You know what I'm talking about. Those lists that magazines put out in their January issues to tell you who to listen to each year. Populated by what those musos from NME and Q think you should be listening to. Always populated by some wank-bag bunch of teens who sound like a band they're too young to remember, overly fashionable hoxton cock-jockeys with the musical ability of white dog turd, and some pop strumpet who's less attractive than your average minx on the street, trying to be the new [insert age appropriate pop goddess]. You know exactly what I'm talking about here.
But shock of shocks... finally... there's a band on one of those lists that I actually like.
Joy Orbison.
They are, indeed, a joy to listen to. Echoes of that wonderful Detroit techno that came out in the late '80s and early '90s. You can, not only hear, but feel the influence of Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson and 'Magic' Juan Atkins. Even though it harks back to another age, it still feels fresh. A breath of fresh air amongst all that rave-rock shit. The production is crisp, its got a nice groove and you can make some serious shapes to it on a dancefloor. OK... so... this is all based on one 2-track EP and a couple of remixes. But I like what I hear, so far. There is a lot of promise here. Lets hope a long player can deliver the goods.
25 Feb 2010
21 Feb 2010
About that last one...
I think one of the best things about my victory today was my performance. I've been looking over my stats;
145 hands were dealt
I saw a flop 26 times (18%), 8 times in SB, 6 in the BB and 12 from other positions.
9 hands went all the way the way to showdown... I won 7 (78%)
Number of hands won without showdown... 27
Total number of hands won 34 of 145 (23%)
I don't have the stats for previous tournaments (though I could get them), but I think this is an improvement on previous form. Nearly 50% of flops seen off blind, which is good (I think). 7 of 9 at showdown is a vast improvement for me. I have been known to go all the way to the river and call even when I know I'm behind. I'll only back a hand if I'm confident its a winner. 27 hands won without needing a showdown, including an awesome bluff with T5o* against a AK8 rainbow flop. Still not quite confident to do the old deuce-seven-off... but one day soon.
And as for winning nearly a quarter of all hands... what is there to say.
Now, I don't really know how good this is, but it looks great to me.
* This was from a free flop whilst in the BB
145 hands were dealt
I saw a flop 26 times (18%), 8 times in SB, 6 in the BB and 12 from other positions.
9 hands went all the way the way to showdown... I won 7 (78%)
Number of hands won without showdown... 27
Total number of hands won 34 of 145 (23%)
I don't have the stats for previous tournaments (though I could get them), but I think this is an improvement on previous form. Nearly 50% of flops seen off blind, which is good (I think). 7 of 9 at showdown is a vast improvement for me. I have been known to go all the way to the river and call even when I know I'm behind. I'll only back a hand if I'm confident its a winner. 27 hands won without needing a showdown, including an awesome bluff with T5o* against a AK8 rainbow flop. Still not quite confident to do the old deuce-seven-off... but one day soon.
And as for winning nearly a quarter of all hands... what is there to say.
Now, I don't really know how good this is, but it looks great to me.
* This was from a free flop whilst in the BB
Getting better...
I've had a much better day at the tables after a game on Friday night. Final table of the $1 F40 SNG at PokerStars with 8 left, and money going to 6. Player 'pichichono' pushes all in from under the gun (1st player to act). I have AK off suit. I am 4th in chips and he's 1st. He's been pushing a bit without being called. AK is a good hand at any time, so I decide to call. THe cards are turned and he has a pair of 10s. So its all down to the community cards for me and they come;
2c 4d 9c, then 6c on the turn and lady river screws me over with 9d. So close, yet so far. I was kicking myself over the decision and, so, turned to the wisdom of the Hendon Mob forum, where this was justified. It wasn't a bad call, just an unlucky one.
I took Saturday off to recharge my skillage, and went back today.
Played another $1 F40 sit & go. This time I go out on the bubble, which is very anoying. I had pocket 8s, and my opponent had Aces. This time I pushed, and got called. Again it was the right move, just not a lucky one.
So... it was back to the trusty $1 1-table SNG. My favourite, you could say my speciality. My record at the moment is that I win 1 out of 3. Never place, its either come first or come nowhere. But thats OK. A win is a win, regardless. So here I am, back in the breach.
Play started at 14:53 Western European Time. Play finished at 16:15 WET. It took 1hr 18mins (including 5min break) to win the $4.50. I've been reading various articles from professionals about how best to play a SNG tournament. Quite a lot of it, I was doing anyway. But there were a few little tips I picked up that came in very handy.
