Monday, November 2, 2009 - Joe Sebok
What’s up UB?! Hope that all are doing well and life is nothing but good out there. I have tried to play more and more on the site recently, had a couple of winning small sessions playing the $1-$2 game, and then got my ass kicked pretty good one day as well. I just like sitting around with ya’ll and chatting it up as well, so that has been more my focus with playing on the site so far. Seems I haven’t had enough time to really get serious with the cash game playing much, which explains the small stakes. I’ve played the Sunday $200k as well a few times, but haven’t managed to get anything going there at all. I’ll have to check with Cantu about how he does it. That fool seems to win a UB tournament every other week. Wtf? How is he pulling this off? Big wowzers…
I’m writing from Miami airport, on yet another business trip out of the country. I swear, you would think I was more important with all of these trips I am taking all the time. Haha. One this is sickly for sure: I am racking up mad frequent flyer miles. 
Just flew here from Vegas this morning, where I had just finished up taping my very first episode of “Poker After Dark”…but hopefully not my last. I always think I talk so much more than other poker players that they will want my ass on those shows. We’ll see if this inaugural Seebs episode sparks them to bring me back. I can always hope. My lineup featured Howard Lederer, Ali Nejad, Gabe Kaplan, Mark Gregorich, and Kara Scott and the theme was media-based. Was a total blast. You’ll have to wait for it to air to see who won though.
It’s unbelievable that the WSOP final table is just around the corner, and by corner I mean next weekend. I am sickly excited and am obviously pulling for Phil to work some magic and somehow take down that title. It’s hard for me to see anyone disputing that he is the best that has ever played if he can win that bracelet. I think he will have moved solidly past Chip and Doyle for all around dominance with a win there, and that’s to say nothing of his online game, where he crushes too. The dude is a total machine.
Speaking of the final table, be looking for me to do some commentating on the Bluff show that UB is sponsoring. Should be a blast and I’m excited about it. We’ll also be recording some “PokerRoad Radio” episodes as well, so be looking for those. Basically, it’s going to be a seriously busy weekend in Las Vegas coming up. I’ll also have a pretty big announcement that we are going to be letting out of the bag during next weekend as well, so be paying attention for that.
All of you be good, and I’ll holler at you soon!
peace,
J
Tags: Ali Nejad, bluff, Brandon Cantu, gabe kaplan, Howard Lederer, Kara Scott, Mark Gregorich, Online Poker, Phil Hellmuth, Poker After Dark, Poker Poker Poker, Poker Road Radio, tournaments, ub, Vegas, WSOP
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Saturday, October 31, 2009 - 7tempeheat7
It’s been just over two years now since I made my first deposit on UB. After 25 months of blood, sweat, and carpal tunnel (there’s no crying in poker unless you have 11 bracelets), I can definitely say it has been a wild, fulfilling ride. Looking back, I don’t regret much at all. Sure there are the bluffs you wish you hadn’t fired, the thin value bets that went horribly wrong, the spazzes, the blowups, the monkeytilt headsup matches, the awesomely bad misclicks, and of course that 7deuce pot where your three-barrel overbet shove just didn’t do the trick. What I’ve found at UB hasn’t just been another site to kill time on, a substitute for late night TV, or a way to scrape up tuition money – I’ve found a lifelong hobby, a passion for what I do, a family, and more opportunity than I know what to do with.
In my time on UB I’ve been fortunate enough to experience more than most 22-year-olds could even imagine. To begin, I doubt many people my age can say they’ve lost a semester’s tuition to Phil Hellmuth in golf. Watching Phil sweat out a $600 putt in Aruba (he had been playing for $10k a hole the day before) was one of the more memorable moments of my life. Also atop my list of memories is a guitar lesson that I got from the one and only Scott Ian. For a handful of UltimatePoints I was able to make a trip to LA to learn from one of the greatest metal rhythm guitarists of all time. Being a bit of a metalhead myself, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly overwhelmed. Sitting three feet from greatness is a feeling unmatched by much else.
