buddy, I'm not here to accommodate your wishes. Stay with the rules and try to win it back.

One hand worth of mentioning- biggest in the match was AK vs K10.

I'm on button. AhKx off. Preflop standard raise.

Flop:

Kh, 9h, 4h... Top pair with nut flush draw.
He checks I bet, he calls.
Turn 10s.
He Checks, I bet. Without much of thinking he over shoves all in.
Tank time

Ok, let's let you into my head a little bit

Insta read, - K10. I can swear on anything. I think he doesnt want to see any other card bcs he is afraid of hearts. And just wants to take it right there.

I know I'm behind. Not much time left for this little duel, and I'm still up more than couple buy ins. Pretty much I'm playing with his own chips.

If I call, and don't hit my A or flush, oh well. I just give him his chips back. And I still will be up.

But starting that I wasn't playing this for money, just to shut his mouth up, I need to win more money than simply preserve my winnings and at the end show only couple buy ins win.

All this ^^^^ took 5 times less time in my head than typing . LOL.

I Call.

River 3h. Nut flush. Yummy.

Obviously bad call. Good outcome.

Of course all the talk will be only about this hand once he tries to explain why he got owned.

Ok, scenario- if I would of folded this hand.
You would of still be down at least 2 buy ins. What shows, that you were still getting owned. That was just a cherry on the top.

The remaining 15-20 minutes were pretty slow. No big hands, even though he tried his hardest to build stacks with some crap hands, and go bust or get it back. Unfortunately, didn't hit any good hands to bust his ass. I gave him some extra time, so there would be no bitching about break time and stuff. Didn't really work out for him... Even last hand on one of the tables shipped around 70 bucks against my set of 9's.

Conclusion. Junglepork, let me ask you some questions.

1. How does it feel to call somebody out and get bitch slapped?
2. How did it work out with reg beating 101?
3. Maybe you will start being more respectful to people who are better than you?
4. Maybe finally you will stop making up shit and face that you are not the ONE?
5. How does it feel to pay 2 hours worth of rake for BOTH OF US on 4 HU tables?
6. Maybe you will realize that I don't really need your lessons?
7. Do you want me to point out your leaks? I do poker coaching.
8. How many new excuses you will find now?
9. Will you ever break Top 5 of Merge Leader board?
10. Why your blog Entry about this game is so short? Oh bcs you lost..
11. Up for another challenge? Now I choose the guns.
12. And last but not least-

WHO IS YOUR DADDY, BITCH?

6 hours playing HU- break even

2011-01-23T06:21:00.002-06:00

That blows.
However, having in mind that in first two hours dropped few hundos, it doesn't sound that bad.
After all tourneys were over, decided to play some HU cash.
Beginning was pretty good, but after one hour it seemed that everything went downhill. If I catch something, opponent would always have better. Started getting bitch slapped left and right...

Went to play more tables at once against the same guy. On one of them was getting owned, but the two others were keeping me alive...

But the end result pretty much the same amount of cash in the account as I started.

Basically paid rake for 6 hours. Awesome.

HU challenge

2011-01-21T18:57:00.002-06:00

I can't even count anymore how many haters I have on Merge. Not that I care, but it's really amusing.

And some of them always have to prove something to themselves. Telling how much better they actually are, showing off their little tournament wins.

People, I don't care how much you won 7 days ago. I don't care that you busted me in some tourney. I don't care that I sucked out on you. I don't care how much money you have in your poker account.

Anyway, there is one little guy "Junglepork" who wants to show off, and after feeding his ego for some time that he is too good for me, I agreed to play little $.5-1 4 HU tables on Tuesday at 3 pm Merge time.

Rules:

1. $100 buy in. 4 Tables. .50-1$
2. Unlimited Rebuys.
3. Rebuys are allowed only after total bust in order to track buy ins.
4. 3pm to 5pm. You can't leave earlier, especially if you are winning.
5. Breaks are allowed when both players agree on it.

Drewpeacoq8 said he will promote little fight and if anyone wants to side bet on this game, can post here :)

Meh

2011-01-21T18:54:00.002-06:00

Can't make a single cash for a few days now.
Two days in a row came out on a bubble in $7,5 k GTD.

I hate poker :)

LTUFlawless's advice

2011-01-17T03:01:00.004-06:00

I get a lot of emails to help out with strategy and certain hands, so I decided to have little weekly section to post couple questionable hands from Merge players and to give my insight how I would think in this situation and why would I do it.

Of course it might not be the best play or the best advice and somebody would totally think it's totally opposite from how they would do it, but like I said, I will answer HOW I WOULD be thinking in that given situation.

Since Merge is really small, to limit my own exposure to my game, I will explain only couple hands a week.

If you have questions, please email me your questionable hand with as much info as possible- players left in the tourney, chip stacks, do you know how aggressive/passive remaining players are and etc.

You can email me with more questions, not only particular hands. And if I think it's pretty interesting, I will post it here with an answer.

Email address: ltuflawless@yahoo.com

Great time for PC to freeze....

2011-01-16T20:03:00.003-06:00

Bubble play in 7500 GTD. 13 Left, 10 get paid.
I get KK and I see Babelicious pushed with his shortstack all in. Yummy

Yeah right. My screen freezes for couple minutes and I cant do anything about it. Finally it comes back to life and I see at least 3 hands already past...

