Well after playing both sites for a bit this week, I have some observations regarding the two.
I think I like the Party interface better. At least for me, I can see the suits and ranks of the cards better on the table and in my hand.
Also, and more importantly, the cashouts on Party take roughly two days to hit my bank account. I requested a cashout from Pacific on Sunday the 15th. After a few days of seeing its status as "waiting", I did some research.
Looks like their policy is to hold cash out requests for 5 days, during which time you may reverse the request and receive the money back in your account immediately. After the 5 days, if you request a wire transfer as I did, you must then wait up to 7 business days for the transfer to take place.
That's pretty pathetic. Up to 12 days to process a cashout vs. 2 days at Party? Not that I'm cashing out all the time, but when I want my money, I want my money. Right now. Today. Yesterday even.
So if anyone has any Pacific cashout tales to tell, let me know.
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Monday, May 17, 2004
Pacific Playing
Note: I edited this post to reflect that I was playing Pacific, not Paradise. Doh!
After the WBT was over, I decided to test the waters at Pacific a bit with some limited bankroll. I dove right in to the 5/10 tables and won about $140 right away. I cashed out, and then requested a cash out of my original $100 investment and another $100 profit. This left about $60 in there to mess around with should there be another WBT on Paradise.
So I figured I'd play in some tourneys there and see what they are like.
Holy Fish Tank Batman!
Granted, it's only 2 tournaments, but I'm 2 for 2 in first place finishes. My plan is to play ring games at Party and tourneys at Pacific. What the hell. With all the great cards I got in the WBT II, I'm going to run with my luck there and see where it goes.
After the WBT was over, I decided to test the waters at Pacific a bit with some limited bankroll. I dove right in to the 5/10 tables and won about $140 right away. I cashed out, and then requested a cash out of my original $100 investment and another $100 profit. This left about $60 in there to mess around with should there be another WBT on Paradise.
So I figured I'd play in some tourneys there and see what they are like.
Holy Fish Tank Batman!
Granted, it's only 2 tournaments, but I'm 2 for 2 in first place finishes. My plan is to play ring games at Party and tourneys at Pacific. What the hell. With all the great cards I got in the WBT II, I'm going to run with my luck there and see where it goes.
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Lame Attempt at a Write Up
I entered this tournament figuring that I'd just be happy to not come in last. I realized early on that due to the structure of the tournament (800 chips, blinds go up every 10 minutes) that it could easily happen if I play a bit too tight. Well the cards that I got really didn't let me play tight so I just went with it.
First hand of the tourney is AJ clubs. I raise pre-flop and get 2 callers. The flop comes 622. I figure that nobody in this tourney is calling raises with garbage so I bet out for about the size of the pot and everyone folds. Woohoo, I won a hand!!!
Second hand is also AJ, but off suit. Mean Gene throws out a big raise and I'm thinking that my AJ ain't so good right now so I fold it. A few hands later I'm dealt AT spades and once again Mean Gene throws a big re-raise in my face so I muck those cards.
I'm dealt AK diamonds and just smooth call the flop. The flop had two diamonds so I bet out a decent bet and everyone folded to me. Then comes AK off right afterwards. Two limpers into the pot and I say to myself "No way," and bump it up about 3x the big blind. Everyone folds and I think Mean Gene was a bit miffed he couldn't limp in with his Hammer :)
I'm dealt 77 on the button and raise it only to win the blinds. I call a bet with JT diamonds and when two diamonds hit the flop, smooth call the bet again. A ten comes on the turn and is the highest card out there. With top pair and a flush draw I bet out and get folds all around.
At this point I'm doing pretty well, but really don't want to just sit on my chips and get blinded back down to an average stack. I try a blind steal attempt with K9 diamonds on the button, but an A hits the flop and my bet out is raised. Gotta fold that puppy. Then I'm dealt KK and simply smooth call. Mean Gene raises and I reraise. Mean Gene raises again post flop and I go all in. He had QQ and doubles me up. If only I had more chips I could have busted him which would have turned out to be nice since he finished 2nd.
