JesAnne's blog

Smelly Hold'em

I have a whole new theory for winning at Texas Hold’em. I started considering the theory last night during an APL game. Frankly, it’s the most brilliant game strategy I’ve ever encountered.

I had been playing for quite a while. It seemed like the tables were consolidating faster and faster. I was SO excited. There was a bigger pot than usual, and people were dropping like flies. My stack was getting larger and while I was growing more confident, I was also becoming more conscious. I knew I was doing well, and I wanted to maintain that state of play to last longer and win!

There were two tables left. Anybody who made it to the final table would walk away with something. (Last place would get their “rent-a-chair” fee back.) Anyway, within moments myself and the last player at my table got moved to the “final table”. We had made it. I was going to at LEAST break even, and I was happy with that!

Adjusting to the Pre-Flop All-In

Recently I’ve discussed (several times) my frustration with pre-flop all-in’s. While it is completely annoying, I’ve got to admit, it has definitely made me a more defensive and decisive player.

I don’t typically play the cards that other players would play. I never have. I’ve found that this works to my advantage in peculiar ways. Anybody will hold onto an Ace – that’s a given. But how many people would keep a Jack/6? Not many.

While this does mean that some of my out’s can be folded, it also means less chances of a split pot if I win. This has happened more times than not for me!

Zynga Frustrates With New Leveling System in Hold'em

Recently, internet gaming companies, Zynga, changed their level format for Texas Hold’em, and let’s just say all the new “fish” are livid.

Zynga, a social gaming company, is most known for providing entertainment to social networking sites, like Facebook, by producing games like Mafia Wars, Texas Hold’em and the currently rated “most used” application on Facebook: FarmVille.** As all of their games have skyrocketed in popularity, Zynga has constantly sought out the encouragement and recommendations of their users on ways to improve the games. (“Add tractors so we can plow faster.”) However, the new leveling system on Texas Hold’em has many scratching their heads.

The American Dream

As a woman, I was destined to be a multi-tasker. I can’t have enough activities in my life. There’s always more to do, more to help, more to learn. Recently, a shoulder injury has greatly impacted my life. Since February, I’ve been extremely limited in what I can, and cannot, do. As a result, I’ve dove into areas that I never thought I would have previously. I’m trying things I never thought I’d try, and doing things I’d never thought I’d do. However, this need for “more” has pushed back some of the things I love most: especially poker.

Feeling completely shut in at home, I started volunteering. Finding that wasn’t good enough, I’ve decided to add school – BIG mistake! I do homework EVERY day – which is pretty odd for somebody who has never done homework before. And, on nights when I would normally go to a local poker house, or to an APL game, I’m stuck at home graphing equations and determining what the independent and dependent variables are in various experiments.

Poker Laws Confuse Me

I will be the first person to admit that I’m not exactly a “legally minded” person. I’m not saying I break the law a lot – I barely even speed. No, what I’m saying is that I don’t exactly pay attention to new laws, understand most laws, or am able to argue why some laws are completely ridiculous or not.

One particular law that I don’t understand is in regards to Texas Hold’em. Many cities, counties, and states have varying degrees of laws in regards to poker and gambling. Many, of which, say that it’s “not allowed”. Or it is allowed if: 1) you don’t pay into it and 2) you don’t receive anything in return.

Hosting Poker Tournaments A Great Way To Make Cash

Recently, I was working on an article and I found out that one of the quickest ways to make money – efficiently – was to hold a gambling tournament. The only thing that was faster and more lucrative then that was to start your own religion!

There are definitely laws and regulations to follow when you set about doing something like this. The first, of course, is to be sure you’re following federal, state, and local ordinances and laws. If there is a “no gambling” law in your area, don’t fret, you can usually get around it. Many Amateur Poker Leagues have you “rent a chair” for the cost of competing in the tournament. This is probably the easiest way to get around having to charge a buy-in fee.

Poker 101

After many years of avoiding it as much as possible, I am finally going back to college. I avoided it like the plague for the longest time, simply because while I love to learn, I hate being told what to learn. If I could go to school and study whatever I wanted, I’d be set. Then again, the minute I “have” to learn something, I usually lose interest in it. I’m a rebel like that.

So my schedule opened up, especially with my ongoing issues with surgery, and I decided to avoid boredom as much as possible and head back to school. How’s it going so far? I feel like I’m going to school to learn more about poker!

