Thursday, November 12, 2009 - Annie Duke
I am really excited about some awesome changes in the blind structures at UB. I designed the structures that we have been using for years and I have always been pretty damn proud of them. But even a good thing can become better and last week I ripped back through those bad boys and made some big changes with the help of Roothlus :) The changes are huge. Amazing. Crazy! Okay. I know I am exaggerating but I am really excited about them.
We have added tons of level including the 250/500 level for all tournaments. That is a big change because it means you don’t get that big 50% jump anymore from the 200/400 level to the 300/600 level. That is a big jump that I am so psyched we have reduced to two 25% jumps instead. IN our deepstack tournaments, we had this crazy 5/10 level in there which, when you start with 5K in chips was pretty useless. So we got rid of that but added in a 25/50 level instead. I love that change. Start a little higher so the hands in the first round might actually matter but smooth out the structure later so you aren’t just losing a level.
The change to the deepstack events is part of a new policy that some tournaments will now have different structures than others, depending on buy-in and starting stack. Tournaments which start with more than 3K in chips now have a different structure than those that start lower and any tournament with a $500 buy-in or more has a new structure. In total:
1) For events 3K chips and higher the 5/10 level has been removed but a 25/50 level has been added. In total 7 new levels have been added to the structure
2) In events starting with less than 3K chips, a total of 7 levels have been added
3) In event with a buy-in of $500 or more, the 5/10 level is removed replaced by the 25/50 level. In total 11 levels have been added to those structures
4) The UBOC final has a total of 21 levels added to it
5) All tournaments now have antes introduced at the 100/200 level rather than the 150/300 level
6) The structures for limit tourneys have also been revamped and the antes in stud tourneys have been changed to be in line with other sites.
7) The antes in stud cash games have been revamped as well.
I am really excited about all of these changes. The stud changes in particular really fix a problem that UB had in general that the antes and bring ins were often much too high a percentage of the small bet. Those have now been brought in line with industry standards which is nice because it increases the skill level of the game to know how to adjust to antes.
All in all, the new structures give you, the player, much more bang for your buck. No crazy all-in fests on UB. Every tournament on the site now offers more play for your buy-in. I am pretty proud of the changes
Tags: Adam "Roothlus" Levy, tournaments, ub, UBOC
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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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Friday, January 30, 2009 - UB Marketing
January is over and a great first month of 2009 for UB has finished. Excitement surrounded UB tournaments throughout the month with events like UBOC and the Wild Card (Super Bowl Giveaway). And even though those 2 major tournaments are gone, UB has some amazing promotions still available at: http://www.ultimatebet.com/poker-promotion.
One exciting event that will take place in March is the PokerNew Cup. Satellites for this event are still available for the following weeks and as are chances to play some serious poker at the Alps for as low as 660 credits. Remember that these satellites were created with Europe-friendly schedules, so most events will take place in the afternoon. This Sunday, the 2nd big satellite will take place at 16:00 with a $530 buy in, but browse your client and you will find some cheap satellites with a low buy that could send you for an astonishing poker adventure in the Alps.
Today is the 30th and that means tomorrow the monthly tournament leaderboards wrap up. Remember that every week and at the end of each month, UB rewards all types of tournament players with incredible prizes and freerolls. Ranking on our leaderboards is easy and there’s one for every type of player. Find out how your regular tournament play can award big prizes through the UB leaderboards @ http://www.ultimatebet.com/poker-tournaments/leaderboard.
Have an amazing weekend and keep visiting for updates on UB’s promotions and events!!
Tags: Cereus, poker in the alps, Pokernews Cup, tlb leaderboards, UBOC, wild card, wild card superbowl giveaway
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Friday, January 30, 2009 - P0ker J0
Hello from the Pro Corner!
I can’t believe another week has flown by. I really must be getting old! Thank god for hairspray and back combing to keep me young. (Well young at heart – not necessarily when looking in the mirror!)