There was some abuse from a Hungarian by the name of stackbang. He was an early chip leader due to a nice double up during the 1st level. However, after making a few rash calls, he found himself down to a handful of big blinds. One of my little things is that whenever we get to the bubble I always type 'bubble trouble' in the chat box. No-one likes being on the bubble, its horrible. And because this guy was on a losing streak, he gets abusive. He eventually goes out (not to me unfortunately) when his 5/10 of hearts meets pocket nines. More talk of cheating and how Stars always does this. Get a life and stop cursing bad calls.
It becomes the money seats at 16:13 WET, with me as chip leader, eslayer49 $570 less and chocsca, who I thought had played well but got unlucky a couple of times, on less than half of mine. 2nd hand in the money and chosca goes all-in. I have JJ. As you have read before, this is a bit of a tricky hand to play with 9 people. With 3, however, its a bit of a monster. I have him covered by more than 2-to-1, so I call. He has K8o, and hits an 8 on the flop. So I am now crossing my fingers, saying 'no Kings, no eights, no kings, no eights'. And I got... no kings and I got no more 8s. I am now heads up with nearly 5 times the chips of my opponent.
1st hand - I am in the small blind and I call with K9 of diamonds. eslayer checks. The flop comes A33. We both check. Turn card is another A. He checks, I bet, he folds.
2nd hand - eslayer folds the small blind
3rd hand - I call with AK. He checks. Flop; 7 spades J & Q diamonds. Check, check. 2 hearts on the turn. He checks. No flush draws. If he had the straight draw or a pair he would have bet. So I bet and he folds.
4th hand - I've got 63 off. He pushes all-in. I fold.
5th hand - I get lucky again with AK. He's only got $1,560 left and I want him to play, so I make a little min-raise to $1,200. He shoves and I call. He's got QJ. There are 4 live cards in play... and all of them miss. Making me the winner. Yay for me.
Because of the other tourneys I've played, I am only 90c in profit for the weekend... but all profit is good profit. Lets hope I can start winning 2 out of 3 now.
2c 4d 9c, then 6c on the turn and lady river screws me over with 9d. So close, yet so far. I was kicking myself over the decision and, so, turned to the wisdom of the Hendon Mob forum, where this was justified. It wasn't a bad call, just an unlucky one.
I took Saturday off to recharge my skillage, and went back today.
Played another $1 F40 sit & go. This time I go out on the bubble, which is very anoying. I had pocket 8s, and my opponent had Aces. This time I pushed, and got called. Again it was the right move, just not a lucky one.
So... it was back to the trusty $1 1-table SNG. My favourite, you could say my speciality. My record at the moment is that I win 1 out of 3. Never place, its either come first or come nowhere. But thats OK. A win is a win, regardless. So here I am, back in the breach.
Play started at 14:53 Western European Time. Play finished at 16:15 WET. It took 1hr 18mins (including 5min break) to win the $4.50. I've been reading various articles from professionals about how best to play a SNG tournament. Quite a lot of it, I was doing anyway. But there were a few little tips I picked up that came in very handy.
There was some abuse from a Hungarian by the name of stackbang. He was an early chip leader due to a nice double up during the 1st level. However, after making a few rash calls, he found himself down to a handful of big blinds. One of my little things is that whenever we get to the bubble I always type 'bubble trouble' in the chat box. No-one likes being on the bubble, its horrible. And because this guy was on a losing streak, he gets abusive. He eventually goes out (not to me unfortunately) when his 5/10 of hearts meets pocket nines. More talk of cheating and how Stars always does this. Get a life and stop cursing bad calls.
It becomes the money seats at 16:13 WET, with me as chip leader, eslayer49 $570 less and chocsca, who I thought had played well but got unlucky a couple of times, on less than half of mine. 2nd hand in the money and chosca goes all-in. I have JJ. As you have read before, this is a bit of a tricky hand to play with 9 people. With 3, however, its a bit of a monster. I have him covered by more than 2-to-1, so I call. He has K8o, and hits an 8 on the flop. So I am now crossing my fingers, saying 'no Kings, no eights, no kings, no eights'. And I got... no kings and I got no more 8s. I am now heads up with nearly 5 times the chips of my opponent.
1st hand - I am in the small blind and I call with K9 of diamonds. eslayer checks. The flop comes A33. We both check. Turn card is another A. He checks, I bet, he folds.
2nd hand - eslayer folds the small blind
3rd hand - I call with AK. He checks. Flop; 7 spades J & Q diamonds. Check, check. 2 hearts on the turn. He checks. No flush draws. If he had the straight draw or a pair he would have bet. So I bet and he folds.
4th hand - I've got 63 off. He pushes all-in. I fold.
