Tuesday, October 6, 2009 - Fabio
Right now here in Costa Rica it’s raining a lot and it looks like it will never stop, meanwhile, sunny and beautiful Aruba is heating up the tables and the best live Poker it’s going on. Why am I comparing both places? Not sure… Costa Rica is the one I can refer to and actually, I just wanted you to picture the great time many poker players are enjoying over there.
Just a couple of days ago, my coworkers: Andrea, Mia and David were working around the clock to prepare everything for you and today it is a REALITY. I bet they are having a great time with you guys learning about your poker strategy and of course cheering you up while the game is on.
But, do you know what the most important thing is for them?
Well, that they are finally meeting face to face all those players that not only contact the VIP Department from time to time, but that have become important assets for our operation and of course our lives.
Certainly we do get to know you guys over the phone or chat, but you might agree with me, there is nothing like the “live” contact. Actually this is the main purpose of taking part of the VIP team over there. We want you to stop by and say hi!
As you know, the poker business and important events like the Aruba Poker Classic Tournament are built based on what you guys like and need and what a better way of keep building this empire than hearing what do you have to say. Oh yeah, you can talk about any other thing, too.
Many of you might have already met these guys and if you haven’t make sure to put it on your “Things I must do in Aruba” list. They are just great and have prepared many things for you.
Does the RAI$E Booth or the awesome ICON lounge tells you something? Yeah, I know you are enjoying all these perks and just FYI; you will be able to find the VIP ambassadors over there, too.
Its Wednesday, it’s the 3rd day of playing. The Welcome Party was a blast and many but many things are coming. I just wish you the best of luck and the best time.
Here in rainy but still beautiful Costa Rica, we will be anxiously waiting for great news, pictures and EPIC stories. I bet Andrea, Mia and David will have some… 
Tags: Aruba, Aruba Poker Classic, Costa Rica, Icon, Poker Poker Poker, raise, VIP
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - Jim
“Hey Jim! Man I was just pushed out of a pot by a noobie holding 7-2!!” Believe me, I´m not kidding when I say I´ve recently heard a bunch of terrible stories about bluffs with 7-2.
Even though the 7-2 Leaderboard is over, an army of bluffers keep doing their job at these tables, who doesn´t like to upset their fellow players a little to take some of their money?
The last time I was bluffed with 7-2 was long ago (at least that I know), I raised four times the Big Blind with Q-Q middle position and this dude who had never came to our home game, flat calls: board K-5-10, oh damn! Why a King has to show up when I have Queens??
I didn´t believe his K, but the A on the turn simply pushed me out of the pot, he proudly shows the worst hand in poker… There was no side bet that time, but after these tables came to UB, I´ve been so excited that I will definitely propose them to have it on our home games as well.
It´s perfect, normally when you bluff with 7-2 you gain some respect from your friends, now the side bet makes it way better!
If you like to bluff and get an extra cash for doing it, give it a try, look for the cash tables with 7-2 next to their name. Hope they don´t catch ya!
Tags: 7-2, bluff, catch, Kings, Queens, Rai$e VIP Team, raise, side bet
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Saturday, August 15, 2009 - C00LHandNuke
Well another WSOP is behind us. My intention was to post a couple blogs during the Series that I’ve come to call pokerpalooza, but then things turned bad and I lost my appetite for recounting it. Things started off great. I was cashing in every other event I played and I made a final table at Caesar’s. The cash games were being easy too. I got to the point where if I needed a thousand dollars, I would just sit in a 2-5 NL game for an hour or so. Then, just like that, the poker switch flipped to “off.” I had Aces cracked three times on or near the bubble of big events. Usually by hands like Ace-ten offsuit or King-Jack (“but it was suited!”). How did these guys get all in preflop? Better still, how did they win? I gathered up all my mental strength and started to turn things around right before the Main Event. But alas, the Main Event ended badly for me in a set over set situation late on day one. Ugh.
One of the things I did to turn it around was a little experiment in a $1500 tourney dealing with table image. It was probably 2/3 of the way through the Series and I was getting desperate to make something happen and change the slide I was heading down. With that in mind, I made a conscious decision to change my table image in one tournament. Normally the image I try to establish early is that of a tight player. This image lets me steal later in the tourney when the antes kick in and my aggression kicks up. But for this tournament, my image was going to be that of a crazy Scandinavian. To accomplish this Kafkaesque metamorphous, I did three really simple things:
The first thing I did was I raised or reraised the first three hands (regardless of my cards). I cbet each time. I made the reraise with J4, which I showed after folding on the flop. I even managed to win one of the hands with a K9 that I got to show down. My starting stack was 4500. The one win didn’t make up for the losses in the other hand (the reraise hurt), but in total I think I lost like 300. Not a bad price to pay for an image.
