So it's been just over a half a year since I've gotten rakeback. Going into it, I thought if I got $50 a year, that would be a nice little uptick. So far, I've gotten $43, so I'm pretty far ahead of my admittedly conservative estimate. A couple observations:
1. I'm not using FTP points anymore to get tournament dollars. In the course of a given year, I'd probably use my points to get somewhere between $25-$35 worth of tournament buy ins through satellites. That's gone now.
2. The little deposits into my account probably mask some mediocre play. It probably suggests to me in my brain that I am playing better than I actually am. My sharkscope graph has been almost completely level for quite some time, but if you factor in the $30 or so dollars I've made in rakeback over that time, it's probably consistent with my career arc.
3. FTP has some really cool stuff that I'd like to purchase if I ever got the points to do it. I've never had this many points before (I have just over 2000), but with rakeback, I'm probably never going to use them.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Late Update
Avenged Sevenfold put together a great video tribute to Jimmy Chamberlain on their website.
Poker has been ok recently. Went deep in a $1 turbo only to needlessly flame out with T8ss and bust in 68th place.
I'm starting to play more superturbo heads up. Heads up, as it is, is pretty much gambling. This kind of stuff gives me a low-stakes gambling-type fix, although I think I'm turning a profit in these babies.
Just wrapped up a murder trial. The jury's still out. That's the reason I haven't played much in January. Perhaps some more play this month.
Poker has been ok recently. Went deep in a $1 turbo only to needlessly flame out with T8ss and bust in 68th place.
I'm starting to play more superturbo heads up. Heads up, as it is, is pretty much gambling. This kind of stuff gives me a low-stakes gambling-type fix, although I think I'm turning a profit in these babies.
Just wrapped up a murder trial. The jury's still out. That's the reason I haven't played much in January. Perhaps some more play this month.
Friday, January 8, 2010
The Rev is dead
Jimmy Sullivan, also known as the Revered Tholomew Plague, is dead. So disappointing.
I have always maintained that the Rev was an alien that came here from outer space. And having other-worldly talents, he could have done whatever he wanted to in this world, so he chose a life that would be the most fun - being a drummer in a rock band.
In all seriousness, the Rev - a person whose existence I had no knowledge of just two and a half years ago and have never met or seen in person - has had an impact on my life. He got me inspired to play the drums again. A7x is the first band that I've liked as much as the bands that I used to listen to since...the back when I used to listen to those bands. Jimmy was a huge part of that band - more than just a drummer in a rock band - he wrote entire songs, brought concepts to the table, and did some singing.
What an incredibly creative and talented person. His approach to rock drumming just blew my mind. The concepts that he would come up with were just different, and everything he did was just interesting. It was interesting to listen to. It was interesting to figure out. It was interesting to try and figure out how and why he was doing certain things. Nothing was haphazard. Everything was well thought out, but not with rigid calculus. It was inspiring.
Except for Strength of the World, which is just a bad song.
When I talk about "his approach", I'm talking about a lot of things. One of the most creative guys on the double bass without a doubt. Not just machine-gunning 16ths or triplets, but breaking it up and making it groove and making the songs "crackle". He could also machine gun them with the best of them. Songs 2, 3, and 5 on City of Evil are quintessential Rev. The other thing he was good at was incorporating interesting sticking patterns. Some of the double ride/hi-hat stuff was pretty intricate. I wonder how he picked up that stuff. Some of that stuff I know how to do from doing marching band and some of the rudimentary stuff that I used to work on for drum lessons. I wonder how he picked up on that stuff.
I honestly wonder what the Rev did in his youth to get that good. What bands did he used to listen to? What approach did he take to their songs? What did he used to work on when he sat down at the kit? From the videos on the band, it just seemed like Jimmy was homeless from middle school on. He was a weird dude who wore kimonos and shit to school. Lived in vans or in buildings that were under construction - wherever he could find a home. And in all this, he became an incredible musician - truly original in so many aspects of his life, and music.
When I hear him play now, there is a tinge of sadness. The most disappointing part about it is that we will never be able to hear what he was going to do next. That is what I was looking forward to the most. It's like a beautiful, gifted light in the world has just suddenly been switched off.
I wish for good things for the band, although I think they're done and I think they think they're done. The band was all good friends through high school. You don't make those type of connections later in life. If they get a new drummer, it will sound mechanical. It will just be a guy playing drum parts. Jimmy helped mold the A7x sound.
