Machine-Human Trash Talk
Date: Fri, Jun 27, 2008 Professional Internet
6 days until the MvM Championship! I was over on campus today with the CPRG, and one thing that was mentioned is that we could have Polaris randomly pull trash-talk out of a database throughout the matches. I see absolutely no reason not to do this. As a result I'm putting out a query to the users for machine to human tilt-inducing trash talk. Comments should be under 50 words long, and can be specialized so that they're triggered by easily identified events (Polaris winning a pot, losing a pot, being up a certain amount of money, etc). Matt Hawrilenko specific trash talk is welcome as well.
On the Right Track
Date: Thu, Jun 26, 2008 Professional Internet
After having a losing month in May and struggling at the first of this month I have finally put together a solid couple of days. Here are my results since yesterday.
It feels good to be back on the right track. I am up over 6 figures this month in about 26K hands. In preparation for Polaris I have been spending my downtime playing limit. Man, why did I ever quit? It is so much fun. It makes NL look boring in comparison. I am was a nice little limit kick in late March and throughout April, but I hardly played at all in May. I am glad to be back playing. Hopefully, I can work my up into 100/200. I was playing mostly 50/100 and some 100/200 before I quit. I felt I had good edge in the 50/100 games, but was only a favorite at 100/200 if I was careful who I played. If I continue logging hands and working on my game I hope to be a 100/200 reg by the years end. Who knows though. I am not sure I will find the time to due the work, especially since the NL games have been pretty good lately. If the action at NL keeps going strong then I am probably a dog to make it.
I am flying into Las Vegas on Monday. I decided against playing the ME. I figured it would be more fun to hang out and not have to think about playing in a donkament. I will see ya'll there.
Home Game
Date: Thu, Jun 26, 2008 Professional Internet
I am not even sure where to begin. I normally do not play in home games anymore just because they either run very seldom, or are for stakes that I have built an immunity to. Well last night I decided to play in a small home game that was pretty fun. I have not played No Limit in a while, but I would have to guess that my edge was about 25bb+/100 which is absolutely absurd and great. Rather than discuss most of my play I just wanted to post some things that either bugged me or are funny.
1) Seat 2 (yes, I will refer to them by position instead of name) tells me that blackjack in the morning is the easiest game to beat, even more so than poker. This caught my attention so I really need to hear this one. He starts off by saying the casino is empty so you can play against the dealer which means you make more profit. -----Clearly false, you have a disadvantage, so the more hands you play the more you will lose in the long run----. Then he tells me that if you play exactly like the dealer that you have a 50% chance of winning, because you are playing the exact same was, standing on 17, etc. And then he says you factor in that I can count a little bit if I see low or high cards, then that gives me the edge. ----Again, obviously incorrect, you can play exactly like the dealer, but you act first which means when you bust, the dealer still wins even though you are playing the same way. This idea would work if the dealer played first and the players were second to act.----
2) This is the best. Seat 1 is a big guy with a baby face. He walks in late and sits down. I immediately see him doing chip tricks and his forearms are exposed. On his right arm he has the good old tattoo of the ace up the sleeve and a pair of dice. I won't use my normal language here, but this is hysterical and I really need to restrain myself from laughing. Later in the night he goes, "you play on the internet, dont cha?" And I'm like "yeah, I play a little." He says I can tell, you play very aggressive, online players think that aggression is very important and that it is the way to win, its a big misconception. (20 minutes later I find out he busted a bunch of times online, and uses the typical bad beats story and players don't know what there doing. Funny enough, he is limping about 60% of pots and getting mad when I raise.) I normally do not try to sound smart in home games because I want them to think I am a normal player and that I don't have an edge. Which brings us to #3
3) Good ole' seat 1 again. Before this hand to be played he told me last week he flopped a straight vs a set and was extremely unlucky to lose to quads. He claims the guy only had a 3% chance to beat him after the flop. I am thinking free money at this point, the guy had 1 out for quads, 6 outs for the board pairing, and then add in he has 3 outs after the turn also when the turn card pops since it can pair on the river also. For a total of (7*4.4 +3*2.2) = approximately 37%, these are estimate numbers, but obviously he is way off. I do not correct him, and let him think he is right, because I do not want him pulling the ace of spades out of his sleeve to cheat me on a hand. Basically this hand goes to the turn, my buddy has an option to call 60 into a 110 pot. He also has 20 behind so it will most likely go in on the river, and he is sitting with just a flush draw as his only outs. To keep this simple we will say he has 9 outs for his flush. My friend folds, seat 1 says awful fold, you had a flush draw, the pots pretty big, you have to go in, he's like its just a math game. Well my friend is not good with this math, and I hate Seat 1 as he has been rude to most people all night and is not even good, and I did bet the flop twice, and check raise him all in on the turn twice to his spite and anger. So rather than keep my mouth shut I need to step in here and defend my buddy, so I say, "Nah, good fold man, you weren't priced in". Seat 1 goes you online guys think you know math or something, its a game of reading people, the math is not important. I hate to inform seat 1, but even with reads that changes the math you do. I go well he is 18% to hit his flush, he is essentially going to risk 80 to win 130 if he goes all in here. So his odds on the pot are 80/(80+130) which is about 30-33%. I go so if he calls that 12-15% is the profit this other guy is making and that he is losing so its a clear fold.
