Royal Flush NL5 MSS @ PokerStars

I'm over 10,000 hands playing NL5 MSS on PokerStars. I hit a Royal Flush yesterday, first time at this level. I got the Royal Flush badge on my PokerTableRatings profile.

Hand converted with online PokerStrategy.com hand converter:
Replay Hand


$0.02/$0.05 No-Limit Hold'em (8 handed)

Known players:

BU = ($3.80)
SB = ($5.00)
BB = ($1.43)
UTG2 = ($4.02)
MP1 = ($5.22)
MP2 (Hero) = ($3.09)
MP3 = ($2.32)
CO = ($2.10)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with Q, K.
UTG2 calls $0.05, MP1 folds, Hero raises to $0.20, 3 folds, SB calls $0.18, BB folds, UTG2 calls $0.15.

Flop: ($0.65) T, 3, A (3 players)
SB bets $0.45, UTG2 folds, Hero calls $0.45.

Turn: ($1.55) J (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

River: ($1.55) 2 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.70, SB calls $0.70.

Final Pot: $2.95.

Results follow:

Hero shows a royal flush(Q K).
SB shows a pair of aces(A Q).

Hero wins with a royal flush(Q K).

35% rakeback until 1st June 2011 on Merge!

Since Black Friday, the Merge Gaming Network had a huge growth and became the number one US friendly online poker network. They needed a little bit help from the Department of Justice (DoJ) because PokerStars and FullTilt Poker said that they don't allow US players in their poker rooms.

So the US players started registering to Carbon Poker, PDC Poker, ACED Poker, etc.

The Merge Gaming Network will be ending their rakeback program starting the 1st of June.

It doesn't affect those who already have rakeback and the new players who sign up for rakeback until the 1st of June.

If you want to have rakeback on Carbon Poker but you already have an account, I'd advise you to register to Aced Poker or PDC Poker.

Aced Poker	visit website	download
PDC Poker	visit website	download

35% rakeback is a pretty sweet deal but there is a lot more value there:


$3000 MGR:

19500 points/month, 975/day, $3000 rake paid/month:

35% RB

6.6% marathon (750+pts/day x 20 days = 200)
6.5% points exchange ((19500/2500) x 25 = 195)
13% money tree ((10 x 975pts) / 25 = 390)
Total rakeback = 61%



$2250 MGR:
20days/month -- 2250$Rake/Month -- 14625pts/month -- 730pts/day

Carbon with rakeback
35% rakeback
6.5% points exchange
13% money tree
10% marathon (needs 750pts/20days)

Total rakeback = 64.5%

(at 2bb/100 + rakeback/bonuses = ~2400$)

Black Friday Repercussions -- Traffic Measured By PokerScout
				Net change	Net change
Site/Network	1st Weekend	2nd Weekend	3rd Weekend	(avg. players)	(%)
	Apr. 16/17	Apr. 23/24	Apr. 30/May 1	Apr. 30/May 1 vs. April 9/10
Left US Market
PokerStars	-26%	-3%	+2%	-7569	-26%
Full Tilt Poker	-49%	+28%	-4%	-6878	-38%
Cereus Network	-40%	-42%	-30%	-1664	-76%
Still in US
Merge Network	+23%	+31%	+5%	+634	+69%
Bodog	+26%	+5%	-6%	+164	+23%
Cake Network	+19%	+9%	-3%	+144	+26%
Everleaf Network	+8%	-7%	+1%	+7	+2%
European Majors
PartyPoker	+9%	-5%	+6%	+328	+10%
iPoker Network	+4%	-5%	-4%	-178	-5%
Ongame Network	-1%	-8%	+2%	-168	-7%
888poker	+0.5%	+3%	+1%	+75	+5%

Rake changes at PokerStars

Click on the picture for better resolution

Read more about the Sit and Go changes here.The new buy-in structure reminds me to Party Poker..

Wassup?

What's up everyone?

