This is just a funny hand

check this out... we're playing in a heads up tourney... it's limit hold em:

Full Tilt Poker Game #1641554438: Heads Up Sit & Go (12001950), Table 1 - 60/120 - Limit Hold'em - 17:47:51 ET - 2007/01/20

Seat 1: comicdr (1,560)

Seat 2: redmanjew (1,440)

comicdr posts the small blind of 30

redmanjew posts the big blind of 60

The button is in seat #1

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to redmanjew [Kc Kh]

comicdr calls 30

redmanjew raises to 120

comicdr calls 60

*** FLOP *** [5h Ts 3d]

redmanjew bets 60

comicdr raises to 120

redmanjew raises to 180

comicdr raises to 240

redmanjew calls 60

*** TURN *** [5h Ts 3d] [Jd]

redmanjew bets 120

comicdr raises to 240

redmanjew calls 120

*** RIVER *** [5h Ts 3d Jd] [Js]

redmanjew checks

comicdr bets 120

redmanjew raises to 240

comicdr raises to 360

redmanjew calls 120

*** SHOW DOWN ***

comicdr shows [Jh 8d] (three of a kind, Jacks)

redmanjew mucks

comicdr wins the pot (1,920) with three of a kind, Jacks

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot 1,920 | Rake 0

Board: [5h Ts 3d Jd Js]

Seat 1: comicdr (small blind) showed [Jh 8d] and won (1,920) with three of a kind, Jacks

Seat 2: redmanjew (big blind) mucked [Kc Kh] - two pair, Kings and Jacks

I raised on the river because I figured I could only be losing to a full house, I was beating his 2 pair (which I assumed he flopped). He was not the type to avoid a 3 bet with a pair pre flop, so it had to be 2 pair on the river... or so I thought. He won almost 2/3 of the chips in play on this hand... I was left with 480 chips (to his 2520), but persevered and beat the dude anyway.

he wrote, when he saw what I had "I actually feel bad."... and I believed him.

I didn't feel bad about winning the tournament though.

the river kills.

things started out great on PS... I was crushing them, and was up a thou in a few days... but then, the beats decided to destroy me. So, here I am, three days later, back to even. here's a sampling of some of the ugliness. I hope you enjoy it, cause I need to post for purely theraputic reasons right now. Some of these are 3/6... I dropped down to catch my breath, but that didn't help. I went back to 5/10 shortly. that didn't help either. These hands, which I looked breifly through poketracker to find, are over a thou in losses by themselves. Trust me, there's more.

POKERSTARS GAME #7855891780: HOLD'EM LIMIT ($5/$10) - 2007/01/09 - 22:16:26 (ET)
Table 'Larink II' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Jschlach ($493 in chips)
Seat 2: ollik ($327.50 in chips)
Seat 3: homie27 ($1027.50 in chips)
Seat 4: whachoogot ($66.50 in chips)
Seat 5: zman11 ($175 in chips)
Seat 6: pokerjl ($242 in chips)
homie27: posts small blind $2
whachoogot: posts big blind $5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [Ac Ad]
zman11: folds
pokerjl: raises $5 to $10
Jschlach: folds
ollik: folds
homie27: folds
whachoogot: calls $5
*** FLOP *** [Kh 5c 8s]
whachoogot: checks
pokerjl: bets $5
whachoogot: calls $5
*** TURN *** [Kh 5c 8s] [5d]
whachoogot: checks
pokerjl: bets $10
whachoogot: raises $10 to $20
pokerjl: calls $10
*** RIVER *** [Kh 5c 8s 5d] [Kc]
whachoogot: bets $10
pokerjl: calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
whachoogot: shows [3h Ks] (a full house, Kings full of Fives)
pokerjl: mucks hand
whachoogot collected $89 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $92 | Rake $3
Board [Kh 5c 8s 5d Kc]
Seat 1: Jschlach folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: ollik (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: homie27 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: whachoogot (big blind) showed [3h Ks] and won ($89) with a full house, Kings full of Fives
Seat 5: zman11 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: pokerjl mucked [Ac Ad]


