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Liz Lieu's LAPC Main Event!

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:25:37 +0100

Several weeks have passed since the Asian Poker Tour Main Event in Manila, and after taking a short break from poker, I was refreshed and eager to get back on the felt.

The LAPC at the Commerce Casino is a special event for me because it's where I started my high-stakes poker career. It attracts not only many players from around the world but many top professionals.

And with the new structure that tournament director Matt Savage put in place, the tournament saw a lot of action that no doubt satisfied everyone.

Day 1, for me, was a heavy grind. I caught a couple of cold decks and I couldn't really do much with the hands that were dealt to me.

At one point, I was down to 7,000 in chips when I picked up pocket aces and went all-in preflop against A-Ko to double up, then picked up a few small pots to bring up my chip count to 22,000.

I ended Day 1 with 40,000 in chips, a little above average in the chip count.

Day 2 was still a grind, but a little less stressful. Although I hadn't got much sleep, I was able to double up fairly early on.

With the blinds at 400/800, I was under the gun with pocket tens and immediately raised to 2,400. Three players behind me quickly folded and the action was to the BB in Seat 8.

He took about a minute before raising it to 12,000. The huge raise put me in the tank for about two minutes before I decided to move all-in and got an instant call. I flipped over my pocket tens and he happily turned over AA!!

The flop came 5 4 3. Turn J and the river snapped a T, to the horror of seat 8, who must have been disgusted with the river.

As I was quietly collecting the chips of the double-up, Greg Mueller, who was sitting at my table, chimed in with, "You knew it was coming, didn't you?"

I smiled in silence and counted my blessings. Every now and then you do need a bit of lady luck on your side to win these tournaments.

By the end of Day 2, I was sitting with a good 120,000 in chips.

Day 3, alas, I got eliminated with a pair of ladies. I was in middle position when I looked down and saw two red queens.

The blinds were 1000/2,000 with a 300 ante. The player under the gun in seat 9 makes a raise to 7,000, I reraised making it 25,000 and all the players behind mucked to the player in seat 9, who immediately moved all-in. I decided to call with my remaining 60,000.

He flipped over A-K, and this was beginning to become eerily familiar to Day 2's pocket tens double-up. The flop came 9 4 T, but an ace snapped right on the turn with a no-help 4 on the river. And out I go!

In Manila, I lost against pocket queens. In Los Angeles, I lost with them. This is the nature of poker, and as I walked out of Commerce Casino, I felt back in my element.

Though I was disappointed with the results, I was pleased with my level of play and will be looking forward to playing both the 25k WPT Championship and the European Poker Tour event in Monte Carlo next month.

Cheers!

Liz Lieu - Poker Diva

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What a Difference a Year Makes!

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:28:18 +0100

According to the Chinese calendar, 2008 was the Year of the Rat, and 2009 is the Year of the Ox. Could there be two animals more different?

What a difference a year makes. I've heard that saying before, but this is truly what I believe now. A year ago, I was coming to grips with my father's passing and hoping for the best. It wasn't the best for me.

For much of the year, I seemed to walk around in a fog. I tried to put on a brave face, tried to restart things again and again. It never seemed to work.

In December 2008, I decided I needed to return to Vietnam to find peace. I spent the month of January in Vietnam and I confronted some very personal things that I had to work through.

It was a mysterious, amazing time for me, a time that I will never forget. I learned things about my family that I'd never known.

I walked the street where we lived when I was born, and met neighbors who knew my family when I was still an infant.

It was a magical time. Magic can be evil, and it can be good. I've seen both. I don't know if I understand the last four weeks but I have finally found peace. I took that peace to Manila where I played in the Asian Poker Tour.

I made it through Day 1b, bagged chips on Day 2 and somehow managed to last long enough to earn a seat at the final table of the APT Manila main event, before eventually being busted out in seventh place.

It wasn't a magical run that ended in a first-place finish, but it was my first baby steps in the right direction. Perhaps it's a sign of things to come. Everything that eluded me in 2008 will be corrected in 2009. There will be poker hands and bad beats and good reads in days to come. Today, I'll just sit here, at peace.

