ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

A long time ago, in a world far away...I registered for 2+2 here at my friend's bequest back in Feb. '04 - I'd read the Sklansky books, becoming a winning LHE 6-max 1-tabler at low stakes, and was like ZOMG Pokertracker! ZOMG 3-tables at once! ZOMG there's almost 30,000 people on Party and everyone thinks the end of online poker is nigh! Started playing 3 tables of $2/4 full-table limit on Party and making $25/hour. Was dying to take on some out-of-the-box challenge in life where I could work for myself and make at least a half-way decent living - let's do this [censored]!

Started messing with SNGs in the summer of '04 and realized people pushed really tight and called really tight when the blinds were big late game - Party SNGs = $$. I was really rough around the edges, had some not-so-fun swings at times along the way, but feel like I've improved every year.

I still make a ton of mistakes, probably play my "B game" or "C game" most of the time, but with the $$ mostly in volume this year, I've been able to crank out a bunch of hours and still earned a good chunk of change aside from RB/bonus. Hope to have a good last two months in '07, crank out a bunch of SNGs in 2008, and continue to improve my game and adjust well to whatever changes take place.

It seems like a lot of people make good Pooh-Bah posts and say what I would say, so I'm probably just repeating most things, but here's a top-5 characteristics of what I'd like to see in someone to become a top SNG'r/poker player:

(1) Threshold level of aptitude:

(2) Belief/confidence that can be maintained through exteme adversity, balanced with an understanding that you can fall into bad habits/be wrong at times:

(3) Ability to handle the emotion/stress/unfairness of the game:

(4) Understanding that correct strategy is largely determinant on your opponents’ play, ability to identify changes in your opponents thinking/play, knowing what adjustments to make to those changes, and making the correct adjustments:

(5) Choosing to have a positive mindset in poker/life:

I'll rant a little in regards to #5, because a lot of us poker players seem to suck at it so often - Yes, it is a choice. Yes, a large part of your reality is shaped by how you perceive yourself and the world around you. If you suck at thinking happy thoughts, well, it's kind of a learned trait - just like anything it takes practice, and even after you learn it you may have setbacks. And I don't mean go Stuart Smalley on the world, but just being appreciative of what you have, taking time to smile and laugh (hey, it can still be at the expense of other people). You can still be a competitive [censored] a-hole when you have to.

Those with purpose, positive belief, bounceback, and a willingness to work hard for what they want will probably go very far in life. Doesn't mean things won't frustrate the [censored] out of you at times, but you'll be playing the game with with a stacked deck (do not insert any "sucked out by dominated hand" comments in said analysis please).

Out!

P.S. If anyone has any strategy questions or other questions about SNGs, I'd be happy to give my opinions here. Feel free to fire away.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

n post, congrats on pooh-bah.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

How much have you paid in rake this year?

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

Gramps, besides the ability to handle soul-crushing variance, what do you think separates you from other sng players?

Also why do eastern European strippers love you so much?

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

Grats on Pooh-Bah, your post are always insightful. When I realized how successful a sng player you were a couple of months ago I spent some time reading through some of your older posts.

[ QUOTE ]
Gramps, besides the ability to handle soul-crushing variance, what do you think separates you from other sng players?

[/ QUOTE ]
This might save some typing for Gramps [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

#5 is sososososo ssosososos important. ship it Gramps. You've probably been around the longest as far as high stakes players go. Keep on trucking mang.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

PokerStars Tournament, Big Blind is t20 (9 handed) Converter on pregopoker.com

UTG (t1500)
UTG+1 (t1500)
MP1 (t1500)
MP2 (t1500)
MP3 (t1500)
CO (t1500)
Hero (t1500)
SB (t1500)
BB (t1500)