POKERSTARS GAME #7855438479: HOLD'EM LIMIT ($5/$10) - 2007/01/09 - 21:51:29 (ET)
Table 'Larink II' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: MRL09 ($139 in chips)
Seat 2: tonytwotoes ($143 in chips)
Seat 3: homie27 ($1039.50 in chips)
Seat 4: whachoogot ($110 in chips)
Seat 5: zman11 ($136 in chips)
Seat 6: pokerjl ($212 in chips)
zman11: posts small blind $2
pokerjl: posts big blind $5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [6d Ac]
MRL09: folds
tonytwotoes: folds
homie27: calls $5
whachoogot: folds
zman11: raises $5 to $10
pokerjl: calls $5
homie27: calls $5
*** FLOP *** [8s Qs Ah]
zman11: bets $5
pokerjl: raises $5 to $10
homie27: folds
zman11: calls $5
*** TURN *** [8s Qs Ah] [Ks]
zman11: checks
pokerjl: bets $10
zman11: calls $10
*** RIVER *** [8s Qs Ah Ks] [4s]
zman11: bets $10
pokerjl: calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
zman11: shows [9c 9s] (a flush, King high)
pokerjl: mucks hand
zman11 collected $87 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $90 | Rake $3
Board [8s Qs Ah Ks 4s]
Seat 1: MRL09 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: tonytwotoes folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: homie27 folded on the Flop
Seat 4: whachoogot (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: zman11 (small blind) showed [9c 9s] and won ($87) with a flush, King high
Seat 6: pokerjl (big blind) mucked [6d Ac]

POKERSTARS GAME #7855272651: HOLD'EM LIMIT ($5/$10) - 2007/01/09 - 21:42:25 (ET)
Table 'Larink II' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: MRL09 ($93 in chips)
Seat 2: tonytwotoes ($188 in chips)
Seat 3: homie27 ($886.50 in chips)
Seat 4: whachoogot ($163 in chips)
Seat 5: zman11 ($126 in chips)
Seat 6: pokerjl ($254 in chips)
homie27: posts small blind $2
whachoogot: posts big blind $5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [As 6s]
zman11 has timed out
zman11: folds
zman11 is sitting out
pokerjl: raises $5 to $10
zman11 has returned
MRL09: calls $10
tonytwotoes: folds
homie27: raises $5 to $15
whachoogot: calls $10
pokerjl: calls $5
MRL09: calls $5
*** FLOP *** [Ah 6h Jd]
homie27: bets $5
zman11 said, "sry, needed to pour some more Crown ;)"
whachoogot: calls $5
pokerjl: raises $5 to $10
MRL09: calls $10
homie27: calls $5
whachoogot: calls $5
*** TURN *** [Ah 6h Jd] [5d]
homie27: checks
whachoogot: checks
pokerjl: bets $10
MRL09: calls $10
homie27: calls $10
whachoogot: folds
*** RIVER *** [Ah 6h Jd 5d] [Kd]
homie27: checks
pokerjl: bets $10
MRL09: raises $10 to $20
homie27: raises $10 to $30
pokerjl: folds
MRL09: calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
homie27: shows [Ad Td] (a flush, Ace high)
MRL09: mucks hand
whachoogot said, "nice pot"
homie27 collected $197 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $200 | Rake $3
Board [Ah 6h Jd 5d Kd]
Seat 1: MRL09 mucked [Jc Kh]
Seat 2: tonytwotoes (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: homie27 (small blind) showed [Ad Td] and won ($197) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 4: whachoogot (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 5: zman11 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: pokerjl folded on the River