So what did I do differently in Manila that I didn't do in 2008?! Absolutely nothing.

Maybe I just have a little more lady luck on my side. I started the APT Main Event by doubling up pretty early in the tournament. I believe it was Level 3 and I had A 9. I limped under the gun and it was folded around to the blinds; they both saw the flop.

The flop came down K J Q. I pick up a gut-shot and nut-flush draw. I got into a little raising battle with Richard Mari before he shoved all-in. I decided he didn't have a straight and I really felt like he had a queen with a flush draw or some other type of draw. If I was wrong, I had some pretty strong draws myself.

Turns out I was correct and had him dominated. He flipped over 3 5 for a lower flush draw and zero pairs. The turn and river bricked out and I doubled up to approximately $22,000.

I eventually chipped up some more on Day 1b and ended up with a healthy $44,300 in chips. I couldn't really get much going on Day 2. I started to dwindle down to about $30,000 in chips before I ran into the following hand.

Ivan Tan tried to make a move on me in the small blind with T-7 on a pure steal and I looked down to see pocket jacks. So I quickly called, and moved back up to a respectable $62,000 in chips.

I did get a little lucky as we drew near the end of the day and got closer to the final table.

With approximately 11 players left and a stack of about $87,000, blinds $4,000/$8,000, I decided to make a move. Ron Kluber limps for $8,000 and I decide to shove my entire stack, hoping to pick up the bet and all of the blinds.

Norihito Suzuki moves all-in for $75,000 in the small blind, and Kluber folds. Suzuki flips over A-Q and I flip over J-T. The board runs out J-T-3-4-T rainbow and I make a full house!

In 2008 I was usually the one going in with the best of it and losing to the worst hand. In 2009 I go in with the worst hand and beat the best hand. Go figure.

I had approximately $180,000 chips at that point and I got into a very tough hand minutes later.

Blinds are now $5,000/$10,000. Ron Kluber completes the small blind and I check my option. I'm holding 4 7.

The flop is J 6 T. Kluber bets out for $20,000 and I decide to just call him. The turn comes the 5 and now I have picked up an open-ender to my flush draw.

Kluber leads out again, this time for $95,000 into a $65,000 pot. I have about $155,000 left and he's really overbet the pot. I am pretty confident he has a jack based on his previous plays. I end up folding because I'm simply not getting the odds to call here and we're at 11 players in the field.

I didn't feel like Kluber was bluffing, so by calling if I didn't hit my hand, I'd be crippled with very high blinds, and there was no certainty that my low flush draw was even any good. He made a very good bet in that situation.

If Kluber had bet out again a small amount on the turn, then I would have immediately pushed all my chips in.

We lost one more player and I ended up making the final table. I went into the final table with the seventh-largest chip stack and coincidentally, I ended up taking seventh place.

That was my trip to the Philippines. I am back in L.A. right now and ready to play in the LAPC. I think I am going to play in some smaller events and see if I can keep this momentum moving forward and warm up for the $10k main event toward the end of the month.

I look forward to some more magic in Los Angeles and will keep everyone posted on what is happening in L.A. during the LAPC.

Liz Lieu - Poker Diva
www.LizLieu.net
www.iPokerCal.com

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New Year's Advice

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:51:44 +0100

I'm writing this from Vietnam, and I hope everyone has had a great holiday and New Year's. I know most people make New Year's resolutions.

I try not to make promises to myself that I can't keep, so I don't. One of the most common questions I'm asked is what advice would I give to young amateurs trying to make the leap to playing higher stakes.

I almost never answer the question, because most people aren't really asking that question.

Most people really just want to cut corners and find some hidden secrets that will somehow get them playing $5/$10 and $10/$20 NLHE.

The quick answers are pretty boring. Proper bankroll management is probably the most important key to improvement. It allows you to make mistakes and keep playing. More players fail due to being underbankrolled than to any tactical leak in their game.

I know some players believe in taking a shot when they are on a good run. It may work out for a few players, but most quickly go bust.

Another boring bit of advice is to be boring away from the table. I've seen so many players chase demons away from the table. Many players tie their self-esteem to results at the table.