Preflop: Hero is in Button with Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
<font color="red">UTG raises to t40</font>, <font color="gray">UTG+1 folds</font>, <font color="gray">MP1 folds</font>, <font color="gray">MP2 folds</font>, MP3 calls t40, <font color="red">CO raises to t140</font>, Hero calls t140, <font color="gray">SB folds</font>, <font color="gray">BB folds</font>, UTG calls t100, MP3 calls t100

Flop: (t590) K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (4 players)
<font color="red">UTG bets t140</font>, <font color="gray">MP3 folds</font>, CO calls t140, Hero calls t140

Turn: (t1010) 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
<font color="red">UTG bets t220</font>, CO calls t220, Hero calls t220

River: (t1670) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
<font color="red">UTG bets t220</font>, CO calls t220, Hero?

$225 - first hand of tourney vs. 2 unknowns. Please comment on every street.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

gramps, do you have an aim name you could pm me so i could bug you with questions about things in the future. will repay answers with lap artist time at future sttf events.

thanks,
Velocity

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
How much have you paid in rake this year?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the average rake I pay for games I play in is about 6%, I've played roughly $5 million of SNGs so far, so that would put it at about $300,000. With the games getting much tougher post-Party, the introduction of the high-volume bonuses to raise effective RB &gt; 50% has been huge.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
Gramps, besides the ability to handle soul-crushing variance, what do you think separates you from other sng players?

Also why do eastern European strippers love you so much?

[/ QUOTE ]

The first one is a good question, I'm not totally sure. I've always scored up with the math club kids on aptitude tests, but have some people understanding as well, so that's a good combo. I'm more of an introvert and prefer my own private work space, so I actually like sitting in front of a computer all day (with semi-frequent breaks to go out and interact with people, of course). I'm the most competitive [censored] you've ever met at times, yet understand that it's a detriment in some respects and can laugh at myself getting upset at bad results - the combo of very competitive but having very good tilt control is hard to come by. I went from sucking at golf to being very good at golf through lots of painstaking practice, and reading books on the mental side of that game was a great base for poker which I've tried to apply. As far as specific strategy, I think I have a pretty good understanding of some long-run concepts against different opponents in strategy - SNGPT is a phenomenal tool (which I still get very rusty on all the time), but it's not the total answer to SNGs. Also, I'm pretty good at picking out small pieces of info to put people on more accurate ranges than what others might pick up on, me thinks.

As far as EE strippers, I would guess it's because I love them, and am the one holding the hundreds that they desire to get their hands on.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
Grats on Pooh-Bah, your post are always insightful. When I realized how successful a sng player you were a couple of months ago I spent some time reading through some of your older posts.

[ QUOTE ]
Gramps, besides the ability to handle soul-crushing variance, what do you think separates you from other sng players?

[/ QUOTE ]
This might save some typing for Gramps [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, that was better than my pooh-bah post, I should have just linked that! I was pretty late to the game learning SNGPT, and one way I was able to discover some nuances was experiencing a seemingly odd/bad play from Joey or Newt and plugging it into SNGPT and usually learning something new.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
PokerStars Tournament, Big Blind is t20 (9 handed) Converter on pregopoker.com

UTG (t1500)
UTG+1 (t1500)
MP1 (t1500)
MP2 (t1500)
MP3 (t1500)
CO (t1500)
Hero (t1500)
SB (t1500)
BB (t1500)

Preflop: Hero is in Button with Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
<font color="red">UTG raises to t40</font>, <font color="gray">UTG+1 folds</font>, <font color="gray">MP1 folds</font>, <font color="gray">MP2 folds</font>, MP3 calls t40, <font color="red">CO raises to t140</font>, Hero calls t140, <font color="gray">SB folds</font>, <font color="gray">BB folds</font>, UTG calls t100, MP3 calls t100

Flop: (t590) K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (4 players)
<font color="red">UTG bets t140</font>, <font color="gray">MP3 folds</font>, CO calls t140, Hero calls t140

Turn: (t1010) 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
<font color="red">UTG bets t220</font>, CO calls t220, Hero calls t220

River: (t1670) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
<font color="red">UTG bets t220</font>, CO calls t220, Hero?

