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Orford's blog: Stardate 14-12-09

RICHORFORDRICHORFORD Member Posts: 5,571
edited December 2009 in Poker Chat
Hi all,

Yes I've started my own blog, detailing my trials and tribulations on the Sky Poker tables.

To read it, head to the blog section or alternatively click on this link https://www.skypoker.com/secure/poker/sky_lobby?action=show_static&page=poker_community_blog&plckBlogId=Blog:d4ad8f1d-37e1-475b-a599-35f7af86ea90&plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&userId=d4ad8f1d-37e1-475b-a599-35f7af86ea90&plckPostId=Blog%3ad4ad8f1d-37e1-475b-a599-35f7af86ea90Post%3a7e7af450-0cd5-4abd-8475-ee48a29df0a0&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

That web address- too short? OK, I'll see what I can do...

Oh, and please feel free to leave comments on the blog.
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Comments

  • Tikay10Tikay10 Member, Administrator, Moderator Posts: 169,701
    edited June 2009

    It's a great read Rich.

    You make a far better writer than Presenter.

    Seriously, I loved it.

    Keep that Bankroll Challenge going, it's a terrific tale, & we can all learn from it.

    Bankroll discipline is vital - and as you have shown, it makes us better players.
  • RICHORFORDRICHORFORD Member Posts: 5,571
    edited June 2009
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog:
    You make a far better writer than Presenter.
    Posted by Tikay10
    Thanks Tikay. I think.

    Seriously though, I hope that my exploits will serve as a reminder of the dangers of bankroll mismanagement and also inspire people to set themselves realistic goals to hit before the year is out.

    I'd love to hear about them. Please post all your Sky Poker stories as comments at the bottom of my blog entry. I will endeavour to answer each and every one.

    I should also point out that the £100 I stuck on the site at the beginning of the year is my own money and not Sky Poker's. This is not a pretend challenge, it's a real one with my hard-earned cash at stake.

    Yes, yes, and before you question how prancing about on TV makes my salary 'hard-earned', remember- I have to listen to Tikay's train anecdotes. For 3 hours at a time. You have the option to switch off. If you look at it like that, then I'm sure you'll agree I am in fact a worthy contender for a pay-rise.
  • Tikay10Tikay10 Member, Administrator, Moderator Posts: 169,701
    edited June 2009

    Answer me two questions Rich - and I mean answer them 100% honestly.

    Since you began your Bankroll Challenge...........

    1) Have you played better? And why?

    2) Have you enjoyed your poker more, or less?

    By the way, from here on in, I think we should call "BankRoll-Challenge "B-R". It's quicker, easier, & those initials remind me of British Rail.
  • RICHORFORDRICHORFORD Member Posts: 5,571
    edited June 2009
    Well, I've played a lot tighter. And I've adapted and honed my game to suit Double Your Moneys. Now as to whether or not I can take those skills through to another format, the jury's still out.
    As you won't need reminding Tikay, at the height of my success on the DYM tables I went to play in my first live tournament at Luton casino and won it. And I would attribute that to the style of play I'd taken from my online play in the DYMs.

    But on the other hand, I can't seem to get anywhere in the Sky Poker MTTs. I think I'm now playing too tight in those games. In Double Your Moneys, I fold every hand to an all-in in the early levels apart from AA, KK, and maybe QQ at a push. I certainly let AK go. But in our fast-paced MTTS I can't afford to be that choosy.

    It's certainly taught me the value of discipline and patience during the game. And I've definitely enjoyed my poker more now that the financial aspect has been made a lot safer. I've effectively put a stopper on my losses (£100) so that's the most I can lose, making the whole experience a lot more comfortable. Plus of couse, I only ever have a fraction of that amount on the table at any one time. Well, most the time, see blog for further details ;)

    But it's amazing, after playing on the £2/£4 tables at times last year, how quickly you get used to playing at 2p/4p. It feels like a bit of backward step at first. But you simply adjust your targets and soon become obsessed with making the next pound! So, whilst money is a big part of playing poker, it's not necessarily the overall amount that's exciting, it's more the amount relative to your bankroll.
  • Tikay10Tikay10 Member, Administrator, Moderator Posts: 169,701
    edited June 2009

    Rich said......

    But it's amazing, after playing on the £2/£4 tables at times last year, how quickly you get used to playing at 2p/4p. It feels like a bit of backward step at first. But you simply adjust your targets and soon become obsessed with making the next pound! So, whilst money is a big part of playing poker, it's not necessarliy the overall amount that's exciting, it's more the amount relative to your bankroll.

