ShawnRice
Friday, October 23, 2009 - Shawn Rice
This past Trip to Aruba was my 7th straight year, For those of you that have not been and enjoy playing poker this is true paradise. I always look forward to seeing all the many friends, and people I work with and many of the people that I play online with. I decided that this year I really want to play more of the preliminary events this year as I rarely ever play those because I am in paradise and would rather do other non poker related stuff. I know my girlfriend was flying out later in the week for the final few days and the closing partys, So I wanted to play a little more live this year than previous years. I flew in about 10pm met up with a few friends and really wanted to take it easy that night, went and paid my way into the $540 for the following day so I knew I could not get wasted that night. I did play a little sit & go with Ho, Debo, Debo’s wife Erin, Mamma Ho and Susie Q, I think I chopped 2 of them and lost the last one and ended up in a cash game. Ho was ordering drinks and before I knew it I was double fisted drinking double crown and cokes and then Debo is ordering shots, so much for taking it easy in Aruba.
After the sit & go’s Ho jumped into a cash game and let me tell you he can liven up a cash game, ever pot was raised and reraised before the flop, I think I got lucky with AJ and beat AK for about a $900 pot, I was no way folding top pair in that game and I got lucky and hit. I won a little playing the cash game, I think Ho started out losing a few thousand and ended up killing them. He played his image so well and is a master in talking other players into do what he wants them to do.
I get to bed around 6am which is ok because my tourney does not start until 2pm. When I got to my table I could not have asked for a better table, everyone was limping and at early levels I don’t like to punish the limpers til the blinds get higher or the antes kick in, I like to let them know I am totally ok with them limping. within the first 2 rounds I had already doubled my 3k starting stack with no real risk. The players at my table were calling my raises with really wide ranges. I then look up and find that Ho, Jon Green , Debo and Mike “WiscoMurray” are all out in the 1st level. I must say I was really shocked to see that. I was a little pissed at myself because I forgot to ask Ho for the usual $500 last longer bet. I am about a 20 to one favorite when I make this bet, I think I have lost it once or twice in the many years we have made this bet, I always remind him of that time he beat me and he is always ready to try his luck again. I got out of the gate pretty quick and had some chips early but as it got down to the final table I was near last in chips, Only the final table got paid there was 95 players who started, I did make one move with 7s8s when I reraised the botton when I had about 14 times the big blind and he called my reraise all in with A 10 I out flopped him and doubled up to over 30x with a shot to win this thing.
It got down to 3 players, the final 3 deserved to be the final 3 in my opinion as my other two opponents were very skilled players, One of which being Frank “gator93″. Gator has won like well over 400k online in recent months and I know he wanted the win more than the 15k first prize, Frank raised 5x on the button 3 handed, small blind folded and I look down at my all time favorite hand, 2 black aces, I know if I reraise him here I will most likely get a fold on many hands in his range, so I decided like I had a little bit of a tough decision and just called, knowing he was going to continuation bet the flop, the flop come King high and 2 rags and to my shock he check it, the turn was another club making a possible flush draw, I bet into the flop and as I was putting chips in Frank yelled he was all In, I called he had raised with KcQc and had top pair and a flush draw to my to black aces, He bricked the river and I had a monster chip lead heads up, I had close to 200k in chips and my opponent had a little over 100K and we agreed to a chip chop and ended the night. The 13k was a great start for my drinking tab in Aruba. I took the next day off as I know I would play day 1b the following day. I spent lots of the next morning doing photo shoots and video interviews for UB and would be in the UB Icon suite checking up on my friends whom played day 1a, Later that night I went out to eat at a wonderful steak house in Aruba called El Gauchos with Frank. I took it very easy that night as I take a day before a major tourney very serious.
Day 1b seemed to be very stacked with lots of pros. I hated my table I had 2 world class players at my table , Gavin Smith along with Robert Mizrachi (”The Grinders” brother) and I knew if I made any mistake I would be punished. I didn’t forget to make my $500 last longer with Ho this time and that’s always sweet. He lasted til the beginning of the 2nd level. Ho did very well in Aruba last year making the final few tables before he blew up and gave Matt Brady a monster stack which Matt used to win the million dollar first prize.