I met Zwemnaar at an Omaha tournament on PokerStars (for 2+2 PokerCast Listeners).
Nice tournament by the way..

April was cool because I learned the basics of MSS. I here is my first month's graph:

Click on the picture for better resolution

The sample size is small because I read many articles and watched tons of videos. + I didn't want to play when I was in bad mood.

I try to grind NL5 MSS to reach SilverStar VIP level on PokerStars. The games are still soft..

Advanced Bankroll Management article coming in the next blog post.. (how should a pro handle his/her bankroll, etc.)

BEAUTIFUL

First of all, congrats to zwemnnar on winning his biggest online pot. Check out that hand here: https://www.pokertableratings.com/hand-history/stars/59822186475/13843194658

+ read The Chronicles of Zwemnaar here


BEAUTIFUL - Tag Heuer Aquaracer PokerStars Watch

Tag Heuer Aquaracer Watch

115,000 FPPs - available for Platinum Star VIP level only

I'm crazy for watches.. I don't know why but I recently started looking for watches. Longines was my favourite brand (for about 1 week lol).

I started learning Middle Stack Strategy (MSS).
What is MSS?

The Mid Stack Strategy is a strategy developed to play profitably in No Limit Hold'em cashgames. It is very well suited for a beginner in poker, as it enables you to play with less risk to your poker bankroll, and it is also simple to learn and start playing right away.

With the MSS you bring less than the maximum amount of chips to the table, which means that you risk less, and also use your chips more efficiently when betting.

I'm playing everyday (2-4 tabling at PokerStars), I'm practicing, posting hands..

I'd love to have a PokerSpace Hand History Converter but I'll write about it later :)

I'm going to post some stuff about MSS, this strategy is suitable for:

• Beginners, who would like to start playing and earning money with a strategy that is not very complicated.
• Former Short Stack Strategy players. Same as in SSS, the post-flop decisions in MSS are rather simple and kept to a minimum.
• Those Big Stack Strategy players who would like to try themselves on higher limits with less risk.
• BSS players with a low win-rate, as this strategy will help you keep a similar win-rate, however also provide you with additional income from rakeback, comparable in amount to that from your direct winnings.

 I'm not going for the 100K PokerStars watch. If I hit Supernova VIP level, I'll choose the money (this status worth about $5000 - read more about it here).

What's going to happen in the near future?

• master MSS
• learn BSS (Big Stack Strategy)
• watch videos, read articles
• write about my experiences at the tables

Best of luck to everyone - See you at the tables!

$3K GTD R/A 2nd place finish

I told you that I won't be stuck at NL4 SH with my $50 bankroll..

PokerStars SCOOP 2011 Schedule

2011 Spring Championship of Online Poker schedule

Sunday, 8 May 2011
13:00 ET, Ev 01-L*: $22 NL Hold'em [6-Max], $300,000 Guaranteed
13:00 ET, Ev 01-M*: $215 NL Hold'em [6-Max], $750,000 Guaranteed
13:00 ET, Ev 01-H*: $2,100 NL Hold'em [6-Max], $1,000,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 02-L*: $22 NL Hold'em, $300,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 02-M*: $215 NL Hold'em, $1,500,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 02-H*: $2,100 NL Hold'em, $1,500,000 Guaranteed

Monday, 9 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 03-L*: $5.50+R NL Hold'em (6-Max), $250,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 03-M*: $55+R NL Hold'em (6-Max), $500,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 03-H*: $530+R NL Hold'em (6-Max), $750,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 04-L: $16.50 FL Badugi, $25,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 04-M: $162 FL Badugi, $25,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 04-H: $1,575 FL Badugi, $50,000 Guaranteed

20:00 ET, Ev 05-L: $11+R NL Hold'em (Turbo), $250,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 05-M: $109+R NL Hold'em (Turbo), $500,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 05-H: $1,050+R NL Hold'em (Turbo), $1,000,000 Guaranteed

