If you are getting into gambling and struggling to learn the intricacies of dealing at games, there is new service that is aimed at making life a little easier at your next gambling session or fun casino hire night. At most gambling parties, friends will typically deal cards but certainly without the flair, skill and style of a professional dealer at a casino. Learning these all important dealing skills can take years of dedication and training.
Many people go to casinos to experience the environment and having a professional deal at a game is a significant part of creating that picture. A dealer who knows his cards well will add a certain dynamic to a game which otherwise would be missing and often leads to players
betting higher, creating a more electrifying game.
One website that is trying to bring this casino night magic a little closer to us, is a site called Dial A Dealer. The website resembles a social network for professional card dealers and casino croupiers. From the site, you can learn about the different card dealers in your area and choose to hire a true professional dealer for your next game.
All of the dealers on Dial A Dealer list their direct contact phone numbers to make it easy to get in touch and get a quote. Currently there is a growing user base of dealers from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand with no shortage of business in their local areas. Some dealers are even prepared to travel great distances to deal at your game.
The site is designed from the ground up to be easy to navigate and adds lots of useful touches like being able to see a list of tournaments that dealer have previously played at and their
specialities or areas of expertise. Most dealers are adept that the standard Black Jack, Poker, and Texas Hold-Em card games and a few are even comfortable with operating a roulette wheel and other typical non-card related games. Since the service attracts a large number of casino professionals, a few of the dealers can even arrange to book local venues or hire equipment for parties or corporate events in addition to private dealing services.
Alongside the dealer directory is a comprehensive article section covering all manner of gambling related stories including tips and trends including tipping etiquette and laying down the all important rules of the game. There is a wealth of information on the site and plenty of useful info for both novices and regular players. To further help visitors keep up to date with news from the gambling industry, there is a regular blog run by the creators of the site to keep visitors informed and the dealer community engaged.
The site’s design is aptly centered around a typical gambling card table you might find in your local casino. The design is quite innovative with careful attention paid to delivering the information contained in the site in the most friendly and approachable way.
You can find out how to book a professional dealer for your next game at www.dialadealer.com.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Live Poker and Alcohol
I played a live game at Eight Club on Thursday. £100 buy in with the blinds at 1/1. I must say this was by far the hardest cash game I have ever played in. We used to have atleast 2 or 3 big fish in the game but this time the standard was relatively good. This was until the drinking started
CardRunners midstake pro Alexdb was there. (he has a great CR video posted) I drew a seat to his right and luckily not his left. Most others were thinking (ish) players.
I lost a quick buyin on a speculative bluff but was called with a full house. I then managed to tread water for a few hours watching the alcohol start taking effect.
By midnight there had been a few buyins and of the 9 players on the table almost all had atleast 2-3 buyins in front of them. The raises had started standard 4xbb, by midnight this had turned into 10-12xbb. There was even an open 30xbb with AA who got called from the sb who held JT and flopped JJx. Brilliant.
This time of night is where you need to be most disciplined and focused as there is so much value. Ranges are wide enough to drive a bus through and players are more concentrating on barmaids and banter than the game in front of them. In the next 3 hours I managed to win 6 buyins making a total £500 profit. Approx 200 hands makes that a winrate of 250bb/100.
To be honest I do find live poker so tedious. Yes its easier and its fun to be at a table having a mind war with friends but its so damn slow. 20-25 hands an hour ? zzzz..... Yet I still almost always manage to make a better return/winrate vs playing the same time online.
I might spend a day at a poker room like the Empire soon and see how I go. Its not gonig to be as easy as the above but will be an interesting break from the norm.
CardRunners midstake pro Alexdb was there. (he has a great CR video posted) I drew a seat to his right and luckily not his left. Most others were thinking (ish) players.
I lost a quick buyin on a speculative bluff but was called with a full house. I then managed to tread water for a few hours watching the alcohol start taking effect.
By midnight there had been a few buyins and of the 9 players on the table almost all had atleast 2-3 buyins in front of them. The raises had started standard 4xbb, by midnight this had turned into 10-12xbb. There was even an open 30xbb with AA who got called from the sb who held JT and flopped JJx. Brilliant.
This time of night is where you need to be most disciplined and focused as there is so much value. Ranges are wide enough to drive a bus through and players are more concentrating on barmaids and banter than the game in front of them. In the next 3 hours I managed to win 6 buyins making a total £500 profit. Approx 200 hands makes that a winrate of 250bb/100.
To be honest I do find live poker so tedious. Yes its easier and its fun to be at a table having a mind war with friends but its so damn slow. 20-25 hands an hour ? zzzz..... Yet I still almost always manage to make a better return/winrate vs playing the same time online.
