A sense of community

Some of you may know that I play an online game (Everquest) which is kinda similar to Dungeons and Dragons. I have been playing the game for over 6 years and I really enjoy it. There is alot to be said for a large group of people banding together and going off to kill something against the odds and maybe having to try for months at a time to defeat a single encounter. This binds us together in a way that alot of people who do not play these types of games do not understand. The sense of community is amazing with people meeting up from all over the world in real life to party together, swop stories, share their views on the game etc etc... When someone faces adversity in their real life people will flock to show support, offer advice and do what they can to help.

Since I have joined the poker community I have seen alot of similarities between the 2 communities despite the huge size difference. In alot of ways this is surprising as within gaming people are often working together for a common goal as opposed to trying to take everyone's money. I was able to join a poker forum and recieve good advice from many people even though that there was a good possibility of me playing against them and possibly costing them money in the process. This has helped me improve my poker by leaps and bounds and people are genuinly happy to see my results improve. This is not just the case for the forums I have joined but for the vast majority of forums out there. In the same way gamers support those going through tough times poker players will get together to help someone less fortunate by holding benefit tournaments and such like and in general doing what they can.

In the same way less advanced players of the online games can download videos of people defeating encounters they are yet to beat, anyone with an internet connection can download some great video's from the top professional players that are designed to help improve your play. Alot of the same pro's also post on forums and websites, willingly giving their advice and views on hands or plays in general for no charge.

It is this spirit of people wanting to give back to the game some of what they are getting out of it that makes this the huge success that it is. There is so much more to poker than the final table of the WSOP main event and while the big pro's play their part it is only a smaller part of the whole.

Here we go...

Ok this is my first ever blog so if it isn't very interesting or it doesn't make you laugh don't start asking for your 5 minutes back...

I have been thinking of keeping a blog for a while to help track my poker 'career' (yes that was one of my funny jokes). I may slack on updating it but updates will be forthcoming...

Ok on to the serios stuff... Generally I play alot of freerolls and some low buy in tournaments when funds allow. Generally I seem to do quite well in the large field MTT's and have had some respectable cashes (largest so far being $243 in a $1R/A for second place without using any R/A).

I also try to play some cash tables occasionally but that seems to work out badly for me much more often than breaking even or actually winning. I quite often start well but it seems like its only a matter of time before I bust my profits and buy in.

As I started writing this blog I am starting a little 1euro freeze (358 reg) on the Boss network so am gonna do a little commentary on any big hands I get or don't get lol

20 mins in and have only seen 1 flop and am down to 1180 from 1500

First break and I am at 3435 chips after doubling through on the last hand before the break with a play which I was very surprised actually came off for me..

** Deal **
PizzicatoX [2h, 7h]
*** Bet Round 1 ***
taff9 Fold
poker7880 Call 150.00
tinker t Fold
extran16 Fold
Fatalis Call 150.00
Carlo351 Fold
Zeon1982 Call 150.00
vaso_al Fold
ziarek21 Fold
PizzicatoX Check
*** Flop(Board): *** : [10d, 4h, 7d]
*** Bet Round 2 ***
PizzicatoX Check
poker7880 Bet 150.00
Fatalis Fold
Zeon1982 Fold
PizzicatoX All-in 1380.00
poker7880 Call 1380.00
*** Turn(Board): *** : [10d, 4h, 7d, 4d]
*** River(Board): *** : [10d, 4h, 7d, 4d, 9h]
PizzicatoX [2h, 7h] Two pair sevens and fours Win: 3435.00
poker7880 [Ks, Qh] Pair of fours Win: 0.00

The min bet on the flop said to me that I was up against 2 over cards or a flush draw. I pushed and got lucky basically but it gives me a decent chance in the tournament still which is what counts. 119 players left, 40 get paid, blinds 100/200

Stayed solid for the next 30 mins (read folded all the shit I had) and pushed a couple of times (77 and AK) uncontested. Then I hit AK and pushed again, everyone folded. Then I hit a nice hand straight after...

***** Hand 784870326 *****
200.00/400.00 Texas Hold'em (No Limit) - 11 October 2007 17:02:18
Texas Holdem (Real/Tournament)
Seat 1: Carlo351 (4655.00)
Seat 2: Zeon1982 (6894.00)
Seat 3: vaso_al (10855.00)
Seat 4: ziarek21 (10470.00)
Seat 5: PizzicatoX (4335.00)
Seat 6: Tiger W 24 (3615.00)
Seat 7: Tagedieb (2878.00)
Seat 8: tinker t (2720.00)
Seat 9: extran16 (2905.00)
extran16 post SB 200.00
Carlo351 post BB 400.00
** Deal **
PizzicatoX [Jc, Jd]
*** Bet Round 1 ***
Zeon1982 Call 400.00
vaso_al Fold
ziarek21 Raise to 1600.00
PizzicatoX All-in 4335.00
Tiger W 24 Fold
Tagedieb Fold
tinker t Fold
extran16 Fold
Carlo351 Fold
Zeon1982 All-in 6894.00
ziarek21 Call 6894.00
*** Flop(Board): *** : [3d, 9c, 5d]
*** Turn(Board): *** : [3d, 9c, 5d, Kh]
*** River(Board): *** : [3d, 9c, 5d, Kh, 3s]
*** Showdown *** : Rake: 0.00 Total Pot: 19173.00
Carlo351 Fold Win: 0.00
Zeon1982 [6h, 6s] Two pair sixes and threes Win: 5118.00
ziarek21 [Ac, Qc] Pair of threes Win: 0.00
PizzicatoX [Jc, Jd] Two pair jacks and threes Win: 14055.00

That pot took me from half average chips to double average chips and I am looking good to cash (currently 13th out of 67 remaining) :)

JJ is being good to me today. Got dealt JJ and called a 4X raise from table chip lead. Hit top set, turn blank, river paired the board. Didn't double through but up to 20k chips now.

As I wrote the above about JJ being nice I hit JJ again (2nd time in 3 hands) after being moved tables and it stood up against a shortstack 1010... There is something weird going on I think... I havn't been sucked out on yet so it must be waiting for the bubble instead...

Second break and we are through the bubble with 36 players remaining and I am currently 3rd in chips with 37109. Only 20 people will have 10 BB (500/1000) when we restart so it could turn a bit crapshooty but we will see. My natural instinct at this point is to keep my play tight and keep my ultra tight image for the final table as I have played on several tables and with all the other chipleaders. My stats show I have seen only 14% of flops so hopefully loosening up on final table will do me alot of good, assuming I get there of course :p

Took a big pot with about 30 players left 1010 vs AK standing up. Left me with a massive chip lead. Writing this blog at the same time as playing seems to be working for me lol

15 players left and I got caught on a blind steal with 910 offsuit vs 66. I spiked the 9 on the river to eliminate another short stack.

Well I made the final table and with the chip lead :)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/Pizzicato_Xev/finaltablecut.jpg

Had lost a few chips and got 66 in small blind. I pushed the mid stack limper all in and he called with AA... Crap. I flop a 6 and he is out. 4 people left and I have over half the chips in play.

One other person goes out and its 3 way. Doesn't last long as I get 1010 on the button and raise, there is a re-raise all in from someone who has been stealing quite a few blinds from me, I call and he flips A8 and the 8 on the river doesn't help him. Break starts immediatly after lol

HU: I have 402k chips, Villain (zhunter) has 137k chips

This should be an easy takedown but I have suffered far worse beats before so wish me luck :)

And it's a win for 89.50euros :)

Will probably write more on this later :) For now I am going to get a cup of tea :)