5th hand - I get lucky again with AK. He's only got $1,560 left and I want him to play, so I make a little min-raise to $1,200. He shoves and I call. He's got QJ. There are 4 live cards in play... and all of them miss. Making me the winner. Yay for me.
Because of the other tourneys I've played, I am only 90c in profit for the weekend... but all profit is good profit. Lets hope I can start winning 2 out of 3 now.
13 Feb 2010
It was a bad day...
After my rather pleasing wins, I went to the tables on Friday night full of beenz. Sat down at my usual sit n go, ready to take on all comers. I think it was pretty evident fairly quickly that this was not going to be a good session. This uber-aggressive player was raising everything, every hand, every flop. I went into a big pot with pocket kings. The table showed 236, 4... and I got stupid and put in a massive re-raise only to walk into A5 from my opponent. It was a dumb move, and I should have seen it. But I just got so sick of his bully-boy tactics that I saw red. Note to self: Control your emotions. It's never personal in poker*.
After going out quickly, I entered another SNG straight away to try and redeem myself, only to play even worse. I turned into the Hulk, raising pots with stupid cards getting called and then having to back out with nothing. Went out in 7th.
I decided to play on a cash table for a bit to try and compose myself, but was so card dead, I gave up after losing another $1. This was my first serious case of tilt. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was going right. Every hand I called got beat. Every hand I lay down got me the nuts on the flop. Every move got outmanouevered. I had to call it quits. Give it a break for today. Come back nice and refreshed tomorrow.
*In most cases, anyway.
After going out quickly, I entered another SNG straight away to try and redeem myself, only to play even worse. I turned into the Hulk, raising pots with stupid cards getting called and then having to back out with nothing. Went out in 7th.
I decided to play on a cash table for a bit to try and compose myself, but was so card dead, I gave up after losing another $1. This was my first serious case of tilt. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was going right. Every hand I called got beat. Every hand I lay down got me the nuts on the flop. Every move got outmanouevered. I had to call it quits. Give it a break for today. Come back nice and refreshed tomorrow.
*In most cases, anyway.
12 Feb 2010
1-table = 1 waste of time
Last night I had half an hour, or so, before needing to get ready for a dance class. So, as seems to be more common now, I logged into PokerStars looking for a quick game. I didn't have the patience for a cash game, so I checked out another 1-table SNG. Don't ask me why, but I chose the $1+0.15 'double or nothing'. It was a 10-seater game, where half the table double up
What a waste of time. All that effort into making a measly $0.85 profit*. I know, all profit is good profit, and maybe they're worth it at higher levels (a $50 table would net you $45 profit, after the rake), but for penny stakes like this... not doing that again.
*Yes, I did make the money. Not that it was hard against the half wits playing. In fact, you could, probably, sit out the whole thing and still make the money.
What a waste of time. All that effort into making a measly $0.85 profit*. I know, all profit is good profit, and maybe they're worth it at higher levels (a $50 table would net you $45 profit, after the rake), but for penny stakes like this... not doing that again.
*Yes, I did make the money. Not that it was hard against the half wits playing. In fact, you could, probably, sit out the whole thing and still make the money.
9 Feb 2010
1st time FTW
Today I got my first ever 1st place finish. Wasn't going in for the £2k UK/Ire freeroll due to prior televisual commitments, but I wanted to play some poker. I didn't really have time for the epic 7,000 man $150 freeroll on Full Tilt, so it was over to PokerStars where my coin is.
I didn't fancy a cash game, and didn't have time for a full tournament. Checking over my options, I ended up going for a $1.00 + 0.20, 1-table, NLHE sit n go with 9 players.
For those who don't know of what I speak, let me break it down for you.
NLHE - an abbreviation for No Limit Hold 'Em, a type of poker.
Sit n go - a game that will start when the number of players is reached, in this case, nine.
$1.00 + 0.20 - The buy in to play the table is $1.00, with 20c going to 'the house' for running the game.
I think 1-table and 9 players speak for itself.
The $1 entry means a total prize fund here is $9.00 with only the top 3 getting paid. 50% for 1st place, 30% for 2nd and just 20% for 3rd (giving $4.50, $2.70 & $1.80 respectively).
Play started at 19:46. A multi-national field stood between me and glory. 3 Russians, 1 each from USA, France, Moldova, Hungary plus a Mancunian with the delightful monicker of Pantsman614.
Pantsman lived up to his name and was out fairly quickly, which was good for me cos I kicked his arse to the kerb giving me a nice little chip advantage. It was a well contested game for the most of it, with the best challenge coming from lancess (Leon, France) and Tadricw (USA). It took about 20mins or so for the next player to go out, and from there they tumbled till we got to 'the bubble'.