$225 - first hand of tourney vs. 2 unknowns. Please comment on every street.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm a SNG player, can you phrase in the form of a push/fold question? QQ is kind of an awkward one early, I think calling is fine, I'd probably do it against unknowns as well (knowing it's more likely they're foolio since I've prob. played against all the regulars/semi-regulars unless they're now on new account). Clearly call flop here, I think calling the Turn is fine too - flush/straight draws are drawing dead (unless royal flush) so you want them to hit and pay/stack on River. With a King, the only downside to calling Turn is if scare hits on River you may have to VBet less. If a King outdraws you on River for FH, you get away cheaper than if you raise/shove Turn. On River, yuck. One Queen in deck, I think you beat CO, I've seen enough stupid [censored] online where you have to give the random FOS factor (like UTG turning over A2 or something like that), but folding wouldn't be too bad. Player's privilege, whatever your heart desires.

I might call out of partial curiosity against total randoms - if you've ever watched Celebrity Poker, you know that some amateurs think that betting as little as 1/10 pot into two players on the River can constitute a "big bluff."

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
gramps, do you have an aim name you could pm me so i could bug you with questions about things in the future. will repay answers with lap artist time at future sttf events.

thanks,
Velocity

[/ QUOTE ]

Okay, just realize that I'm the anti-spacegravy when it comes to multitabling and AIM, if you catch me not playing I'll answer any Qs. PM is always a good option, I don't think I've ever not answered a strategy question there.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

Congrats sir and point 5 is the nutz.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

Congrats! I always appreciate your thoughts on the game and life in general.
In reference to #5. How hard is it to not completely go crazy playing the $555s+? The variance seems absurd. Basically I'm trying to ask is it worth playing these crazy buyins for potentially larger profits and bonuses or sometimes do you think it's "better" to just play the 114/225s.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

Quality counts more than quantity and your 1600 posts are some of the highest quality stuff I've read (and mis-applied [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]) over the past several years.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
PokerStars Tournament, Big Blind is t20 (9 handed) Converter on pregopoker.com

UTG (t1500)
UTG+1 (t1500)
MP1 (t1500)
MP2 (t1500)
MP3 (t1500)
CO (t1500)
Hero (t1500)
SB (t1500)
BB (t1500)

Preflop: Hero is in Button with Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
<font color="red">UTG raises to t40</font>, <font color="gray">UTG+1 folds</font>, <font color="gray">MP1 folds</font>, <font color="gray">MP2 folds</font>, MP3 calls t40, <font color="red">CO raises to t140</font>, Hero calls t140, <font color="gray">SB folds</font>, <font color="gray">BB folds</font>, UTG calls t100, MP3 calls t100

Flop: (t590) K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (4 players)
<font color="red">UTG bets t140</font>, <font color="gray">MP3 folds</font>, CO calls t140, Hero calls t140

Turn: (t1010) 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
<font color="red">UTG bets t220</font>, CO calls t220, Hero calls t220

River: (t1670) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
<font color="red">UTG bets t220</font>, CO calls t220, Hero?

$225 - first hand of tourney vs. 2 unknowns. Please comment on every street.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm a SNG player, can you phrase in the form of a push/fold question? QQ is kind of an awkward one early, I think calling is fine, I'd probably do it against unknowns as well (knowing it's more likely they're foolio since I've prob. played against all the regulars/semi-regulars unless they're now on new account). Clearly call flop here, I think calling the Turn is fine too - flush/straight draws are drawing dead (unless royal flush) so you want them to hit and pay/stack on River. With a King, the only downside to calling Turn is if scare hits on River you may have to VBet less. If a King outdraws you on River for FH, you get away cheaper than if you raise/shove Turn. On River, yuck. One Queen in deck, I think you beat CO, I've seen enough stupid [censored] online where you have to give the random FOS factor (like UTG turning over A2 or something like that), but folding wouldn't be too bad. Player's privilege, whatever your heart desires.

