Poker 425 - This week with a difference......

[tikay]

I disagree with one small point you made Tikay, when you said Schaefer's mate Carl Olson is just an all in merchant. Schaefer has said that out of the 2 of them Olson is the better player. He is ranked number 11 in the pocketfives online tourney player rankings if I may quote-

One of the top tournament players in 2005 on both UB and PokerStars. Won the May 2005 TLB on Stars. Winner of the $100k guaranteed on Paradise in August, 2005. Received more than $50k for a chop in the WCOOP $1000 PLO tourney. Also had a 2nd place finish in the 2005 EPT event in Deauville, France

If you check his poker stars results you see that he has won over $200,000 on that site alone and he is also one of the most respected posters on the 2+2 MTT forum. I know you played with him at Deauville but there could be any number of reasons why he thought going all in was the best way to play at that time. Perhaps now you might see some reasons for his play instead of thinking (the way I saw it anyway I know you're not trying to be rude) that he's just a fish. It may well be the case of course that he's a good player who for whatever reason played badly at that time?

I just say this byron.

I sat with Carl Olsen in Deauville for 2 days. I only ever saw him make one play - all-in. He moved all-in EVERY hand he played. He got chips early & could bust anyone. So that was the extent of his play - all-in every time. He went all-in with underpairs 4 times while he was on my table, & hit his set 3 times, & 4-flushed the other.

That, I am afraid, is all I have to judge him on. It would appear he is a vey good played based on what you tell me. So be it, I'm happy to apologise if my remarks were deemed to be rude. But I can only comment on what I have seen personally.

Brandon, again based on what I personally watched, has great subtlety to his game, & won Deauville, & was 2nd in Monte Carlo. A real class act. In my opinion.

[byronkincaid]

There's no need to apologise for anything, it's just an interesting debate IMO. I didn't realise you played against him for so long. Perhaps he is a good online player and a fish live? It was probably one of his first live events as it was mine, I just like sticking up for the internet qualifiers as I am always one myself if I'm playing a big tourney. As a journalist you have to say it like you see it, I was just making the point that in this case there might be a bit more to it.

[tikay]

I agree byron. It's possible that I judged him harshly, or too soon or just badly. My comments, with regards to Deauville ONLY, were accurate though. He was an all-in merchant in Deauville.

Brandon WOULD say that Carl was the better player. Brandon is one of the nicest Gentlemen I have ever met in poker. Self-effacing, modest, polite, brings his Mum along when he can.

I find it odd when I'm described as a journalist, but I suppose you are almost right. Pseudo-journo, maybe. I have yet to get my head round the bizarre twists & turns my life has taken in the last 12 months. But it's jolly hard to comment critically on players who are better than me. But most football reporters, say, can't play the game, but feel able to criticise those who do. I suppose it goes with the teritory.

There's an oddity here. I play the game at a certain skill level. Competent up to a point, but no great shakes. Somewhere, in football terms, between Division One & Championship I suppose. Deffo not Prermiership, & I would be in the Championship Relegation Zone. But, strangely for one who is usually fairly modest & humble, I DO have a self-belief that I can judge the relative merits of players, even though they are all a lot better than me. A fine line we tread, eh?

[byronkincaid]

OK finally found it, if you have the time read this thread. The quotes are from day 2. It is bog standard 2+2 forum advice/internet tournament play that if you have less than 10 BBs there are no moves other than all in or fold. He sees his play as totally normal you see it as being a player with no moves other than all in. It is interesting how people perceive the same thing in totally differnet ways.

http://archiveserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1801506&page=0&fpart=all&vc=1

I’m starting to dwindle. We’re probably around 45 left, with 27 getting paid. I’m down to 30K when the blinds go up 1500-3000. From this point on until the money I don’t really remember too many details. But basically, I squeezed my way into the money playing a short stack. My only move was all in as I wavered between 6 and 12 big blinds. I never picked up a big hand, but just used position the best I could. I would make sure to fold most hands on the button and CO trying to establish some trust. I had a really tight player on left so after folding to him once, I think I moved in every time I got the chance. He said, “you know, once of these times I’m going to wake up with AA”. Haha, I thought it was hilarious, his blind was essentially free.

