KJ

POKER STRATEGY

Nov 10, 2012

Blake Ian
Stage· 254 messages
Nov 10, 2012
KJ

Kenna James · 12:56 AM

Hi all! Blake is on his way to the TAWK ROOM! Yeah!! and is blindly finding his way through the New York streets and hopefully will fill this vacant room with his noise - just a few minutes late. Probably get going about 8:15 or before!
KJ

Kenna James · 1:01 AM

Hi All
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:06 AM

"Hey allllll"
KJ

Kenna James · 1:06 AM

And Heeeeeer's Blake!
KJ

Kenna James · 1:06 AM

So we're talking poker strategy are we?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:06 AM

What's up bud
KJ

Kenna James · 1:07 AM

Just thinking up some strategies for talking about strategies
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:07 AM

No sir we are TAWKING poker strategy!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:08 AM

That old spelling is very 2012
KJ

Kenna James · 1:08 AM

it reminds me how often we (people) do things to do something else
KJ

Kenna James · 1:08 AM

Ah - got it TAWK! yes. Let's Tawk some strategy. I love strategy man. It's so devious!!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:09 AM

Hahah is the strategy devious? Or the strategist??
KJ

Kenna James · 1:10 AM

To my above comment...... like playing poker TO "make" money....or waiting tables TO be an actor...etc.
KJ

Kenna James · 1:10 AM

Hmmm.good question. Well...any strategy based on doing someone else in might fall under devious
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:11 AM

Hmmm both of your comments bring me right back to our never ending debate
KJ

Kenna James · 1:11 AM

in all games of competition you're defeating the other guy
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:11 AM

What is the point of playing (at anything)
KJ

Kenna James · 1:12 AM

Many points...here's only one: To challenge oneself
KJ

Kenna James · 1:12 AM

To have Fun is another
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:12 AM

Right! So are those devious pursuits?
KJ

Kenna James · 1:13 AM

Yes. I don't think poker players have enough fun when they're playing the game and so....
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:13 AM

Wow Jordan Sudy must be loving the QUICK philosophical turn this Tawk took from the audience!
KJ

Kenna James · 1:14 AM

in that way they are deviating from the Purpose of the game itself, which is to have fun. So they are devious in their behavior.
KJ

Kenna James · 1:14 AM

Well, I am called the Socrates of poker....
KJ

Kenna James · 1:15 AM

Have Fun, Make Money and Make a Difference is a nice philosophy and strategy to apply to poker
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:15 AM

Agree there... and life in general
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:15 AM

which I know is one of the main focusses of your life
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:15 AM

Poker as a microcosm of life
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:15 AM

correct?>
KJ

Kenna James · 1:15 AM

You can always expand outward from a game to life. One is just a microcosm of the other.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:15 AM

LOL
KJ

Kenna James · 1:16 AM

wow, I was typing and didn't realize you were saying the same thing...lol
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:16 AM

beat ya!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:16 AM

:)
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:16 AM

Though I was not intending to be devious
KJ

Kenna James · 1:17 AM

Well, you TAWK and Type fast. Yes, I know you were not "intending" and may even be unaware of your deviousness
KJ

Kenna James · 1:17 AM

So let's tawk about some devious poker strategies
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:18 AM

Sounds good. Since I am the student there... please begin
KJ

Kenna James · 1:19 AM

Each game format requires different strategies - so we should clarify what game we are talking about specifically first
KJ

Kenna James · 1:20 AM

I see only the 3 of us - and no comments - just our pictures
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:22 AM

right for now, we are doing a test tawk... with lots of sharing shut off.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:22 AM

but just to keep in mind... sorry for the interruption
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:22 AM

to answer your question
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:22 AM

You know Im a Helmuth kind of guy... Only know one game well
KJ

Kenna James · 1:22 AM

Okay - no worries - So, do you want to talk about tournaments or cash games?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:23 AM

I wanna TAWK about No Limit Texas Holdem
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:23 AM

