Listen to this please, and if you agree with please spread it around however you deem fit.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Huh?
This just in Chris "PiMaster" Viox took third again at a live event....
Hold on just a sec.... What? - I am mistaken. It looks like he won. Is this a misprint? No?!?!
It is now confirmed Pi actually won.
Yes I actually won a live event yesterday. It was a $350 NLH 6 max event at the WSOP Circuit Series in St. Louis. The win was worth $8998, so I can't complain. It only had 107 entries, and was the smallest prize pool I've ever played in live. It may also have been as unlikely of a win as I'll ever get given the circumstances that occurred. So here is the summary:
We started with 5k in chip at 25/50 blinds. The blinds were only 30 minutes long because this was basically the 2nd chance event of the day. Therefore some gambling was going to be necessary. With the first 45 minutes, I had bluffed off most of my stack to a guy that I found out would never fold any draw or top pair. I was down to 1500 at the 50/100 level. Over the next 2 1/2 levels I would get up to 12500 without getting allin and called or busting anyone. This was pretty ridiculous given my stack and the blinds. I made some good bluffs and my allins were never called.
I stayed around 12-18k for a couple hours before an crazy hand came up. I was on my 3rd table of the day. I had been playing fairly snug (due to my stack, the stacks at my table, and the blinds). The only "player" at my table raised my big blind for 2.3x from the cutoff. He had raised my big blind every time it folded to him. I had already decided to reraise with any big or bad hand. However, I looked down at T9. With this hand, I preferred the call with the intention of check-raising allin any decent flop (his cbet % was 100%). The flop came a beautiful T(63d). He bet 2700ish and I shoved for 14 or 15k. He tanked for a while, and it looked like he wanted to call. I had not done this once though, and had been not taking any chances. So he had to respect it. I was worried about a hand like JT. He finally called with Ad5 (wtf?!?!). Sure enough I get a great sweat when the 4 rolls off, but fortunately I dodge his 11 outer.
After that hand, I lost a big pot with AQd vs 66 leaving me with around 19k. Then a young kid got sat on my right with a big stack. He proceeded to lose a big pot to get about even with me. Then at the 400/800 level, he raised UTG to 2400 and I looked down at JJ. I reraised to 7500, and when it folded around to him he shipped the rest in (Sidenote - in this structure I can't rationalize calling here too often especially against a perceived agro player who just lost a bigt pot.). I obviously called and lost to his KK. This left me with 1525, or less than 2 big blinds.
At this point, things got insane for the next hour. The next hand after getting crippled, I look down at JJ UTG, and I triple up against the blinds to around 4800. The ensuing hand folds to the SB (perceived agro internet kid) and he raises to 2400 (red alert). I look at K5 and figure with only 6bbs why not? He flips over AA - game over. The board runs out A23 5 (at which point I said "damn now I can only chop"). As the river is dealt the dealer starts laughing before I even see the card, and I know it's the 4. Freeroll!!!!!!! I fold a round of hands not better than 8 high. Then I get a walk with only 4k. I steals from the cutoff with 97 and the next hand with KT. I fold through the blinds, and then shove from the button with A8. The big blind insta calls with 55. The board rolls out 367 2 8 (I annouce "bink" when it hits). Now I'm up to 12kish. I buy some blinds to get to around 15k. When my big blind comes around, it folds to the small blind again. He looks at his cards and sticks in a bunch of chips. It is about 8 or 9k. It is also obvious he didn't realize I had much more than that. I think his range is much bigger than would be normal for commitikng 12-13 big blinds. I look at A9, and figure this is an easy hand to go with. He looks a little pissed as he has to call off 6 or 7k more with Q2. I flop a 9, and it holds - 30kish. Four hands later, the same guy raises UTG to 3600. I look down at KK and reraise to 10500. He ships it in barely having me covered. His TT never catches up and amazingly about 45 minutes after being crippled to 1500, I have around 60k and may be the chip leader in the tourney with 20 left. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
I get moved once again. I stay between 50-70k until the money hits. From 10 players on down, I pretty much owned the tourney. When we combined at 7 players, I had 200k+ and the other two guys on my table had 15k and 50k at the 3k/6k level. The guy I had just eliminated 8th had 10k. I simply ran over the table. Of the final 9 players (not including me), I eliminated 8 of them (I also doubled guys up probably about 6 times). The final table allins up until heads up were J9 vs KJ (lost), A8 vs QJ (won) A9 vs J7s (lost), AJ vs A3 (lost), one I forgot where I busted a shortie in 6th, AA vs A6 (won), 77 vs Q8 (won), KQ vs Ax (won).
