UIGEA delay for 6 months?

Gnomey texted me yesterday about a possible delay in the implementation of the UIGEA compliance date.

Lou Krieger's blog today notes that it likely will be a 6-month delay.

If that's the case, it truly would be something to be thankful for in the world of poker.

The 4-bet bluff raise

Used sparingly against aggressive opponents who seem to indiscriminately 3-bet you preflop, the 4-bet bluff can be a good equalizer -- and profitable.

Full Tilt Poker $1/$2 Pot Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 386608

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



BB: $306.50

UTG: $203.00

MP: $247.95

CO: $403.00

Hero (BTN): $200.00

SB: $232.85



Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is BTN with Q J

3 folds, Hero raises to $6, 1 fold, BB raises to $19, Hero raises to $52, BB calls $33



Flop: ($105.00) 3 K T (2 players)

BB checks, Hero bets $105, BB folds



Final Pot: $105.00

Hero wins $102.00

(Rake: $3.00)

Online gambling and taxes

CC posted a link to the Wall Street Journal article "Online Gambling Poses Tax Problem."

It's a certainly interesting question -- can you deduct losses from online gambling? But the article really backs into the issue saying that it seems OK for federal taxes but it's unclear for state, since you have to check on state laws.

And, it even adds the preachy, "And for now, stop gambling online because your bank may start rejecting your deposits as of Dec. 1, unless, of course, enforcement is delayed for a year."

Hmmm.

HOTD

At first I thought I lost this hand...

Full Tilt Poker $1/$2 No Limit Hold'em - 4 players - View hand 375771

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



BB: $304.40

CO: $219.00

BTN: $183.85

Hero (SB): $219.90



Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is SB with A K

1 fold, BTN raises to $7, Hero calls $6, BB calls $5



Flop: ($21.00) 6 5 K (3 players)

Hero checks, BB checks, BTN bets $12, Hero calls $12, BB folds



Turn: ($45.00) A (2 players)

Hero checks, BTN bets $30, Hero raises to $100, BTN raises to $164.85 all in, Hero calls $64.85



River: ($374.70) K (2 players - 1 is all in)



Final Pot: $374.70

BTN shows 4 3 (a flush, Ace high)

Hero shows A K (a full house, Kings full of Aces)

Hero wins $372.70

(Rake: $2.00)

Ah, overbettors

Full Tilt Poker $1/$2 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players - View hand 375749

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



UTG: $246.35

CO: $108.65

BTN: $62.15

SB: $190.95

Hero (BB): $209.30



Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is BB with 5 Q

2 folds, BTN calls $2, 1 fold, Hero checks



Flop: ($5.00) J 6 7 (2 players)

Hero checks, BTN checks



Turn: ($5.00) K (2 players)

Hero checks, BTN checks



River: ($5.00) T (2 players)

Hero checks, BTN bets $12, Hero raises to $207.30 all in, BTN calls $48.15 all in



Final Pot: $125.30

BTN mucks 9 Q

Hero shows 5 Q (a flush, King high)

Hero wins $122.30

(Rake: $3.00)

Three in a row

I just had TT, KK and QQ on consecutive hands. Gotta love that.

A reason to wear the ATL shirt

It's hard to believe but the Atlanta Hawks sit in first place in the Eastern Conference with a 9-2 record leading into tonight's game against last season's first-round playoff opponent Miami.

It's so early in the season that the record doesn't really mean anything right now. But way to go for a nice start, Hawks.

Full Tilt's Holiday Hundred

Gnomey pointed this out yesterday -- there's a $100 bonus available in Full Tilt's "Check my Bonus Offer" section under "Requests." An e-mail that went out today clarifies it:

Who is Eligible to Receive a Holiday Hundred Bonus?
If you’ve made your initial deposit at Full Tilt Poker and finished any active bonus by 18:30 ET on November 15th, you’ll receive a Holiday Hundred bonus offer immediately.

•If you have not made your initial deposit, you have until 23:59 ET on November 30th to make your first deposit and finish your 100% First Deposit Bonus. If you do so, you’ll receive a Holiday Hundred bonus offer by December 2nd and have until 23:59 ET on December 6th to accept.
•If you have an active bonus, you have until 23:59 ET on November 30th to finish your active bonus. If you do so, you’ll receive a Holiday Hundred bonus offer by December 2nd and have until 23:59 ET on December 6th to accept. To see if you have an active bonus, go to the Cashier in the Full Tilt Poker game lobby, then click the Bonus Account button.

It clears in $10 increments. I'm already on my third. Have to love holiday cheer.

Weird flop aggression

Full Tilt Poker $1/$2 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - View hand 366156

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



SB: $137.80

BB: $99.00

UTG: $160.50

UTG+1: $191.00

Hero (MP1): $230.85

MP2: $278.30

CO: $234.60

BTN: $200.00



Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is MP1 with A A

UTG calls $2, 1 fold, Hero raises to $10, 1 fold, CO calls $10, 3 folds, UTG calls $8



Flop: ($33.00) 4 2 3 (3 players)

UTG checks, Hero checks, CO bets $20, UTG folds, Hero raises to $93, CO raises to $224.60 all in, Hero calls $127.85 all in



Turn: ($474.70) 5 (2 players - 2 are all in)



River: ($474.70) 7 (2 players - 2 are all in)



Final Pot: $474.70

Hero shows A A (a straight, Five high)

CO shows 8 8 (a pair of Eights)

Hero wins $471.70

(Rake: $3.00)

set vs 2 pair

Full Tilt Poker $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em $0.20 Ante - 4 players - View hand 364875

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



BB: $316.85

CO: $117.75

BTN: $200.00

Hero (SB): $100.00



Pre Flop: ($2.30) Hero is SB with 3 3

1 fold, BTN raises to $3, Hero calls $2.50, 1 fold



Flop: ($7.80) K 4 3 (2 players)

Hero checks, BTN bets $5, Hero calls $5



Turn: ($17.80) A (2 players)

Hero checks, BTN bets $15, Hero raises to $45, BTN raises to $152.80, Hero calls $46.80 all in



River: ($201.40) T (2 players - 1 is all in)



Final Pot: $201.40

BTN shows 3 4 (two pair, Fours and Threes)

Hero shows 3 3 (three of a kind, Threes)

Hero wins $199.40

(Rake: $2.00)

It's been a while...

Full Tilt Poker $0.50/$1 Pot Limit Hold'em - 8 players - View hand 364853

The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter



UTG+1: $100.00

Hero (MP1): $100.00

MP2: $53.50

CO: $137.65

BTN: $101.10

SB: $116.00

BB: $100.00

UTG: $100.00



Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is MP1 with K J

2 folds, Hero raises to $3, 1 fold, CO calls $3, 3 folds



Flop: ($7.50) T 6 9 (2 players)

Hero bets $6, CO calls $6



Turn: ($19.50) Q (2 players)

Hero checks, CO checks



River: ($19.50) K (2 players)

Hero bets $10, CO calls $10



Final Pot: $39.50

Hero shows K J (a straight flush, King high)

CO mucks 7 K

Hero wins $37.55

(Rake: $1.95)