It is a dangerous way to live. Combine personal vices, and it's easy to see the difficulty of playing through the tough times that will come.

Those are my first answers, but now I think it's more complicated than that. I see more and more successful new players. They seem to be different in a couple interesting ways.

You can read Sorel Mizzi's recent post to look at a typical great new player. They seem to focus more on how they play, on making the best decisions possible.

They've mastered aggressive play but understand how that differs from recklessness. They treat their game like a craft to be mastered. When they have a problem with their play, they seek out others to give them advice.

Treating poker like these great new players takes extreme patience and great discipline. It takes a long-term perspective that is at odds with gambling, a hardening that doesn't happen with one hand.

I wish it was easier or sexier. Going from good to great can be done, but you have to be willing to put in the hard work. And you have to be willing to look hard at your decisions. Having some better players to guide you can only improve your chances.

Can you become one of the next great players in 2009? Try this for a New Year's Resolution. Shoot for 2010 as your year, and let this year be one where you follow Sorel's example.

Cut down on your mistakes, and don't repeat the same ones. You'll be surprised by how good you can get as the months pass by.

Cheers!

Liz Lieu - Poker Diva

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WPT Five Diamond Part 2

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:33:40 +0100

Editor's note: When we left off last time Liz had lost a chunk of her stack when an opponent got lucky and turned a set. Today she'll take us through the rest of her tournament at the WPT Five Diamond main event.

But what a great way to end the night! Chino and others were prop-betting the Chicago-Philadelphia NFL game, and Mike never shut up the entire hour we were together. I love Mike Matusow!

I ended the evening with $60,800. It's never good to end the day with half the chips you started with, but I feel I played well.

Tournament play is in the Fontana Lounge at the Bellagio, and I was at the raised Feature Table to start Day 3. The blinds were $1,200/$2,400 with a $400 ante.

I was in the big blind for the first hand, and everyone folded to the small blind. He made it $7,000, and I called with A-6o.

The flop came 8-6-3 rainbow, and he bet another $7k. I raised to $18k and took the pot (woo-hoo me!!). It was an action table, which isn't great when you're short-stacked.

Basically, you have to pick up a hand and shove when you have raises and reraises all around you.

After a couple hours, I picked up aces and limped in early position. Unfortunately, four other players called with no one raising. The flop came K K 6. The blinds and I checked, and the guy next to me made it $7k. It folded around to me, and I raised to $20k.

He called, and Q came on the river. I checked, and the four seat also checked. 4 came on the river. I checked again, as I could only beat an underpair.

He reached for chips, then decided to check as well. His J 9 gave him a rivered flush, and I mucked my aces.

I picked up aces again, and I doubled up with my last $61,500 against A-Ko. It was the last hand I picked up for awhile, as I just blinded away until I picked up A-Q. I raised UTG, and Hunter Frey called in the small blind.

The flop came 9-3-2, and I moved all-in. I didn't particularly like my hand but hoped he would fold. With two aces he didn't, and I was out about seven places short of the money.

You might think I would be really disappointed busting out so short of the money. Of course I wanted to cash and go deep, but I really felt like I played well.

I didn't feel pressure nor did I feel rusty, but it has been awhile since I was sitting in a big tournament winning and losing pots. It got the juices flowing again, and I think it is a great sign for 2009.

I'll be heading to Vietnam after Christmas for my charity work and other business. I know there are a lot of people suffering all over the world.

There are many people here in Vegas who have lost everything as the housing market has collapsed. People are losing their jobs throughout the United States and really around the world.

Even so, none of us should lose sight of how blessed we are to have what we have. You don't know suffering and hardship until you walk in some of these villages I've been to in Vietnam, yet a smile seems to spread across their faces, the same smile you can find in London or Los Angeles or Vancouver or Atlanta.

I hope each of you can be surrounded by smiling faces this holiday season, and I wish you only the best. Thanks to everyone here at PokerListings for being great friends this year, and thanks to all of you for stopping by here and supporting me.

Have a wonderful Merry Christmas everyone!

Cheers!