I have played alot with Gavin over the last 5 or 6 years and not much with Robert, But I can tell you this , he is no prize to have at your table, He plays super and I totally respect his game. I got lucky in the 2nd level beating Tony from The Best Damn Poker Show season 2 with my AA on and A63 board and Tony holding 66, Those are just sick and Tong is a world class guy and hating to see him have to go out that way. Level 2 I was catching lots of cards and chipping up really well and had about 35k at one point from my 15k starting stack, I did get down below 8k at one point and finished the day around 13k. Day 2 was a bit of a grind as well and I had Eric Baldwin whom is from Madison WI, Who now lives in Las Vegas on my table, but luckily he was 2 seats to my right and he was sure torcher to may of the players he got involved with. I also got the chance to play with Tiffany Michelle who is now starting in this seasons Amazing Race on CBS, I used to work with Tiffany when I did lots of Radio for Bluff radio during the WSOP a couple of years back, It’s so good to see she is doing well in the poker and entertainment world, She is really a sweet lady. I ended day 3 with about 24k in chips and knew I would need to get a good start on day 3 to have a shot at this tourney that had 475 entrys.
On Day 3 I could not of got a worse table draw or seat position, two seats to my left of Robert Mizrachi and two seats to his left was Eric Baldwin, I did chip up to over 60k at one point for every bit of about 2 hands then I was on the button with 88 and Robert ended up with 99 and I was back down to around 30k, I was later in the big blind with about 13 or 14 times the big blind and it was raised from mid position from a guy who the day before called my UTG raise with Qh8h from the big blind when I flopped top set and he flopped a gutter and a flush draw we played a big pot and I doubled when he bricked out. So I am thinking he could have a big range but I know if I push and play for a 60k pot I am at best 50%, So I took in the value of just calling and seeing if I hit the flop and if I do I will give him some rope but checking and let him try and hang himslef. The flop come ace high , I checked it, he bet, I reraised him he called with AQ and GG me.
The following day I played a 1k buyin tourney and never really got ahould of any chips, I lasted til about 8 pm then when I busted I went and played the charity event UB put on for a local business that helps kids and familys in need. While playing the 1k tourney this lady on my left raised UTG with TT and gets called by 99 in late position and the button reraised with JT she and the other guy both call, the flop comes T high, she the the guy with JT get it all in and the board comes running JJ for her to lose her chips and double him up. Now a few minutes go by and she is still steaming and she reraised the guy whom had JT earlier and he calls half off his stack the flop comes JJ9 and she bets the flop and he calls making him all in and she flips over AA and he flips over Jc9c she screams out “God, I wanna kill a baby” I was in total shock hear a lady say this , right then and there I knew I wanted to bet she has never had a child, don’t worry river comes an ace and she busted him. I have heard many times over the years when you need to get lucky players will hollar “Just one time” but never had I heard that, But if it does work, I think poker players will say anything to make themselfs a little luckier.
The following day 10 of us had a shot at a $62,000 Mercedes, I was the second player knocked out when my TT ran into Ryan “papaGEORGIO’s JJ, Poker Ho was still playing and got heads up and ending up doing really well because they agreed to a chop and I had a small % of Ho which added to my drinking fund.
My girlfriend Amy fly in around 10pm that night, I went with my driver for the past 7 years named Henry and we picked her up and headed off to Phil Hellmuths private party ontop of the raddison in his suite. We just missed the Dan Band play, but the party was killer, check out many of the videos on youtube.com
The next night was the closing party and both Eric and Robert make the final table , Eric finishing 4th and ended up leading the Card Player of the Year points leader and Robert ended up in 2nd place , winning this year was Brandon Hall from Pa winning a little over three quarters of a million for his efferts., Thats a nice way to enjoy a trip in paradise.
The Dan Band was awesome as there were in Vegas when they played for our WSOP party a couple of years back, Many people got into the pool and it was really a ton of fun. The opening part rocked as well with tons of people in the pool and lets just say some where wearing less than others thanks to Phil’s bribes. and NO I was not offended in any way.
I hope you are all planning on next years Aruba trip, they just seem to get better and better, I missed seeing a few of you and hope this next year can be the best ever!
I am off to go help teach the November Nine Final Table Academy in Las vegas on Nov 6th, 7th and 8th Featuring poker instructors Phil Hellmuth, Greg Raymer, Bernard Lee, Mark Seif, Mark Kroon, Erica Schoenberg. Special Presentation by WSOP Commissioner, Jeffrey Pollack. Hope to see you there as well.