When I got heads up, I had about a 2 to 1 chip lead. I whittled him down a little, then lost T5s vs A3. He eventually took a small chip lead before the pot that basically decided it came up. He limped the button and I checked my 65. The flop came 7(89h). I led into him, and he insta shoved. After my call, he showed KT. At this point, Adam Friedman yells something like "you've got him dead." It was eerily reminiscent of his comment at the WSOP Razz final table when he shouted "you got him almost drawing dead." At which point the guy hit perfect perfect to bust me. However, this time my straight held and Adam's life was preserved. He later stated he thought the guy had K9. Whatever! I was destined to win when I avoided that amazing premature celebration. The guy was left with under 2 big bets. He doubled up the first hand when I shoved blind, but I finished off a couple hands later with T7 vs KJ.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Health Care "Reform" (sigh)
With the near certainty of this health care bill being signed into law, our politicians continue to say one thing and do another. Do we need health care reform? - without a doubt, but this plan does nothing to reform the major problems.
The main talking point the proponents have used is that it helps reduce the deficit by some fairly large number over the next ten years (BTW take note that they always say the next 10 years, never longer), and it does do this. But do you know why? Because for the first 4 years they payout nothing. All they do is collect in new taxes to "fund" the program. Then after the first 4 years they finally start to enact the program. Now I ask you, if you were given a business where you had absolutely no expenses (aka claims) for 4 years but you had tons of revenue (aka taxes), could you make a profit (aka have a surplus)? Of course. However, if you look at any numbers over the following ten years, the true cost of this program adds tremendously to our already ever bludgeoning debt.
So what are some of the major problems of our current health care system that have led to skyrocketing costs and premiums for Americans?
1) Medicare/medicaid: Currently the government forces doctors/hospitals to accept below market rates for medicare patients because the program is essentially broke. The government cannot afford to pay market rate because the fund is empty. So what do these entities then do? Obviously they pass the costs on to everyone else. As baby boomers get older and more people enter the poverty zone, medicare/medicaid has grown tremendously. This means everyone else has had to pick up a larger and larger portion of the health care costs that medicare/medicaid do not pay for. This leads to higher and higher premiums. Why does the government get to negotiate (force) a better price for itself than the average health plan can get for its clients. Does this health care bill address this? NO
2) Tort Reform: Americans sue over everything. EVERYTHING. We are the leading country in lawsuits by an unimaginable percentage, and the lawsuits get larger and more ridiculous every year. It is called practicing medicine for a reason. Mistakes happen, side effects happen. There is no other country I'd trust my life to doctors than America, but sometimes shit happens. Now if a doctor amputates the wrong arm, I can understand suing him, but if someone you loves dies in an operation where there is an 80% chance of survival, then pray that he/she has gone to a better place. Don't blame the doctor/hospital. What this has led to are doctors prescribing all sorts of tests to cover there asses when a patient comes in for a fairly routine issue. Also E&O (errors and omission- aka lawsuit protection) insurance has skyrocketed. Both of these items have led to ever increasing insurance costs also. Does this health care bill address this? NO
3) Drug costs: Right now drug companies charge Americans far more for drugs here than in any other country. Why is this the case? Oh yeah, because the lobbyists for drug companies have gotten our politicians to set extremely tough standards for generic drugs. Drug patents last for a long time and often get extended for a variety of reasons. Go to Canada, Europe, Asis and you can get the same drugs there for pennies on the dollar than it costs Americans here (even though a vast majority of the drugs get created here). Drug companies can't charge ridiculous prices overseas because generics would crush them, so they sell them at tiny margins there, and jack them up here. Essentially Americans are fitting the bill for the rest of the world. So why don't Americans just buy the drugs overseas and ship them here in bulk to keep down costs? Oh yeah (another law passed by our politicians looking out for us) it is illegal and we'd get fined or face jail time. Does this health care bill address this? NO
So do I want health care reform? Desparately, but not this health care reform. It just does not address the issues that are causing the problems. Address the above issues, and then we can talk. Until then, costs will keep rising. This bill is essentially just another tax that gives our government some extra revenue to fund their spending habits under the guise of health care reform.