Ideally, I'd like to see a guy like Vinnie Paul step in and take over. I think the bands had/have a lot in common, and musically, they're good fits. Each entity is missing what the other has. I think there'd be a mutual respect. But the generation gap I think is just far too wide. And I'm not sure Vinnie would have the motivation to learn all the A7x stuff (that is, if he doesn't know it already). Vinnie could always play crushing metal-grooves and has sick double bass skills.
Ahhh...we call can dream I guess. It was nice to be able to enjoy music, especially metal music, the way I used to enjoy music. There had been a sonic void in my life for such a long time. Unfortunately, it's here again. RIP REV.
I have always maintained that the Rev was an alien that came here from outer space. And having other-worldly talents, he could have done whatever he wanted to in this world, so he chose a life that would be the most fun - being a drummer in a rock band.
In all seriousness, the Rev - a person whose existence I had no knowledge of just two and a half years ago and have never met or seen in person - has had an impact on my life. He got me inspired to play the drums again. A7x is the first band that I've liked as much as the bands that I used to listen to since...the back when I used to listen to those bands. Jimmy was a huge part of that band - more than just a drummer in a rock band - he wrote entire songs, brought concepts to the table, and did some singing.
What an incredibly creative and talented person. His approach to rock drumming just blew my mind. The concepts that he would come up with were just different, and everything he did was just interesting. It was interesting to listen to. It was interesting to figure out. It was interesting to try and figure out how and why he was doing certain things. Nothing was haphazard. Everything was well thought out, but not with rigid calculus. It was inspiring.
Except for Strength of the World, which is just a bad song.
When I talk about "his approach", I'm talking about a lot of things. One of the most creative guys on the double bass without a doubt. Not just machine-gunning 16ths or triplets, but breaking it up and making it groove and making the songs "crackle". He could also machine gun them with the best of them. Songs 2, 3, and 5 on City of Evil are quintessential Rev. The other thing he was good at was incorporating interesting sticking patterns. Some of the double ride/hi-hat stuff was pretty intricate. I wonder how he picked up that stuff. Some of that stuff I know how to do from doing marching band and some of the rudimentary stuff that I used to work on for drum lessons. I wonder how he picked up on that stuff.
I honestly wonder what the Rev did in his youth to get that good. What bands did he used to listen to? What approach did he take to their songs? What did he used to work on when he sat down at the kit? From the videos on the band, it just seemed like Jimmy was homeless from middle school on. He was a weird dude who wore kimonos and shit to school. Lived in vans or in buildings that were under construction - wherever he could find a home. And in all this, he became an incredible musician - truly original in so many aspects of his life, and music.
When I hear him play now, there is a tinge of sadness. The most disappointing part about it is that we will never be able to hear what he was going to do next. That is what I was looking forward to the most. It's like a beautiful, gifted light in the world has just suddenly been switched off.
I wish for good things for the band, although I think they're done and I think they think they're done. The band was all good friends through high school. You don't make those type of connections later in life. If they get a new drummer, it will sound mechanical. It will just be a guy playing drum parts. Jimmy helped mold the A7x sound.
Ideally, I'd like to see a guy like Vinnie Paul step in and take over. I think the bands had/have a lot in common, and musically, they're good fits. Each entity is missing what the other has. I think there'd be a mutual respect. But the generation gap I think is just far too wide. And I'm not sure Vinnie would have the motivation to learn all the A7x stuff (that is, if he doesn't know it already). Vinnie could always play crushing metal-grooves and has sick double bass skills.
