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  <channel>
    <title>A Work in Progress: The Diary of a Micro-Limit NL Player/Poker Dealer</title>
    <link>http://www.tworags.com</link>
    <description>Tworags.com - poker guide for serious poker players who play Texas Holdem and Other Poker Games</description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <lastBuildDate>Mon, 06 Oct 08 08:45:35 -0400</lastBuildDate>
    
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box: Update on Job and Poker</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=2634]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[ [b]Catching Up[/b] 

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while, I know some of you enjoyed my road to getting a dealing job.  Now that I have it I am working 5 days a week a full 8 hours at a minimum, a lot of the time I am working overtime.  I barely have the time an energy to put in an hour or two playing some NL25 on Stars.  So my goal for this blog is to catch up a little bit on whats been going on in my life and talk a little bit on where I would like to be in the next few months.

Since I last wrote I was an On-Call poker dealer at the Showboat in Atlantic City.  I worked really hard and also got really lucky to get promoted to Part-Time before my 90 day probation period was even up.  I help out the supervisors a lot when I am on my breaks and I think they really appreciated it.  I thought it was what we were suppose to do, but apparently I was going above and beyond what was expected of me.  

Being Part-Time is a HUGE advantage on my shift. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jun 08 12:50:34 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box: Tipping Response</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=2261]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[This is going to be a more serious than my average blog because I am upset at this issue all the way around.  I skimmed through the thread on 2+2 about this subject and only read the post from people that I respect.  I had to weed through like 100 "Fuck the dealers!" posts which was frustrating, but people are entitled to their opinion if they back it up.  Just saying that we don't deserve as much as we make isn't going to convince me not tipping is the way to go.  I want this blog to be as objective as possible, so it will have been completed way before it will ever be posted to ensure that it is proofread by a number of people I respect and keep me from swaying one way or another.  

As most of you know, I am a poker dealer.  I have dealt in two events just like the Bay 101.  I dealt the WSOP Circuit event at Harrah's A.C. and I dealt the WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open as well.  Both tournaments I heard dealers complaining about how much we were getting tipped. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 30 Mar 08 23:41:55 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box: Auditions</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=2198]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[ [b]Long Time No See[/b] 

I wanted to post a few blogs over the past week or so, but I got really really sick.  I know how I got sick which is the worst part.  It is from working in a casino with all those nasty people that don't bathe.  I forgot to wash my hands approximately two times before I went on break to eat.  I am 99% sure this is how I got sick and I will never go without washing my hands again.  Obviously, I had to work the entire time I was sick so I never gave my body a chance to get better.  I am feeling slightly better now so I figured I would give you guys some updates on how things are going.

 [b]Asshole Players[/b] 

I want to start this section off by saying I have the best job in the world.  For me, right now, I can't be doing anything better.  There are just times where I want to jump out of a window because players are so whiny and annoying.    By the time I reached this table I was so sick I have no voice and I had enough. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Sat, 22 Mar 08 22:46:25 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box: Reflecting</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=2058]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[b]Look How Far I Have Come![/b] 

It has been a crazy ride.  One year ago I was in college cramming my ass off because I got off to a slow start and wanted to graduate on time.  It is a long story, but I think I can sum it up in a few sentences.  I was immature, I was not ready for college, therefore I almost failed out freshman year.  I learned a lot of lessons in college, most of them not about academics.  A majority of the lessons I learned was how to learn from my mistakes, take responsibility for my actions, and simply be a man.  It took until about this time last year for me to really figure out who I was.  