My table is playing very tight now, and blinds go up to 3-6K. I have 50ish and start moving in very liberally. Pretty much any chance I get to open and have any sort of hand, my chips are going in the middle. I make sure to fold a button and CO when it was folded to me. People start to comment though

[jammer]

Myself and mrs jammer have cable tv (ntl in nottingham) and I can't seem to get poker 425, which is pretty infuriating...

Does anyone know if I'm missing something, and if it is possible to get the channel on ntl? Much obliged!

[byronkincaid]

Does anyone know if I'm missing something

One of the funniest programs on TV.

Seriously I'm pretty sure it's Sky only

[tikay]

OK finally found it, if you have the time read this thread. The quotes are from day 2. It is bog standard 2+2 forum advice/internet tournament play that if you have less than 10 BBs there are no moves other than all in or fold. He sees his play as totally normal you see it as being a player with no moves other than all in. It is interesting how people perceive the same thing in totally differnet ways.

http://archiveserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1801506&page=0&fpart=all&vc=1

I’m starting to dwindle. We’re probably around 45 left, with 27 getting paid. I’m down to 30K when the blinds go up 1500-3000. From this point on until the money I don’t really remember too many details. But basically, I squeezed my way into the money playing a short stack. My only move was all in as I wavered between 6 and 12 big blinds. I never picked up a big hand, but just used position the best I could. I would make sure to fold most hands on the button and CO trying to establish some trust. I had a really tight player on left so after folding to him once, I think I moved in every time I got the chance. He said, “you know, once of these times I’m going to wake up with AA”. Haha, I thought it was hilarious, his blind was essentially free.

My table is playing very tight now, and blinds go up to 3-6K. I have 50ish and start moving in very liberally. Pretty much any chance I get to open and have any sort of hand, my chips are going in the middle. I make sure to fold a button and CO when it was folded to me. People start to comment though

That's food for thought Byron. Perhaps I need to watch him when he has a big stack. It was my recollection, maybe flawed, that he had plenty of chips when I sat with him. But we can't argue with the result he got in Deauville. I busted out 16th or 17th on a goddam-awful "all-in lunge" after playing as well as I can for 3 days. He damn near won the thing. Kudos for THAT.

[matt674]

He is ranked number 11 in the pocketfives online tourney player rankings if I may quote-

One of the top tournament players in 2005 on both UB and PokerStars. Won the May 2005 TLB on Stars. Winner of the $100k guaranteed on Paradise in August, 2005. Received more than $50k for a chop in the WCOOP $1000 PLO tourney. Also had a 2nd place finish in the 2005 EPT event in Deauville, France

You dont actually believe the pocketfives online ranking do you?

[byronkincaid]

I don't know what you mean by believe? I believe it's someones opinion of who the good online players are. Are you saying he's not a good player then?

[matt674]

I don't know what you mean by believe? I believe it's someones opinion of who the good online players are. Are you saying he's not a good player then?

No, i'm not saying he's not a good player - i'm saying the pocketfives rankings are not a true indication of online rankings. There are several players who appear on there even though they are losing players, there are several names who appear on the list even though they have only won 1 big tournament - even if the tournament was several months ago. I know quite a few good online players, both professional and amateur who have asked for their names to be removed from the list as they dont wish to be assosiated with it. If you are not a member of pocketfives then it is unlikely you will considered to be ranked, also if you only play one specific site it is unlikely that you will be ranked.

[Indestructable]

Enjoyed the show and Tikay did his best to wind up Johnny Gould.
For those that don't know, Johnny Gould hosts a show called Brainteaser on Channel 5 and he alternates shows with the very nice Alex Lovell.

http://www.alex-lovell.co.uk/

I went on the show last April and I didn't get to meet Johnny as it was Alex's turn. Which was a good result in more ways than one as I went on to win the show.