Anyway – all seems much quieter on the ranch now that UBOC is over. But the fun never ends! I now have a team of pros all gunning to head to Austria for the Poker in the Alps promotion. Without a doubt there will be more than a fair share of UB hockey jerseys running around the Alpine Palace – each with their own bad beat story. It is a really cool promotion and the pictures of the location look amazing! What I wouldn’t do for a week away in the Alps! For some reason I have pictures in my head of Julie Andrews running around singing “The hills are alive with the sound of music”. Ok I digress – time to change topics!
So a big football weekend ahead. Superbowl Sunday will inevitably keep everyone glued to their TV screens instead of their computer screens. I’m not much of a football fan – more of a Superbowl PARTY fan. Speaking of parties – the great P0ker H0 is having a Superbowl party at his bar – Players Sports Bar in Madison WI. I’m sure there will be lots of laughter, lots of beer and lots of fun! If you are in the neighborhood, drop by for a brewski! Tell him P0ker J0 sent you!
The Ultimate Poker Show will not air this Sunday in its entirety to honor the big day. Still listen in though to get the password for the Rounders Radio freeroll and $5 tournament. Don’t forget about the promotion I mentioned in my last BLOG where you could find yourself seated next to Annie Duke and P0ker H0 in Vegas in March!
Are you looking for a fresh new place to chat on the internet? If you are a poker fan with that competitive edge – why not join the UB Poker Leagues? There is now a new home for your voice to be heard. Check out the new UB Poker Leagues Forums. You’ll find many members of Team UB hanging out and chatting there.
Mark your calendars! Aruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuba 2009 is confirmed. Pack your suitcase and don’t forget the suntan lotion. Block off October 3rd to 10th on your calendar and tell your boss you are NOT available for that annoying conference call. The Aruba Poker Classic – in its 8th year – should prove to be the best ever. On the heels of the WSOPE, we expect to attract the best of the best in the poker world. P0ker J0 will even be on standby to give out autographs. (Please no nasty comments about that last offer!)
Well I think that is all she wrote for this week! Enjoy your week and I’ll see you back here – same time – same place – next Friday!
P0ker J0
Tags: Aruba Poker Classic, poker in the alps, rounders radio, Superbowl, ub poker leagues, UBOC, WSOP, WSOPE
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Sunday, January 25, 2009 - Annie Duke
On Friday I headed to Sundance to play in an event there for Ante Up for Africa (www.anteupforafrica.org). We started planning the event back a few months ago and I decided at that time I would go to Sundance and come back on Tuesday to really make a trip out of it. My boyfriend, Joe, really loves Sundance. We went there a few years ago and he just is like a kid in a candy store when he is there. So I was really excited that we had such a good excuse to go this year. We were going to see a bunch of movies, raise money for charity, get some free stuff at the gifting suites, go to some cool parties and just, in general, have a an awesome good time.
Then the inevitable happened. Two days before we were supposed to leave Joe booked a job on In Plain Sight. Now I need you to understand that this has happened the last FIVE trips we are supposed to take. Well not a job on In Plain Sight specifically, obviously. But he has book a job on something. When we went to Italy he couldn’t show up till the middle of it last Christmas. When we went to Boston for spring break he left in the middle. When we went to Hawaii for ten days this summer he couldn’t even come at all…and that was after we had planned the trip with my brother for a year! I am not kidding. We had this trip planned for a year.
Okay…so I am super cranky that he could not come. I changed my trip to leave Friday and come back first think Monday morning. I made my friend, Glen, come with me. And off I went without Joe…
So the event Friday night was great. Don Cheadle, my cofounder of AUFA found out he could come at the last minute. He thought he couldn’t get there but then had to be there for a movie premier anyway. I got to sit next to him the whole night and it was nice catching up with him and his wife, Bridgid. I think the event raised a bunch of money though I won’t know who much till mid week.
But after that, when I woke up Saturday, I just wasn’t feeling great and, frankly, wasn’t having so much fun without Joe there. I mostly just missed him. Now, I met a bunch of really great people there including our hosts for the weekend Darrell and Erin. But I started coming down with something and found myself wanting to be home so I came back to LA Sunday morning, played the UBOC championship, and then did the Rounders Radio Show with P0ker H0.