POKERSTARS GAME #7854937235: HOLD'EM LIMIT ($3/$6) - 2007/01/09 - 21:23:57 (ET)
Table 'Demodokus III' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: pokerjl ($120.50 in chips)
Seat 2: NedMi ($248.50 in chips)
Seat 3: PeterPlan ($320 in chips)
Seat 4: chongchan ($66 in chips)
Seat 5: boweevil9870 ($79 in chips)
Seat 6: fourthgeer ($109 in chips)
NedMi: posts small blind $1
PeterPlan: posts big blind $3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [5d Ad]
chongchan: folds
boweevil9870: folds
fourthgeer: folds
pokerjl: raises $3 to $6
NedMi: folds
PeterPlan: raises $3 to $9
pokerjl: calls $3
*** FLOP *** [Kh 3c As]
PeterPlan: bets $3
pokerjl: calls $3
*** TURN *** [Kh 3c As] [8d]
PeterPlan: bets $6
pokerjl: calls $6
*** RIVER *** [Kh 3c As 8d] [Jd]
PeterPlan: bets $6
pokerjl: calls $6
*** SHOW DOWN ***
PeterPlan: shows [Jh Js] (three of a kind, Jacks)
pokerjl: mucks hand
PeterPlan collected $47 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $49 | Rake $2
Board [Kh 3c As 8d Jd]
Seat 1: pokerjl (button) mucked [5d Ad]
Seat 2: NedMi (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: PeterPlan (big blind) showed [Jh Js] and won ($47) with three of a kind, Jacks
Seat 4: chongchan folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: boweevil9870 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: fourthgeer folded before Flop (didn't bet)

POKERSTARS GAME #7854678163: HOLD'EM LIMIT ($3/$6) - 2007/01/09 - 21:09:55 (ET)
Table 'Demodokus III' 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: pokerjl ($122 in chips)
Seat 2: NedMi ($155 in chips)
Seat 3: ebokeman ($202.50 in chips)
Seat 4: Quantare ($300.50 in chips)
Seat 5: aross ($366.50 in chips)
Seat 6: idc219 ($135 in chips)
idc219: posts small blind $1
pokerjl: posts big blind $3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [7h 5s]
NedMi: raises $3 to $6
ebokeman: folds
Quantare: folds
aross: folds
idc219: folds
pokerjl: calls $3
*** FLOP *** [5c Ts 9c]
pokerjl: checks
NedMi: bets $3
pokerjl: raises $3 to $6
NedMi: calls $3
*** TURN *** [5c Ts 9c] [7c]
pokerjl: bets $6
NedMi: calls $6
*** RIVER *** [5c Ts 9c 7c] [8c]
pokerjl: checks
NedMi: bets $6
pokerjl: calls $6
*** SHOW DOWN ***
NedMi: shows [Kc Ah] (a flush, King high)
pokerjl: mucks hand
NedMi collected $47 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $49 | Rake $2
Board [5c Ts 9c 7c 8c]
Seat 1: pokerjl (big blind) mucked [7h 5s]
Seat 2: NedMi showed [Kc Ah] and won ($47) with a flush, King high
Seat 3: ebokeman folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Quantare folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: aross (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: idc219 (small blind) folded before Flop

POKERSTARS GAME #7851303208: HOLD'EM LIMIT ($5/$10) - 2007/01/09 - 17:50:42 (ET)
Table 'Anneliese II' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: twanny20 ($22 in chips)
Seat 2: decand ($251 in chips)
Seat 3: sultanovic ($657.50 in chips)
Seat 4: pokerjl ($276 in chips)
Seat 6: SGDJens ($323 in chips)
decand: posts small blind $2
sultanovic: posts big blind $5
SHOWTIME_26: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [Kd Kc]
pokerjl: raises $5 to $10
SGDJens: folds
twanny20: raises $5 to $15
decand: folds
sultanovic: folds
pokerjl: raises $5 to $20
Betting is capped
twanny20: calls $5
*** FLOP *** [As Kh Qh]
pokerjl: bets $5
twanny20: calls $2 and is all-in
*** TURN *** [As Kh Qh] [8s]
*** RIVER *** [As Kh Qh 8s] [Jc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
pokerjl: shows [Kd Kc] (three of a kind, Kings)
twanny20: shows [Td Tc] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
twanny20 collected $49 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $51 | Rake $2
Board [As Kh Qh 8s Jc]
Seat 1: twanny20 (button) showed [Td Tc] and won ($49) with a straight, Ten to Ace
Seat 2: decand (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: sultanovic (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: pokerjl showed [Kd Kc] and lost with three of a kind, Kings
Seat 6: SGDJens folded before Flop (didn't bet)