    And that's a great point.

    You do NOT have to play nosebleed stakes to enjoy poker.

    Sky Poker has been a revelation to me. I've played Tournament Poker at the highest Level, regularly paying £1,000 to buy-in, more sometimes, & play £100 to £500 Events regularly. I've turned a profit, & enjoyed them, too.

    But now, at Sky, I play every size Tourney, from the Primo & Big Monthly Opens, to the £5 Deepstack.

    And I'm enjoying my poker more than I ever did, & I'm not exposed to much by way of financial risk.

    Big is not always beautiful.

    The key thing most seem to forget, is why we play poker - to have fun! And if we can win a few bob on top, all the better. At break-even Level, it's free entertainment. And who, famously, said that? None othere than WSOP World Champion Greg Raymer.
  • YoungUnYoungUn Member Posts: 422
    edited June 2009
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog:
    Well, I've played a lot tighter. Posted by RichOrford
    And that explains seeing a flop with 4,2 and pushing all in with nothing but a backdoor straight draw, how? :)
  • RICHORFORDRICHORFORD Member Posts: 5,571
    edited June 2009
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog:
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog : And that explains seeing a flop with 4,2 and pushing all in with nothing but a backdoor straight draw, how? :)
    Posted by YoungUn
    Come on YoungUn, you should know by now I'm a complete show-off!

    Do you think I'd have pulled that stunt if the cameras hadn't spun round on me at that precise moment?

    Besides, on a Q-3-J board I wasn't exactly drawing dead. I had some outs. Which, I seem to recall, I proved rather spectacularly...     ;)
  • Sky_RichSky_Rich Member Posts: 3,837
    edited June 2009
    some great comments about your blog so far Rich
  • CLIOKIDCLIOKID Member Posts: 783
    edited June 2009
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog:
    It's a great read Rich. You make a far better writer than Presenter. Seriously, I loved it. Keep that Bankroll Challenge going, it's a terrific tale, & we can all learn from it. Bankroll discipline is vital - and as you have shown, it makes us better players.
    Posted by Tikay10
    What do you feel is an adequate BR for 50p/£1 blind levels?

    I've played 25/50p for a long time, making regular withdrawals, my BR stands at £1,600 at the moment, I don't think its quite enough to take the step up just yet.

    Do you feel there is generally a noticable increase in standard from 50nl to 100nl?
  • Sky_RichSky_Rich Member Posts: 3,837
    edited June 2009
    take a gander at this week's caption contest rich ;)
  • RICHORFORDRICHORFORD Member Posts: 5,571
    edited June 2009
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog:
    take a gander at this week's caption contest rich ;)
    Posted by Sky_Rich
    Yes, very funny Rich. Obviously, I couldn't resist having a go myself!

    I notice Michelle has added a caption too. It's a shame that as a Sky Poker employee she won't be allowed to win the T-Shirt, because (a) her caption is really funny and (b) a Sky Poker T-shirt would be a marked improvement on the tat she normally wears... ;)
  • RICHORFORDRICHORFORD Member Posts: 5,571
    edited June 2009
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog:
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog : What do you feel is an adequate BR for 50p/£1 blind levels? I've played 25/50p for a long time, making regular withdrawals, my BR stands at £1,600 at the moment, I don't think its quite enough to take the step up just yet. Do you feel there is generally a noticable increase in standard from 50nl to 100nl?
    Posted by CLIOKID
    Hi Cliokid,

    Thanks for the question. The general consensus is to sit down at a cash table with the maximum amount allowed, which is 100 big blinds. Often the pros will top that amount back up to 100 big blinds every time they lose a hand until they are above their starting stack. This is to maximise their winnings when they pick up a monster hand.

    Based on this theory, you shouldn't be sitting down at this level until you hit the £2,000 mark. As only then would £100 be no more than 5%  of your bankroll. So, in my opinion, if you want to minimise the risk to your bankroll, wait until you've got another £400 in the kitty.

    As for your other question, personally I've never noticed a distinct increase in standard from 50nl to 100nl (for those wandering what these terms means, it's blind levels based on 100 Big Blinds- so 50nl is 25p/50p and 100nl is 50p/£1 etc) or indeed between any two levels immediately next door to each other. It's only when I've started skipping levels that I've really noticed it.

    Hope all that helps and good luck!