Seat 1 shuts up, it is probably starting to sink in while the online guys took all his money when he tried playing online, end of story.
Sorry for the long blog, I just had to post this, if anyone wants to comment on it you can do so here. O yeah, I am going to AC the next few days if anyone wants to meet up drop me a PM today.
http://www.stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?p=90675#post90675
-Reese
The Mother Of All Prop Bets
Date: Thu, Jun 26, 2008 Professional Internet
The last few days have been absolutely amazing. Nick, Rob and I, along with our wives, have been having a great time hanging out the past couple of days. On the first day we went to San Francisco and had a great time there. Nick and I got in two rounds of golf (just one for Rob) and on the first day Nick almost shot his best ever score. After 15 holes he was 2 over and he actually putted terrible which almost never happens when you are in the process of shooting one of your best scores. His ball striking has gotten quite good. Unfortunately he had a tough hole on 16 and ended up with a 77. I got a nice tip from the last time I played with my good friend Casey Martin (former PGA tour pro as almost every golfer knows) and hit the ball pretty darn well. I just couldn’t score though (also didn’t feel like grinding) and shot 74 and 73 for the two days. On the second day I did manage to win $130 on the course so that was exciting.
The $130 was spent about a couple of hours later when we went on a wine tasting trip through the Sonoma county region. We hit up a couple of wineries which were both excellent. Apparently my reputation precedes itself because Rob and his wife were both giving me the rest of their pours knowing full well that I like to drink and the more the better…lol. After only 2 wineries I was pretty buzzed actually. Having double and triple pours of all the tasters will do that : ). We took 3 of the bottles to diner and finished them pretty handily. The place we went to is called Cyrus and is apparently one of the highest rated restaurants anywhere. I don’t remember what everything costs, but I’m thinking several hundred dollars per person. I’ve never been to a restaurant that cost anywhere near that much so it was quite an experience. We had an amazing time at dinner and getting everyone together in a highly social environment was absolutely awesome. Nights out with good friends and drinks flowing is one of my favorite things on earth to do and this night was up there with one of my favorites. My wife and I have had an absolute blast. Thanks Nick and Kelly!
I guess I better talk next about the huge prop bet I have in the brew right now on 2+2. The amount of interest in this bet is insane. I think the thread http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthread.php?t=233780 where this bet is being discussed has close to 100k views and around 600 posts at the time of this writing. For those who have yet to hear about it, basically I have pursued action for around $250k from people who don’t think that I can win $100k in 31 days at 2/4nl exclusively. I would say judging by the thread; about 90% of the people who posted don’t think I have any chance of doing it. I will admit it is a pretty daunting task and one in which I look forward to tremendously. It is really a mental challenge more than anything. I say mental in the sense that everyone knows that I can make a lot of money playing poker. But what everyone doubts is that I can withstand playing 12+ hours a day 10+ tables at a time all the while maintaining my “A” game or close to it. I definitely would’ve bet against myself 6+ months ago. But I guess I’m going to find out during this bet just how far I have come on the mental side with my extensive work with Jared. I believe that I have the tools to accomplish what most think is the impossible. But right now that is just my belief that I can accomplish my goal. When the prop bet goes down, I/we will find out for sure. Wish me luck!
Discuss this blog here:
http://stoxpoker.com/forums/showthread.php?p=90648#post90648
2 Stox Member Spots For Man vs Machine Matches
Date: Thu, Jun 26, 2008 Professional Internet
We have reserved a spot for a 2-person Stoxpoker Members team to participate in the Man vs. Machine Championship
.
The member team will be selected by the Stoxpoker coaches and the match will take place at our booth in Las Vegas during WSOP Main Event.