I might spend a day at a poker room like the Empire soon and see how I go. Its not gonig to be as easy as the above but will be an interesting break from the norm.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
100nl bad start
This is definately testing my patience. My first session, the first 150 hands over 3 tables.
$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com
Stacks:
Pre-flop: ($1.50, 6 players) Hero is CO
UTG raises to $3.50, UTG+1 calls $3.50, Hero raises to $13, 3 folds, UTG raises to $30, UTG+1 folds, Hero goes all-in $99.50, UTG calls $69.50
Flop:
($204, 2 players)
Turn:
($204, 2 players)
River:
($204, 2 players)
Final Pot: $204
UTG shows:
Hero shows:
UTG wins $201 ( won +$101.50 )
UTG+1 lost -$3.50
Hero lost -$99.50
And Then
$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com
Stacks:
Pre-flop: ($1.50, 6 players) Hero is UTG
Hero raises to $3.50, UTG+1 calls $3.50, 4 folds
Flop:
($8.50, 2 players)
Hero bets $8.50, UTG+1 calls $8.50
Turn:
($25.50, 2 players)
Hero bets $16, UTG+1 calls $16
River:
($57.50, 2 players)
Hero bets $27, UTG+1 goes all-in $68, Hero calls $41
Final Pot: $193.50
Hero shows:
UTG+1 shows:
UTG+1 wins $190 ( won +$94 )
Hero lost -$96
$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
5 players
Converted at weaktight.com
Stacks:
Pre-flop: ($1.50, 5 players) Hero is BB
1 fold, CO raises to $3, 2 folds, Hero calls $2
Flop:
($6.50, 2 players)
Hero bets $6.50, CO raises to $13, Hero raises to $30, CO goes all-in $104, Hero calls $69.15
Turn:
($204.80, 2 players)
River:
($204.80, 2 players)
Final Pot: $204.80
Hero shows:
CO shows:
CO wins $205.85 ( won +$98.85 )
Hero lost -$102.15
It's a very small sample size and just variance. Its funny though, i've had this a lot of the time where the first shot you take moving up, or moving 'back' up, you always seem to run into bad variance straight away.
This could be the quickest step / step down ever.
$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com
Stacks:
| UTG | ($178.00) | ||
| UTG+1 | ($92.29) | ||
| Hero (CO) | ($99.50) | ||
| BTN | ($96.00) | ||
| SB | ($29.20) | ||
| BB | ($91.45) |
Pre-flop: ($1.50, 6 players) Hero is CO
UTG raises to $3.50, UTG+1 calls $3.50, Hero raises to $13, 3 folds, UTG raises to $30, UTG+1 folds, Hero goes all-in $99.50, UTG calls $69.50
Flop:
($204, 2 players)Turn:
($204, 2 players)River:
($204, 2 players)Final Pot: $204
UTG shows:
Hero shows:
UTG wins $201 ( won +$101.50 )
UTG+1 lost -$3.50
Hero lost -$99.50
And Then
$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com
Stacks:
| Hero (UTG) | ($100.00) | ||
| UTG+1 | ($96.00) | ||
| CO | ($28.70) | ||
| BTN | ($94.35) | ||
| SB | ($279.00) | ||
| BB | ($85.54) |
Pre-flop: ($1.50, 6 players) Hero is UTG
Hero raises to $3.50, UTG+1 calls $3.50, 4 folds
Flop:
($8.50, 2 players)Hero bets $8.50, UTG+1 calls $8.50
Turn:
($25.50, 2 players)Hero bets $16, UTG+1 calls $16
River:
($57.50, 2 players)Hero bets $27, UTG+1 goes all-in $68, Hero calls $41
Final Pot: $193.50
Hero shows:
UTG+1 shows:
UTG+1 wins $190 ( won +$94 )
Hero lost -$96
$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
5 players
Converted at weaktight.com
Stacks:
| UTG | ($106.00) | ||
| CO | ($107.00) | ||
| BTN | ($100.00) | ||
| SB | ($75.70) | ||
| Hero (BB) | ($102.00) |
Pre-flop: ($1.50, 5 players) Hero is BB
1 fold, CO raises to $3, 2 folds, Hero calls $2
Flop:
($6.50, 2 players)Hero bets $6.50, CO raises to $13, Hero raises to $30, CO goes all-in $104, Hero calls $69.15
Turn:
($204.80, 2 players)River:
($204.80, 2 players)Final Pot: $204.80
Hero shows:
CO shows:
CO wins $205.85 ( won +$98.85 )
Hero lost -$102.15
It's a very small sample size and just variance. Its funny though, i've had this a lot of the time where the first shot you take moving up, or moving 'back' up, you always seem to run into bad variance straight away.
This could be the quickest step / step down ever.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Im back to 100nl
I spent a week away up in the Lake District and have come back with my head firmly screwed on. The 2 weeks before I went away I felt I had got my game back on track. I have reversed my downswing.