Not much later I'm dealt KK again on the button. I put MaudieB all in and win. I think that's the first player I eliminate. Later on I'm dealt TT UTG and raise to win the blinds. Again, I'm trying to play my stack to its advantage, so when I get A2 diamonds, I am raising. Now I'm winning some blinds with this strategy and when I get decent cards, it's tough not to feel confident.
Two hands in the next ten or so, I'm dealt QQ and just win the blinds. Holding AJo, I folded to a pre-flop raise. Turned out the raiser had 77 and I could have won, but AJ is not a Hellmuth top ten hand, so it's easy to fold that one. :)
I don't really win any major pots but am dealt some decent cards and we finally arrive at the final table. I'm either first or second in chips to Otis from Up For Poker. I have a decent feeling, but I know everyone here is a quality player so I'm not getting too cocky as Han Solo would say.
I am able to eliminate Mashashi when I get dealt KJ diamonds and see a K on the flop. Mashashi goes all in and I call, getting a J on 4th street to complete my 2-pair. My raises are right about the 3x BB level and usually are able to get weak hands out of the way, but Boy Genius and Otis are easily able to call if they want to.
After it gets down to four players, with 3 places paying, I get an ominous feeling. I call a bet with A2 off and flop two pair. Not wanting to mess with Boy Genius, I go all in and he folds.
Then it happens. I'm dealt AQ and raise it up. Otis re-raises and I go all in. He's holding QQ and there is no help in the form of an A on the board. So I'm out in fourth. Oh well, I can honestly say it was a huge amount of fun to play in this tourney and make it to the final table. I had no idea what the playing styles would be, but I definitely have to attribute my success to the cards I was getting. The hands held up, just until the last one so the poker gods were kind to me tonight.
I'd like to mention the superb short-stacked play of Mean Gene at the final table. He was severely short-stacked as we got down to four players and played an all or nothing style. It worked out great and he finished in second place overall. Truly well done and my kudos go out to him, Otis, and Boy Genius for finishing in the money.
The only issue I had was that I thought the tourney moved a bit too fast. If I didn't get the cards I got early on, I'm sure I'd have busted out earlier. I'm definitely looking forward to the next one. Special thanks go to Iggy for setting this up.
First hand of the tourney is AJ clubs. I raise pre-flop and get 2 callers. The flop comes 622. I figure that nobody in this tourney is calling raises with garbage so I bet out for about the size of the pot and everyone folds. Woohoo, I won a hand!!!
Second hand is also AJ, but off suit. Mean Gene throws out a big raise and I'm thinking that my AJ ain't so good right now so I fold it. A few hands later I'm dealt AT spades and once again Mean Gene throws a big re-raise in my face so I muck those cards.
I'm dealt AK diamonds and just smooth call the flop. The flop had two diamonds so I bet out a decent bet and everyone folded to me. Then comes AK off right afterwards. Two limpers into the pot and I say to myself "No way," and bump it up about 3x the big blind. Everyone folds and I think Mean Gene was a bit miffed he couldn't limp in with his Hammer :)
I'm dealt 77 on the button and raise it only to win the blinds. I call a bet with JT diamonds and when two diamonds hit the flop, smooth call the bet again. A ten comes on the turn and is the highest card out there. With top pair and a flush draw I bet out and get folds all around.
At this point I'm doing pretty well, but really don't want to just sit on my chips and get blinded back down to an average stack. I try a blind steal attempt with K9 diamonds on the button, but an A hits the flop and my bet out is raised. Gotta fold that puppy. Then I'm dealt KK and simply smooth call. Mean Gene raises and I reraise. Mean Gene raises again post flop and I go all in. He had QQ and doubles me up. If only I had more chips I could have busted him which would have turned out to be nice since he finished 2nd.
Not much later I'm dealt KK again on the button. I put MaudieB all in and win. I think that's the first player I eliminate. Later on I'm dealt TT UTG and raise to win the blinds. Again, I'm trying to play my stack to its advantage, so when I get A2 diamonds, I am raising. Now I'm winning some blinds with this strategy and when I get decent cards, it's tough not to feel confident.