In play at this point were me (obviously), lancess, Tadrickw and K0jAK23 from Omsk. My Russian bretheren went out in 4th. It was one of those unlucky hands. He was ahead with 2 pair, but lost to trip 6s on the river. Tadrickw was next to go, and didn't he moan about it. Bitching like a child about how PokerStars always does this to him, gives someone a full house when he's got a straight draw. Being the short stack, he was pushing a lot, stealing the blinds. The one time he pushed with a crap hand, he got called. Sorry mate. You got caught. Tough shit... deal with it.
This left me & lance. We were fairly even on chips, with me slightly ahead. Lots of folding of small blinds, bet/folds, and the odd flop where the first to bet takes it. The key hand was the 2nd to last. Stacks are $6,530k to me and, $6,970k to him with the blinds at $150/300 + $25 ante. He's on the button and me the big blind. He bets $2k. I've got ATs. I understand that this is a fairly big hand heads-up. His bet suggested a pair, possibly Queens or Kings. This makes it 50/50 for me. I feel that luck is on my side on this push all-in. Instant call. He's holding JJ. Flop comes with an A. Turn and river give him nothing so I double through. He has $440 left. Last hand and he has no choice, and has to all in. T6o. I have QTo. A 10 comes on flop and there are no 6s on the turn or river. And so... I win. lancess played well throughout and just got unlucky on that coin-toss. To be fair, it could have gone either way, but I was victorious.
It was strange. I've never been this aggressive previously, but I found I was starting to but larger sized bets in against marginal hands (good, but not that good). Maybe because I was chip leader I felt confident enough to press a little more. At one point I got so confident, I put in a bet 3x the big blind on 85 offsuit, winning me that hand. Now, 85 is a pretty crap starting hand, but my chip stack and table image was enough for me to pull it off.
So, after a little over an hours play I find myself $3.30 in profit. More importantly (really?) I played well and picked up a few things that I can, hopefully, carry over into the next game. And if I can keep this level of play up and keep hitting the money, I might be able to contest for bigger payouts. For now, though, its take it slowly. Maybe these 1-table things are more my speed, so I think I'll do a few more of these and build my bankroll up to a level where I can move up to the $2-$5 tables.
I GOT GAME... a little, anyway.
I didn't fancy a cash game, and didn't have time for a full tournament. Checking over my options, I ended up going for a $1.00 + 0.20, 1-table, NLHE sit n go with 9 players.
For those who don't know of what I speak, let me break it down for you.
NLHE - an abbreviation for No Limit Hold 'Em, a type of poker.
Sit n go - a game that will start when the number of players is reached, in this case, nine.
$1.00 + 0.20 - The buy in to play the table is $1.00, with 20c going to 'the house' for running the game.
I think 1-table and 9 players speak for itself.
The $1 entry means a total prize fund here is $9.00 with only the top 3 getting paid. 50% for 1st place, 30% for 2nd and just 20% for 3rd (giving $4.50, $2.70 & $1.80 respectively).
Play started at 19:46. A multi-national field stood between me and glory. 3 Russians, 1 each from USA, France, Moldova, Hungary plus a Mancunian with the delightful monicker of Pantsman614.
Pantsman lived up to his name and was out fairly quickly, which was good for me cos I kicked his arse to the kerb giving me a nice little chip advantage. It was a well contested game for the most of it, with the best challenge coming from lancess (Leon, France) and Tadricw (USA). It took about 20mins or so for the next player to go out, and from there they tumbled till we got to 'the bubble'.
In play at this point were me (obviously), lancess, Tadrickw and K0jAK23 from Omsk. My Russian bretheren went out in 4th. It was one of those unlucky hands. He was ahead with 2 pair, but lost to trip 6s on the river. Tadrickw was next to go, and didn't he moan about it. Bitching like a child about how PokerStars always does this to him, gives someone a full house when he's got a straight draw. Being the short stack, he was pushing a lot, stealing the blinds. The one time he pushed with a crap hand, he got called. Sorry mate. You got caught. Tough shit... deal with it.
