Archive for January, 2005

The online journal of Tony G. Professional poker player

Jan 29, 2005

Tunica WPT

I lasted till the first dinner break, and then lost two pots in a row with AQ vs KJ to the same player. I doubled him up twice. Then I went to sit with Phil Helmuth at the 300-600 Badugi and 2-7 triple draw game, Carlos M. and John Juanda were also playing.
Phil was doing ok and it was a real fun game as these stakes for these guys is like $1-$2 for normal players. You can include me among the normal as I don’t play cash games at all right now. I am focused on tournaments only.

I loved Memphis and Beale Street. I even bought some CD’s of some live bands I saw. Really nice people, and I look forward to coming back here in the future. I am in Santa Monica CA now. I have a room with a ocean view…this place is great more about soon.

Jan 23, 2005

Tunica

I played in the $3000 no limit last night. I had a really good tournament, and played great. I wish I could play like this all the time. There were 389 players with a prize pool close to 1.1 million. First place was paying $334,000 and I had my eyes on that amount…it looked jucy.

Started with 3000 in chips and picked up AA. A guy gave me action with AQ and I got a soft double up. Later I played AA again against AQ this time I got crippled as a Q on flop and another on the turn. Somebody mentioned they had folded a Q…that was a rough one.

I was down to 3000 again and picked up AK and went all in as there was about 1200 in the pot. QQ called me, and I got lucky hitting an A on the river. Then I went to higher gear and opened up and had 22,500 before picking up JJ and raising 5,500. A player that just lost a big pot went all in I had no choice, and called he showed me AQ and that was the last hand I saw. I busted right before the bubble, and finished 37th. 36th was $4500, but that didn’t matter. I enjoyed this tournament. I would not recommend anyone stay in Tunica, that place is a hole. The poker room feels like a hospital; everybody is sick there with the flu. It seems its the same there every year, something is wrong with that place. The food is bad, and on and on. I must say, the people are great though.

Jan 22, 2005

Strategy

Hey Tony,

I’ve got a strategy question for you. I was sitting next to you, or someone that claimed to be you in a Step 5 last night. It was 7 handed at the 50/100 blinds. It was a fairly tight tournament and I had played tight the whole time myself. Well, it folded around to me in the SB, and I shoved all-in for 770, you had 1140 at the time, and everyone had about the same chips, other than one guy at 2500.

You called with A3s. I’m just curious what the thinking is there. Clearly, it’s not a pot odds decision, because it’s hard to imagine you put me on a hand that would give you odds to call with that hand.

Was this just a gamble, or did you have some sort of read on me, or is this a standard play you recommend making?

Thanks,
DblDownTrent

It was me that you were next to. My nickname at party poker is strong32.
In this case, I think I gave you a loose call. I think you had a hand slightly better then mine. I really do defend my blinds. When a small blind raises, and I am on the big blind I am very like to call with any suited Ace in that spot that you mention above.

Also, I would not call on those chip counts if the raise came from an earlier position raiser.

Jan 21, 2005

Memphis with Phil Hellmuth

I got off my flight from Newark to Memphis, and as I go to pick up my bags I run itno the man himself, Phil Hellmuth. We had several clashes in the December $15,300 WPT event at Bellagio. Obviously, off the poker table am a different person,as is he. We started talking with about life, and he said that he might be worth a billion dollars soon. I’ve never known anyone that has that much belief in himself. He may just get there, as I know that a bio film company are keen to do business with him. Also, he says he is doing great with his mobile phone game and said that he may get one million subscribers to it.

We talked a lot about him, which is ok with me. I found a lot of things I wanted to know about him. He has a good heart, and that was good to know. We got a room next to each other at the Peabody hotel in Memphis,TN. This hotel is famous for its ducks, but also it used to host the highest stakes poker games in the US in the 1860’s and 1870’s. Its a 45 minute drive to Tunica where the poker action is, but if you want to have any life style this is the place to stay. We rented a car together and Phil said he didn’t want insurance since he has a spare million. I wish I did too.

Later that night we went out to the BB King’s Blues Club, and that was fun. Phil said he does not like to drink as he can not sleep well if he drinks. He also said that he would pay $20,000 for a good nights sleep before a major event.