During that same LA trip, I received a phone call from the UB VIP team, informing me that they had two tickets available for a masquerade party at the Playboy Mansion. Obviously I snapcalled since the Mansion is a 22-year-old male’s playground and now it’s been checked off the bucket list (twice). As much fun as it was, I’d still say the best part was watching my buddies back home via Skype play a beer pong tournament to decide who got to come with. There were a lot of sore losers but I guess that’s standard when the payoff includes this:
I could easily write for days about all the amazing adventures I’ve had with the people I’ve met on this site, so I’ll just stick with what’s freshly in my mind – Aruba! This year was my second trip to the wonderful little island that houses the best poker experience shy of the World Series, imo. The tournament itself doesn’t match the prize pools garnered by the biggest ones out there, however the event as a whole is incredible, unforgettable, and you can use a thesaurus to figure out the rest. Although I’ve never gotten farther than a few orbits into day two of the main, I’ve had such amazingly rich experiences after busting out that money has always been a complete afterthought in Aruba. Some people do visit the island to make some cash, but I’ve found that for the most part everyone is really just there to party.
This year I was able to participate in the Mercedes tournament, where an ML350 was on the line at a 10 person sit-n-go. My arch-nemesis P0ker H0 agreed on a last longer bet where the loser would have to paint his fingers and toes alternating pink and black for the rest of the trip. Things were looking great as I chipped up early by coolering Shawn Rice and successfully bluffshoving 8 high against one of the toughest players at the table. But of course, like the pest that he is, H0 kept his stack right there with mine, and he eventually took the chip lead by whatever cruel stroke of fate the poker gods deemed necessary for me at the time. Halfway through the tournament we found ourselves five-handed with quickly escalating blinds. H0 opened under the gun, a shortstack shoved for about twice his bet, I peeled AJss and reshoved to iso the shorty, but H0 had AK and snapcalled (luckbox!). After flopping the gin 882ss I figured I was guaranteed at least a chop since I run well. Unfortunately I forgot that if there’s anyone in the world who runs better than me, it’s H0, so when it ran out king-blank I was off to the salon to get my nails did. However brutal, I did find it fitting to be knocked out by the guy who I was wearing a T-shirt of.
I could keep telling stories but I see some juicy tables running so I’ll make these quick.
Although it was probably equal parts my fault, getting a full drink spilled on you by Scott Ian at Hellmuth’s penthouse party is totally worth it, imo.
Adam Levy ladies and gentlemen.
AD, the hardest working man in VIP-business.
This one’s from ‘08. I’m the “robe guy” if you didn’t already know.
Scuba diving next to an old sunken Air Aruba plane (pretty unreal).
And lastly, it wouldn’t be an Aruba party without Phil in the pool.
Poker has taught me a ton of valuable lessons – work ethic, the will to learn and improve, discipline, perseverance, other buzz words, etc. Aruba has taught me even more – the importance of friends, family, relaxation, valuing the connections you make with others and time spent with them even if you only see them once a year, new experiences, putting yourself out there, and simply having fun. That last one is one of the biggest reasons why I’ve been drawn to the UB poker community over any other site. If you take the time to visit Aruba or hang out in Vegas for the WSOP, you’ll see what I’m talking about. Hope to meet as many of you as possible in Aruba next year – I’ll probably be the kid wearing the robe.
Tags: adventures, bluff, experiences, Mercedes, metal, playboy mansion, Poker Poker Poker, ultimatebet, VIP
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - Jim
“Hey Jim! Man I was just pushed out of a pot by a noobie holding 7-2!!” Believe me, I´m not kidding when I say I´ve recently heard a bunch of terrible stories about bluffs with 7-2.
Even though the 7-2 Leaderboard is over, an army of bluffers keep doing their job at these tables, who doesn´t like to upset their fellow players a little to take some of their money?
The last time I was bluffed with 7-2 was long ago (at least that I know), I raised four times the Big Blind with Q-Q middle position and this dude who had never came to our home game, flat calls: board K-5-10, oh damn! Why a King has to show up when I have Queens??