I might call out of partial curiosity against total randoms - if you've ever watched Celebrity Poker, you know that some amateurs think that betting as little as 1/10 pot into two players on the River can constitute a "big bluff."

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow I really thought I butchered that one. I folded river. CO turns over AA as expected, UTG shows Q5o. Suzzer dies a little inside.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

I'm repeating what JB said, your posts are *always* excellent, and I wish I would see more. Thanks for helping me out.

On a side note, what's your handicap? Do you gamble outside of poker? (no, these two questions are not related [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] )

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

Gramps,
Since I'm not playing sngs anymore are there any leaks I have, which you are willing to tell me?

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

Congrats Pooh-Bah!

http://www.synergizedsolutions.com/s.../abe_stand.gif

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

Spoiler alert: Gramps is not 50 years old like i originally assumed.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
Spoiler alert: Gramps is not 50 years old like i originally assumed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, he's older, [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img].

Oh, one question gramps, how many times did you cry yourself to sleep after I 150% dominated you in the opening round of STTFHUCII en route to a world title belt?

Oh, and would you consider yourself the best STT player at bubble situations with two players already in and decision to hero?

Yugoslav

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

Gramps, you've been at sngs a long time. Most people bounch around to different forms of poker. MTTs, Cash, PLO, etc. Have you done this? If not, how do you handle the mundaness of the same thing day after day?

I know I got really bored with sngs and played like &lt;5000 lifetime.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

should i drop out of school? I hate this [censored].


and congrats, love reading your posts and feel that your as big an asset to the forums as any. Also a pleasure meeting you briefly at the WSOP this year.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

You have always been one of the best and classiest posters. Keep it up

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

Tack this on to devins post: what percentage of your poker income is from stts?

Also, if you feel comfortable answering, do you make more from bonuses and stuff or winnings? I know this information is sort of out there anyways.

What common mistakes do good regulars make at high limits?

Thanks for your posts they are all gold, I should be saving more of them.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
Gramps, you've been at sngs a long time. Most people bounch around to different forms of poker. MTTs, Cash, PLO, etc. Have you done this? If not, how do you handle the mundaness of the same thing day after day?

I know I got really bored with sngs and played like &lt;5000 lifetime.

[/ QUOTE ]

What's really weird is that not only does he just play STTs, and is an old man, he is a very cool guy. W T F

gramps - how many STTs have you played lifetime?

Yugoslav

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
Congrats! I always appreciate your thoughts on the game and life in general.
In reference to #5. How hard is it to not completely go crazy playing the $555s+? The variance seems absurd. Basically I'm trying to ask is it worth playing these crazy buyins for potentially larger profits and bonuses or sometimes do you think it's "better" to just play the 114/225s.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm obv. biased/self-interested, but if you're a part-time player it's a +/- thing. The Plus is that people don't know you as well, their ranges may be a tad tighter against you in spots than it would be if you played a ton, so you may squeeze a small bit of extra value out of it. The minus is, you can't use the $555s+ to get to Supenova, etc. (or high up on the Leaderboard on FT) and get your effective RB% really high. I guess it depends on whether you like roller coasters or not.

As far as not going crazy, remind yourself regularly how much you get from RB. It helps. The 9-mans are getting sick ugly as I think a lot of people are trying to get Supernova (or some of the $$ bonuses leading up to it) by year's end.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm repeating what JB said, your posts are *always* excellent, and I wish I would see more. Thanks for helping me out.

On a side note, what's your handicap? Do you gamble outside of poker? (no, these two questions are not related [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] )

[/ QUOTE ]

I started playing semi-reglarly again this year with some practice in between, and got it back down to a 2.8. The lowest I've ever been is a 2.0, one of my goals for 2008 is to get sub-scratch via lessons, new clubs, and a lot of practice. Will probably play some amateur tournies as well if all goes according to plan. But of course, that's all easier said than done.