This left me & lance. We were fairly even on chips, with me slightly ahead. Lots of folding of small blinds, bet/folds, and the odd flop where the first to bet takes it. The key hand was the 2nd to last. Stacks are $6,530k to me and, $6,970k to him with the blinds at $150/300 + $25 ante. He's on the button and me the big blind. He bets $2k. I've got ATs. I understand that this is a fairly big hand heads-up. His bet suggested a pair, possibly Queens or Kings. This makes it 50/50 for me. I feel that luck is on my side on this push all-in. Instant call. He's holding JJ. Flop comes with an A. Turn and river give him nothing so I double through. He has $440 left. Last hand and he has no choice, and has to all in. T6o. I have QTo. A 10 comes on flop and there are no 6s on the turn or river. And so... I win. lancess played well throughout and just got unlucky on that coin-toss. To be fair, it could have gone either way, but I was victorious.
It was strange. I've never been this aggressive previously, but I found I was starting to but larger sized bets in against marginal hands (good, but not that good). Maybe because I was chip leader I felt confident enough to press a little more. At one point I got so confident, I put in a bet 3x the big blind on 85 offsuit, winning me that hand. Now, 85 is a pretty crap starting hand, but my chip stack and table image was enough for me to pull it off.
So, after a little over an hours play I find myself $3.30 in profit. More importantly (really?) I played well and picked up a few things that I can, hopefully, carry over into the next game. And if I can keep this level of play up and keep hitting the money, I might be able to contest for bigger payouts. For now, though, its take it slowly. Maybe these 1-table things are more my speed, so I think I'll do a few more of these and build my bankroll up to a level where I can move up to the $2-$5 tables.
I GOT GAME... a little, anyway.
7 Feb 2010
The Glorious Inglourious
I’ve been putting off watching this one, as I have mixed opinions when it comes to Quentin Tarantino. I love hearing him talk about films/cinema. His passion is evident in every hyperactive word, giving equal love to Kubrick and Corman. His output, however, I have found inconsistent. Res Dogs was an overhyped disappointment. Pulp Fiction, offered great entertainment, aside from the piss dull opening segment with John ‘charisma vacuum’ Travolta. Jackie Brown had a great non-linear narrative with strong performances across the board.
But his last 2 films, Kill Bill and Death Proof? Oh dear. Death Proof was supposed to be an homage to the exploitation cinema on the 70s and 80s. Now, I’ve seen a lot of these films and I don’t remember any of them featuring an hour of girls talking complete bollocks, followed by 5 mins of action. Deathly Dullness would be a better title for it. And Kill Bill had no heart. All style, no substance and bordering on plagiarism. The other signs, however, were pretty good. Brad Pitt is always watchable, any film in the French language is instantly more classy and any film the critics are not too keen on is usually quite good.
And, blow me, if Inglourious Basterds isn’t one of the best films from 2009. I’ll go one further than that. Forget Pulp Fiction, IB is QT’s best film, by quite a big margin. It’s simultaneously intelligent and dumb, violent and passive, active and reflective. It showcases everything that makes QT great as a filmmaker. There have been hints at it in previous films, but they were always bogged down with genre conventions. In IB there is none of that. The only genre he’s playing tribute to is cinema itself. Although its set during WWII, its not your standard war film. It looks, sounds and plays out more like a spaghetti western, dressed up in an SS uniform, but it is so much more than that. Tarantino plays with the clichés of so many different genres and, I think, plays with the conventions of his own oeuvre.
For a much better viewpoint on Inglourious Basterds, I recommend you check out highlycontrasting.com from Lincoln Barrett aka High Contrast.
But his last 2 films, Kill Bill and Death Proof? Oh dear. Death Proof was supposed to be an homage to the exploitation cinema on the 70s and 80s. Now, I’ve seen a lot of these films and I don’t remember any of them featuring an hour of girls talking complete bollocks, followed by 5 mins of action. Deathly Dullness would be a better title for it. And Kill Bill had no heart. All style, no substance and bordering on plagiarism. The other signs, however, were pretty good. Brad Pitt is always watchable, any film in the French language is instantly more classy and any film the critics are not too keen on is usually quite good.
And, blow me, if Inglourious Basterds isn’t one of the best films from 2009. I’ll go one further than that. Forget Pulp Fiction, IB is QT’s best film, by quite a big margin. It’s simultaneously intelligent and dumb, violent and passive, active and reflective. It showcases everything that makes QT great as a filmmaker. There have been hints at it in previous films, but they were always bogged down with genre conventions. In IB there is none of that. The only genre he’s playing tribute to is cinema itself. Although its set during WWII, its not your standard war film. It looks, sounds and plays out more like a spaghetti western, dressed up in an SS uniform, but it is so much more than that. Tarantino plays with the clichés of so many different genres and, I think, plays with the conventions of his own oeuvre.
For a much better viewpoint on Inglourious Basterds, I recommend you check out highlycontrasting.com from Lincoln Barrett aka High Contrast.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)