Awesome. And whats ironic, he finished higher than me :)

mehmehmeh

10 K GTD

2011-01-13T00:41:00.004-06:00

Played really solid, survived one really good flip, but all this doesn't matter, when preflop your 1010 loses against some joke hand A3..

Was sitting pretty good in first place, but two hands in the row totally killed me. Instead of being dominating leader, got busted 9th.

First, 99 vs AK all in Preflop. Flop wasn't too pretty, needed to dodge some outs, but unfortunately River hit A. Even though lost good chunk of chips, I was still first... not for

Next hand. Guy 2nd in chips raises in position barely min 8888 (blinds 2000-4000). I repop w 1010 to 26 K. Insta shoves. Not much to think for me, call.

Shows A3s. I don't know why, but I had that feeling that A will hit anyway... Of course, Turn A. Massive two top stacks combined pot shipped across the table....

Guy starts apologizing for suckout, saying that he didnt think I had anything and so on... It's ok. I don't hate you.
Don't hate the player, hate the game...

That's how much one hand can change... Instead for a really legit change to win 3K, I got $200. Awesome.

Hand of the day

2011-01-13T00:38:00.003-06:00

Good one. AK vs 88. Flip.

I flop trips and look at the percentage, wtf, why I'm still behind... Oh, it appears the guy had in hand 88 and flopped Full House. I guess hoping for runner runner full house or just hit A.

Ace on the river.

Yummy

6,5 K GTD

2011-01-11T23:11:00.003-06:00

HU for first place. All in on Flop.

Not that I would care about the suckout, but the guy is so bad and talked so much crap at the table, like he is THE shit. And had to be out long time ago, but hit some miracle two outer...

Usually the ones who talk so much have the least amount of skills and try to cover it up with insulting opponents...

Woops

2011-01-11T22:17:00.003-06:00

Gotta post this one.
6,5K GTD. 20 players left. Im on sb vs BB. Everybody folds.
Blinds 600-1200. I started hand with 20 K, BB w 35K
I just limp with my A7. Guy insta shoves all in.

Kinda strange play. Just got transferred to the table, have no idea how he plays. Meh, I'm either getting pushed around or best case scenario I have three outs.

I'm not really the one who you can push around. So, I decided that its a good time to
double up or get busted.

Bad read, good outcome. Out of my 3 outs I hit ... all of them

Yummy

Better a bird in the hand than two in the bush...

2011-01-11T21:41:00.002-06:00

That means I chopped today in $8500 GTD for first place. We were even in chips and since I was playing 4 tourneys, including one for WPT Shooting star on Full Tilt, I just decided it will be ok to get $500 for sure, rather than play for a thousand and you don't know how it will turn out...One condition- I am the one transferring the money...Not that I dont trust other people, it's just I don't see any reason why anybody would be afraid of me screwing them, if they know me and have seen me playing for a few years on merge ....

Anyway, gotta admit, was almost out before final table. My AJ won against AK. And since then never looked back...Didn't put myself in all in behind situations and it worked out great.

Last 2010 Tournament

2011-01-11T16:56:00.002-06:00

Oh, just remembered. It was pretty funny...

Dec 31st decided to play in one tourney only. That was $8500 GTD w Rebuys. Long story short, made to final 3. Chip leader had around 145K, 2nd in chips guy had around 45K and I just lost good junk of chips and sat there with 15K. I think blinds were 600-1200. Pretty bad shape :)

Genius idea hit my genius head. I offered a 3-way chop. Of course guys started laughing and I wasn't too mad about them making fun of my stack.

I said, "Ok, it's your own fault, now I will have to win the tourney". Series of smiley faces came from both opponents.

Couple hands later, got AA and doubled up on the big stack. And the fun game began. I think we played like half an hour back and forth, simply exchanging chips. In mean time Won one all in flip preflop with being 60-40 underdog to stay alive... Both opponent played really good poker and it took forever to bust somebody.

Finally got rid of the third one. The initial chip leader. Don't remember the chip count HU, but I know I had 2 to 1 chips in play. Unfortunately doubled him up w 88 vs JJ preflop and tables were switched... He had more chips than me already. We talked for couple minutes about chopping, but he decided not to chop, since it looked really promising for him to win.
Big mistake. 10 minutes into the game it was over. And guess who won...

Lesson learned- don't count anybody out with chip and a chair. If the guy is not out, he still has a chance to win it all. Lucky me, I was on the winning side here...

Sunday Millions

2011-01-09T18:56:00.002-06:00

Of Course, you can play solid all game, but it wont matter if your AA preflop will lose against 66...

Blinds 500-1000, guy UTG raises 3600, Everybody folds and Im pretty sure he is not folding anyway, bcs he will have around 20K left, I push all in my 27 K. Button thinks for a while and calls my all in. Blinds fold. UTG calls all in.

My AA vs AK vs 66. River 6.

Thanks for playing.

New Years Resolutions

2011-01-04T20:40:00.002-06:00

I guess I need some little check list what I need to accomplish in 2011.

1. Win one $12,500 Main Event Package (WSOP, Aussie Millions, WPT)
2. First on Scheduled By Merge Network Leaderboard in 2011 on Sharkscope.
3. Win at least 2 Tournaments with buy in higher than $100 on Full Tilt and or Poker Stars
4. Final Table 10x in FT and/ or PS with buy in higher than $100.
5. Cash in Sunday Millions 5x
6. Win Tourney King Leaderboard 5x
7. Cash in WSOP or WSOP Circuit Event.

Should be enough. If I Reach these few above it should be pretty good year :)