I didn´t believe his K, but the A on the turn simply pushed me out of the pot, he proudly shows the worst hand in poker… There was no side bet that time, but after these tables came to UB, I´ve been so excited that I will definitely propose them to have it on our home games as well.
It´s perfect, normally when you bluff with 7-2 you gain some respect from your friends, now the side bet makes it way better!
If you like to bluff and get an extra cash for doing it, give it a try, look for the cash tables with 7-2 next to their name. Hope they don´t catch ya! 
Tags: 7-2, bluff, catch, Kings, Queens, Rai$e VIP Team, raise, side bet
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009 - Jim
Cameras are ready and lights are on. Sin City has been invaded in the last few days by legions thirsty of Poker. More than a dozen bracelets have been already claimed as the party starts getting bigger, but everyone is looking for the maximum expression of glory a poker player can ever imagine. Yes, you know what I´m talking about! The No Limit Holdem Main Event!
Everything points to believe this year we will see the largest field in history, exceeding the 2006 record of more than 8,000 players. I just can imagine myself in there, sitting at the T.V. feature table, pro´s at both sides. Suddenly the eyes of the crowd turn towards one of the entrances and a big guy with a bunch of girls is causing comments all around! There he is… it´s Phil! Some people love him, some people hate him, but we all know he is a great player.
Maybe he is not the most modest! maybe, let´s face it, who would be with 11 bracelets? I´m sure I wouldn´t! Anyway, there he comes, turning heads all over the Rio, whaaaat? he takes the sit next to me!!!
How can you play optimally when faced to such situation? I mean, think about being first timer, TV table, pro´s and if it wasn´t enough to make you nervous, Phil is next to you! It´s time to wake up, no aces cracked, how come I wasn´t able to bluff Phil? I´m mad I couldn´t continue sleeping to see what´s next on my dream, haha. Not that bad for a night.
By the way, if it´s among your plans to conquer a final table this November, don´t forget about our $10,000,000 bonus promotion, it´s not a mistake, there are 7 zeros in that number!
Tags: bluff, dream, Holdem, modest, Phil Hellmuth, Poker Poker Poker, Sin City
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Friday, December 12, 2008 - John Greene
In Star Trek’s first season, the Enterprise was mapping an uncharted reason of space when they encountered a mysterious object. This vessel or whatever it is sits in front of the ship, not broadcasting, not doing anything, instead staring down the ship. After 18 hours, Kirk decides he’s had enough of that and orders that the ship move around whatever it is.
That’s when things get interesting. In response to the ship’s movement, the strange object starts flooding the ship with radiation. Kirk and crew try to accelerate faster than the object, but it continues its relentless assault on them. This goes on until the object hails them. It’s a strange alien named Balok, captain of the USS Fesarius, the flagship of the First Federation. After some posturing, the Enterprise’s engine and weapon power is drained and they’re told they only have eight minutes left to live.
You’ve got a starship with over 420 people under your command that is about to be destroyed. You’re about to lose everything. What do you do? If you’re Captain James T Kirk, you bluff.
Kirk informs Balok that all Federation starships carry a substance called corbomite that will destroy any attacking ships upon their destruction. Ten minute pass and they’re informed that instead of destruction, they ship is going to be towed to a planet. Kirk says “Nope, not having it” and orders they should resist Balok’s tractor beam. The ship breaks away and there’s a happy ending with Kirk making happy with the alien vessel’s crew, but that’s not what’s important.
What is important is that Kirk is a master bluffer. He’s got over four hundred people looking up to him and he opts to stare the enemy down and call them because they’re not doing what they could do. If they were so powerful, why just send one vessel? If they were so serious, why not kill the crew and take the ship?
The next time you’re at a table with an enemy that’s acting strong, think about James T Kirk and ask yourself “Why aren’t they going all in? Are they slow playing? Or are they weak and wanting to look strong?”
Tags: bluff
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