BoDonkey is Back!

Bust Eric “Rizen” Lynch in tonight’s Bodonkey and receive $75 cash $$$ money in a addition to a signed copy of his book, “Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand a Time”.

Buy In: $10 + $1

Game: NL Holdem

Starting Chips: 2500

Level Duration: 15 minutes

Blind Structure: Bodog's standard structure

Prize: Prize Pool will be distributed as per Bodog's standard payout structure.

In addition, the top 3 finishers and the 3 bubble players win bonuses.

BONUS PRIZES1st place: T$109 + $25 Casino Credit ($100K Buy in)2nd place: T$753rd place: T$503 bubble players*: T$11 (entry refunded)

How to Get Started In Online Poker

Playing poker online is ever increasingly popular and the game with the greatest following is Texas hold'em. Around the world thousands of people are playing Texas hold'em online every day. If you have decided to try your hand at this growing phenomenon, you may find the following tips very helpful. As you get more advanced you will realize that understanding marginal situations is crucial in poker.

The Switch -- Live Play to Online Texas Hold'em

Switching from live play to online Texas hold'em is extremely easy in practical terms. You will no longer have to worry about keeping play-dates with friends or finding enough people to play poker at any given time, as there are Texas hold'em hands running 24/7 online.

There is no longer a need to leave your home in order to play or a need to spend money on the venture. Tactically your arsenal has changed, as you will no longer be face to face with the opposition, thus reading their physical tells is not an option and you no longer have to maintain your "poker face" in play.

Instead of physical tells, you will be utilizing data collection on your opponents and paying attention to the speed and frequency with which they bet. There are also many software programs available that calculate poker odds and can assist your decision making process.

Texas Hold'em as a New Experience

If you have no experience in playing Texas hold'em, or poker in general, it is a good idea to prepare yourself ahead of time by learning the rules and basic strategies involved in Texas hold'em. The first piece of advice that you might hear repeatedly is to carefully select the hands you choose to play. Playing too many hands is the most recurring newcomer mistake in Texas hold'em.

Visiting large poker sites with free-play tables or "freerolls" is the best way to get started. Additionally, asking experienced players for advice is a good move to make.

Stepping Up the Game

The odds are against your doing well in your very first game of online Texas hold'em, but don't get discouraged. It could take some time for you to learn and or adjust to online Texas hold'em, but you will improve with time and experience. In fact, the only real way to improve is to continue playing.

Midterms.....uuuuuuuuuggggg

Short post:
Since when did midterms span several weeks?
And, most of them have a "Part 1" and a "Part 2". sick.
Example:

Law and Ethics -
Part 1: in class midterm - 10 essay questions
Part 2: presentation on an ethical dilemma

Psychoanalytic Theory and Therapy:
Part 1: Take home midterm - 10 pages (bs)
Part 2: Take home midterm - a million pages (more bs)

Then, I have a 20 page paper due tomorrow, a psychological report due ASAP and 3 more clients I have set appointments with. Feel my pain?

Fantasy Football and Depression (an unintentional combo)

Well, I did better last week - squeaked into the points.
But, I still have a way to go! I think I'm in like 22nd place or something - pretty sad compared to last year.

By the way, today is National Depression Screening day. We are holding screenings at ICC, the center where I intern. The screening consists of a questionnaire that actually addresses depression, anxiety, mood disorder and PTSD. The depression section asks you to rate (all of the time, most of the time, some of the time or none of the time) how you've been feeling over the past two weeks on the following:

Have you...

1. been feeling low in energy, slowed down?

2. been blaming yourself for things?

3. had poor appetite?

4. had difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep?

5. been feeling hopeless about the future?

6. been feeling blue?

7. been feeling no interest in things?

8. had feelings of worthlessness?

9. thought about or wanted to commit suicide?

10. had difficulty concentrating or making decisions?

If anyone out there thinks they might be suffering from depression and would like to talk, I'm here. Please don't hesitate to contact me.

My birthday

My birthday was this past Wednesday. Ray took me to this really great restaurant in Laguna Beach called French 75 over the weekend to celebrate! I had the 3-way (he he) duck with plum sauce and Ray had Fillet Mignon. I also enjoyed a glass or two of the vino. For dessert, we had chocolate souffle...mmmmm. And, our waiter was actually French! Go figure.