My second step involved wardrobe. I left my usual novelty t-shirt and ball cap at home and wore my bright red Ajax jersey. Ajax is the local football (uh, soccer) team in Amsterdam. A few people in the US would recognize it if they were into soccer, but anyone from Europe would know it immediately. Add in the fact that it said Amsterdam in prominent type and it should suggest to even the casual poker player that I am freaky-deeky Dutch. Scandanavians typically have a very loose image – think Gus Hansen.
The last thing I did was the hardest . . . I didn’t talk much. And when I did, I used short, broken sentences. So instead of asking someone “Do you really have a Queen for the nut straight?” I would say “You have Qween?”
The results were perfect. After playing the first 3 hands fast and loose, I tightened up and luckily got some cards. For my first big hand, I raised under the gun with AA and had the same player that I previously three-bet with J4 make a gross over-sized reraise with AJ. He pot committed himself preflop and we got it all in. Then I got paid off by middle pair when I bet my KK on every street. Next I faded what a player thought was two overs and a gut-shot with my top set. By the end of the first break I was one of the chip leaders with up over 30k. I got paid on hands that my normal image would never get paid on.
I don’t know how long I could keep my image going. For sure, a few of the original players remaining at my table were starting to reevaluate me. But as new players came in to fill empty seats, many of them would eye me and my stack and make the assumption that I was precisely the Scandi laggtard I was trying to portray. For more than one of them, that mistake was fatal. I think that between showing the occasional crazy raise and the stream of new players, I could have kept things up for quite some time. Ultimately, my image was busted when a reporter from PokerNews stopped by and wanted to interview me. Too bad he tried to do it in Dutch! My subterfuge was done.
So aside from being mildly amusing, what can we learn from this story? I think it illustrates several key things to remember about table images. Everyone talks about reading players – which is to say establishing a table image in your mind for that player. And occasionally people talk about their own table image, but most players probably don’t think about their own table image enough. Some great players go to great lengths to define the precise table image they want. Chris Ferguson started wearing his trademark hat when he was young so he would be the “cowboy” rather than the long-haired pimply-faced computer geek. Phil Helmuth certainly spends a fair amount of time establishing his table image . . . love it or hate it, it works for him. But I think my story illustrates a few points:
First impressions are dangerous. I cemented my table image with just the first three hands of the tournament and a jersey. This first impression lasted much longer than it should have. Even after I had played pretty tight for two hours, many of the players at my table still only remembered the fact that I raised or reraised with some crazy hands early. You need to constantly reevaluate the players around you with an open mind. You also need to realize which players are adjusting to you. Keep in mind that players tend to remember the plays you make against them more than the ones you make against others.
Which brings me to my second point. For the players regularly seen on TV, their table image is a relatively fixed thing. But for the rest of us, our table image is a very dynamic thing – in addition to changing over time it changes from player to player. If you bluff a player and show the whole table, the table may very well forget about the bluff in an hour (or at least assign it less importance). But the player you bluffed will likely have you labeled as a bluffer until you bust him with the nuts once – for some players you may have to bust ‘em twice, or more, before they reevaluate.
So once you establish an image at a particular time and against a particular person, what do you do with it? Most of us know that you play against it. But what does that mean? When I was a crazy Scandi, it meant that I couldn’t semi-bluff my draws. I was going to get called down. But it also meant that I could value bet top pair with a weak kicker and get called.
But what do you do when you’re in a multi-way pot with two players that have differing images for you? Well like most things in poker, it depends. Say you are in the small blind w/ KJ and see a cheap flop of J84 with two spades. If the big blind thinks you’re crazy loose and the third player thinks you’re tight, you should lead out. Many times the big blind will raise. If she does, the third player will likely fold and you can call. But if the big blind folds or calls and the third player raises, you can probably fold.