POKERSTARS GAME #7835164403: HOLD'EM LIMIT ($3/$6) - 2007/01/08 - 18:05:20 (ET)
Table 'Autonoma III' 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: baffy13 ($114 in chips)
Seat 2: al253733 ($108 in chips)
Seat 3: Bluto16 ($41 in chips)
Seat 4: bigrun5 ($536.50 in chips)
Seat 5: pokerjl ($123 in chips)
Seat 6: dblmystack ($126 in chips)
dblmystack: posts small blind $1
baffy13: posts big blind $3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [Kh Kc]
al253733: folds
Bluto16: raises $3 to $6
bigrun5: folds
pokerjl: raises $3 to $9
dblmystack: folds
baffy13: folds
Bluto16: calls $3
*** FLOP *** [Td 9c Kd]
Bluto16: bets $3
pokerjl: raises $3 to $6
Bluto16: raises $3 to $9
pokerjl: raises $3 to $12
Betting is capped
Bluto16: calls $3
*** TURN *** [Td 9c Kd] [As]
Bluto16: bets $6
pokerjl: raises $6 to $12
Bluto16: raises $6 to $18
pokerjl: raises $6 to $24
Betting is capped
Bluto16: calls $2 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [Td 9c Kd As] [Qs]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Bluto16: shows [Jh 8h] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
pokerjl: mucks hand
Bluto16 collected $83 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $86 | Rake $3
Board [Td 9c Kd As Qs]
Seat 1: baffy13 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: al253733 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Bluto16 showed [Jh 8h] and won ($83) with a straight, Ten to Ace
Seat 4: bigrun5 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: pokerjl (button) mucked [Kh Kc]
Seat 6: dblmystack (small blind) folded before Flop

POKERSTARS GAME #7795056222: HOLD'EM LIMIT ($5/$10) - 2007/01/06 - 12:13:37 (ET)
Table 'Krethon' 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: hck_pocketAA ($122.50 in chips)
Seat 2: bg bank ($367.50 in chips)
Seat 3: glate ($119 in chips)
Seat 4: mac522 ($124 in chips)
Seat 5: pokerjl ($441 in chips)
mac522: posts small blind $2
pokerjl: posts big blind $5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [Kd Kh]
hck_pocketAA: folds
bg bank: folds
glate: folds
mac522: raises $5 to $10
pokerjl: raises $5 to $15
mac522: calls $5
*** FLOP *** [8c Kc Th]
mac522: checks
pokerjl: bets $5
mac522: calls $5
*** TURN *** [8c Kc Th] [9c]
mac522: checks
pokerjl: bets $10
mac522: calls $10
*** RIVER *** [8c Kc Th 9c] [2c]
mac522: bets $10
pokerjl: calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
mac522: shows [Ac 3h] (a flush, Ace high)
pokerjl: mucks hand
mac522 collected $78 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $80 | Rake $2
Board [8c Kc Th 9c 2c]
Seat 1: hck_pocketAA folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: bg bank folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: glate (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: mac522 (small blind) showed [Ac 3h] and won ($78) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 5: pokerjl (big blind) mucked [Kd Kh]