Hold'em Variation May Be Crazy - But Very Popular

In the Hold’em world there is a game variation called Crazy Pineapple that people either love or hate. While it has yet to be offered regularly at APL games, or casinos, it’s been growing in popularity over the years and has a very strong, cult like, following. Crazy Pineapple definitely throws some interesting twists to the game, and many seem to feel that once you’ve mastered CP, you’ve mastered all versions of Hold’em.

Right off the bat, the game starts out differently than Hold’em. Instead of receiving two cards into each player’s pocket, everybody is dealt three. This immediately opens up the opportunity for three different playing possibilities: Cards 1 & 2; 2 & 3, or 1 & 3. Just like in Hold’em, once everybody receives their pocket, a round of betting ensues.

More Pre-Flop All-In Frustration

Recently, I wrote about my frustration with Pre-Flop All-Ins. This sparked quite the heated debate between one of my friends and I. As a result, I figured I’d dive into the topic yet again; this time, offering a little clarification.

First of all, I’m not saying that I have never gone all-in before the Flop: I have. My frustration comes when people play online, and automatically, without reason, and go all-in on every hand. Not once, not twice, but EVERY hand. A bulk of the time, they’re just picking up the blinds, but it gets incredibly frustrating.

I realize the strategy behind this is for people to add some pretty hefty padding to their bank. And I’ve got to admit, it works. But there’s got to be a limit, or a cut off, at some point. I was watching an online tournament the other day when 9 hands in a row a man went all-in before the Flop without being challenged. Again, he just picked up the blinds, but at this point in the tournament, he racked up several hundred in chips.

Quick Lesson in Poker Etiquette

As I mentioned in my last blog, I’m in the process of recovering from surgery. As a result, I’ve been limited to online tournaments and games only. While this hasn’t been horrible, I do miss the communication at the felt.

However, there seriously seems to be a lack of online etiquette as of late. Trash talk and poor sportsmanship seem to be taking over. As a result, here are a few short, easy tips for playing online or in person.

1) Don’t comment on the hand. If three spades come down on the Flop, don’t comment about how there is a possibility for a Flush. Somebody else may have had the two spades in pocket, not noticed, and folded. Now, you’ve pointed it out to them – decreasing YOUR odds. Lots of newbies play poker – take advantage of their lack of wisdom!

All-In Pre-Flops Drive Me To The Doctor

I recently had surgery, and as a result, have not been able to go out and play much poker or visit any casinos. Instead, I sit at home – all day – leaving only for the occasional physical therapy session. While there are definitely perks to this “forced laziness”, if I had a choice, I wouldn’t be doing it.

I’ve been playing a lot of poker online, and it’s been ok. I’m not playing for any “real” money, but I’ve increased my stash by about 50k, so I’m pretty happy about that. I try to limit my playing time, simply because I’ve grown completely annoyed with how some people play.

Texas Hold'em Is Taking Over

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I love playing poker, and I love all kinds of poker. I’ll play it all: Stud, Pai Gow, and heck, I even like Crazy Pineapple.

I’ll also repeat that I love playing with friends, and while that’s probably my favorite, I really do enjoy playing at tournaments. The problem is, all you can ever find are Texas Hold’em tournaments – and it drives me insane!

Obviously when you go to a casino you’ll be able to find tables of other poker variations, but it’s very difficult to find actual tournaments of games besides Hold’em. If you look hard enough, you can occasionally find a tournament of another variation, but the cost to buy in is usually too great, or the pay out too small, or the number of people too few; It hardly makes the search worth it!

No Kandu In Kansas

The variation took flight in Kansas poker rooms. Known as "Kandu", this variation of Texas Hold'em allows players to see the order of the cards before they're played. However, judges in Wichita, Kansas, have recently said this violates the state’s anti-gambling laws, and has banned the game from being played at APL tournaments, and other game rooms, as well.

Kansas already pushes the rules by having people rent a "chair", as opposed to actually buying into a hand. Typically, there are two tables of Kandu that are played at the back of the room as people get booted from other games. Other restaurants have Kandu played at all times. However, the game has been shut down in a cease-and-desist order at every poker hall in the state.

New Casino Game Gaining In Popularity: Find The Poker Room

In the last 3 weeks, I’ve made my way into about twelve different casinos. From Michigan, to Missouri, I’ve played everything from Roulette to Blackjack; Poker to Slots.

Some of the casinos that I hadn’t been to in a while had gone through some dramatic changes. Specifically, the one thing I noticed the most was the addition or moving of the poker rooms. If the casino hadn’t had one, they now did – and if they did have one, it was now hidden. Yes, hidden.