I enjoy tournaments more
KJ

Kenna James · 1:23 AM

ah shit - this funny dude
KJ

Kenna James · 1:23 AM

Hellmuth won like his 13th bracelet in europe recently
KJ

Kenna James · 1:23 AM

that's two this year
KJ

Kenna James · 1:24 AM

guy's a joke
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:24 AM

Wow
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:24 AM

you know I have to say... I canceled my cable about a year ago
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:24 AM

and the thing I miss most is that I cannot keep up with Poker anywhere!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:24 AM

as I can with HBO on the ipad... or Netflix and hulu on the apple tv
KJ

Kenna James · 1:24 AM

I've played with him many times. His strategy is to be very patient, play defensive style poker, make long or "hero" calls
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:25 AM

So I am totally out of the loop... Used to be such a committed viewer!
KJ

Kenna James · 1:25 AM

and wait for players to overplay their hands
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:25 AM

ok
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:25 AM

so lets back up
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:25 AM

and explain those points
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:25 AM

please
KJ

Kenna James · 1:25 AM

you are such a techno geek! lol.
KJ

Kenna James · 1:26 AM

this the challenge of communication....let's get on the same page. ROFL
KJ

Kenna James · 1:26 AM

OR Not....
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

haha Tech KJ, Im a tech geek... Techno is music the kids dance to at a rave!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

so please start with point 1. Patient
KJ

Kenna James · 1:27 AM

yeah, well, funny how you knew what I meant
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:27 AM

cause Im a tech geek
KJ

Kenna James · 1:28 AM

Patience means "suffering in place" and in poker you must be willing to do a lot of suffering!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:29 AM

wow heavy doc
KJ

Kenna James · 1:29 AM

You're face to face with loss all the time and when you're sitting in it, it can be painful
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:29 AM

it sure can be
KJ

Kenna James · 1:29 AM

lol
KJ

Kenna James · 1:29 AM

actually comes form the word patient - so your doctor reference was....as usual....impeccable
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:29 AM

so patience is not allowing the suffering to make you move?
KJ

Kenna James · 1:30 AM

sounds good to me...love that
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:30 AM

well thank you thank you... (though I was quoting Marty in Back to the Future) :)
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:30 AM

ok so in Poker... some people make moves because they lose patience?
KJ

Kenna James · 1:30 AM

sit there and take it Mother. ..... Fxxxxx
KJ

Kenna James · 1:31 AM

Yes, in order to get out of sitting in pain, they need motion
KJ

Kenna James · 1:31 AM

mentally and physically
KJ

Kenna James · 1:31 AM

but mentally they got to get involved because they are missing the connection to....their chips, winning, pots, etc.
KJ

Kenna James · 1:32 AM

So to eleviate the pain they play extra hands and make poor decisions
KJ

Kenna James · 1:33 AM

So the strategy is become a masochist
KJ

Kenna James · 1:33 AM

learn to first experience the pain, then live with it and finally - enjoy it!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:34 AM

so from this first point of patience, its not too hard to understand the microcosm theory
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:34 AM

:)
KJ

Kenna James · 1:34 AM

This is like a Tawk with myself...LOL
KJ

Kenna James · 1:35 AM

My thoughts just spill out onto the page and I just keep typing
KJ

Kenna James · 1:35 AM

No co-host needed...I'm just one run-on sentence
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:35 AM

Well yes but Im here to keep ya honest!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:35 AM

and back on track
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:35 AM

though if that's my job, we may be in trouble
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:35 AM

ok so Point 2.
KJ

Kenna James · 1:36 AM

imagine that...a devious man keeping me honest...that's funny!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:36 AM

"Play Defensive"
KJ

Kenna James · 1:36 AM

oh that's right....you don't know about your deviousness yet.....shhhhhh
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:36 AM

Spill some thoughts out on that
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:36 AM

hahah
KJ

Kenna James · 1:36 AM

okay
KJ

Kenna James · 1:36 AM

point 2 was what?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:36 AM

listen man you want to start pickin fights... you know Im ready!
KJ

Kenna James · 1:37 AM

Nobody is tawking about our task....it must not be interesting
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:37 AM

we can roll up the sleeves and Tawk about our different views... but I say we hold off for a bit and I let you just teach :)
KJ

Kenna James · 1:37 AM

tawk not task....Okay, point 2 was.....
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:38 AM