It was really nice to spend time with Phil. I also found out his absolute dedication to his family and wife. The reason he missed the $10,000 wsop event at Atlantic City was that his wife turned 40 that day. He says he plays about 12 tournaments a year now that the money is in the bank baby.

Jan 19, 2005

Atlantic City WSOP circuit event

I flew inn to AC on Thursday and played the limit holdem $2000 Buy inn event Friday, a total field of 50 playyers lined up which is not bad considering this is there first event. I had a really good tournament with 17 players left I was near the lead on chips and came on to Barry Greenstein’s table, his asian girlfriend was also on the table ( I have nothing against anyone) just wanted to let you know that the richest man in poker who is estimated to be worth at least 100mil has a girlfriend. He is a really nice guy and I get on really well with him I know he has his own site where he talks about Gus Hansen and the fact that he has seen him down 1 million 3 times in 2000-4000 game and get out all 3 times. Amazing this Gus is, as a matter of fact I flew into AC from Copenhagen where Gus spends some time and was lucky enough to spend a few hours with him, what a great guy he is.

Anyhow I started to make a few moves in this limit holdem event and bluffed of my chips David Chiu was beside me and I was fortunate enough to give him a nice portion of my chips. I went out 11th but it was a good hit out before the main event.

In the main event I started of nicely and had real good tables all day. Decided to play 3-3 for a re-raise before teh flop and that cost me 40% of my stack as a flop of Q 10 5 was checked raised to me I put this guy on AK but changed my mind and layed down he showed me a set of QQ.

I build back up to 15,000 strated with 10,000 and pick up JJ in middle position so I raise a little like I always do a fastloose player calls flop is Q-2-5 two harts I check to find out what he has he goes all inn for 6,000 there is 3,000 in the pot I know that he has the flush draw if I drop this hand I lose a lot in % plus I dont go broke so I quickly call ( after saying I am going to hate myself for calling) he shows me A-9 harts it come two running 9s damn normal for poker Dave Coughlough says it would have felt better if it came an A he is right.
I get crippled now and after not being able to grab any chips I pick up 5-8 off suit on the button I have 4500 in chips there is 2300 in the pot with antes and blinds everyone folds I go all inn I do believe it would be a bigger mistake to fold here as I have two solid players behind me on the blinds.
One of them has AA it comes an A oh well Tunica here I come. I really had a good time in this tourny and talked a lot had a few drinks real nice people were playing with me . I love poker

Jan 12, 2005

Update

I am in Denmark right now spending a few days with Gus Hansen before my trip to Atlatnic City to try out the new wsop circuit , then I go to Tunica and then LA for the proffesional Poker tour event Feb 3rd I may not stay longer then that and come back for the WPT event towards the end of the month .

I have played around 100 games since the last update and am losing around 2k for those 100 games I have not been playing a lot since I have had lots of work with my poker site www.pokernews.com . I have probaly not played my best I played drunk twice. When i get to America I intend to play a lot of these 5 steps again and will post an update for my next 100 games.

Jan 5, 2005

5 step party poker sit and go update

Have played around 100 more single table sit and goes since the alst update have won another 20k to take my total winnings to 80k in 250 games.

I will not be doing any frequent updates, only answaering to questions about strategy etc since there isnot much point I will aslo be travelling a lot Atlantic City, Tunica LA but will play from my laptop I am also going to change my screen name in a day or so.

Play good all on partypoker

Jan 3, 2005

Back from New Years parties

I was deep on Lithuanian forest on the border with Bellarussia. Had a lot of fun in a little resort town called Druskininkai.

Got back to day and was down 5k in my first 5 games. I recovered again played a total of 26 games today and ended up winning over $10,000 Playing mainly single table tournies now since they go faster and I can turnover more money making a little less on turnover on these ones then the 2 table but they go 3 times quicker so its worth it making around 25% on turnover on the single tables and around 45% on turnover on 2 tables so far I am not sure that this will be my win rate for long we will see once I play about 500 games played around 250 so far.

Hope all will have a great 2005 playing poker online and live.