I like to gamble, and I still -$EV gamble on occasion - some sports-betting here and there (I don't follow games enough/shop lines to profit long-run I don't think), and table games when in gambling meccas, but I don't like losing, and am now often content to watch. I was in Macau (offhanded brag FTW) a week ago and my friend and his co-workers were itching to gamble b/c they never get to do it. That'd probably be me too...except I gamble 2,000 hours/year. I played maybe 40 minutes and watched for about 2 hours, still getting free drinks which was one nice thing there. Oh yeah, ship the 900 HK profit! Subtract 300 HK for keeping 3 of the Venetian chips for souvernirs.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]

Gramps,
Since I'm not playing sngs anymore are there any leaks I have, which you are willing to tell me?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not that I can recall. It's kind of difficult to pick up on leaks from solid regulars, at least I have trouble doing it. The ones who aren't as SNGPT-inclined can stand out, or the ones who get too spewey/confrontational late. Other than your Stars avatar needing a haircut, I can't think of anything.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Spoiler alert: Gramps is not 50 years old like i originally assumed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, he's older, [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img].

Oh, one question gramps, how many times did you cry yourself to sleep after I 150% dominated you in the opening round of STTFHUCII en route to a world title belt?

Oh, and would you consider yourself the best STT player at bubble situations with two players already in and decision to hero?

Yugoslav

[/ QUOTE ]

First question, since you bring it up, I still have a box of tissues on my nightstand...

Second question, if I'm shortstacked, but cover one of said all-in players, I like my chances of making a good decision.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
Gramps, you've been at sngs a long time. Most people bounch around to different forms of poker. MTTs, Cash, PLO, etc. Have you done this? If not, how do you handle the mundaness of the same thing day after day?

I know I got really bored with sngs and played like &lt;5000 lifetime.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a good question. I'm the dude who used to play minesweeper an hour/day in college. I can still play Free Cell for an hour or two straight if I'm bored. I mean, SNGs are roughly the same thing over and over but each decision within still has some newness/uniqueness to it.

I usually devise rough goals for the year (adjusting as necessary) and once I invest a lot of energy in attaining said goals, I'm ready to turn on the computer in the morning (or afternoon). I play some MTTs from time-to-time, but I really hate getting stuck on the computer for hours at a time, and/or grinding for hours and getting nothing in return stings my competitive side a little to deeply. I've thought about switching to cash a few times, and have played maybe 5,000 hands of NL$ and think I could do well at it, but I don't think I'd want to play very high stakes, and maybe I could make more $$ but a realistic chance no, and if it ain't broke and I'm not bored with SNGs then I'm not gonna fix it, I guess.

BTW, yes I think I'm a freak for not getting bored with SNGs. Don't know why I am, am glad to be it, but yes it seems pretty unusual.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
should i drop out of school? I hate this [censored].


and congrats, love reading your posts and feel that your as big an asset to the forums as any. Also a pleasure meeting you briefly at the WSOP this year.

[/ QUOTE ]

I never liked memorizing/studying in school, but I liked school, loved college life, and liked learning/taking classes in a bunch of different disciplines, so I'm probably the wrong person to ask. Having a degree from somewhere can be a nice form of "credibility" to have in life, kind of retarded that you need that, but a lot of people give you more the benefit of the doubt in things when you have a degree, so unless you have a ready "Plan B" that school is holding you back from, sacking up and getting through probably ain't a bad idea.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
Tack this on to devins post: what percentage of your poker income is from stts?

Also, if you feel comfortable answering, do you make more from bonuses and stuff or winnings? I know this information is sort of out there anyways.

What common mistakes do good regulars make at high limits?