Two hands in the next ten or so, I'm dealt QQ and just win the blinds. Holding AJo, I folded to a pre-flop raise. Turned out the raiser had 77 and I could have won, but AJ is not a Hellmuth top ten hand, so it's easy to fold that one. :)
I don't really win any major pots but am dealt some decent cards and we finally arrive at the final table. I'm either first or second in chips to Otis from Up For Poker. I have a decent feeling, but I know everyone here is a quality player so I'm not getting too cocky as Han Solo would say.
I am able to eliminate Mashashi when I get dealt KJ diamonds and see a K on the flop. Mashashi goes all in and I call, getting a J on 4th street to complete my 2-pair. My raises are right about the 3x BB level and usually are able to get weak hands out of the way, but Boy Genius and Otis are easily able to call if they want to.
After it gets down to four players, with 3 places paying, I get an ominous feeling. I call a bet with A2 off and flop two pair. Not wanting to mess with Boy Genius, I go all in and he folds.
Then it happens. I'm dealt AQ and raise it up. Otis re-raises and I go all in. He's holding QQ and there is no help in the form of an A on the board. So I'm out in fourth. Oh well, I can honestly say it was a huge amount of fun to play in this tourney and make it to the final table. I had no idea what the playing styles would be, but I definitely have to attribute my success to the cards I was getting. The hands held up, just until the last one so the poker gods were kind to me tonight.
I'd like to mention the superb short-stacked play of Mean Gene at the final table. He was severely short-stacked as we got down to four players and played an all or nothing style. It worked out great and he finished in second place overall. Truly well done and my kudos go out to him, Otis, and Boy Genius for finishing in the money.
The only issue I had was that I thought the tourney moved a bit too fast. If I didn't get the cards I got early on, I'm sure I'd have busted out earlier. I'm definitely looking forward to the next one. Special thanks go to Iggy for setting this up.
WBT II Update
I'll try to make a nice post recounting my play in the WBT II.
Bottom line: 4th place. The bubble. Knew it would happen as I was chip leader for the majority of the time. Oh well.
Took back some $$$ at the seemingly soft Pacific Tables. So I finished up for the day.
Bottom line: 4th place. The bubble. Knew it would happen as I was chip leader for the majority of the time. Oh well.
Took back some $$$ at the seemingly soft Pacific Tables. So I finished up for the day.
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Small Hiatus
I will be heading for the coast, Charleston to be exact, tomorrow and won't be coming back until Sunday. At which point in time, I will promptly get trounced in the World Blogger Tour II Tournament. It will be nice spending some time with the wife by ourselves. Her parents have graciously decided to take care of our two kids for the weekend. We haven't been together alone in two years so this will be nice.
Not much poker stuff to talk about, just played some decent 2/4 tonight and last night. But still haven't made back what I dropped on Monday.
In other news, I finally got a high definition cable box receiver today. Hooked up flawlessly, and even though I only have about 6 channels, the difference in picture is amazing. When I was watching the series finale of Frasier, it was like watching a DVD. ESPN HD is why I signed up for the package. Watched some of the hockey game on it tonight and was awestruck.
Looking forward to the NFL season on ESPN HD. It's real early, but GO PATS!!!!
Not much poker stuff to talk about, just played some decent 2/4 tonight and last night. But still haven't made back what I dropped on Monday.
In other news, I finally got a high definition cable box receiver today. Hooked up flawlessly, and even though I only have about 6 channels, the difference in picture is amazing. When I was watching the series finale of Frasier, it was like watching a DVD. ESPN HD is why I signed up for the package. Watched some of the hockey game on it tonight and was awestruck.
Looking forward to the NFL season on ESPN HD. It's real early, but GO PATS!!!!
Feedback
I'm convinced that the attraction of poker, be it online or live games, is the nature of feedback provided to the player.
When you make a decision in a poker game, the just rewards or stiff penalties related to that decision are immediately thrust upon you. Making a big raise to bluff someone out of a pot? Immediate positive feedback as the stack of chips makes its way towards your end of the table. Chasing a draw when you were in fact drawing dead? Immediate negative feedback as your chip pile diminishes.
In real life, the impact of your decisions is not known immediately, perhaps not ever. And these could be major decisions too. Getting married, having kids, which school to go to. Each of those decisions could have a much larger financial impact than whether you choose to raise or fold a hand in Hold 'em. Yet you won't receive any immediate feedback on those decisions, making them much harder.