Proud UB Team Member
Shawn Rice
Tags: Aruba, Bernard Lee, best damn poker show 2, Bluff Radio, Debo, Eric Baldwin, Erica Schoenberg, Gavin Smith, greg raymer, jeffrey pollack, Jon Green, mark kroon, Mark Seif, matt brady, Mercedes, P0ker H0, Phil Hellmuth, Poker Poker Poker, Robert Mizrachi, ShawnRice, The Amazing Race, The Dan Band, Tiffany "Tiffany M" Michelle, ub, UB Team, Vegas, wiscomurray, WSOP
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Thursday, June 18, 2009 - Shawn Rice
I know the WSOP is well underway and I had to do a little business before heading out and I will be out there this weekend off and on til the main event. If at all possible please try and come by on June 29th , UB will be having a monster party at Studio 54 at the MGM. Let me tell you if you have not been before the UB party’s ROCK! Its great to see old friends and meet many of the players you play online with often. I just got a call from Gary “Debo34″ Debernardi and he invited me to a Stone Temple Pilots concert at the Palms on July 2nd, we seen them there last year with Scott Ian and Pearl Aday and a few other friends, It was a killer show and we all hung out at the bar after the show and tons of people wanted pics and autographs from Scott… he handles that stuff so well. I have seen my share of jerk who hate to be bothered when in public, Scott was way more than happy to take the pics and all. He is a very down to earth type of person who has a strong passion for the game we all love and has been kicking ass online. In fact he won the Sunday 200k a couple of months back. I won it in December and he had to go and show me up! I am super happy for him. If you go and read his blog he writes about being really sick that weekend and having to miss a family reunion.. It’s no fluke I know Scott well and his game is really solid. I can honestly say he is the most improved player I know over the past year or year and a half.
After the WSOP I plan on playing lots online and getting ready for Aruba. That’s always the best trip of the year, I am the type of guy who never really gets sick and when I do it’s really bad. I was really sick last year there for too many of the days there. I even missed Phil’s party in bed with the cold sweats and running a very high temperature. I can’t wait to make it all up and bring your camera as this will be filled with a lifetime full of memories. Last year Annie had to leave a lil early and head to New York to film the Celebrity Apprentice. I must admit I was addicted to the show, I loved them in years past and this last season was the best ever. I so hated the ending as it was given to one of Donald’s pals. Annie was so deserving and I am so sick about the results I know I can’t stomach to watch another season after feeling punked.
I have been pretty busy doing some private poker lessons and let me tell you. You better be on your toes with the questions I get. They are very very deep type questions. I think it’s a really smart thing to do to try and better your game. I’ve been playing lots of Pot Limit Omaha 8 or better live in Amarillo and I have learned a lot from the local guys here. Mostly from a player named Nathan Wiesner who sometimes comes over to the house to play online tourneys and lets me watch him and ask tons of questions. Last time I seen Annie I asked her a few questions that helped me tons in that game. I feel like my PLO game is very solid and has been for years as that’s the game I was first taught how to play about 20 years ago. It would seem that it’s not hard to adjust from one game to the other but on a higher level it’s played very different. I took forward to learning it as that’s where the money is at around here in the local games. West Texas has been famous for having good players over the years and let me tell you there are still many here. I just know it’s a matter of time before you will hear of them, they just need a little volume to get these great results, They are already kicking butt online and play live really well.
I have also been playing a lil golf on the par 3 course that was formally owned my Amarillo Slim with a lot of the guys I regularly play cards with. It’s great exercise and I even hit a hole in one about 6 weeks back, let me tell you it was all 100% luck. I know many good players who have never hit one including my dad who used to play 6 days a week and was close to a scratch golfer. I know better than play the bigger course as the last time I was out there I lose a lil over $10,000 to some guys from a surounding town. I played in a scramble and I was never any help to my partner. I am hoping to match up again so I have lots of incentive to better my golf game.
Come by and say hello at the WSOP and hope you can make the party in Vegas, If not win your seat to Aruba, It’s the time of your life. Hope to see many of you soon and if you have any poker questions, please write into to “Ask a pro” and we will try our best to get your game back on a winning course.
Proud UB Team Member
Shawn Rice
Tags: Annie Duke, Aruba, Celebrity Apprentice, Debo34, MGM, New York, Palms, Pearl Aday, Phil Hellmuth, Scott Ian, Stone Temple Pilots, Studio 54, ub, Vegas, WSOP
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Sunday, May 31, 2009 - Shawn Rice
Hello Fellow UBers
It’s World Series of Poker Time again.
