Luck or Skill?

If only it were a game of luck, I might be a money making player. Lately, I'm only donating. Especially any money I lay on a cash table with bloggers.

But worse than that, I have lost 4 straight HU games with Fluxer. While he has had the lead on me this year, I was never concerned about losing my lifetime victory. I mean, I had an 11 game lead on him last year how could I lose? But things aren't looking so hot. Even wine didn't help last night! Instead, I lost another 3 matches.

But today...tide has turned...

I had fresh blood to introduce to the Powers of the Poison. Anyone remember this Geek? Today he hit me up in IM for the first time. We had a very nice chat. He has been out of the poker/blogger scene for about a year (hmmm he got married about that time). See what happens when you get a life? I keep trying to warn you people. Relationships and life will interfere with poker/blogging. I'm just envious...maybe one day...my life will be tooo rich for these things.

During our chat, I reminded him of how he blew me off in the days when he was popular and I didn't even have a blog. I was just learning the game and Waffles told me PokerGeek was a really good player. So I was complimenting him at a table on Party Poker (mmm...I do miss Party) and he types something like, "Are you done sucking up to me yet?" It was funny to remember. He was nicer to me when we met in person to play poker with other bloggers at the Hustler last year. I don't think he even remember the incident as I was a "nobody" back then...not that I'm a "somebody" now.

Today, I couldn't resist offering him a chance to play me HU. He was in an SNG, but took the offer when he busted. It was quite the battle. The match lasted 76 hands. He was in the lead early. I was down to 455 in chips when things turned around on the following hand:

Full Tilt Poker Game #2158560107: $5 + $0.25 Heads Up Sit & Go (16233475),
Table 1 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 16:03:25 ET - 2007/04/07
Seat 1: yosoyveneno (455)
Seat 2: JediMyndTrik (2,545)
yosoyveneno posts the small blind of 15
JediMyndTrik posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to yosoyveneno [6h 4h]
yosoyveneno raises to 90
JediMyndTrik raises to 290
yosoyveneno raises to 455, and is all in
JediMyndTrik calls 165
yosoyveneno shows [6h 4h]
JediMyndTrik shows [Jd Jc]*** FLOP *** [5c 6s Qc]*** TURN *** [5c 6s Qc] [2s]*** RIVER *** [5c 6s Qc 2s] [3s]
yosoyveneno shows a straight, Six high
JediMyndTrik shows a pair of Jacks
yosoyveneno wins the pot (910) with a straight, Six

I started playing more aggressively. It was getting exciting.

Seat 1: yosoyveneno (1,250)
Seat 2: JediMyndTrik (1,750)
JediMyndTrik posts the small blind of 30
yosoyveneno posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to yosoyveneno [3c 3s]
JediMyndTrik raises to 180
yosoyveneno raises to 1,250, and is all in
JediMyndTrik has 15 seconds left to act
JediMyndTrik: god, i wanna call
JediMyndTrik folds
Uncalled bet of 1,070 returned to yosoyveneno
yosoyveneno mucksyosoyveneno wins the pot (360)

And of course more suckouts were to come....

Seat 1: yosoyveneno (1,430)
Seat 2: JediMyndTrik (1,570)
yosoyveneno posts the small blind of 30
JediMyndTrik posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to yosoyveneno [4c 5d]
yosoyveneno: afraid?
yosoyveneno calls 30
JediMyndTrik: more like not foolish
JediMyndTrik checks
*** FLOP *** [7h 2s 3s]
yosoyveneno: lol
JediMyndTrik checks
yosoyveneno: what did you have?
yosoyveneno bets 120
JediMyndTrik raises to 1,510, and is all in
yosoyveneno: poison power
yosoyveneno: come help
yosoyveneno: suckout
yosoyveneno has 15 seconds left to act
yosoyveneno: to
yosoyveneno: commence
yosoyveneno calls 1,250, and is all in
JediMyndTrik shows [2d 7d]
yosoyveneno shows [4c 5d]
Uncalled bet of 140 returned to JediMyndTrik
*** TURN *** [7h 2s 3s] [6c]
*** RIVER *** [7h 2s 3s 6c] [Kd]
JediMyndTrik shows two pair, Sevens and Twos
yosoyveneno shows a straight, Seven high
yosoyveneno wins the pot (2,860) with a straight, Seven high

Finally the kill....