Now switch it so the big blind thinks you’re tight and the third player thinks you’re loose. Now with the same hand you can check to keep the pot small. The problem with leading out is too often the big blind calls with a draw or pair and the third player sees it as an opportunity to squeeze what are likely to be (in his estimation) two weak hands. If you check and the big blind bets, you can check raise almost no matter what the third player does. If the big blind checks and the third player bets you can just call and make your play later if no spades appear.
Thinking about image is equally important online. Online, many players use programs that provide them statistics about your play. For them, your image is based on a mathematical model, but it is still an image. And if a player is multitabling, your image may solely consist of hands he has played with you. Also, remember to pay attention to players in a tournament that get moved to your table. Their image of you is neutral unless you have history with that player. And speaking of history, take advantage of the note-taking abilities on poker sites like Ultimatebet. If you play for any amount of time, you should have notes on a lot of players. Even in mega fields of over a thousand or more players, I often have notes on a couple of the players at my table before the first card is dealt. My notes in effect tell me what image to assign to that player as well as what image they have of me.
Well that’s enough rambling for today. Think about your image next time you’re at the table and maybe you’ll make a play that you couldn’t before. Good luck.
Tags: bet, mathematical, raise, Series, stack, WSOP
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Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - Fabio
As soon as I knew that I was going to be blogging at UB, I started reviewing my coworkers’ blogs and of course a lot of different blog web pages just to make sure I was going to write about something cool and interesting; however, I ended up realizing that a blog is a unique and personal text that nobody else can create, so that was not going to help me.
So, since I am barely new at VIP, I decided, I just wanted to let you guys know about my experience here! Something honest and simple…
First of all, l would like to introduce myself… My name is Fabio and although I have been working at the UB Customer Support Department for a while now, I became a VIP Host recently. Hopefully, we will get to know each other!
So far, it has been an amazing experiencing. It is just incredible to realize how much I have been learning from each of you.
Just as the VIP Hosts over here, you all are totally different persons. And I do not know if you agree with me, but I think learning from different people, it is just one of the best things you can experience and I have to admit it, I´ve been doing that a lot lately.
Every time we receive a chat, email or call, we know we will be facing new personal and group challenges, but we just try to no get worried about it and instead we always remind each other how lucky we are. As VIP Hosts we get to deal with the most experienced poker players and customers out there. So, we take that opportunity and soak up as much knowledge as possible.
This is just like school. You guys are the teachers that have taught us about the business, poker, personal experiences and many other things that have helped us to growth as customer support representatives, poker players, human beings and of course as one the groups that represents not only the company, but also, our site’s well known and respected VIP players.
YES! We are crazy students that love to work with you. Sitting here in front of my computer, I have heard many of the guys saying that they just learned something new about the game or even better, about poker. Even though this is our job we are always enjoying it and we really appreciate it.
For this and many other reasons that I will be glad to let you know later in some other blogs, I just wanted to ask you something: Please keep reaching us! I’m completely sure that we will have an amazing experience at the tables.
Tags: player's knowledge, raise, teach, VIP
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Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - Josh
All the party echoes from December are slowly fading into the scenery. Even though the year just started, it seems like routine is casting her shadow upon us and is ready to land… Good news is it’s easy to oblige her to do a quick turn and fly somewhere else: it’s all about perception; it’s all in your mind.
Since I’ve always been into philosophy, whenever I have some free time, I love to gaze into the sky and ask myself silly questions about life. There is one interrogation that always jumps into the stage: how much are my inner feelings determined by exterior events and how much depend on my own attitude. I always keep battling with this thought that assaults me beneath the blankets, over the night… I always get to the same conclusion: even in extreme circumstances, no one can mess with another’s head without his approval. In other words, you decide what you let inside. This means you are the architect of your destiny… What are you using to build your path? How are you constructing your future? Are you utilizing what others throw at you or are you only employing the stones you pick on your way?
I utterly believe life is just what you make of. So, if you wish to paint your day with the brightest of colors, you need to stop buying black and white! In this constant battle of the mind, it is what you think of and want that makes the difference… Feel it and you’ll taste it.
I imagine you must have a lot of resolutions for this year. What can you do when Ms. Routine tries to lead you astray? Well, I’m gonna tell you what works for me. Maybe it will have a similar effect on you. Whenever I feel like I’m about to take a step back, I remember a friend of mine who told me that, in order to make a habit from an activity, you need to religiously complete that action for a minimum period of 30 days. No exceptions allowed. Once you’re done with that, you will have created a habit, something mechanical. Honestly, I don’t know if she made that up or she read it somewhere. All I can say is it has worked for me. As the very resolute man I am, when I have a goal in mind I do anything to walk that walk. The very first step, for me, consists of achieving that task for at least 30 days. Then, miraculously, it’s like it’s in print in my personality.