I don’t know if you have been or not but it’s massive ball rooms filled with tables with people from all over the world trying to win a bracelet. I was lucky enough to get 2nd in 2004 on the first televised event. It aired the other night on ESPN Classic and to be honest with you I can’t watch the end of it. It makes me sick to think of how close I was and not win one. On the good side, I feel by not winning it made me a much better player, I have worked very hard on my poker game in all areas. I have made it my mission to be the best player I can possibly be. I try and learn poker all the time anyway possible. I have not only taught at many poker camps over the years but my favorite part is listening to the world class pros that also teach. When people ask me who taught me poker it’s a very very long list mixed with many names you know like Annie Duke, Hoyt Corkins, Amarillo Slim, Mark “P0ker H0″ Kroon and Gary “Debo34″ Debernardi and the mental aspects of dealing with pokers ups and downs from Howard Lederer and many you may not of heard of like Chris “Brsavage” Savage, Paul “Beanie” Nobles and Aaron “Loewa79″ Loew. I have also learned a lot from players with lots less skill. Don’t think you can’t learn from players with less skill because you can learn from their mistakes as well instead of you having to learn the hard way. I found out over the years that I really do love to teach this game I very much love. I am not going to give a list of names of whom I have spent many hours on the phone with helping them with their poker game because I don’t want to turn this into a bragging blog but I can say that I am most proud of that part of my poker career. I love seeing my friends doing well and kicking ass in the poker world. This will be a life changing experience for many poker players whom will attend. It’s a great value for the good players as there will be tons of money to be won. I hope if you attend you win your share.
I am going to play a few events and play tons of cash games while I am there. I have learned over the years it’s hard to make steady money playing bigger buy-in tourneys. The cash games is where the steady money is without the major swings that a tourney has. I have been working a lot on my cash game play over this past year and hope I can take what I have learned and apply it and come away with a very successful series.
UB has already started tourneys for the Aruba Classic, This will be my 7th year playing this event and let me tell you it’s the best tourney you could ever wanna play. Matt Savage will be the tourney director and he runs the best structured tourneys anyone could ever ask for. Everyone is there having the time of their life, The nightlife and the beaches are awesome and you have a good chance of winning close to a million dollars. A few years back I got 12th, I was the chip leader and lose a monster race with Layne Flack, I had AcQc vs JJ, we get all in preflop and flop come Jack high with 2 clubs and I could not improve and I was cripples and out shortly after, I will let ya know when I am over it, 1st that year was a million dollars and filmed for the WPT. P0ker H0 got 11th that year and it would of been a blast if we both made that final table.
Come by and say hello to any of the UB pros while we are there, We love hearing from you and I am involved with a bunch of great people.
Proud UB Team Member
Shawn Rice
Tags: Annie Duke, aruba classic, espn, Matt Savage, Poker Poker Poker, Poker Pros, ub, WPT, WSOP
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Sunday, April 26, 2009 - Shawn Rice
Something that came up the other night while playing live poker. A player named Cody and I get involved in a pot. We are playing NL Holdem cash game, I raise to $60 from mid position with 9c 9h, Cody completes from the big blind for $40 more the flop comes Jc Tc 6h, Cody checks, I bet $90 into a $130 pot Cody Calls. The turn card is 3d. Cody checks again and I decide to play the player whom I have played many hours with here. I check the turn because the pot is now $310 and Cody has $650 in front of him and I know if bet the turn and get called or raised I must have the worst hand here and drawing to only 2 outs. I hate to give free cards here because any card from a 7 to an Ace or a clubs is a bad card for me. But I also know by checking Cody will 100% bet the river no matter what comes on 5th street. The river was the 2d and I was a littlsurpriseded when he went all in on the river betting $650 into a $310 pot. My first instint was to call because why would he bet so much into a $310 pot? I know river bets are made to extract value for the hand you have or river bets are made because that the only way you can win the pot. So I start the interview process and ask Cody in a laughing way “Cody, Why in the hell did you bet so much?” I wanted to see his reaction to my question. I could tell he was not super happy about the bet he just made and he knew I figured out that he bet in no way made sense because if he had a pair of Jacks or Tens he would of bet alot less and more of a protection bet so i would not raise him unless I have a monster hand. I was now 95% sure I was going to call here but I wanted to talk a little more to him and asked him “To be honest with me and tell me why I should fold to this massive bet for the pot size?” The reason I asked this question was to get a little more information from him and also to let others know at the table if they try and bluff me and their story they are telling at the poker table does not make sense they will also have to go through an interview process and making them think twice about wanting to bluff me as opposed to some of the other players at the table. He was staring me down trying to act really strong with his hand and when I seen this I knew my 2 nines were golden. I called and won the pot and he was in total shock I would call $650 in that spot. I told him he put me on a really tough decision by making such a big bet, when infact the big bet made the decision much easier to make.