In March of 2007 I was coming off of my 22nd birthday, I was living with a bunch of people whom I disliked (including myself) because of their morals, personalties and just the way they lived their lives.  I was trying to deal with a full class schedule as well as working tons of hours every Friday-Sunday, just to get by I was getting pretty down. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Mar 08 00:23:20 -0500</pubDate>
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box: My First Week!!!</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=2005]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[b]Part of the Showboat Family[/b] 
One of the things I was most afraid of when starting this new job was to not really fit in right away.  At all the temporary tournament dealing jobs it took a long time to get accustomed to how they do things because they basically didn't care about us.  Now I have a real job, but will the results be the same?  The answer is a clear NO!  Everyone made it a point to say hello and introduce themselves and welcome me to the team.  Most even sat with me on breaks and asked me questions about myself.  There are already a few dealers that I feel like I am going to become pretty good friends with.  The supervisor who found and hired me is a little tougher as most of our conversations involve her telling me what I am doing wrong because I think she feels like she needs to mentor me.  I love this.  She is very knowledgeable and wants to mold me into a really good dealer and I am all ears. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 24 Feb 08 23:54:42 -0500</pubDate>
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box: I'm Back and Finally Working</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=1900]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[b]I'm Back[/b] 

What's up guys?  I decided to take a little break from blogging because I was running really bad and was pretty upset.  I didn't feel like I would put a good effort into writing a decent blog so I decided I would just not write at all.  I regret making that decision for a number of reasons, but the main regret is that every time I was down this blog helped lift me back up.  Whether it was just getting some things off my chest by writing or the inspiring comments I got from my readers, I always felt better after writing a blog entry.  Anyway, we got some catching up to do.

Since we last spoke, I was dealing the Borgata Winter Poker Open.  That was an awesome experience.  I was dealing the grave shift, I made a lot of good connections and I had an amazing time.  One night they even sent me downstairs to deal cash games.  Dealers all over the city basically wish they could deal cash at Borgata and I was able to.  That was pretty awesome. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Feb 08 10:51:08 -0500</pubDate>
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box: Finally Working Again- Borgata Winter Poker Open</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=1735]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[ [b]Borgata's Professionalism[/b] 

So I started working the Borgata Winter Poker Open on the 15th, and I am super pleased with how things are going so far.  I know my standards are low because most of the A.C. rooms (that I have dealt/played in) haven't been run all that well, but Borgata does things at such a high level.  To start off they have an amazingly large and visually pleasing tournament room.  The staff seems like a family and they welcome you into their family as soon as you walk in, it is very comforting.  Also, the dealers are just 10x better skill wise than the dealers at the WSOP Circuit event at Harrah's.  There are still a few sore spots, but for the most part all the dealers are more than competent.  

Since there are so few things to complain about as a staff member and a player the atmosphere is much more relaxed and upbeat at this tournament.  The players always seem to be in a good mood regardless of winning or losing. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Jan 08 04:13:21 -0500</pubDate>
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box:  Bored</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=1638]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Unfortunately, I have nothing to really update in this entry.  I came back to A.C. after New Years and I just sit at home all day.  I went to the Showboat to see if my paperwork is ready yet and it is still not.  They are clearly having some issues with the department that takes care of these things.  One of the guys I talked to said it could be because they locked that position up since I already got the job and they aren't hiring for it anymore. I don't know anymore.  Basically, I am working the 11pm-Sunrise shift at the Borgata Winter Poker Open and whenever things get cleared up I should be working somewhere during the day--I assume at the Showboat.  For now I just get to play a lot of hands of poker.

Check in with you guys soon.[s] ]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 08 11:36:14 -0500</pubDate>
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box: My First Job and Holidays</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=1592]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[b]Catch-Up![/b] 

First off, I want to apologize for not keeping you guys up to date during basically the most important time of my poker dealing career.  During the tournament I was so tired I just went to sleep when I got home.  During the Holidays I went home to my parent’s house and forgot my wireless adapter and I didn't have the internet for over a week I almost died lol.  I finally can browse the interwebs so here it goes...