Ahhh...we call can dream I guess. It was nice to be able to enjoy music, especially metal music, the way I used to enjoy music. There had been a sonic void in my life for such a long time. Unfortunately, it's here again. RIP REV.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sick Hand
Full Tilt Poker Game #17090328461: Table Bomber (6 max) - $0.01/$0.02 - Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 23:48:54 ET - 2009/12/25
Seat 1: actzeng ($2.23)
Seat 2: Honda KnN ($0.89)
Seat 3: maktheknight ($2)
Seat 4: laaked in ($4.27)
Seat 5: M8KUPAY ($2.82)
Seat 6: oOoztoneoOo ($1.96)
Honda KnN posts the small blind of $0.01
maktheknight posts the big blind of $0.02
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to actzeng [Ac 7s Th Kc]
M8KUPAY folds
oOoztoneoOo calls $0.02
actzeng calls $0.02
Honda KnN calls $0.01
maktheknight checks
*** FLOP *** [9c 6s Qc]
Honda KnN checks
maktheknight bets $0.08
oOoztoneoOo folds
actzeng calls $0.08
Honda KnN folds
*** TURN *** [9c 6s Qc] [Tc]
maktheknight bets $0.24
actzeng calls $0.24
*** RIVER *** [9c 6s Qc Tc] [Jc]
maktheknight has 15 seconds left to act
maktheknight bets $0.72
actzeng has 15 seconds left to act
actzeng raises to $1.44
maktheknight has 15 seconds left to act
maktheknight raises to $1.66, and is all in
actzeng calls $0.22
*** SHOW DOWN ***
maktheknight shows [8c 3d 2c 7c] a straight flush, Jack high
actzeng shows [Ac 7s Th Kc] a Royal Flush
actzeng wins the pot ($3.78) with a Royal Flush
maktheknight is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $4.04 | Rake $0.26
Board: [9c 6s Qc Tc Jc]
Seat 1: actzeng (button) showed [Ac 7s Th Kc] and won ($3.78) with a Royal Flush
Seat 2: Honda KnN (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: maktheknight (big blind) showed [8c 3d 2c 7c] and lost with a straight flush, Jack high
Seat 4: laaked in is sitting out
Seat 5: M8KUPAY didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: oOoztoneoOo folded on the Flop
Seat 1: actzeng ($2.23)
Seat 2: Honda KnN ($0.89)
Seat 3: maktheknight ($2)
Seat 4: laaked in ($4.27)
Seat 5: M8KUPAY ($2.82)
Seat 6: oOoztoneoOo ($1.96)
Honda KnN posts the small blind of $0.01
maktheknight posts the big blind of $0.02
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to actzeng [Ac 7s Th Kc]
M8KUPAY folds
oOoztoneoOo calls $0.02
actzeng calls $0.02
Honda KnN calls $0.01
maktheknight checks
*** FLOP *** [9c 6s Qc]
Honda KnN checks
maktheknight bets $0.08
oOoztoneoOo folds
actzeng calls $0.08
Honda KnN folds
*** TURN *** [9c 6s Qc] [Tc]
maktheknight bets $0.24
actzeng calls $0.24
*** RIVER *** [9c 6s Qc Tc] [Jc]
maktheknight has 15 seconds left to act
maktheknight bets $0.72
actzeng has 15 seconds left to act
actzeng raises to $1.44
maktheknight has 15 seconds left to act
maktheknight raises to $1.66, and is all in
actzeng calls $0.22
*** SHOW DOWN ***
maktheknight shows [8c 3d 2c 7c] a straight flush, Jack high
actzeng shows [Ac 7s Th Kc] a Royal Flush
actzeng wins the pot ($3.78) with a Royal Flush
maktheknight is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $4.04 | Rake $0.26
Board: [9c 6s Qc Tc Jc]
Seat 1: actzeng (button) showed [Ac 7s Th Kc] and won ($3.78) with a Royal Flush
Seat 2: Honda KnN (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: maktheknight (big blind) showed [8c 3d 2c 7c] and lost with a straight flush, Jack high
Seat 4: laaked in is sitting out
Seat 5: M8KUPAY didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: oOoztoneoOo folded on the Flop
Friday, December 18, 2009
Still not making progress
Ok, so my $10 bonus got paid out, but it coincided with a pretty big SNG down swing. I lost a whole bunch in a row and then started playing HU PLO and then losing there too. In the end, I'm about even after last night.
I made $11 last night for finishing 7th in a 180-man tourney. Pretty disappointing, although I was probably lucky all in all to have even gotten that far. I won a couple flips late for my tournament life. Midway through the tourney I lost two huge pots with QQ to another guy's AA AIPF, and then a couple hands later I called an all in with A9 and the other guy had AQ, but I had him covered by a bunch. I was able to come back from those and make a late surge up the money ladder. I eventually busted out with AK to QQ. I was close to some real money, but even if I had won that flip, I still would have been a long shot.