Obviously it was worth it to go up there for the AUFA event but next vacation Joe better be coming the whole time!
Tags: Annie Duke, Ante Up For Africa, AUFA, don cheadle, P0ker H0, rounders radio, Sundance Film Festival, UBOC, www.anteupforafrica.org
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Saturday, January 24, 2009 - Cardroom
With the ever popular and exciting UBOC behind us we head back into the normal schedule with some new tournament offerings which we have listed below. This week we’d like to hear your suggestions for what you’d like to see in the schedule. The tournament schedule is constantly changing and we would appreciate any and all input from our players.
The Card Room
Tags: poker schedule, tournament schedule, UBOC
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Saturday, January 24, 2009 - P0ker H0
The UBOC’s have finally came to a close. It was an exciting week and a half of poker, especially because I was in the UBOC League. For those of you who don’t know, ubpokerleagues.com hosted a UBOC League where each team bought in for 1k and the 3 teams with the highest amount of points at the end of the UBOC would split the prize pool. We ended up getting 15 teams for the UBOC, and 20 for the MINI-UBOC. I partnered up with Shawn Rice and we were in it to the very last day. Wiscomurray’s team led the league in first everday but one, but on the last day lot’s of drama ensued.
The way the points are calculated are the higher the buyin the more points you will receive, and the deeper you go. So with the majority of UBOC’s being $100-$200’s and the last event a 1k, you can see how it would be easy to gain ground in the last tournament of the series. Well, thats exactly what the last place team did. The last day Wiscomurray’s team was in first with 1600 points, and 2nd with 1400. The 15th place team had 600 points. It would be a slight possibility for the bottom teams to catch up, but the last place team needed to outright win the UBOC to win the league by only 24 points. If they finished 2nd in the UBOC 1k main event they would get 850 points and fall significantly short.
Wouldn’t you know, I checked the lobby with 25 left and there they were. One of the guys on the last place team, DOUBLEDAVE22 to be exact, was still in the tournament. Not only that but NEDDYFLANDERS was still in, and his team was in need of the points. I think NEDDYFLANDERS could have finished 4th or better to win the league. Anyway, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Everytime DOUBLEDAVE22 was all-in, he got called, and when he was called his opponent had at most 2 outs. He played the short stack really well and found himself at the final table. When I say he played the short stack well, I really mean it. He was 2nd to last in chips from 20 players down to the final table. At the final table he found himself 4 handed, 2nd in chips. I couldnt believe it. Could the last place league team really pull this off? I mean, they had to WIN the UBOC 1k Main Event, to win the league. Anything less, and it wasnt even close to placing in top 3 teams.
DOUBLEDAVE22 shoved all in KQ and was called by Ac10c. The flop came 2 clubs 9 high. It wasn’t looking good for Dave, when bam, the turn came a non club Queen. Than bam the river a 7c, and Dave’s amazing run had come to an end. I have to admit, it was really fun watching other people play and have a reason to care what happens in the hands they are involved in. The ubpokerleagues.com website adds a new flavor to poker, and I really recommend it. Not only that, it helped me play my best poker I believe. Some people feel it’s easier to let themselves down than others, and for that reason I think people try harder. Give it a try and Gl everyone.
p0ker h0
Tags: mini UBOC, P0ker H0, Poker Strategy, poker tournaments, ShawnRice, table chat, UBOC, uboc leagues, ubpokerleagues
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Saturday, January 24, 2009 - C00LHandNuke
Hmmm. What do you say in your first blog ever? I guess you start with an introduction. My name is Shawn, but I play under the handle C00LHandNuke on Ultimate Bet. I use the same/similar name on some of the other sites. I’ve been playing “professionally” now for about five years, but am relatively new to the UB scene. I started playing on UB this summer after trying out for the Best Damn Poker Show 2. I gave Gary Debonardi (Debo34) some cash at this year’s WSOP and he transferred $300 to my account. Why didn’t I just use a credit card? Well it has to do with over $40k getting stuck on NetTeller for about a year and a growing distrust of the whack-a-dos in Washington – but I’ll save that for a later blog.