I left everyone off with me being 100% sure I was failing my Borgata drug test and I got the "on-call" dealing position at the Showboat.  Things ended up turning out very differently than I had expected.  About a day or two after I finished dealing the WSOP at Harrah's (I will get to that in a bit) I got a call from the Borgata asking when I wanted to go in for orientation and what hours I can work.  Really?! Shhhhhweeeeetttt! [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Dec 07 16:35:57 -0500</pubDate>
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box: Borgata Audition</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=1470]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[b]Recap[/b]

	I left you guys off in the last blog with a lot of uncertainty.  This blog will probably be no different.  I don’t know where I stand with the [url=http://www.tworags.com/ShowboatAtlanticCity.html]Showboat[/url] and I am working the WSOP Circuit at [url=http://www.tworags.com/HarrahsAtlanticCity.html]Harrah's[/url] come December 8th.  All I know about that is that I have to show up at 11:30…that’s it.  I ended up getting a call from The [url=http://www.tworags.com/BorgataHotelCasinoAndSpa.html]Borgata[/url] about dealing their WPT Winter Poker Open and I had an audition in a few days.

[b]Above the Rest[/b]

	As most people know that live and play poker in the area, [url=http://www.tworags.com/BorgataHotelCasinoAndSpa.html]Borgata[/url] is a top tier casino.  They have easily the best poker room in A.C. possibly the east coast (I have never been to [url=http://www.tworags.com/FoxwoodsResortCasino.html]Foxwoods[/url], but I heard it trumps [url=http://www. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Sat, 08 Dec 07 22:15:04 -0500</pubDate>
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box: Showboat Audition</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=1428]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[b]Ambassador of the Quan[/b]

	So just to recap the last blog, I went to a World Series of Poker Circuit audition at Harrah’s about a month ago and the hired me on the spot along with everyone else auditioning.  They were basically giving jobs away.  My next audition, this was not the case.  The Showboat is probably one of the better known poker rooms in A.C.  I don’t have any input on it as I have not played there yet.  This audition actually came before the WSOP one, but I was approached for the circuit job first so I thought I would start with it instead of this one.   

[b]Pressure[/b]

	In the last blog I talked about being nervous.  This audition was the reason.  I was working on my apartment (I do handy work around the house for my landlord for a little pocket change) when I got a call from my buddy that works in the office at the dealer’s school. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 02 Dec 07 14:45:24 -0500</pubDate>
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box Pt. 4a of 7: WSOP Audition</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=1355]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[b]On to graduation[/b] 

When I last updated, I left you guys off at week 3 of dealer's school.  Week 4 was basically review of everything we learned so at this point, dealer school was just about over.  I graduated the night The Sands was imploded, and it was a pretty eventful evening in Atlantic City.

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV8CV0Q0mio&feature=related]Link to video of the Sands implosion[/url] 

Now it was on me.  I had to find myself open positions and get an audition after I fill out my application.

[b]”You, there!  Can you deal? [/b]

I originally moved down to A.C. right away because I wanted to finish dealer's school in time to apply for the WSOP Circuit event at [url=http://www.tworags.com/HarrahsAtlanticCity.html]Harrah's[/url].  Fortunately for me, a woman from the WSOP decided to stop by the dealer's school and see if they had any dealers to recommend. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Fri, 23 Nov 07 15:48:02 -0500</pubDate>
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box Pt. 3 of 7: Growing</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=1206]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[
[b]Making some changes[/b]

	If you haven’t read the first blog entry of this series you know that I came down to Atlantic City to build maturity as well as bankroll.  I knew I would encounter some hard times, but I knew that staying tough and dedicated to getting better would get me through them.  At this point, I have only been living on my own for a little more than 2 weeks, but it feels like months.  I have no income, I am eating less, I am not working out, I have no friends here, my grandmother passed away suddenly, and like I explained in my last blog, dealing isn’t as easy as I thought.  This is close to the lowest I have ever felt in my whole life.
I knew I could be a good dealer if I worked hard.  Also, I didn’t see a logical solution to fix all my other problems unless I got myself a dealing job.  I would have an income, I could afford to eat more, I could afford gym fees, and I would meet more people my age. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 29 Oct 07 13:22:16 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box Pt. 2 of 7: Getting Humbled</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=1167]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[b]"Ah you hup me in crass?"[/b] 

I am glad everyone enjoyed the first installment of this series.  I guess I will start where I left off with the last post.  I had just paid for school two days before the class started, and I was really excited to get started.  I got to class on Monday about 15 to 20 minutes early.  I think this is something people should really start getting used to, especially lazy poker players.  With my experience in college athletics in two different sports, I learned and important lesson: if you are on time, you are late!  For anything important, especially if you are going to a place that you don’t know how to get to, give yourself plenty of time to get there and don’t be late.  