Patience Kenna
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:38 AM

on the audience
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:38 AM

:P
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:39 AM

Also remember to check the audience...
KJ

Kenna James · 1:39 AM

I was just making an observation...but yes, I am patient
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:39 AM

you MIIIGHTTT just see a familiar face in there right now
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:39 AM

and LISTEN to him
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:40 AM

hahah
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:40 AM

So when you've done that you will see that guy Im tawking about is prompting us to move along to point 2. "Play defensive"
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:40 AM

something I get accused of on and OFF the felt
KJ

Kenna James · 1:40 AM

Okay...
KJ

Kenna James · 1:41 AM

By defensive I mean he is playing approach to the game is more deflecting
KJ

Kenna James · 1:41 AM

what others are doing or trying to do
KJ

Kenna James · 1:42 AM

rather then Effecting
KJ

Kenna James · 1:42 AM

or trying to create an effect
KJ

Kenna James · 1:42 AM

You have to be a high level player to pull this style off effectively
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:42 AM

Got ya.. that's pretty broad though and can relate to soccer as it can to poker... could you be more specific to the cards?
KJ

Kenna James · 1:42 AM

sure
KJ

Kenna James · 1:43 AM

If a guy raises and I'm in back position with AK of hearts
KJ

Kenna James · 1:43 AM

If I'm playing defensively I will just call instead of putting in a re-raise
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:44 AM

back position meaning acting last or later than most of the table on each bet correct?
KJ

Kenna James · 1:44 AM

and if I flop a flush draw or a pair and the raiser bets, I would tend to just call rather the push it as a semi-bluff
KJ

Kenna James · 1:44 AM

yes
KJ

Kenna James · 1:44 AM

Let the board develop and my opponent over value and over bet their hand
KJ

Kenna James · 1:45 AM

From this position I believe I keep more of my own fate in my hands rather then the hands of the dealer or the cards
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:45 AM

Got ya... so it sounds like patience is required to play defensive?
KJ

Kenna James · 1:46 AM

Good observation man....I would say it does, yes
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:46 AM

So why can't everyone get away with the waiting game?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:46 AM

because everyone isn't willing to suffer?
KJ

Kenna James · 1:46 AM

I can't speak for "everyone," but perhaps they lack patience! lol!
KJ

Kenna James · 1:46 AM

Some people like to be on stage and some like to sit in the audience
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:46 AM

And "Hero calls"
KJ

Kenna James · 1:47 AM

that is one of their glories
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:47 AM

thats a great observation man... one the Tawkers team has had to consider while building
KJ

Kenna James · 1:47 AM

along with defeating the "bully"
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:47 AM

you and I are on the stage actually... that's exactly what we call it
KJ

Kenna James · 1:48 AM

That's cool. I like it. I often find myself on stage...
KJ

Kenna James · 1:50 AM

So, in this world of 3 betting poker and overly aggressive young players.....
KJ

Kenna James · 1:50 AM

sometimes defensive play works
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:50 AM

(Hey steve, a little Tawkers support for your question in the audience... The two arrows at the top left of the Tawk, just under the logo.. will allow you to go to the beginning and the most recent ends of the tawk) :)
KJ

Kenna James · 1:51 AM

as a mentor once said to me; do the opposite of what you think you should be doing and you'll be closer to the truth
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

got ya... so because all these aggressive young guns have hit the tables in the last 5-10 years...
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

it becomes easier to play defensive
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

like Judo
KJ

Kenna James · 1:52 AM

Do on point 2 on Hellmuth's poker strategy...Adopting a Defensive strategy and be used effectively to apply to todays game
KJ

Kenna James · 1:53 AM

Yes.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:53 AM

Which Phil continues to do well apparently
KJ

Kenna James · 1:53 AM

I don't how well...I can't get this image out of my head of him on one of those backround stories on espn
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:53 AM

13 bracelts... wow, are Doyle and Johnny still at 10?
KJ

Kenna James · 1:53 AM

he's laying in bed half naked looking like a semi-glazed donut
KJ

Kenna James · 1:54 AM

with the alarm going off
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:54 AM

LOL well, apparently he has some disconnect in his ability to apply his microcosm success
KJ