Cody went home thinking how lucky I was to have made that call when he gave me many signs my hand was good. Cody left shaking his head telling everyone how unlucky he was that night, I don’t see Cody’s luck changing anytime soon until he learns some of the finer aspects of NL Holdem.
Always ask yourself when you see a river bet, Is this player trying to extract money from me with his good hand? or is this person betting because it’s the only way they can win the pot? Remember some advanced players will do something called a “value bet bluff”, meaning the are betting the river at a discounted price looking as if they are wanting a call and often getting someone to fold a better hand. You almost never see this play from a beginner and many top pros use this play quite a bit.
Good Luck on the River
Proud UB Team Member
Shawn Rice
Tags: big blind, NL Holdem
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Saturday, March 14, 2009 - Shawn Rice
Hello UB:
You often see players enter into the bigger tourneys like the Main Event of the WSOP whom have no or very little chance to do well. No matter if its a 10k event or a $200 online event, Earn your way in. Satellites are the key here. They offer you the best way to enter at a much cheaper rate. You will also be gaining the much needed experience we all need. If you just keep playing the higher buyin tourneys and your return is not doing very well is a great way to kill your bankroll. Another great thing about playing satellites is when you win your entry into the tourney and you cash in the tourney you will already have a good profit, Lets say you put up $200 for a shot at a WSOP 10k Main Event seat and win your seat. Now even if you barely cash in the event and say that pays $18,000 or so you now have a great profit as oppose to you putting up the 10k to play , then beat over 90% of the players and not even double your investment. I am in noway saying you should just play to try and cash in the tourney, you should always play to win or finish in the top 3 of every tourney you inter if there is a graduating pay scale because thats where the real big money is of most all tourneys.
This seems to be the time to start playing tons of satallites with the WSOP coming up along with the WPT Championship just around the corner. Thats a 25k buyin that stings when you get knocked out of it. Trust me I know the feeling. Last year I get in all in on the 2nd level with AA vs KK on a 10 high flop. Winning the pot would of put me at 107k in chips, the chip leader of day 1A was somthing like 157k in chips. Being there will also be lots of event this year at the WSOP and to just buyin and not do well will be very expensive I suggest you play many of the sit and goes and win your way in or play tons online and get your bankroll upto a comfortable point where you can buyin. My favorite way to enter live events if from the comfort of my own home. You can play tons of satellites every week and with lots of volume I am assured to get in at a very good discount.
Its been a blast watching Annie on Celebrity Apprentice. It’s an honor to be her coach on the Best Damn Poker Show and I often get asked whats Annie really like as a person.The show shows you part of her personality. She is well educated and stands up for what she believes. She is always very fair and will be open for change but the best thing I can say about Annie is she is a wonderful mother. Her kids always come first to her that’s why you don’t see her on the tournament trail as you do many other poker players. Annie also has a promo called “Annie Dukes Apprentice Challenge” where you have a chance to win a trip to Aruba along with many other prizes including buyins to many online tourneys. Check it out
I hope to see ya at the satellites tables
Proud UB Team Member
Shawn Rice
Tags: Add new tag, Annie Duke, Aruba, bankroll, Celebrity Apprentice, Online Poker, WPT, WSOP
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Monday, February 2, 2009 - Shawn Rice
As I write this I just finished up playing a couple of the UB bigger tourneys and some PLO cheaper cash games for most of the day from around noon til after midnight Texas time. I did final table the 15k guaranteed 30 rebuy that gets close to 20k in buyin and is a super tourney because after the double rebuy period you are guaranteed a nice stack going into when the real poker starts and the blinds kick in. I cash for about $900 and while I was playing I had a couple of guys over my shoulder asking me tons of questions as to why I bet in certain situations and decided to not see flops with a certain range of cards. It really helped me stay on my toes because I had to justify my playing behavior.