	The first person who walked in was a short but really stocky (like muscular, really muscular) Asian woman.  She didn’t speak the greatest English and she asked me if I was going to help her in the class.  She didn’t even know what beats what. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Oct 07 21:18:11 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>From the Dealer's Box Part 1 of 7:  Background</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=1103]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Over the last few months several people have asked me to get into more detail about dealer’s school, so EdmondDantes and I discussed creating a series of blog posts on the topic.  With this entry, I will be starting Part 1 of what will be a 7-part series detailing my road to becoming a poker dealer.  Naturally, I’ll start off with the events that lead up to my enrollment in dealer’s school.

	It is the summer of 2004 and I am 19 years old.  A group of my friends and I decided that it would be a great time to take a trip up to Casino Niagara to gamble since the legal gambling age is 19 in Canada.  We settle in and I obviously made a bee-line for the poker tables.  At the time, they ran a 1/2 no limit game with a 100 max buy in and a $5 per half hour time collection.  Anyway, I see the dealers being tipped left and right and making really good money, and not only that, making it look so easy. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Oct 07 08:32:09 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>Running Bad/Playing Bad</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=1077]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[My last two sessions have been short and painful.  Two days ago I played only 91 hands and got crushed for a little less than a buy-in.  Every hand I raised was re-raised pf, my c-bet was called/raised, or they bet the turn on me.  None of these players were getting out of line and I really had jack to do anything with so I really just had to lay these hands down.  I ended up losing a big pot at the end of the session and I felt the tilt monster so I just said I will come back tomorrow.  

My session last night was even worse.  I didn't play my first maybe 25 hands dealt to me because I had garbage and most of the pots were either raised PF or the players in the blinds had huge VPIP's and very low Fold to Blinds Steal. So I said I will just play this session nice and tight and just get some value bets in there.  I didn't really listen to myself.  I slowplayed a flopped bottom's full house that I don't think I should have, to me it was a clear raise on the flop. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 16 Oct 07 05:50:56 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>Starting Fresh</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=1061]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Adjusting to moving and all that other crap that has been going on has been hard.  I finally got back on my horse and played my first session last night and this morning I finally started my duties as AC Rep for TwoRags.  I have been browsing and posting on the 2p2 forums and getting back into the game a little bit lately.  I didn't want to jump right into my normal limit cold so I started slow with just railing a little bit here and there.  A few days ago I played a couple $1 tourneys and the 10c Rebuy on FTP.  No luck, but I was feeling more comfortable with my reads and such.

Last night I finally decided to jump into my usual 25NL game.  I searched for a little while and found the juciest table I have ever seen in my life.  There were a few TAGish players, but they were playing so bad cause there were 2 60/8/3ish players at the table playing like complete donks and everyone at the table were adjusting. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 14 Oct 07 16:27:34 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>Tough Month</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=1031]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[There is no other way to describe it.  This has been the most emotionally and mentally tough month of my life.  I am not big into posting about my personal life, but basically I had a very sudden death in my family.  This member was some one that was very close to me and some of the things I had to go through these past days were the hardest I have ever had to go through in my life.  I am doing ok, although these tough times really did test my emotional strength.  

On a lighter note, because of my family issues I was not able to play a single hand of poker in the past month or so.  I was just about to sit down and put in my first session and I got the call that flipped my world upside down for the last week.  I do not think I will reach any of my goals and I think a lot of them have changed.  I just have a few goals now, enjoy life and make some money!

I am still in dealers school, we start Omaha tonight. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Oct 07 15:06:36 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>Oct. Goals</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=935]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[So for this blog I decided to post all my goals both poker related and for many other things too.  I think its pretty clear that my September was not what I wanted it to be.  I thought I was playing some of the best poker that I have played ever and I was running really well, but I played less than 1k hands.  I had a lot going on with moving to A.C. and being really tired after dealer's school at night.  I have also been a bit lazy lately also, probably because I haven't worked out in a few weeks.  I worked out 4-5 days a week over the summer and I was feeling great and had a ton of energy.  Since I live in a  barren wasteland (in regards to businesses), not only can I not afford to go to a gym but the closest one that I know of is 30 minutes away.  I need to come up with some sort of program that I can do at home as well as get some running in during the morning hours.