I gotta give some props to Debo, P0ker H0, Shawn Rice and all the other UB Pros. They are great ambassadors, always willing to talk and (as in my case) go out of their way to add players to the site. I had sat at live tables with Shawn and H0 before. And through a mutual acquaintance, Debo ended up sweating me about a year ago when I won the Sunday Million on PokerStars. So I had a little history with these guys, but I know for a fact that they’ve each done similar things for complete strangers. Thanks again Debo!
Anyhow, on with the blog. I made it onto the Best Damn Poker Show 2. It was a great experience. The first episode aired last Monday on FoxSports and was pretty entertaining. My first table plays this week, so I wasn’t in the first episode for more than a few seconds. A lot of the first episode was set up for what is to come, but I’m hoping that as the show progresses the poker will take more of the center stage. Hopefully it won’t get lost in the editing. I hope you watch and if you can’t get enough from the TV, check back here after each episode. I’ll be posting a blog for each episode with my own personal behind the scenes extras. If you haven’t read some of the posts on Pocket 5’s already, there was definitely some drama on this year’s show. And as usual, I was right in the middle of it.
The UBOC has started and Debo and I are a team in the UBOC Poker League. You can check out the standings at http://ubpokerleagues.com. So far we’ve had some minor success and are sitting in fourth place. I busted out of UBOC event #2 in eleventh place. The finish was okay, but I feel like a really could have done better. I had a very playable stack and the first big bluff I tried in the tourney crippled me when we were down to twelve players. Basically my opponent called off 30% of his stack on the turn and another 60% on the river with fourth pair (sixes) when the board was four-straighted to two gutshots and the river also made a three-flush – the villain had no draws. Ugh! A few days later, I took eleventh again in the PLO/8 UBOC event. This time I just went card dead at the wrong time and, in retrospect, probably passed up an opportunity to gamble once too often.
The idea for a poker league is awesome. The extra money involved is a nice incentive, but really it is about more than that. It’s about bragging rights and pride, even more so than just the typical leader boards that every site has. The leagues allow groups of people to opt into a certain schedule and put up some extra money behind the boast of “Hey, I think me and my partner are better than any two players out there.” My prediction for 2009 is that soon other sites will begin to emulate this. But I’m not sure how well it will work for them. What I’ve come to realize in the short time that I’ve been playing on UB is that there really is a sense of community and greater opportunity to meet other people who love poker. I guess that, more than anything else, is why I’m writing this blog and why you’ll see more of my online daily bankroll dedicated to buying into tournaments at UB. So I hope to see you at the tables, and maybe I can get over my 11-and-out syndrome and it will be a final table where we meet. If you see me, please say hello.
Cheers,
Shawn
Tags: Best Damn Poker Show, Debo34, fox sports, P0ker H0, players blog, plo8, poker tournaments, ShawnRice, sunday millions, ub pros, UBOC, uboc poker leagues
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Friday, January 23, 2009 - P0ker J0
Well hello from the Pro Corner.
Well what a week it has been. I think I have a few new grey hairs but all in all a good week!
Well UBOC ended and what a great turnout we had. The pros all had a blast playing in the tournaments – and probably enjoyed it so much more not having a bounty on their heads! I think the UBOC poker leagues really created some friendly competition between the pros and all were gunning for the win! Great job all around. When will the next UBOC get here?
Well it’s official – NBC announced Annie Duke as a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice 2 airing on March 1st. I wonder how the Donald will fair against the feisty and brilliant Annie Duke. Will Annie hear the words “you’re fired” for the first time in her life? Check out NBC on March 1st and follow the excitement. I’m pretty certain there will be fireworks!
Well how about UB’s own Michael Binger. In the land down under winning a final table! He went deep into the main event at the Aussie Millions and then went on to capture the title in event 12. In a marathon final table he came back from being the short stack to take it down. He takes home AU$123,840 and the coveted Aussie Millions Gold Ring. Congrats Michael!!