POKERSTARS GAME #7831923731: HOLD'EM LIMIT ($5/$10) - 2007/01/08 - 14:32:28 (ET)
Table 'Ausonia IV' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: McUnit42 ($457.50 in chips)
Seat 2: xloc747 ($460 in chips)
Seat 3: pokerjl ($180 in chips)
Seat 6: da_roc419 ($206 in chips)
xloc747: posts small blind $2
pokerjl: posts big blind $5
fyasko21: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [2h 8h]
da_roc419: raises $5 to $10
McUnit42: folds
xloc747: calls $8
Robgodius leaves the table
pokerjl: calls $5
*** FLOP *** [8c 5h 2d]
xloc747: checks
pokerjl: checks
da_roc419: bets $5
xloc747: calls $5
pokerjl: raises $5 to $10
da_roc419: calls $5
xloc747: calls $5
*** TURN *** [8c 5h 2d] [Jd]
xloc747: checks
pokerjl: bets $10
Iivucd joins the table at seat #4
da_roc419: raises $10 to $20
xloc747: calls $20
pokerjl: calls $10
*** RIVER *** [8c 5h 2d Jd] [Qc]
xloc747: checks
pokerjl: checks
da_roc419: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
xloc747: shows [Th 9h] (a straight, Eight to Queen)
pokerjl: mucks hand
da_roc419: mucks hand
xloc747 collected $118 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $120 | Rake $2
Board [8c 5h 2d Jd Qc]
Seat 1: McUnit42 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: xloc747 (small blind) showed [Th 9h] and won ($118) with a straight, Eight to Queen
Seat 3: pokerjl (big blind) mucked [2h 8h]
Seat 6: da_roc419 mucked [Jh Kc]

POKERSTARS GAME #7854572004: HOLD'EM LIMIT ($3/$6) - 2007/01/09 - 21:04:05 (ET)
Table 'Neckar IV' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: pokerjl ($110 in chips)
Seat 2: handsomejake ($141 in chips)
Seat 3: aross ($240 in chips)
Seat 4: cwayslim ($109 in chips)
Seat 5: Injun Tribe ($63.50 in chips)
Seat 6: rags2riches8 ($151 in chips)
aross: posts small blind $1
cwayslim: posts big blind $3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [5d 5s]
Injun Tribe: folds
rags2riches8: folds
pokerjl: raises $3 to $6
handsomejake: folds
aross: raises $3 to $9
cwayslim: folds
pokerjl: calls $3
*** FLOP *** [6h 7d 6c]
aross: bets $3
pokerjl: raises $3 to $6
aross: calls $3
*** TURN *** [6h 7d 6c] [2d]
aross: checks
pokerjl: bets $6
aross: calls $6
*** RIVER *** [6h 7d 6c 2d] [Qd]
aross: checks
pokerjl: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
aross: shows [Qc As] (two pair, Queens and Sixes)
pokerjl: mucks hand
aross collected $43 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $45 | Rake $2
Board [6h 7d 6c 2d Qd]
Seat 1: pokerjl mucked [5d 5s]
Seat 2: handsomejake (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: aross (small blind) showed [Qc As] and won ($43) with two pair, Queens and Sixes
Seat 4: cwayslim (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: Injun Tribe folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: rags2riches8 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