Kenna James · 1:54 AM

He had a defensive approach to the day as well
KJ

Kenna James · 1:55 AM

The strategy is to have both! It's good to have a good offensive game and a good defensive game and be prepared to apply them appropriately
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:56 AM

Do you play more one way than the other
KJ

Kenna James · 1:56 AM

The challenge is we (people) will work on what they do well more often then what their challenge areas are...
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:56 AM

or is it an even split for you in a day or a tournament
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:57 AM

and the fact that THAT itself is a challenge, makes it a bit paradoxical to address hahaha
KJ

Kenna James · 1:57 AM

A golfer who drives the ball well will often be found on the range but conspicuously absent from the practice putting green
KJ

Kenna James · 1:57 AM

Yes...I like paradoxs
KJ

Kenna James · 1:57 AM

Yes, I have and prefer a more aggressive style
KJ

Kenna James · 1:58 AM

and have a biasness towards that
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:58 AM

well nobody's perfect
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:58 AM

or else this whole Tawk would be pointless!
KJ

Kenna James · 1:58 AM

I guess it depends on your view of perfection.
KJ

Kenna James · 1:59 AM

but as long as you see things as imperfect, I suppose you are right.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:59 AM

haha
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:59 AM

we seem to have some questions in the audience popping up
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:59 AM

lets throw the SPOTLIGHT on one and address it shall we?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:59 AM

★ Spotlighted from Steve Grob

if you have the ability to adapt and play in different ways you'll be better off.

KJ

Kenna James · 1:59 AM

yes
KJ

Kenna James · 1:59 AM

let's shall
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:00 AM

haha well I put the spotlight on it... you address it!
KJ

Kenna James · 2:00 AM

Good point Steve. The ability to adapt is so crucial to survival.
KJ

Kenna James · 2:00 AM

Those who don't adapt, Die.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:00 AM

The poker announces are constantly speaking about the great players' ability to "shift gears"
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:01 AM

thats adaptation yeah?
KJ

Kenna James · 2:01 AM

As my good old late friend Amir Vahedi use to say....
KJ

Kenna James · 2:01 AM

"In order to play poker well, one must be willing to die in order to live" and it's so true
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:01 AM

RIP Amir, great guy to watch play!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:02 AM

it is very true.... If you aren't risking, you aren't growing
KJ

Kenna James · 2:02 AM

Yeah....Shifting Gears is all about ones ability to increase or decrease their hand frequency at will
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:02 AM

something I found (with your help) as one of my challenges early on
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:02 AM

in really trying to learn the game
KJ

Kenna James · 2:02 AM

appreciate that
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:03 AM

I found out I wasn't willing to risk... and you help me see exactly how it was affecting my game adversely
KJ

Kenna James · 2:03 AM

You have taken a huge risk with Tawkers, invested so much of yourself and your team has as well, and I believe for the risk y'all have taken, you will profit from it phenominally
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:04 AM

"going out like broomcorn's uncle" sometimes as Doyle would say
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:04 AM

Well thanks man! and it is definitely true of everyone that has been involved
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:04 AM

but the rewards have already been so incredible... and we have only just begun
KJ

Kenna James · 2:04 AM

So you have learned to step out and take risks....and the great thing about poker is that it is a vehicle in which we can drive and learn to take risks
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:05 AM

I would say my risk taking in poker and in general has increased significantly in the last few years... and I owe some of that to your poker lessons
KJ

Kenna James · 2:05 AM

★ Spotlighted from Steve Grob

searching for dictionary, looking up 'broomcorn'

Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:05 AM

hahah
KJ

Kenna James · 2:06 AM

Too kind, too kind. So onto point 3.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:06 AM

"Going out like broomcorn's uncle" is when the blinds just take your last dollar away
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:06 AM

so the ante comes around and around
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:06 AM

and you sit there not wanting to risk your money
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:06 AM

only to look down and see there's nothing left anyway
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:06 AM

it's actually a lesson in my favorite book the alchemist
KJ

Kenna James · 2:07 AM

oooo...nothing worse then getting blinded out of a game....but that's what often happens to people in Apathy
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:07 AM

right, there's that story about the man who walked around with a bag full of money, afraid to spend a dollar... only to find when he finally opened the bag, a rat had gotten in and eaten it all
KJ

Kenna James · 2:07 AM

Yeah, you gave me a copy of that book. I loved it also, thanks for sharing it with me man. That and The Prophet are both great reads.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:08 AM

I read the prophet last year... and again this year
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:08 AM

wonderful book
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:08 AM

★ Spotlighted from ed goldsmith

like waiting for "someday" to do something...someday is not on the calandar!