With my tight bankroll managment i had to drop to 50nl after my tumble. After 6 weeks of rebuilding I am now back rolled for 100nl again.
Its taken a while to get my head back in the game, taken a lot of soul searching after my first true downswing. Reading 'the poker mindset' helped me huge. It really brings back the facts that you know about long term poker, variance, tilt and BRM and puts them in a clear view again.
I recommend anyone having troubles with their game or sturggling with bankroll and variance to read that book. Invaluable imo.
With my tight bankroll managment i had to drop to 50nl after my tumble. After 6 weeks of rebuilding I am now back rolled for 100nl again.
Its taken a while to get my head back in the game, taken a lot of soul searching after my first true downswing. Reading 'the poker mindset' helped me huge. It really brings back the facts that you know about long term poker, variance, tilt and BRM and puts them in a clear view again.
I recommend anyone having troubles with their game or sturggling with bankroll and variance to read that book. Invaluable imo.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
The Non Believers
How many times have you tried to explain +ev and failed?
I tried this with the missus recently. She understand that poker is a skilled game that involves some luck. She even uses the word variance from time to time. What she fails to understand are basic odds. She refuses to put her money in when the chances of losing are high.
I offered this deal. Would she bet £50 with a 1 in 100 chance of winning £1m. She declined because she probably wouldnt win it.
This is an extreme example of course and a little amusing but this also rings true with people that do not understand poker being a long term game. In more realistic terms how about if the prize was £5500. How many times would you take that offer above before you started getting frustrated? Poker players know that they would take that bet as many times as they could as every bet they take they theoretically make money. Bad and non poker players cannot grasp this.
Theres nothing new in the above, I just felt like writing as Ive been a little quiet recently. I feel like the move down to 50nl has helped. I have had the beats, ive run into a ton of bad players and ive also had my fair share of suckouts but overall my bankroll is building again and my game feels like it is back on track.
There are always fish swimming in these waters..
50nl allows you to get away with these sort of plays.
x2 overbet for values against known fish. I wouldnt be doing this against a reg but look out for fishy bites like these ones.
http://weaktight.com/1128970 wtf is that call about. loool
http://weaktight.com/1121093 he calls with a very large range here.
I tried this with the missus recently. She understand that poker is a skilled game that involves some luck. She even uses the word variance from time to time. What she fails to understand are basic odds. She refuses to put her money in when the chances of losing are high.
I offered this deal. Would she bet £50 with a 1 in 100 chance of winning £1m. She declined because she probably wouldnt win it.
This is an extreme example of course and a little amusing but this also rings true with people that do not understand poker being a long term game. In more realistic terms how about if the prize was £5500. How many times would you take that offer above before you started getting frustrated? Poker players know that they would take that bet as many times as they could as every bet they take they theoretically make money. Bad and non poker players cannot grasp this.
Theres nothing new in the above, I just felt like writing as Ive been a little quiet recently. I feel like the move down to 50nl has helped. I have had the beats, ive run into a ton of bad players and ive also had my fair share of suckouts but overall my bankroll is building again and my game feels like it is back on track.
There are always fish swimming in these waters..
50nl allows you to get away with these sort of plays.
x2 overbet for values against known fish. I wouldnt be doing this against a reg but look out for fishy bites like these ones.
http://weaktight.com/1128970 wtf is that call about. loool
http://weaktight.com/1121093 he calls with a very large range here.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Confused as Hell!
My game is broken.
That is my promised 10k hands at 50nl. The landslide at the beginning was the follow on from the losses I was suffering at 100nl. My game was tilted, I was over aggressive and ran into a shitload of bad luck.
The bottom of the graph was where I reigned in the aggression. I became a lot more passive which is not really my game. But the results speak for themselves.
I honestly believe that sites play differently. My days at AP were easy. My style of play must have fit in perfectly. I never had a losing week. At William Hill (ipoker) I am struggling bigtime.
I think I may stay at 50nl until im fixed.
Ive got a few interesting hand histories to talk about for the next post. Apologies for neglecitng this blog but I find it hard to write when my game is so fooked.
Positive state of mind does wonders.
Ryverrat
That is my promised 10k hands at 50nl. The landslide at the beginning was the follow on from the losses I was suffering at 100nl. My game was tilted, I was over aggressive and ran into a shitload of bad luck.
The bottom of the graph was where I reigned in the aggression. I became a lot more passive which is not really my game. But the results speak for themselves.
I honestly believe that sites play differently. My days at AP were easy. My style of play must have fit in perfectly. I never had a losing week. At William Hill (ipoker) I am struggling bigtime.
I think I may stay at 50nl until im fixed.