The main talking point the proponents have used is that it helps reduce the deficit by some fairly large number over the next ten years (BTW take note that they always say the next 10 years, never longer), and it does do this. But do you know why? Because for the first 4 years they payout nothing. All they do is collect in new taxes to "fund" the program. Then after the first 4 years they finally start to enact the program. Now I ask you, if you were given a business where you had absolutely no expenses (aka claims) for 4 years but you had tons of revenue (aka taxes), could you make a profit (aka have a surplus)? Of course. However, if you look at any numbers over the following ten years, the true cost of this program adds tremendously to our already ever bludgeoning debt.
So what are some of the major problems of our current health care system that have led to skyrocketing costs and premiums for Americans?
1) Medicare/medicaid: Currently the government forces doctors/hospitals to accept below market rates for medicare patients because the program is essentially broke. The government cannot afford to pay market rate because the fund is empty. So what do these entities then do? Obviously they pass the costs on to everyone else. As baby boomers get older and more people enter the poverty zone, medicare/medicaid has grown tremendously. This means everyone else has had to pick up a larger and larger portion of the health care costs that medicare/medicaid do not pay for. This leads to higher and higher premiums. Why does the government get to negotiate (force) a better price for itself than the average health plan can get for its clients. Does this health care bill address this? NO
2) Tort Reform: Americans sue over everything. EVERYTHING. We are the leading country in lawsuits by an unimaginable percentage, and the lawsuits get larger and more ridiculous every year. It is called practicing medicine for a reason. Mistakes happen, side effects happen. There is no other country I'd trust my life to doctors than America, but sometimes shit happens. Now if a doctor amputates the wrong arm, I can understand suing him, but if someone you loves dies in an operation where there is an 80% chance of survival, then pray that he/she has gone to a better place. Don't blame the doctor/hospital. What this has led to are doctors prescribing all sorts of tests to cover there asses when a patient comes in for a fairly routine issue. Also E&O (errors and omission- aka lawsuit protection) insurance has skyrocketed. Both of these items have led to ever increasing insurance costs also. Does this health care bill address this? NO
3) Drug costs: Right now drug companies charge Americans far more for drugs here than in any other country. Why is this the case? Oh yeah, because the lobbyists for drug companies have gotten our politicians to set extremely tough standards for generic drugs. Drug patents last for a long time and often get extended for a variety of reasons. Go to Canada, Europe, Asis and you can get the same drugs there for pennies on the dollar than it costs Americans here (even though a vast majority of the drugs get created here). Drug companies can't charge ridiculous prices overseas because generics would crush them, so they sell them at tiny margins there, and jack them up here. Essentially Americans are fitting the bill for the rest of the world. So why don't Americans just buy the drugs overseas and ship them here in bulk to keep down costs? Oh yeah (another law passed by our politicians looking out for us) it is illegal and we'd get fined or face jail time. Does this health care bill address this? NO
So do I want health care reform? Desparately, but not this health care reform. It just does not address the issues that are causing the problems. Address the above issues, and then we can talk. Until then, costs will keep rising. This bill is essentially just another tax that gives our government some extra revenue to fund their spending habits under the guise of health care reform.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Best Day 1 Ever?
I'm not sure if this was the best day 1 of the NCAA tournament ever, but it definitely has to rank right up there.