So, halfway through January, it’s the perfect time to check how much you have followed the objectives you set for yourself. Have you been hitting that treadmill? Are you staying away from McDonald’s and closer to Subway? Are you feeding yourself from optimism or negativity? Are you really trying? But most importantly, have you hit the tables like you should? Are you on your way to becoming a poker icon? Remember, it’s all in you. Whether you fail or succeed, it’s no man’s doing but yours.
Tags: new years, new years resolution, Rai$e VIP Team, raise, VIP
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Tuesday, January 6, 2009 - ProductMan
Yes, it’s that time of year again. The calendar clearly reads January, but I know it’s going to take me at least a month before I can successfully write a check that acknowledges that it is actually 2009.
I’m not afraid of change or the future for that matter, but I’ve grown fond of (or at least accustomed to) 2008 and all her glory. Since it is too early for nostalgia, I guess I’ll get back to the equivalent of business. Yes, these are the days where I get to kick my Christmas tree to the curb and unravel that intricate web of holiday lights. Attention shopkeepers: I’m about to return a lot of unwanted gifts this week. Also, I need some new pants to accommodate my new waistline courtesy of that once-coveted festive cheer, or maybe just some time and a gym membership.
Those New Year’s Eve champagne stains I neglected to clean up are probably going to be a permanent fixture on my carpets, but at least they’ll remind me of the brilliant year that was, especially at UltimateBet. We rolled out exciting changes last year and we’re glad you could be a part of them. Here are a few highlights:
• Tour Of Duty Challenge: More than a few good men joined the UB army and fought hard during vigorous tours that transformed our poker tables into the ultimate battlefield. With chips in your arsenal you struggled for honor, victory, and the glory of a piece of $260,000.
• RAI$E: We reinvented the wheel with the ultimate poker rewards program that grows with you. The more you play, the more you earn. With free cash, tourneys, auctions, and shopping, and countless exclusive benefits, other poker rooms are going to need a ladder to even think about competing.
• Ultimate Leaderboards: Our new leaderboard makes it easier to get the recognition you deserve. With the best and most straightforward system in the biz you can compete and follow your favorites. Cash in just by hitting the tables!
• CEREUS: Things instantly got serious when we joined the CEREUS poker network. With more players, bigger tournaments, heftier jackpots, new software, and loads of new features, the action is better than ever.
Thanks for helping make our poker room a massive success. The best is yet to come in 2009!
Happy New Year!
Tags: 2009, Cereus, new years, Rai$e Loyalty Club, Rai$e VIP Team, raise, tour of duty challenge, ub army, Ultimate Leaderboards
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Monday, January 5, 2009 - John Greene
It’s a simple fact: in poker, it’s the player who raises who controls the table at any given time. Other players have to react to this decision and it’s something you can use to your advantage whether playing poker online with us or when trying to take your friends’ money in that Tuesday night basement game. You’ll see it most often in limit poker games among neophytes, where it’s “Raise, Call, Call, Call” all night, but it happens more often than you’d think at “real” games, particularly if they’ve lasted a good while.
As most experienced poker players know, someone who calls consistently rarely has the cards they should be playing with in the first place. Whether it’s simple laziness (which is more common than you’d think) or an urge to be involved in the game at any cost, it’s a behavior that will allow you to plunder their bankroll. If there’s a short-stacked player in a Limit game, you may be able to bluff him out of some pots after you raise.
Another hazard of being a player who calls when they should raise is that you’ll lose your money to good players that will bet you out of pots that you should have won because you called and kept calling without paying attention. If you decide to raise pre-flow, you make a decision to show that you’re confident in your hand and the weaker players will either hand you their money later or fold.
Obviously, In no-limit games, the strategy of raising people out of pots can work better than in limit games, where the big bet is small and constant. Players have less to lose and the play tends to be a lot more free-wheeling in limit games, for good reason. Next time you’re sitting down to a no-limit table and you see this “duck, duck, duck” action, be the goose and raise, especially on the pre-flop. Shake them up a bit and get a little more money at the same time.
Tags: call, limit poker, no limit poker, pre-flop hands, raise
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