One key hand stands out when the blinds were 500/1000 with antes and the button pushed all in for 20 times the big blind and on the two previous occasions when it folded to him I push over the top with hands I am suppose to make that move with, Now when it folded to him he just open shoves for 20x and I am in the small blind with Ah. I think about it for a little while and I decide to get my chips in here because I know that must be a frustration raise and I even told the two watching me he is sick of me and might push all in, and if he does I will call his ass. I called the big blind folded and if I lost I would have been left with only 7k in chips and the button. I have been in much worse spots than that, but I am trying to get my chips in good and make the top 3 spots where over half the money is being paid. I call he flips over 7 2, no joke! 7 2. Nothing on the flop for either of us and the turn is a freaking 7h and the last card is the Kh giving me runner runner flush and the pot.
Why are some people not aware of their own image? I was just lucky that the big blind didn’t wake up with a hand because I figured there was no chance the player on the button had a hand he really liked. Who says there is no reading in online poker? These top online players who get there often are pretty skillful and great to watch. Find a top online player who plays your style and try and see what works for them.
I have been away a bit since the UBOC3 tourneys as I played every one of them every day and as I write this I am getting over being sick and bed-ridden for the last several days. I feel better and thanks for many of your calls. I have some friends that are going through some really tough times. I myself just had a grandmother that had a heart attack in Oklahoma and she is 85 and doing really well now. Bless her heart.
It makes me just sit back and think about how damn lucky we are to have the loved ones in our life and what it means to us deep down. I am Thankful for all my friends, my UB family and my family at home. I feel like I am free rolling for life. I am very blessed and the ups and downs of poker seem very small in the overall picture.
Ever notice that the top poker players in the world wouldn’t let the bad beats destroy their game? They roll with the punches and move on and see what just happened and how it affects the take and how they can exploit it to their benefit. Even the Poker Brat himself screams and hollers but it never EVER tilts his play, He is a world class pro and that’s part of the reason why.
Speaking of educating yourself, I just got a really interesting email I want to share with you all. I really believe education is the key to life and is the road to success. Check out www.decisioneducation.org . It’s a Celebrity Poker Tournament FUNdraiser that benefits the DEF Teacher Scholarship Fund.
I know my blogs are always kinda long and I am sorry but I love to talk poker and help others in their game it’s very rewarding in many ways.
Good Luck to all the UBers.
Proud UB Team Member
Shawn Rice
Tags: big blind, Online Poker, small blind, UBOC
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Tuesday, January 20, 2009 - Shawn Rice
The UBOC3 just wrapped up and I love this time of year as it’s fun to play the higher buyin tourneys. I am somewhat disappointed in my results and not super happy with my play. It seems when I do bad it’s often self induced. I know when I put myself in a situation where I am forced to guess it’s often bad for me. In the final 1k buyin, $1,000,000 guaranteed main event there was over 1,100 players and it paid over 100 spots. I was down to less than 200 players in about 54th place and an early seat player double raises. If you know anything about me I always hate the double raise play because you are putting chips in the pot and gaining no information on the others behind you or the blind hands. I have 2 red 9’s and I hate to reraise here and possibly have to fold preflop; I hate to just fold here and I decide to just call and see a flop. Now the button makes a pot size squeeze play, the double raiser folds and I am certain by the size of his raise he does not have AA, KK or even QQ, so I have to worry about JJ or TT and flipping vs AK and with the double raiser folding maybe the deck could be a lil short on aces. I take the gamble and call and he shows JJ. I am knocked out and hate the way I played the hand. I know I am supposed to fold the 9’s there and just move on. I know most all I can beat if there is a bluff (88 or worse).
The Best Damn Poker Show has aired and it’s bringing back many good memories. This show is without the star power of the first show and in my opinion is a much better show overall. There is a little less fighting with Annie and Phil and better overall poker playing. I don’t think any of the players are as good as several of the players of last year that included Gary “Debo34″ DeBernardi, Mike “WiscoMurray” Murray and Tracy “Fatcats” Scala, but overall there were alot less mistakes and really good playing. Keep watching every week as the show gets very interesting all the way til the end, trust me.
Also check out Rounders Radio every Sunday night at 8pm Est on www.roundersradio.com. It’s a great radio show with Annie Duke and Mark “P0ker H0″ Kroon with very entertaining guests. I listen to every broadcast and I even try and call in but the lines are so busy I can’t get through. I will be calling in the next few weeks, so if you have any questions for me or any of us please call in and ask away. We all love to talk poker and strategy and love to hear from people whom are serious about their game.