POKERSTARS GAME #7852226460: HOLD'EM LIMIT ($5/$10) - 2007/01/09 - 18:47:44 (ET)
Table 'Patricia III' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: pokerjl ($236 in chips)
Seat 2: gyndok ($201 in chips)
Seat 3: SignLadie ($209 in chips)
Seat 4: shoessix ($273 in chips)
Seat 5: xgiovannix ($406 in chips)
Seat 6: pianopoker ($377 in chips)
xgiovannix: posts small blind $2
pianopoker: posts big blind $5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [Qs Kd]
pokerjl: raises $5 to $10
gyndok: folds
SignLadie: folds
shoessix: calls $10
xgiovannix: calls $8
pianopoker: folds
*** FLOP *** [Ks 9h 7c]
xgiovannix: checks
pokerjl: bets $5
shoessix: calls $5
xgiovannix: folds
*** TURN *** [Ks 9h 7c] [9c]
pokerjl: bets $10
shoessix: raises $10 to $20
pokerjl: calls $10
*** RIVER *** [Ks 9h 7c 9c] [4d]
pokerjl: checks
shoessix: bets $10
pokerjl: calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
shoessix: shows [Ah 9d] (three of a kind, Nines)
pokerjl: mucks hand
shoessix collected $102 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $105 | Rake $3
Board [Ks 9h 7c 9c 4d]
Seat 1: pokerjl mucked [Qs Kd]
Seat 2: gyndok folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: SignLadie folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: shoessix (button) showed [Ah 9d] and won ($102) with three of a kind, Nines
Seat 5: xgiovannix (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: pianopoker (big blind) folded before Flop

POKERSTARS GAME #7851224081: HOLD'EM LIMIT ($5/$10) - 2007/01/09 - 17:45:46 (ET)
Table 'Claudia V' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: pokerjl ($258 in chips)
Seat 2: peter4kind ($375.50 in chips)
Seat 3: decand ($314 in chips)
Seat 4: k345 ($191 in chips)
Seat 5: R.E.L. 24 ($253 in chips)
Seat 6: JJrodd ($124.50 in chips)
pokerjl: posts small blind $2
peter4kind: posts big blind $5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [Jc Jd]
decand: folds
k345: folds
R.E.L. 24: raises $5 to $10
JJrodd: folds
pokerjl: raises $5 to $15
peter4kind: calls $10
R.E.L. 24: calls $5
*** FLOP *** [9s 7h 7d]
pokerjl: bets $5
peter4kind: calls $5
R.E.L. 24: calls $5
*** TURN *** [9s 7h 7d] [3s]
pokerjl: bets $10
peter4kind: raises $10 to $20
R.E.L. 24: folds
pokerjl: calls $10
*** RIVER *** [9s 7h 7d 3s] [2d]
pokerjl: checks
peter4kind: bets $10
pokerjl: calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
peter4kind: shows [Kc 7c] (three of a kind, Sevens)
pokerjl: mucks hand
peter4kind collected $117 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $120 | Rake $3
Board [9s 7h 7d 3s 2d]
Seat 1: pokerjl (small blind) mucked [Jc Jd]
Seat 2: peter4kind (big blind) showed [Kc 7c] and won ($117) with three of a kind, Sevens
Seat 3: decand folded before Flop (didn't bet)

New Year, new way of doing the thang.

Well, I ended the year on a pretty good note, and was jonesing to play on Jan 1 sometime in the afternoon. For some reason, Full Tilt was down, so i decided to put some cash into Pokerstars because I know they always have tables going. Sure enough, they did. I had an unexpired bonus sitting in there, and the deposit gave me some more bonus. So, I played my way through the first bonus, winning as I went along (I'm happy to say), and decided to go after the 2nd bonus. I've always felt PS had the quickest bonus hurdles, usually by a lot. In the midst of it, I discovered their VIP program. The short of it is this:

If I play 28 hours a month (3 tables) or 20 hours (4 tables), I will earn about 25,000 FPP (which are frequent player points). That is significant, because here is what I can get with FPPs:

62K = $1000 electronics gift certificate
93K = $1500 ticket to a WSOP preliminary event (like I played in last year)
132K = 40" LCD Sony TV

plus other tournament buy ins, etc. Also,I'd qualify for their weekly 20K freeroll. and their monthly 100K freeroll. And have a relatively easy satilite to their weekly 50K freeroll.

Best of all, because I have to accrue playing points, it gives me more motivation to play, which sometimes is an issue.

So, even though I get rakeback on FTP, they have less games, the games go slower, and I love being motivated... so, I'm gonna do this for a while (at least throughout the month) and see how it goes...