As humans, I believe we are feedback junkies. I want to know if what I did was right, and I want to know right now. Only poker brings that to us. Thus its potentially addictive nature. Ok, drugs probably do that too, but I can't claim much experience there.
When you make a decision in a poker game, the just rewards or stiff penalties related to that decision are immediately thrust upon you. Making a big raise to bluff someone out of a pot? Immediate positive feedback as the stack of chips makes its way towards your end of the table. Chasing a draw when you were in fact drawing dead? Immediate negative feedback as your chip pile diminishes.
In real life, the impact of your decisions is not known immediately, perhaps not ever. And these could be major decisions too. Getting married, having kids, which school to go to. Each of those decisions could have a much larger financial impact than whether you choose to raise or fold a hand in Hold 'em. Yet you won't receive any immediate feedback on those decisions, making them much harder.
As humans, I believe we are feedback junkies. I want to know if what I did was right, and I want to know right now. Only poker brings that to us. Thus its potentially addictive nature. Ok, drugs probably do that too, but I can't claim much experience there.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Random Update
Ok, bored here at work while I'm checking out, again, the software product that I singlehandedly develop....
Party poker hammered me last night. "So not good!" as Chandler would say. I have to at least think I was pretty consistent in my play, it's just that the good starting hands were few and far between. I played them aggressively when I got them, but couldn't catch a flop for the life of me. I think we all know how that goes.
So since I'll be at work late, I bought some CD's to listen to so that the boredom doesn't overwhelm me.
1. Killswitch Engage - The End of Heartache
2. Himsa - Courting Tragedy and Disaster
3. Children of Bodom - Hate Crew Deathroll
I'm betting most, if not all, of you who read this won't recognize nor have heard a song from any of the three bands listed above. No matter. Just great kickass metal. I have somewhat of a penchant (am I even using that word right?, ahh, who cares, it sounds like I know what I'm talking about and that's all that matters) for bands from Sweden. I'm very convinced that when Cliff Burton passed away in 1986 in a bus crash in Sweden, the soul of true metal was buried with him. Metal bands in the US, until somewhat recently, have blown - especially Metallica. But what evolved out of Sweden was truly the next generation of metal. Trust me, if it's metal and from Sweden, it's awesome. Either that or the influence of Abba is what caused the whole thing. Can't really prove either I suppose.
I'm actually going to see Killswitch Engage and In Flames on May 22nd in Charlotte, NC. It's about a 90 minute drive from here in Greenville, SC; but it will be totally worth it. In fact, how lucky am I that the World Blogger Tour is this Sunday and not next? So lucky! See? You can mix metal and poker. I do it all the time.
Party poker hammered me last night. "So not good!" as Chandler would say. I have to at least think I was pretty consistent in my play, it's just that the good starting hands were few and far between. I played them aggressively when I got them, but couldn't catch a flop for the life of me. I think we all know how that goes.
So since I'll be at work late, I bought some CD's to listen to so that the boredom doesn't overwhelm me.
1. Killswitch Engage - The End of Heartache
2. Himsa - Courting Tragedy and Disaster
3. Children of Bodom - Hate Crew Deathroll
I'm betting most, if not all, of you who read this won't recognize nor have heard a song from any of the three bands listed above. No matter. Just great kickass metal. I have somewhat of a penchant (am I even using that word right?, ahh, who cares, it sounds like I know what I'm talking about and that's all that matters) for bands from Sweden. I'm very convinced that when Cliff Burton passed away in 1986 in a bus crash in Sweden, the soul of true metal was buried with him. Metal bands in the US, until somewhat recently, have blown - especially Metallica. But what evolved out of Sweden was truly the next generation of metal. Trust me, if it's metal and from Sweden, it's awesome. Either that or the influence of Abba is what caused the whole thing. Can't really prove either I suppose.
I'm actually going to see Killswitch Engage and In Flames on May 22nd in Charlotte, NC. It's about a 90 minute drive from here in Greenville, SC; but it will be totally worth it. In fact, how lucky am I that the World Blogger Tour is this Sunday and not next? So lucky! See? You can mix metal and poker. I do it all the time.
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