As for poker goals, I would like to play 5k hands in October. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
      <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=935]]></guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 28 Sep 07 08:36:55 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>Back Online</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=916]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hey guys, I am semi moved into my apartment now and I finally have cable and internet!  I obviously have not played any poker and was not able to blog until I was online again.  So I guess this blog will consist of an update on how dealers school is going and a little about what my apartment is like.

Basically, I live in this really small, quiet town in a large Victorian house that was changed into 4 different apartments.  Mine is on the first floor and its a long rectangle.  So the room are not very wide, but the amount of sq. footage that I have is much more than I actually need.  I am playing $700/mo. +cable, internet phone ($99/mo.), gas and electric (heat is gas).  So I am assuming its going to end up being somewhere around $805-$900/mo.  I have a tiny like 13'' T.V. because that was all I needed throughout college and the couch I brought doesn't even fit in the living room lol.  I have my poker table in the living room with my tiny T.V. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
      <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=916]]></guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Sep 07 08:31:00 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>A.C. Bound!</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=868]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Sorry I haven't blogged in a few days I have been so busy getting ready for my move in tomorrow morning in a city outside of A.C.  It all happened really quick.  I went to look at the inside of an apartment and the landlord just randomly ended up giving me the keys.  So, I start dealers school on Monday night and I am really excited to get to know the area and start working.  Thanks to everyone for all the good wishes and hopes cause everything turned out great.  I have a nice big apartment at a reasonable price and an opportunity which is all I hoped for.  The plan is to start dealing and eventually go back to school and get certified to teach gym.

Start looking out for updates on the A.C. poker room pages as I will work hard on getting them as up to date and accurate as possible.  Pictures are going to be hard, but I will do my best to get those as well.

I also have another thing to say, I hate Roy Winston. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
      <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=868]]></guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 07 17:24:39 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>Dedication, Focus, and Running Well is a Winning Combo</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=833]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[I had my best session at 25NL to date late last night into early this morning.  I went through all the motions that I had wanted to during the day.  I woke up, ate breakfast went to the gym, came home and began posting on 2+2 reading posts around my bankroll level.  I then at some lunch and read a few chapters in Pro NL.  Then I went out with some of my buddies.  I came home ready to take on a table with full confidence in my game.  The first 1/2 of the session was pretty quiet.  I flopped a couple sets without getting paid off. Then I just tore the game up flopping sets left and right.  I 3-bet on the button w/AK against 1 PF raiser and one caller (who btw will smooth call with big pairs, so I consider this 3-bet a mistake after further review of my play) and the flat caller called a $5 PF 3-bet.  Flop comes Q high and I pot it committing myself to the pot as well as him and he folded, whew! [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
      <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=833]]></guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 18 Sep 07 09:16:23 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>A Different Type of Grind</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=820]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[I have been realizing that I need to make some changes in my game on and off the table lately.  The first I realized was I need to stop multi-tabling.  For those of you guys newer to poker playing micro stakes NL, stop multi-tabling! It is hurting your development more than you think.  If you play more than 3 tables I don't see how you can really stop and think out every decision with a clear mind or even pay close enough attention to successfully put your opponents on a correct (or close to correct) range of hands, figure out your equity against that range and then figure out what your options are and choose the best one.  So thats the first change, I have been single-tabling this whole month.