First group of games - incredible:
Old Dominion won a squeaker over Notre Dame by 1. This game was back and forth most of the way, and Notre Dame had a 3 pointer go in and out as time basically ran out.
BYU (this year's Davidson?) then won a double overtime thriller over Florida as the world was introduced to BYU point guard Jimmer Fredette and his 37 points. This kid has it all including an uncanny ability to get to the rim. I will be rooting for these guys for as long as they can go no matter who they face.
Lastly, Villanova stole a victory from a game Robert Morris team in overtime. Robert Morris led almost the entire regulation before 'Nova sent the game into overtime. This victory saved a little face for the Big East in what was easily the most embarrsing day in a long time for the conference. Yet Villanova had no right to win it. They were outhustled big time, but the disappointing end didn't take too much away from this exciting game.
The second group of games were overall not as great, but had the most exciting buzzer beater of the day.
Kansas St handled their business efficiently, and Butler, St. Mary's, and Baylor all had close halftime games before late runs gave them victories. However...........how about Murray St?!?! Danero Thomas hit a 15 footer at the buzzer to send the 13 seed into the second round after Vanderbilt had done the same at the other end with 13 seconds left.
Third group - awesome:
Kentucky's massive blow out was the only dud, unless you count 14th seeded Ohio's pounding of Georgetown????? What happened here? The mighty Hoyas must have thought this was the preseason, and ironically their next game will be. There is nothing better than watching a highly rated team from the "#1 conference" just get it handed to them by a 9th place finisher from a mid major.
Northern Iowa won another great game on a 3 pointer by Ali Farokhmanesh (don't ask me to pronounce that one) from well beyond the arc with 5 seconds remaining to break a tie ballgame. Northern Iowa came into the game with the number 1 defense in the land, and their gritty effortshowed why. I love watching lesser athletic teams play with great fundamentals to win. This is UNI in a nutshell. This is another team I will definitely be watching in the next round to see how they can handle the Jayhawks.
Finally, Marquette ended a putrid day for the Big East by blowing a 15 point 2nd half lead over Washington to lose by 2 in another close exciting game. Washington scored on last second shot breaking a tie ballgame and leaving Marquette standing on the wall on a shot by Pondexter.
So the final set of games surely would be a letdown, right? Uh, not exactly.
Sure KU pounded Lehigh, but only after Lehigh hung tough for just over a half. However, the other three games were a continuation of the rest of the day.
Tennessee hung on against San Diego St. SD St. had a chance to tie it at the buzzer with a three, but unfortunately it didn't go down for basketball fans.
Then in a game that rivaled the Murray St. game, Wake Forest beat Texas by 1 in overtime on a shot with 2 seconds left. This after Texas missed multiple free throws that could have iced the game including 2 misses with 10 seconds left.
In the last game of the night, 14th seeded Montana led at half before falling behind by 14 points in the second half against New Mexico. Then they stormed back to get within 1 before finally succumbing by 5.
So in summary:
3 overtime games which eclipsed the total for the entire tourney last year
4 games decided by shots in the last 5 seconds
5 double digit seeds winning (the most on day 1 since 1991)
7 games decided by 3 pts or less
Day 2 anyone?
First group of games - incredible:
Old Dominion won a squeaker over Notre Dame by 1. This game was back and forth most of the way, and Notre Dame had a 3 pointer go in and out as time basically ran out.
BYU (this year's Davidson?) then won a double overtime thriller over Florida as the world was introduced to BYU point guard Jimmer Fredette and his 37 points. This kid has it all including an uncanny ability to get to the rim. I will be rooting for these guys for as long as they can go no matter who they face.
Lastly, Villanova stole a victory from a game Robert Morris team in overtime. Robert Morris led almost the entire regulation before 'Nova sent the game into overtime. This victory saved a little face for the Big East in what was easily the most embarrsing day in a long time for the conference. Yet Villanova had no right to win it. They were outhustled big time, but the disappointing end didn't take too much away from this exciting game.
The second group of games were overall not as great, but had the most exciting buzzer beater of the day.