I thought I played pretty focused poker. My laptop has shit out on me, so that I pretty much can't do anything on it but play poker. Instant messaging doesn't work, the internet locks up. Even the sound comes and goes. Given that, I have to pay a little more attention to what's going on. Definitely not good to play this way when trying to do other things, but if I'm just sitting down to play poker, it's not a bad way to go about it.
I've got a taste for the MTT now. Hope I have time to take one down this weekend.
I made $11 last night for finishing 7th in a 180-man tourney. Pretty disappointing, although I was probably lucky all in all to have even gotten that far. I won a couple flips late for my tournament life. Midway through the tourney I lost two huge pots with QQ to another guy's AA AIPF, and then a couple hands later I called an all in with A9 and the other guy had AQ, but I had him covered by a bunch. I was able to come back from those and make a late surge up the money ladder. I eventually busted out with AK to QQ. I was close to some real money, but even if I had won that flip, I still would have been a long shot.
I thought I played pretty focused poker. My laptop has shit out on me, so that I pretty much can't do anything on it but play poker. Instant messaging doesn't work, the internet locks up. Even the sound comes and goes. Given that, I have to pay a little more attention to what's going on. Definitely not good to play this way when trying to do other things, but if I'm just sitting down to play poker, it's not a bad way to go about it.
I've got a taste for the MTT now. Hope I have time to take one down this weekend.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
A little better
Pokerwise, things have gone a little better. Started to gain momentum in some SNGs and then even when that started to tank, I made up for it with PLO cash winnings (for once). I ended up just having one of those sessions where I flopped a set every time and hit all of my flush draws. I guess it's bound to happen if you're just used to getting beaten over the head.
The SNGs this weekend were pretty soft, at least softer than usual, due to SNG madness. I think people end up playing more tables than they're used to, so on any given table, there are at least a couple pushbots who either soar or implode within the first 20 hands or so. I won a couple, but it should have been more. There was at least a $5 that I should have won, but ended up in second because of less than optimal play on my part. I didn't win anything in the raffle, but I did win an entry into a freeroll that takes place late Saturday afternoon. It's open to people who won two SNGs over SNG madness. First place is a little less than $5k, and there are about 16,000 entrants, with 3000 or so getting paid. I will just be happy to cash of course. We'll see how it goes. Tough to say I'm due.
The MTTs have not been going as well lately, but I don't think I've played as many. I'm trying to get the FTP holiday bonus. FTP's first deposit bonus is really the best because they give you a lot of time to generate money to get paid back some bonus money. These current offers only give you 30 days, which, at the stakes I play, pretty much gives me a chance to win the first incremental payout, which is $10. I'm at about $8.60 or so with 10 days left, so I'll hit it. Probably this weekend.
Then, it will take a portion off my rakeback, I know. I feel like I should do something with the bonus money though - like put it into a satellite, or even just roll it into an SNG. I rarely take those shots though, and when I do, I've usually been drinking and the results are disastrous. For whatever reason $10 SNGs hate me. I've won a $20 before, but never a $10, I don't think.
The SNGs this weekend were pretty soft, at least softer than usual, due to SNG madness. I think people end up playing more tables than they're used to, so on any given table, there are at least a couple pushbots who either soar or implode within the first 20 hands or so. I won a couple, but it should have been more. There was at least a $5 that I should have won, but ended up in second because of less than optimal play on my part. I didn't win anything in the raffle, but I did win an entry into a freeroll that takes place late Saturday afternoon. It's open to people who won two SNGs over SNG madness. First place is a little less than $5k, and there are about 16,000 entrants, with 3000 or so getting paid. I will just be happy to cash of course. We'll see how it goes. Tough to say I'm due.
The MTTs have not been going as well lately, but I don't think I've played as many. I'm trying to get the FTP holiday bonus. FTP's first deposit bonus is really the best because they give you a lot of time to generate money to get paid back some bonus money. These current offers only give you 30 days, which, at the stakes I play, pretty much gives me a chance to win the first incremental payout, which is $10. I'm at about $8.60 or so with 10 days left, so I'll hit it. Probably this weekend.
Then, it will take a portion off my rakeback, I know. I feel like I should do something with the bonus money though - like put it into a satellite, or even just roll it into an SNG. I rarely take those shots though, and when I do, I've usually been drinking and the results are disastrous. For whatever reason $10 SNGs hate me. I've won a $20 before, but never a $10, I don't think.
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