So last week I told you about The Ultimate Poker radio show on Rounders Radio with the great P0ker H0 and Annie Duke. Well this week I have even better news! How would you like to find yourself seated at a table in Vegas with Annie and P0ker H0 learning poker strategy from the best of the best? You guessed it – a seat to the WSOP Academy in Vegas on March 14th and 15th is up for grabs! All you have to do is listen to The Ultimate Poker Show on Rounders Radio every Sunday and find out what the secret password is in order to get you access to our Rounders Radio $5 tournament on Sunday nights at 10:00 PM EST – and bang – you are half way there! (did that sound like a Bon Jovi song to you??) Final table any of the $5 Rounders Radio tournaments on Sundays between now and March 8th and you’ll be entered into a freeroll on March 9th where the winner will walk away with a seat to the WSOP Academy AND 1K in cash for travel/accomodation. Don’t be sad if you don’t win this one – the 2nd through 9th place winners will walk away with a free one month membership to Pro Play Live where you will still get some great hands on training from Annie and P0ker H0!
So speaking of poker strategy – you don’t have to head all the way to Vegas to get it! Don’t forget about the Ultimate Auctions where you can bid on phone lessons with all of our pros. Check here for example where you can bid on lessons with any member of our online Team UB – Shawn Rice, Deb34 and P0ker H0. They have great tips and tricks to share with you so give them a try. If they try to tell you they are a big deal – just let me know and I’ll knock down their egos a bit!
Here is a testimonial from one of our previous bidders:
“I just wanted to tell you a little about my lesson that I won with Shawn Rice at ultimate auctions. It was great…My lesson with Mr. Rice brought my poker playing to a new level. Mr. Rice taught me things I would never have read in a poker book. The lesson finished with Mr. Rice giving me his personal email for when I have more questions. How cool is that!!! _Maui_
Have a great week folks!
P0ker J0
Tags: Annie Duke, Aussie Millions, Celebrity Apprentice, Debo34, Michael Binger, P0ker H0, P0ker J0 - The Pro Corner, Poker Strategy, poker tournaments, rounders radio, ShawnRice, UBOC, uboc poker leagues, ultimate auctions, ultimate poker show, WSOP Academy
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Friday, January 23, 2009 - UB Marketing
Last week was huge for poker at Ultimate Bet. Not only the UBOC championship finished, but some major promotions like the Wild Card (NFL Super Bowl Tickets) giveaway took place and 2 UB players will soon be heading to the nice city of Tampa in Florida for the game of their lives.
Things have come back to normality regarding the tournament schedule and this week we’ll be hosting the $200k GTD after 2 weeks of absence. Not only the 200k is back, but be sure to check all the new satellites that have been launched for events such as the Sniper 40k, Sniper 80k and the all the $100k events we host throughout the week.
On another note, for all those huge tournament players and sit n go players remember Ultimate Bet recently launched brand new leaderboards which have been designed to reward every type of player. So it doesn’t matter if you like playing $1 9 seated sngs or $200 multi table tournaments if you finish in the money you will be scoring points and participating in some CEREUS money giveaways at the end of the week and major freerolls for top winners at the end of the month.
So, for the following weeks one of the biggest satellite we are running are the Pokernews Cup satellites. This major event will take place in Austria from March 21st-28th and it promises to be a 1 of a kind event. Not only some major poker personalities will attend and huge prizepools are expected, but attendants will have the opportunity to play poker in one of the most amazing sites in the world surrounded with beautiful mountains, nature and amazing views… My advice, check out the satellite schedule on your poker client and get your luggage ready because for as low as 660 points or $10 you can end up playing some exciting tournaments with the best players in the world at the Alps!!!
Tags: 200k guarenteed, Austria, Cereus, leaderboards, players rewards, Pokernews Cup, sniper 40k, sniper 80k, sniper tournaments, super bowl XLIII Ticket Giveaway, UBOC, wild card main event
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