  • Tikay10Tikay10 Member, Administrator, Moderator Posts: 169,701
    edited June 2009

    Cliokid,

    You do know that Rich gets me to answer these questions for him, yeah?

    You want proof? OK, ask him a Train Question.......
  • RICHORFORDRICHORFORD Member Posts: 5,571
    edited June 2009
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog:
    Cliokid, You do know that Rich gets me to answer these questions for him, yeah? You want proof? OK, ask him a Train Question.......
    Posted by Tikay10
    What Tikay is trying to say Cliokid, is that my answer was so good it looks like it could only have come from an expert such as himself.

    And I'm up for train questions everyone, so fire away....*


    *Please note, this offer is strictly subject to me having access to Google and Wikipedia
  • phil12ukphil12uk Member Posts: 2,856
    edited June 2009
    If you prefer DYM's to cash my question to you is...................
    What's the average speed of a train from Bournemouth to Waterloo? ;)
  • MichelleOMichelleO Member Posts: 19
    edited June 2009
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog:
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog : Yes, very funny Rich. Obviously, I couldn't resist having a go myself! I notice Michelle has added a caption too. It's a shame that as a Sky Poker employee she won't be allowed to win the T-Shirt, because (a) her caption is reallly funny and (b) a Sky Poker T-shirt would be a marked improvement on the tat she normally wears... ;)
    Posted by RichOrford

    Hello Richard, once upon a time a long long time ago, you may remember what it was like to be young and hip where something called fashion was very important. Unfortunately the only hip you know about nowadays is the one that creaks and pops everytime you stand up. Didn't you know that they picked the pairings of analyst and presenter on the show because the wardrobes matched. You are with TK... the case has been rested...

  • Grimstar30Grimstar30 Member Posts: 1,400
    edited June 2009
    I think all the presenters/analysts should do a televised s'n'g and this should be done monthly.Keep a tally of whom is no 1. (winnings going to charity perhaps?)

    Michelle you just ripped Rich there, but Rich is a legend : A) because he presented The Big Breakfast and B) because he got his cheeky 2pence in first.

    Rich when we going to get another Blog entry on your BRM challenge?

    Dave
  • GREGHOGGGREGHOGG Member Posts: 7,155
    edited June 2009
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog:
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog : Hello Richard, once upon a time a long long time ago, you may remember what it was like to be young and hip where something called fashion was very important. Unfortunately the only hip you know about nowadays is the one that creaks and pops everytime you stand up. Didn't you know that they picked the pairings of analyst and presenter on the show because the wardrobes matched. You are with TK... the case has been rested...
    Posted by MichelleO
    You have to admit rich, that is a great comeback! hehe
  • RICHORFORDRICHORFORD Member Posts: 5,571
    edited June 2009
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog:
    Rich when we going to get another Blog entry on your BRM challenge? Dave
    Posted by Grimstar30
    Been snowed under this week Dave, so haven't even had a chance to play online poker, let alone write another entry on the blog. In fact I've played so much on Sky Poker recently that to suddenly go cold turkey for a few days feels very strange indeed.

    I don't have the shakes yet, but whenever anyone presents me with a choice e.g "do you take your coffee black or white?" an imaginary countdown timer starts going down in my head and I start hearing little bleeping noises to remind me to make a decision.  I think that's pretty normal though and I'm certainly not going to follow the advice of everyone I've spoken to so far and seek urgent medical assistance.

    I've got plenty to bang on about though so should have something posted by the end of the weekend. Meantime I'm doing Play The Presenter tomorrow night (Friday 19th) so that will get me back on the tables and back in the groove.
  • RICHORFORDRICHORFORD Member Posts: 5,571
    edited June 2009
    In Response to Re: Orford's blog:
    If you prefer DYM's to cash my question to you is................... What's the average speed of a train from Bournemouth to Waterloo? ;)
    Posted by phil12uk
    As a professional completed dedicated to the cause Phil, I took the train from Waterloo to Bournemouth and back again today just to answer your question.
    (Ok, so maybe I was actually going to Bournemouth to do some filming but seriously, how about that for a coincidence off the back of your question?)

    So, genuinely straight from the horse's mouth, with no help from the internet:  the journey took me 2 hours and 10 minutes (it was the slow train) and I travelled 86 miles. So my average speed was 86 divided by 130 minutes and multiplied by 60 minutes. Which is 39.69 mph or 40mph to the nearest mile.

    Next!
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