Thanks for your posts they are all gold, I should be saving more of them.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it's on pace to be about 50/50 this year, which is more winning from non-RB/bonus than I expected this year. The game on Stars &amp; FT have been kind of crappy lately, so maybe RB/bonus will eclipse by year's end. I'm 0 for 2 on $10k/$10,000 Euro MTTs this year, right around even for online MTTs, maybe up $1k in cash, so that would mean STTs account for &gt; 100% of my winnings. Yea SNGs.

Hard to say if there are any common mistakes from "good regulars," I think it mostly comes down to understanding wha other people are doing/thinking, which gives illumination on what their ranges are, and how they will perceive your actions. I'd say what good players at lower levels who haven't been able to move up might struggle more with is playing against people who understand their ranges and adjust to LP/SB pushbotting ways. There's a certain cat-and-mouse game that goes on with that that can be difficult to learn.

Any regular making common mistakes at high limits on a consistent basis won't be a regular for long. It's really, really, really tough these days (really). I just wish Stars took a page out of Full Tilt's book and started making its subsidized pros play more SNGs. Though the FT games are getting [censored] too since only the better pros have been dabbling lately.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Gramps, you've been at sngs a long time. Most people bounch around to different forms of poker. MTTs, Cash, PLO, etc. Have you done this? If not, how do you handle the mundaness of the same thing day after day?

I know I got really bored with sngs and played like &lt;5000 lifetime.

[/ QUOTE ]

What's really weird is that not only does he just play STTs, and is an old man, he is a very cool guy. W T F

gramps - how many STTs have you played lifetime?

Yugoslav

[/ QUOTE ]

Over 50,000. Probably closing in on 60,000.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

What are your opinions of various Bay Area golf courses?

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

I've been waiting for this post for 2+ years.

Gramps is the nutz.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

[ QUOTE ]
What are your opinions of various Bay Area golf courses?

[/ QUOTE ]

I've played most, tend to go wherever there's a good deal to be had and/or close to where whomever I'm playing with lives. Played Harding 50+ times before the redo, it's nicer now but I miss those $20 green fees on the weekend - I remember I switched to putting cross-handed on my longer putts there b/c the greens were more like fairways and I found I got more topspin/a better roll, but the old course was still [censored] for the price (I used to pretened it was a well-manicured course for the 1920s). San Geronimo, Delta View and Deer Ridge I've played a numer of times - if you get out there on a weekday, somtimes there's hardly anyone else out there (which means everyone can go full routine walking off putts, etc. and still play in &lt; 4 hours with a twosome or threesome).

Played Lake Chabot a ton, used to be $5 weekday twilight. Brought in a new greenskeeper a while back and the greens were immaculate for a # of years, but haven't played it in a few so not sure if it's still the hidden jewel of the BA (not great if you don't like hills BTW). I like Tilden a lot b/c the hole designs/visuals really test your ability to think/commit to shots, but it's usually crowded and can be slow (not the 5-6 hour round it used to be everytime, but still slower than most). Mare Island is another great course, I've played it a dozen times and on that first par-3 I've literally hit it in the hazard every single time - most mind-[censored] tee shot for someone with a strong draw - I even tried to lay up last time and pull hooked it into the [censored]. Another good value course that's wide open at times, and one that makes you think/tests your ability to commit to a shot.

There's a bunch more I've played - the only private one I've been on is Lake Merced as a junior, that course was pretty cherry. Would like to get on the Lake Course at Olympic Club here sometime.

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

How do you turn all your FPPs to cash? Concierge? Open an Austin Martin dealership? Build a castle out of plasma tv's and charge visitors from overseas?

Re: ZOMG - Gramps Only Took 3.75 Years to Make 1600 Posts!
 

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Quality counts more than quantity and your 1600 posts are some of the highest quality stuff I've read (and mis-applied [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]) over the past several years.

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Congrats poo bah [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

All of your posts that I have read have been excellent. Even though I rarely play sng's anymore, I still enjoy your posts.