Tuesday, 10 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 06-L: $11 PL 5-Card Draw, $25,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 06-M: $109 PL 5-Card Draw, $50,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 06-H: $1,050 PL 5-Card Draw, $75,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 07-L: $16.50 NL Hold'em (Heads-Up Match Play), $100,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 07-M: $162 NL Hold'em (Heads-Up Match Play), $200,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 07-H: $1,575 NL Hold'em (Heads-Up Match Play), $400,000 Guaranteed

20:00 ET, Ev 08-L*: $11 NL Hold'em, $100,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 08-M*: $109 NL Hold'em, $300,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 08-H*: $1,050 NL Hold'em, $600,000 Guaranteed

Wednesday, 11 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 09-L: $22 Mixed Hold'em (6-Max), $75,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 09-M: $215 Mixed Hold'em (6-Max), $150,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 09-H: $2,100 Mixed Hold'em (6-Max), $250,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 10-L: $33 7-Card Stud High, $25,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 10-M: $320 7-Card Stud High, $50,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 10-H: $3,150 7-Card Stud High, $100,000 Guaranteed

Thursday, 12 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 11-L: $22 PL Omaha (Heads-Up Match Play), $50,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 11-M: $215 PL Omaha (Heads-Up Match Play), $100,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 11-H: $2,100 PL Omaha (Heads-Up Match Play), $200,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 12-L*: $27 NL Hold'em (Knockout), $200,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 12-M*: $265 NL Hold'em (Knockout), $400,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 12-H*: $2,600 NL Hold'em (Knockout), $600,000 Guaranteed

Friday, 13 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 13-L*: $16.50 NL Hold'em (Ante Up), $100,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 13-M*: $162 NL Hold'em (Ante Up), $200,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 13-H*: $1,575 NL Hold'em (Ante Up), $300,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 14-L: $55 FL Omaha Hi/Lo, $75,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 14-M: $530 FL Omaha Hi/Lo, $125,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 14-H: $5,200 FL Omaha Hi/Lo, $225,000 Guaranteed

20:00 ET, Ev 15-L: $16.50 NL Hold'em (2X Chance, Turbo), $150,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 15-M: $162 NL Hold'em (2X Chance, Turbo), $400,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 15-H: $1,575 NL Hold'em (2X Chance, Turbo), $750,000 Guaranteed

Saturday, 14 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 16-L: $22 NL Hold'em - Quadruple Shootout (10-Max), $125,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 16-M: $215 NL Hold'em - Triple Shootout (10-Max), $150,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 16-H: $2,100 NL Hold'em - Double Shootout (10-Max), $150,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 17-L: $16.50+R PL Omaha (6-Max), $100,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 17-M: $162+R PL Omaha (6-Max), $250,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 17-H: $1,575+R PL Omaha (6-Max), $400,000 Guaranteed

20:00 ET, Ev 18-L: $22 Triple Stud (Turbo), $25,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 18-M: $215 Triple Stud (Turbo), $50,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 18-H: $2,100 Triple Stud (Turbo), $75,000 Guaranteed

Sunday, 15 May 2011
13:00 ET, Ev 19-L*: $22 NL Hold'em, $300,000 Guaranteed
13:00 ET, Ev 19-M*: $215 NL Hold'em, $1,000,000 Guaranteed
13:00 ET, Ev 19-H*: $2,100 NL Hold'em, $1,000,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 20-L*: $22 NL Hold'em, $350,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 20-M*: $215 NL Hold'em, $2,000,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 20-H*: $2,100 NL Hold'em, $2,000,000 Guaranteed

Monday, 16 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 21-L: $16.50 NL Hold'em / PL Omaha, $75,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 21-M: $162 NL Hold'em / PL Omaha, $150,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 21-H: $1,575 NL Hold'em / PL Omaha, $300,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 22-L: $33 NL Hold'em (4-Max), $100,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 22-M: $320 NL Hold'em (4-Max), $300,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 22-H: $3,150 NL Hold'em (4-Max), $500,000 Guaranteed