Ive got a few interesting hand histories to talk about for the next post. Apologies for neglecitng this blog but I find it hard to write when my game is so fooked.
Positive state of mind does wonders.
Ryverrat
Friday, April 24, 2009
Stepping down to 50nl
April so far 100nl
16,000 hands -5bb/100 (-$800)
Thats right my game is screwed at the moment. Ive dropped $1500 from my high in the middle of this month. Im not sure what is wrong. I have reviewed hands and not found anything that stands out to how I normally play. I seem to be losing every coinflip and finding myself completed dominated in other hands. QQ vs KK on a low flop etc. AA/KK vs sets against Laggy players. I could post the hands but I dont feel like it woud do any help.
I will be moving down to 50nl for 10k hands. If my game has changed then I need to move to a safer level to fix the problems.
Poker is such an easy game when you are winning but its f*cking tough when you sit on a landslide. This is my first losing month in a very long while.
Step down, regroup and rebuild.
I would like to know if any readers have experienced such downswings and how they fixed it. Anyone ?
16,000 hands -5bb/100 (-$800)
Thats right my game is screwed at the moment. Ive dropped $1500 from my high in the middle of this month. Im not sure what is wrong. I have reviewed hands and not found anything that stands out to how I normally play. I seem to be losing every coinflip and finding myself completed dominated in other hands. QQ vs KK on a low flop etc. AA/KK vs sets against Laggy players. I could post the hands but I dont feel like it woud do any help.
I will be moving down to 50nl for 10k hands. If my game has changed then I need to move to a safer level to fix the problems.
Poker is such an easy game when you are winning but its f*cking tough when you sit on a landslide. This is my first losing month in a very long while.
Step down, regroup and rebuild.
I would like to know if any readers have experienced such downswings and how they fixed it. Anyone ?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
shorties!!
Ipoker is littered with those bugs we know as shorties. These players are a curse to the game of poker. These are the players that sit down with the minimum buy in of 20bb and play fold shove poker. They remove the fun and a lot of the strategy involved and only play 2 streets of poker. Preflop and the Flop.
Now most people complain about shorties but I'm not going to. I have been CRUSHING them recently. I have looked at my numbers from Mar 1st and used the criteria
- pot size less than 50bb and
- allin on the flop or before=true.
I believe this captures all my hands against shorties. Im never calling a shorties bet. I am either raising to get them in or folding.
Killing them. The secret ? Read this post on 2p2....
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
March
Last month was interesting to say the least. I made a profit of $1100 + $500 in rakeback. $1600 and it could have been so much more.
I started off on a great run, with the deck hitting me square in the face. Set after Set, making great calls, picking off bluffs and making great plays agains the regs. Then midway i had the complete opposite. From hero to zero, well not quite. I feel that tilted me a little and I started losing patience and pushing the action too much. Cbetting too much out of position, playing suited connectors too aggressively, calling lighter and refusing to lay down hands in bad spots. Heres my graph.
Ive started to feel a little reluctant to expose my game on my blog. Ive seen this written before on a few a few blogs. If you are playing a lot you feel as though you may be giving a little edge to players that may look you up online. If I post my position stats for example or talk about my 3 bet range an astute player can easily use that against me. Its not as though my identity at the tables is kept a secret, I use the same name (almost) for most sites I have played at. So for now I wont be putting anything up here that I dont feel necessary.
Apologies but if I am to take this seriously then I need to sharpen all edges no matter how small they may seem.
A question.... would you feel better if you lost 10 buyins at the beginng of the month and work back up to even or made 10 buyins and lose them to end even. Same result but i wonder how many of you would feel more pissed you had the money and lost it rather than feeling you dug yourself out of a hole.
I started off on a great run, with the deck hitting me square in the face. Set after Set, making great calls, picking off bluffs and making great plays agains the regs. Then midway i had the complete opposite. From hero to zero, well not quite. I feel that tilted me a little and I started losing patience and pushing the action too much. Cbetting too much out of position, playing suited connectors too aggressively, calling lighter and refusing to lay down hands in bad spots. Heres my graph.
Ive started to feel a little reluctant to expose my game on my blog. Ive seen this written before on a few a few blogs. If you are playing a lot you feel as though you may be giving a little edge to players that may look you up online. If I post my position stats for example or talk about my 3 bet range an astute player can easily use that against me. Its not as though my identity at the tables is kept a secret, I use the same name (almost) for most sites I have played at. So for now I wont be putting anything up here that I dont feel necessary.
Apologies but if I am to take this seriously then I need to sharpen all edges no matter how small they may seem.
A question.... would you feel better if you lost 10 buyins at the beginng of the month and work back up to even or made 10 buyins and lose them to end even. Same result but i wonder how many of you would feel more pissed you had the money and lost it rather than feeling you dug yourself out of a hole.
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