I plan on being in Vegas for the Super Bowl and I will be making a big bet that there will be a score in the last two minutes of the first half. I am currently shopping around for the best price. I have not made this bet in a few years and am very thankful I have not. The Cardinals sure look good to me getting 7 points the way they beat up Carolina and Philadelphia really impressed me. I am hoping to find some Arizona plus 7.5 somewhere before the game starts. I do think if Arizona covers the spread it will go over the 47 point total and if Pittsburgh covers it will go under the 47 points. This is pretty rare. Usually when you like the favorite you like the over and when you like the underdog you like the under. I think if Pittsburgh controls the game it will be low scoring because their defense will with it for them and if Arizona covers it’s because their offense is on fire like it has been in recent weeks.
Good Luck online fellow Ubers
Proud UB Team Member
Shawn Rice
Tags: Annie Duke, Best Damn Poker Show, Debo34, P0ker H0, Phil Hellmuth, Poker Strategy, rounders radio, ShawnRice, Super Bowl, UBOC
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Tuesday, December 23, 2008 - Shawn Rice
Hello fellow UBers,
I have taken a small break and have not been playing as much lately because of some family medical problems. All seems to be much better now and thanks for the kind words from many of my friends.
Maybe a small break is just what I needed because I now have a strong desire to play poker like I have not had in a long time. As many of you know, UB puts me and a few other pros into the Ultimate Bet $200k guaranteed most every week with bounties on our heads. This makes it much tougher to win. You better not be bluffing too much too early because if someone knocks you out they win $200.
I just grinded away like I do most every Sunday and with like 70 players left I was the chip leader and I said to myself, “Damn I really have a good chance of winning this”. It is when I get close to the final few tables where I think I have a real advantage. Many people are looking to try and go up the pay scale and I am just looking to play situations where I can pick up as many chips as possible. I make the final table with under average chips but I felt totally ok with my stack because I was something like 40 times the big blind; and with the UB structure that Annie Duke help create I felt great about my position.
I did get lucky once. I was against a very aggressive player and I was in desperate mode. He picked up A3 suited and ran into A9 on a A78 flop. I get it all in and turn a 3, BINGO, I doubled up and made it to the final 3 and played what seems forever 3 handed. IMOLDPLZFOLD whom finished 3rd was very aggressive and I felt it was just a matter of time before he would run into a big hand and he finally did.
When it got to heads up, I had a very tiny chip lead and offered to chop. Second place was 27k and first was 46k. I had a lot of respect for FEEDMEMUNE’s game and therefore told him I would take 37k and offer him 36k. He agreed and we used the new chop system that UB now has at its final tables. The online UB Manager showed up immediately and I had my share in my account in no time.
More so than the money, I wanted the win. If I could get him to agree to the chop I would get that. I will be requesting the hand history for this tourney and will make a video for the public to see what I was thinking when I had to make the tougher decisions. I will post it on Pro Play Live where Annie and I have made videos along with many of today’s top poker players.
Looking back on this tourney, I think what helped me and what I did a little different is that I folded many close hands early. Say it was raised and I had a small pocket pair, I just decided I would not risk 10% of my stack to see the flop. I’d rather use my chips and being the agressor. I learned this from Loewa79 and Brsavage whom I think are the best at avoiding bad situations as far as calling your money off.
Thanks to everyone that watched and wished me well and congrats over the past week. I hope to make it happen again very soon.
Proud UB Team Member
Shawn Rice
Tags: 200k guarenteed, Annie Duke, poker tournaments
Comments (2)
Thursday, December 18, 2008 - smokin_aces
I’ve actually started creating a little online library of poker tips from the last month of ‘Ask A Pro’. We have an extra special pro coming up in the near future so stay tuned!
This week we have Ultimate Bet Pro Shawn Rice as our guest. Our resident Ultimate Bet Blog contributer paulodiablo yet again comes through with a great question. He even had the grace to hold off for a few days in hopes more blog readers would jump at the chance to get their voices heard by the pros.
Here’s paulodiablo’s question for Shawn Rice.
“Shawn, this question relates to your article on shifting gears in tourney play. You mentioned the bubble and shorthanded as good times to open up the amount of hands you play. What hands would you consider playing in these situations that you wouldn’t when playing tight? Also what guidelines for stack size and blind rations do you use for making moves?”
And now Shawn’s answer.