20:00 ET, Ev 23-L: $11 PL Omaha (Turbo, 1R1A), $75,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 23-M: $109 PL Omaha (Turbo, 1R1A), $200,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 23-H: $1,050 PL Omaha (Turbo, 1R1A), $350,000 Guaranteed

Tuesday, 17 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 24-L: $11 Triple Draw 2-7, $25,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 24-M: $109 Triple Draw 2-7, $50,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 24-H: $1,050 Triple Draw 2-7, $75,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 25-L: $22 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo, $25,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 25-M: $215 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo, $75,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 25-H: $2,100 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo, $150,000 Guaranteed

20:00 ET, Ev 26-L*: $11 NL Hold'em, $100,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 26-M*: $109 NL Hold'em, $300,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 26-H*: $1,050 NL Hold'em, $600,000 Guaranteed

Wednesday, 18 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 27-L: $22 Razz, $25,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 27-M: $215 Razz, $75,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 27-H: $2,100 Razz, $150,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 28-L*: $11+R NL Hold'em (Big Antes), $200,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 28-M*: $109+R NL Hold'em (Big Antes), $400,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 28-H*: $1,050+R NL Hold'em (Big Antes), $600,000 Guaranteed

Thursday, 19 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 29-L: $33 8-Game, $50,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 29-M: $320 8-Game, $100,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 29-H: $3,150 8-Game, $250,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 30-L: $11 PL Omaha Hi/Lo, $50,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 30-M: $109 PL Omaha Hi/Lo, $125,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 30-H*: $1,050 PL Omaha Hi/Lo, $250,000 Guaranteed

Friday, 20 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 31-L: $22 NL Hold'em (1R1A), $300,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 31-M: $215 NL Hold'em (1R1A), $500,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 31-H: $2,100 NL Hold'em (1R1A), $800,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 32-L: $55 FL Hold'em (6-Max), $75,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 32-M: $530 FL Hold'em (6-Max), $150,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 32-H: $5,200 FL Hold'em (6-Max), $250,000 Guaranteed

20:00 ET, Ev 33-L: $22 NL Omaha Hi/Lo (10m Levels), $50,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 33-M: $215 NL Omaha Hi/Lo (10m Levels), $100,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 33-H: $2,100 NL Omaha Hi/Lo (10m Levels), $150,000 Guaranteed

Saturday, 21 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 34-L: $55 PL Omaha [6-Max], $100,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 34-M: $530 PL Omaha [6-Max], $300,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 34-H: $5,200 PL Omaha [6-Max], $500,000 Guaranteed

15:30 ET, Ev 35-L*: $270 NL Hold'em [Heads-Up Match Play], $300,000 Guaranteed
15:30 ET, Ev 35-M*: $2,600 NL Hold'em [Heads-Up Match Play], $450,000 Guaranteed
15:30 ET, Ev 35-H*: $25,500 NL Hold'em [Heads-Up Match Play], $600,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 36-L: $22 HORSE, $50,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 36-M: $215 HORSE, $100,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 36-H: $2,100 HORSE, $150,000 Guaranteed

Sunday, 22 May 2011
13:00 ET, Ev 37-L*: $22 NL Hold'em (6-Max), $300,000 Guaranteed
13:00 ET, Ev 37-M*: $215 NL Hold'em (6-Max), $1,000,000 Guaranteed
13:00 ET, Ev 37-H*: $2,100 NL Hold'em (6-Max), $1,000,000 Guaranteed

17:00 ET, Ev 38-L*: $109 NLHE Main Event - L, $1,000,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 38-M*: $1,050 NLHE Main Event - M, $3,000,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 38-H*: $10,300 NLHE Main Event - H, $5,000,000 Guaranteed
* - 2-Day Event
Satellites are planned to begin on March 14, 2011.
Scheduled events are subject to change at any time before play begins.