KJ

Kenna James · 2:08 AM

Yeah, I had that problem with my bag of money also
KJ

Kenna James · 2:08 AM

It may be Ed...but it may be on the Myan calendar
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:08 AM

@Steve - The Alchemist is by Paulo Coelho, who once responded to a letter of mine thanking him for writing the Alchemist : )
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:09 AM

great man.. writes truth like it's coming out of a faucet
KJ

Kenna James · 2:09 AM

wow.
KJ

Kenna James · 2:09 AM

Who can tell me what point 3 is on Phil Hellmuths tournament strategy?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:10 AM

"Hero Call"
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:10 AM

taking on the bully
KJ

Kenna James · 2:10 AM

I have to leave for a poker tournament in about 15 minutes! lol! Tawking's great but Doing is better! - probably not a slogan we want to promote.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:11 AM

haha well whatever you feel... but I think both are important
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:11 AM

and I know you'll be tawking plenty at the table!
KJ

Kenna James · 2:11 AM

Ah yes....that's a very popular topic of tawk actually..."Taking on the bully" or adapted to...."How do I defeat the aggressive player?"
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:12 AM

certainly not a sentiment I would put on any of our marketing materials! :)
KJ

Kenna James · 2:12 AM

LOL!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:12 AM

ok so before we lose you... lets have a nice wrap up of things
KJ

Kenna James · 2:12 AM

But good that we can VOICE ANYTHING!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:12 AM

and remember, we can always return to this tawk and so can others
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:12 AM

we can keep this tawk going for years
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:12 AM

and of course, start another about music!
KJ

Kenna James · 2:13 AM

That's good. There might even be something interesting that's been said..
KJ

Kenna James · 2:13 AM

that one could find in the recesses of these lines of diolouge
KJ

Kenna James · 2:14 AM

So the key strategy in playing against the aggressive opponent is to not play his game
KJ

Kenna James · 2:14 AM

don't let him fool you by drawing you into his game
KJ

Kenna James · 2:14 AM

if you do you won't win
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:14 AM

and generally speaking there are more aggressive than defensive players out there in today's game
KJ

Kenna James · 2:14 AM

the strategy is to maintain your own space
KJ

Kenna James · 2:14 AM

yes
KJ

Kenna James · 2:14 AM

and respond to the situation appropriately
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:15 AM

wow.. maintain your own space, another good point to apply to the macrocosm of life
KJ

Kenna James · 2:15 AM

if the situation calls for aggression (say you have JJ's or QQ's)
KJ

Kenna James · 2:15 AM

yes
KJ

Kenna James · 2:15 AM

then you get aggressive
KJ

Kenna James · 2:16 AM

if it calls for patience, as such with a hand like AQ or TT or 99's then proceed with caution rather then letting him draw you into a bettng war with susceptible type of hands
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:16 AM

great specific examples
KJ

Kenna James · 2:17 AM

or before you know it you'll be flipping for your tournament life with 99's agains King Jack and be left scratching your head how you were more patient then the maniac but he got all yoru chips
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:17 AM

LOL
KJ

Kenna James · 2:17 AM

Good point. Thanks Blake.
KJ

Kenna James · 2:17 AM

Let's do that. Thanks for joining our tawk everyone!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:19 AM

play well tonight! Enjoy!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 5:53 AM

Hey bud... stopped at Foxwoods for some tourny practice last week on my way back from Nantucket. Would love to tawk out some of the hands with ya... let's pick this tawk back up again soon!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 5:53 AM

Plus, Adam Densky a friend and fan of yours from a trip to AC is in the audience now : )
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 5:29 AM

KJ I just watched Helmuth win his 13th at the wsope on espn...no mention if he is the only winner of both main events US and Euro... Is he?