At one particular casino, I had to finally ask where it was moved to: Upstairs, around the corner, behind the door in the opposite corner.

Harrah's Is Horrible!

It seems like lately, not matter what casino I’ve gone to, I’ve had some pretty bad experiences. However, recently I stepped foot into the Harrah’s Casino in North Kansas City, and I have to tell you – Harrah’s is horrible!

I’ve been to other Harrah’s casinos before. While I don’t think they’re the best casinos in the world, I have no problem going to them, and have found them enjoyable. I would have never consciously planned a trip JUST to visit a Harrah’s, and that’s even more accurate after my last Harrah’s visit.

Poker Ashes 2009 - From the Field to the Felt

For over 130 years, Australia and England have competed against each other on the field – the cricket field. And now, they’re taking it to the felt.

888.com is having their annual “Poker Ashes” Tournament starting July 15th, 2009. The term “Ashes” is in reference to the long standing cricket competition between the two countries. The premise takes cricket and poker players from both countries and plays them against each other. Teams play one on one, no limit, Texas Hold'em hands against each other and each winning hand counts as a point. In the end, the team with the most points wins a donation to the charity of their choice.

Family Fun Poker - #3

Recently, my nephew turned five and we took him to one of those children’s fun play places that are owned by a monkey, a rabbit, a mouse, or some other ridiculous animal.

There were three of us adults, for the single five-year-old child. Adults got to ride free, with the child, and since it was slow, all of us adults got to ride. Honestly, I think there were times that we had more fun than Xander did.

However, in addition to rides, Xander got excited every time he saw those bright yellow tickets come out of those machines. I don’t know if he realized how much it was costing to get just a few tickets, to turn into a few dollar store prizes, but his excitement was contagious, and pretty soon all of us were on the mission to get as many tickets as possible.

Soaring Eagle's Poker Tables Don't Even Get Off The Ground...

As previously mentioned, I just spent some time up at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The trip started out kind of rocky: We got to our room and there was a giant wad of gum on the remote control; we were told there was a kitchenette in our room, and there wasn't, the list goes on. It was mildly rectified when we called down to the front desk and they not only brought a new remote, but gave us a refrigerator, too.

Walking Away - In The Middle Of A Hand????

He had to have been the stupidest casino worker I’ve ever met.

We had been at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, for several hours.** We were curious if any poker tournaments were going on: There weren’t. We were also checking to see if they were only offering Hold’em, at the time, whether they were Limit or No Limit, and what other variations they had going: Pai Gow being my favorite.

While all the tables were maxed out and full, there didn’t seem to be a lot being offered at the time. Two tables of No Limit, and one of Limit, and that was really it. The lady in front of us had asked to join a table, and wasn’t able to, and with the two of us asking, they could have easily moved two other people to start a fourth table – but they didn’t. My friend, Greg, who had joined me on my journey to this casino, had wanted to play one hand, at one table, at one casino, just to say he had. And I, personally, really wanted to see him do this.

Family Fun Poker #2: A 10-Year-Old Kicked My...

A 10-year-old just kicked my ass in poker. Worse than the fact that she is young, is the fact that she’s my cousin, and I’m the one that taught her how to play.

Still on my Michigan “Vacation”, I’ve been spending a lot of time with my cousins. My aunt is planning a trip to a casino soon, so I was helping her bone up on her Blackjack. Slowly, my cousins started to join in, too. Pretty soon, my aunt was gone, all four girl cousins were there (ages 16, 15, 13 & 10) and we were playing Hold’em. I was thrilled to be the one to teach them the game!

I started by walking them through the rankings of cards: High Card, Pair, Two Pair, etc. Then we played five hands with cards face up, walking them through what would be best based on the situation. Then we played two hands where we had hid our cards until the end – and then we played for “keeps” with pennies. It was awesome.

Family Fun Poker #1

I swear.

Lately, I promise you, it’s been my favorite way to play poker. Since I’ve been in Michigan, I’ve done it three times, and I’m sure I’ll do it more. You can play with robots, people across the country, region, or even in the very same restaurant. That’s right: Buzztime’s Texas Hold’em is my new addiction.

If there is one thing I love more than poker, it’s got to be chicken wings. I could eat wings all day, every day. Especially if they’re boneless! So, obviously, that opens me up to be addicted to Buffalo Wild Wings – and I am!

Posted by JesAnne on Saturday, June 27, 2009 - 13:03 | login or register to post comments