“First off with your question about bubble situations there is no easy answer to this. The best way to chip up in these situations is to try and get away with what others at your table will allow. If you are playing the Sunday 200K for example and you are near the money bubble and everyone is playing very careful and trying to not get involved in many pots because they really want to cash because many people satellited into the event for much less than the $215 entree fee. Take advantage of this and open your starting range a little wider. Say you would never raise UTG with a hand like A 10 with 8 others behind you, Now that you know everyone is playing super careful and no chance you would get called by someone with lets say AQ or someone with a small or even a medium size pair because they don’t want to get involved til everyone is in the money without a really big hand these are situations to look for. You might even want to not even raise a full 3 times the big blind either, Maybe if you raise 2.5 times the big blind and do this more often you will find yourself winning lots more uncontested pots. You want to be able to raise the least amount and be able to get the desired results, This is always the case throughout the tournament.
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Your other question about “What guidelines for stack size and blind rations do you use for making moves?”
It is well known everyone feels really desperate at 10 times the big blind, Because if you raise most any pot you will be getting such a good price that folding is probably not going to be a great option for you. With that being said you will often be getting called because they know your range of hands you are likely to play is quite wide. What I have done to adapt to this is I feel very desperate at 15 times the big blind. I get lots more respect because they think I must have a hand because they don’t see me as being desperate. Even if I get a little lucky and double up when I am at 15x. I will now be well over 30x counting all the blinds and antes and possible limpers in the pot. If I was say to wait til I was 7 or 8 times the big blind and get lucky enough to double up, I am still somewhat desperate and it’s true you will very likely have to get a little lucky to win a large field poker tourney. I rather be in a situation of when this does happen to me, I am still not desperate. When you are 30 times the big blind (30x) you can raise and if you get reraise you can fold and still not be desperate. If you are around the 20x you can now reraise others and now they can fold to you pretty easy if that have as many chips as you do. So I am often looking for places to reraise when I am around 20x. When I am 15x or less I know I am going to play for all of my chips and my decision process is alot easier, It’s mainly all or nothing. I often get asked if I have a big hand at like 12x should I just call or do a small raise to entice action. I like to not let my hand value determine how I play the hand. I would shove with 88 there so if I start only 3 betting with AA, later I will be easier to read, If you shove with AA there when you are 12x, It look weak anyways and you are libel to get a weak call with lets say 10 10 or even AQ.
These are little secrets that work for me. With that being said there are always exceptions to the rules. When my table is playing very fast and there is lots of raising going on, I lay back and play a much tighter range of hands because I know when I do pick up a hand I will get it paid off. If I go through a long drought of not picking up any hands i will see who is running without the ball pretty often and play my tight image against them and “tax them” for playing to many hands with a reraise and I am likely to get the respect I deserve and still maintain a nice chip stack. Always be aware of your image as well as others at the table and use this to your advantage.
Proud UB Team Member
Shawn Rice”
Check back at the regular time tomorrow to see which Ultimate Bet pro will be answering the question next week. As well, follow paulodiablo’s lead and grab your chance to have a question answered by a real live pro.
GL
Aces
Tags: Ask A Pro, ShawnRice
Comments (1)
Friday, December 12, 2008 - smokin_aces
What’s up Ultimate Bettonians? Hopefully some of you diligent poker practitioners have been able to use the ‘Ask a Pro‘ posts to improve your game. The advice we’re starting to accumulate here is the free version of stuff being sold online for tens of dollars! I feel privileged to be able to deal with the Pros on a regular basis to facilitate this column. If I could post a question for Phil Mickleson on the Titleist blog (oh wait there isn’t one) I would love the oppoutunity! The Ultimate Bet blog gives you the poker equivalent.
Got a looming question that needs the expert touch? Post that question in the comments section of this blog. To see the past ‘Ask a Pro’ blogs (Annie Duke, Hollywood Dave, Scott Ian) use the categories on the right side of the page and select ‘Ask a Pro’.
This week you’ll be asking questions to Ultimate Bet Online Pro Shawn Rice. If you’re unfamiliar with Shawn Rice, check this out. Shawn has the dubious distinction of learning poker from none other than Amarillo Slim! If you’re unfamiliar with Amarillo Slim please take up cribbage immediately. Initially a pool player, Shawn began working at Slim’s Pool Hall in Lubbock, Texas. One dark and stormy night, Shawn crept through a secret passage way and crawled through a dimly lit tunnel leading to a jewel encrusted cave where Slim and friends enjoyed a late night high stakes poker game. Ok, maybe a bit dramatic, but anyway Slim taught him the ropes in the back of the pool hall each night. Now you’ve got the chance to ask Shawn Rice a question!
Post your question in the comments section of this blog and check back next Thursday to see if your question was chosen.
Ask Shawn Rice a question now!
GL
Aces
Tags: Ask A Pro
Comments (1)