Kansas St handled their business efficiently, and Butler, St. Mary's, and Baylor all had close halftime games before late runs gave them victories. However...........how about Murray St?!?! Danero Thomas hit a 15 footer at the buzzer to send the 13 seed into the second round after Vanderbilt had done the same at the other end with 13 seconds left.
Third group - awesome:
Kentucky's massive blow out was the only dud, unless you count 14th seeded Ohio's pounding of Georgetown????? What happened here? The mighty Hoyas must have thought this was the preseason, and ironically their next game will be. There is nothing better than watching a highly rated team from the "#1 conference" just get it handed to them by a 9th place finisher from a mid major.
Northern Iowa won another great game on a 3 pointer by Ali Farokhmanesh (don't ask me to pronounce that one) from well beyond the arc with 5 seconds remaining to break a tie ballgame. Northern Iowa came into the game with the number 1 defense in the land, and their gritty effortshowed why. I love watching lesser athletic teams play with great fundamentals to win. This is UNI in a nutshell. This is another team I will definitely be watching in the next round to see how they can handle the Jayhawks.
Finally, Marquette ended a putrid day for the Big East by blowing a 15 point 2nd half lead over Washington to lose by 2 in another close exciting game. Washington scored on last second shot breaking a tie ballgame and leaving Marquette standing on the wall on a shot by Pondexter.
So the final set of games surely would be a letdown, right? Uh, not exactly.
Sure KU pounded Lehigh, but only after Lehigh hung tough for just over a half. However, the other three games were a continuation of the rest of the day.
Tennessee hung on against San Diego St. SD St. had a chance to tie it at the buzzer with a three, but unfortunately it didn't go down for basketball fans.
Then in a game that rivaled the Murray St. game, Wake Forest beat Texas by 1 in overtime on a shot with 2 seconds left. This after Texas missed multiple free throws that could have iced the game including 2 misses with 10 seconds left.
In the last game of the night, 14th seeded Montana led at half before falling behind by 14 points in the second half against New Mexico. Then they stormed back to get within 1 before finally succumbing by 5.
So in summary:
3 overtime games which eclipsed the total for the entire tourney last year
4 games decided by shots in the last 5 seconds
5 double digit seeds winning (the most on day 1 since 1991)
7 games decided by 3 pts or less
Day 2 anyone?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Go Tom GO!
Watch Tom Fuller try to take down his first live event (and not too shabby of one at that) at 4PM cst.
http://www.pokerstars.tv/channels/TPI/live.html
1st prize is over 800k!
Take no prisoners Tom! It's your time!
http://www.pokerstars.tv/channels/TPI/live.html
1st prize is over 800k!
Take no prisoners Tom! It's your time!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Quick Update
Jason Dewitt (5th) & Tom Fuller (9th) both crushing the NAPT Venetian Deep Stack heading to day 3 (148 runners left). Matt Smith also in the mix with an under avg stack.
I had a stressful semi successful week in poker (that I felt could have been a huge week). I feel things are turning in the right direction, especially my PLO/PLO8 cash game.
USA/Canada hockey game was phenomenal. Up and down, back and forth, unbelievable effort given.
USA Curling needs some new blood, who's in?
I had a stressful semi successful week in poker (that I felt could have been a huge week). I feel things are turning in the right direction, especially my PLO/PLO8 cash game.
USA/Canada hockey game was phenomenal. Up and down, back and forth, unbelievable effort given.
USA Curling needs some new blood, who's in?
Monday, February 15, 2010
Things are HOPping
In the past couple weeks, a couple friends of mine have had some nice successes. Paul Wasicka won the Tunica WSOP Circuit Main Event. He beat out 90+ entrants in the $5K event to take down his 2nd live victory (the other being the NBC Heads Up Championship in 2007 I believe). Also Tom Fuller had two deep Heads Up No Limit runs (one live and one online). He made a 4 way deal at the Borgata $2K Heads Up (essentially taking 2nd/3rd place money), and yesterday he took 3rd/4th in the FTOPS $500 Heads Up. Congrat to both of you - very well deserved.
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