Seat 1: yosoyveneno (2,380)
Seat 2: JediMyndTrik (620)
yosoyveneno posts the small blind of 40
JediMyndTrik posts the big blind of 80
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to yosoyveneno [Kh Qd]
yosoyveneno calls 40
JediMyndTrik checks*** FLOP *** [Qh Qs 3h]
JediMyndTrik checks
yosoyveneno bets 2,300, and is all in
JediMyndTrik calls 540, and is all in
yosoyveneno shows [Kh Qd]
JediMyndTrik shows [Th 3d]
Uncalled bet of 1,760 returned to yosoyveneno
*** TURN *** [Qh Qs 3h] [2s]
*** RIVER *** [Qh Qs 3h 2s] [Jd]
yosoyveneno shows three of a kind, Queens
JediMyndTrik shows two pair, Queens and Threes
yosoyveneno wins the pot (1,240) with three of a kind, Queens
JediMyndTrik stands up
yosoyveneno stands up

Next, I played Gordogg for the first time this year. I warned him that my Poison Power was back! He should have listened. He lost. Yes, I had to suckout to win.

Anyone wanna try to be the Cooler? Mission for Jordan?

I tuned in today to the chat with a Pro - Ben Roberts on Full Tilt. I thought some of his comments were interesting. Here are a few for your enjoyment:

Question From KingKongKK: Hey Ben, I totally agree with you theoretically
about poker being 100% skillful in the long-term. But practically does any
player ever reach the long-term in his poker career to the point where luck
plays no role whatsoever?

Ben Roberts: Good question, if you are already a winning player then the element of luck over a long period does not come in at all. We are talking about long term.

Question From ICdedmoney: Hello Ben, what edge does a good tourney pro have over an average amateur in the WSOP ME?

Ben Roberts: A good player will always have an edge over bad players whether it is a cash game or a tourny. The only difference is that with tournaments it takes a little longer for the profit to come in.

Question From Watanga: Hi Ben, just wanted to ask you how can i learn to deal with long bad runs even being a winning player? I found very frustrating those streaks and they affect my confidence,even if im putting my money in with the best hand most of the time

Ben Roberts: Visualising yourself as an overall winner before the game can be a great help in controlling your bad beats. Also remember that losing in a session or 2 is absolutley OK. Be confident in your game, concentrate on performing well.

Question From roboem: is it not that the best players are the ones with the bankroll who can play more tourneys?

Ben Roberts: The top 10% of pro players have 1 thing in common. They all
started at the bottom 10%.

Question From gambit333333: is it easy to make a living playing poker

Ben Roberts: You need passion because when you fall, which you will, your passion will energize you to move on. As long as it remains a labour of love its easy.

Question From bigbluff85: Which game in your opinion has more skill Limit Hold em or No limit Hold em?

Ben Roberts: No limit Hold'em is generally a richer and more profound game.

Question From socalsuzi: tourney play question..would you advise to start aggressively or conservatively (sit back and learn about the other players)?

Ben Roberts: I prefer to start conservatively and gather as much information as I can, for future decision.

Question From ONOTHINGO: Hi Ben. Which do you think is the highest level of
poker: the mathematical approach or using instinct and going with your gut
feeling?

Ben Roberts: I would go with my instinct and my gut feelings, although a
mathematical knowledge is needed to begin with.

Question From portdeco20: pokers a game of skill. Its about playing your opponents and not your cards. Do you think this theory is correct?

Ben Roberts: Yes I do to an extent. Generally, when you know what your opponent
holds, the rest is easy.

Question From yosoyveneno: Can a non-skilled player make money long
term?

Ben Roberts: No, they cannot. (Guess I'm dooommmmmmmmmed!!!!!!!!)

This was my first time tuning in to their Pro Chat. I thought it was pretty cool.

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