Members that want to be considered for this match need to meet the following criteria:
1. Stoxpoker PREMIUM member.
2. Proven LHE HU winner at 30/60 and higher limits.
3. In Las Vegas July 3rd through July 6th and available from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (exact time/days of match to be determined)
If you meet these criteria and are interested in being considered, please send your PT screenshot to jim AT stoxpoker DOT com
Meet and Mingle with Coaches/Members In Vegas
Date: Wed, Jun 25, 2008 Professional Internet
This isn't an official Stoxpoker Party but is a meet and greet for a couple of hours and as many of the coaches as possible that are at the event will be there. Coaches will be wearing a Stoxpoker cap or t-shirt to help you spot us in the crowd.
Hooters Hotel and Casino
Nippers Poolside Bar
07/05/08 at 6:00 PM
Look forward to meeting those who can attend!
Warren Buffet, Man vs Machine, and Stox Project
Date: Wed, Jun 25, 2008 Professional Internet
This weekend was one of the rare instances I got out to play some live poker. My friend (and co-author of my book about being a Ranger in Iraq and Afghanistan) John Bond was in town last weekend to play in the NetJets Poker Invitational. This tournament was put on by NetJets and Wynn as a freeroll for NetJet costumers. NetJets is a Berkshire-Hathaway (Warren Buffet) company that sells fraction interests (like timeshares) in corporate jets-- Gulfstreams, Lears, up to 737s. Their customers are among the richest of the rich people in the world.
I didn't get to play, but did get invited as John's official No-Limit Instructor. The tournament was luck mostly. It started at 11:00 am and had to be over with by 6. 10k starting chips, blinds starting at 100-200 and doubling every 30 minutes. At the end of 2.5 hours blinds went to 1600-3200, or about half your starting stack per lap. About 4 million dollars in prizes and bounties for a field of 300. One helluva freeroll-there was no entry fee! Roy and I figured start to finish there would be 120 hands or fewer dealt. Maybe the biggest crapshoot of a tourney I have ever seen,
It was fun to walk around the room and rub shoulders with 10 figure plus people some of them alot plus. Like Warren Buffett with an estimated net worth of around US$62 billion,[4] he was ranked by Forbes as the richest person in the world as of February 11, 2008.[5] , Microsoft mogul Bill Gates (3rd richest!), Steve Wynn, Tom Brady, Steve Martin, Andre2000, Just to name a few. I walked around th e room watching the various tournament tables. Trust me, boys and girls, you would love to get in these guys' home games!
Given the insane blind structure John took my go big or go broke strategy and unfortunately he went broke in the 4th round. He misplayed at least one hand early that cost him half his stack, and then had to speed up even more. He shoved his stack of about 4400 with A-8 off out of the cutoff against 4 limpers at 800 each right after the blind change, Everybody except AK of hearts folded. John picked up a straight draw on the turn for a moment's excitement but.... see ya, John! At least we had the rest of the day to walk over to Venetian and pick off some of the juicy action WSOP brings to town. We each won a couple of grand while socializing in the 2-5 blind games at Venetian and Wynn over the weekend. And we met Warren Buffet and Bill Gates!.
Something very exciting for me...I have on behalf of Stox recently been selected to join the Man vs. Machine match this year at the Gaming Life Expo in Las Vegas and I am pumped. I expect that Polaris will chew me up as my heads up limit game is no where near that of the other players on the team. I just hope I get a chance to learn something from the coaches and don't get as Bryce says "completely dominated." I'll let you know how it goes.
Since becoming StoxPoker Project's mid level guy in March, I have pretty much taken up playing exclusively on the Internet and use live poker as more of a social activity when I have friends in town or want to go to the Bellagio and play some limit poker with my good friend and mentor Roy Cooke. Other than our social sessions I have been playing all No Limit Hold em online.
The main reason for this is that playing 4-6 screens of $2-$4 blind games on Stars and FullTilt has been significantly more profitable than my old daily game of $30-$60 limit, where I performed pretty damned well. I've been swingy though and struggling a bit to establish myself as a solid 2/4 regular. I find myself playing that limit most of the time, when the games are good, for experience, and a little bigger win rate. I'm doing better than in my old limit environs even though I find the competition to be on average tougher online than in those old limit games. Multi-tabling and the greater number of hands allow the volume variable to more than offset the edge variable. Further, intelligent use of available data and the stack sized nature of the occasional opponent's error mitigate the dimunition of edge.
I have recently sent an e-mail to Kyle with a list of my struggles with certain hands and situations. Hopefully his advice can be put into practice in our next video.