The second was clear to me for a long time, you have to put in work off the table.  I have to start reviewing my sessions, posting hands on 2+2, and replying to more posts there as well. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
      <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=820]]></guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 16 Sep 07 22:40:15 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>Playing better</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=814]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi all.  Sorry I haven't blogged in a few days, but I haven't really had anything to talk about.  I'm still waiting on information about a lot of apartments in the AC area so there is nothing new to report there.  I only put in a small session at 25NL of FTP and had a small $10 win.  I played a few tourneys the .10 rebuy, $1 rebuy and the $1 Ferguson which I played last night.  I did well in all of them while only cashing in the Ferguson.  I did a great job of picking spots to be aggressive and getting max value on my big hands.  I final tabled this tourney, made a big mistake PF and ended up having to win a race to stay alive which didn't work out.  I finished 5th and took home $58.  

This has given me tons of confidence and I am looking forward to booking a couple big cash wins.

Talk to you soon.[s] ]]></description>
      <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=814]]></guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 15 Sep 07 12:01:19 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>First Cash Session of the Month</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=788]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Today was my first session at 25NL and I was mixed about my results.  I sat for 5 minutes short of 2 hours and played 146 hands(1 tabling).  But before I go into my play I want to talk about some of the things I have noticed in my game during this downswing I have been having.  The first is I am winning a lot of small pots when I am flopping HUGE nut type hands.  I have to attribute this to my lack of aggression pre-flop as well as just making some minor mistakes, like weather I should lead or or c/r in certain situations and trying to figure out which is the most profitable.  When I 4 table, I am not able to think long or hard enough to figure out which of many options would be my best so I decided it would be best for me to 1 table until I am more comfortable with my decision  making online.  I also am making large mistakes in big pots too often to be profitable.  That is not something I need to work on, that is something that needs to stop right now. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Sep 07 21:40:19 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>Sweet and Sour</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=771]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[So I am back again from another trip from the Atlantic City area.  It was a productive trip, but it did not go the way I had wanted it to.  First, there was tons of traffic on the Parkway so it took a lot longer than expected to get down to the first house.  Because of the delay, the landlord was not able to meet with me which means I have to take another 2 hour trip down sometime next week I assume to meet with him if he approves of my (and my co-signers) application/credit report.  I don't see why he wouldn't, but still keep those fingers crossed.  I did get to see the area of the first apartment as well as the outside of the place.  It is a Victorian home that is split into 4 separate apartments.  Mine is on the bottom floor which I am not too excited about, but what are you gonna do?  The area was a bit hicky and note developed the way I would like, but again I am taking what I can get right now. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Sat, 08 Sep 07 21:45:16 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>Struggles</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=763]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi again guys, I am back from Atlantic City this morning as I took a quick one night trip down.  I didn't play unfortunately, but I was able to get some answers to a lot of questions that I have been having about where to live when I move down and also about potential jobs after I finish dealing school.

We will first start with the living situation.  I found a really cheap apartment complex in Atlantic City online and I called them on the phone two days ago to confirm that I can come down and take a look at the place.  I drive about 1/2 a mile past the last casino on the boardwalk, the Showboat.  All of a sudden I am in the Ghetto.  People have told me don't live in A.C., look for places outside of Atlantic City.  Now that I know why people were telling me that I will never look there again. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Fri, 07 Sep 07 10:44:14 -0400</pubDate>
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      <title>First Blog: A Background</title>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=751]]></link>
      <author>admin@tworags.com (xxrod17xx)</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hey guys, since this is my first blog we will have to start out with a little background information.  I love poker, I have been playing it since the day Robert Varkoni won the WSOP and it was aired on ESPN.  I saw a commercial for Partypoker.com and found my way to a number of play money sng's and I was hooked.  I enjoyed the game a lot, but the whole play money thing got pretty boring.  Fast forward to Spring Break '04, the poker boom is beginning, and I am playing varsity baseball for a small college in P.A.  Every year all the college  baseball teams across the country take spring break trips to warmer climates to start their season, mine was Florida.  We got like $25 per day for food, but I didn't eat much on the trip because I was playing No Limit in the hotel room every night for the whole trip (this probably hurt me because I was a freshman and the senior captain ahead of me just got hurt so I needed all the energy that I could get). [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]]]></description>
      <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACTION=blogs&todo=view&ID=751]]></guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 05 Sep 07 22:14:35 -0400</pubDate>
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