-- Liz Lieu - Poker Diva

Drop by Liz's home site, ChiliPoker, and find out how you can earn a heads-up match with the Poker Diva herself. And be sure to take advantage of PokerListings.com's exclusive sign-up bonus.

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WPT Five Diamond Part 1

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:57:45 +0100

I busted out just short of the money in what I think was the toughest field of 2008, the Five Diamond World Poker Classic.

You might not believe it, but it was a terrific few days for me. My confidence is sky-high for next year.

I've avoided the tables most of the last few weeks as I just haven't felt as motivated as I should be. It hasn't been easy to do, just to stay away rather than jump back into the cash games here and try and play my way back into normalcy.

I don't know that I was eagerly anticipating the start of the Five Diamond event at the Bellagio, but I was ready to go on Day 1b. Marco Traniello was at my starting table, plus a few other players I recognized from cash games at the Bellagio.

I started out great, playing very aggressively. I showed the nuts a couple times, which gave me a lot of momentum and allowed me to pick up some nice pots on bluffs. Before I knew it, my $50k had turned into $85k.

I held steady through the next few levels until the big hand for me for the night. I was in a pot with Chad Batista. I had A-Jo and had raised, and he called from the small blind.

The turn was when it got interesting. The board was 5-6-J-8, and he bet $22k into a pot of $17k or so. I'm not exactly sure what I would have normally done, but he started talking to me.

Instead of just keeping quiet, he pulled that talk move on me to try and confuse me. He started saying, "You only have five outs against me; you have something like K-J right?" Then he said, "I just might have 7-8, you never know."

I noticed Batista's raise frequency and a number of garbage hands he played. After a couple minutes of thinking I then decided to move over the top all-in. He called with 5-6 for bottom two pair, so I had more than just five outs!

One of them came when an ace was dealt on the river. He was pretty ticked off, and I happily stacked the chips to get over $120k or so.

It wasn't an easy decision, and I know there were many ways to play it. I ultimately went with my gut and decided to make a stand with my hand. I wrote $115,200 down when I bagged chips, and I headed home feeling great.

My starting table was pretty soft. Don't think so? Here's the lineup:

1 - Michael Katz $18,775

2 - Joseph McGowan $84,050

3 - Johnny Chan $40,650

4 - Ryan Young $152,650

5 - Phil Ivey $82, 875

6 - Thor Hansen $92,825

7 - Liz $115,200

8 - Vanndy Yem $34,050

9 - Isaac Haxton $29,950

I looked around the room, and it looked like some sort of poker pro convention! Every table was stuffed with top players. One guy busts out, another top pro sits down. Phil Ivey busted out at our table, so Kevin O'Donnell takes his seat. He busts out an hour later, and Nenad Medic sits down.

It definitely kept me extremely focused on every hand. I just wish Johnny Chan had left the table instead of one of these other guys. He doubled through me twice.

I'd gotten up to $180k the first time. The blinds were $500/$1,000 with a $100 ante. I raised it to $3k in middle position with A-Ko.

Chan called from the small blind, and Ryan Young reraised to $14,500 from the big blind. Ryan had been playing aggressively throughout the day as the chip leader, and he still had me covered. I decided to call; then Chan moved all-in for another $31,200. Ryan mucked, so I made the call. Chan turned over jacks, and the closest I got to hitting was a queen on the flop.

I doubled another player up a few hands later. I'd flopped a pair of kings with K-T on a flop of K 8 4, and the guy had A 3. His chips got in on the flop, then an ace came on the turn and a club on the river to give him the pot.

I'd built my $100k back up to $190k or so when I got into it again with Chan. This hand is much more interesting.

The blinds were $800/$1,600 with a $200 ante. I raised to $4,500 with K J, and he called from the small blind. The flop came J-8-6 rainbow, and he checked. I bet $7,000, and he check-raised to $19,500.

I really didn't put him on A-J ... possibly Q-J. I felt like I was good, but I wanted to let him have the chance to bet into me on the turn. I just called, and a ten came on the turn with two diamonds. I really felt like it was a great card for me, and he bet $22,500 or so into the pot.

I moved all-in, and he insta-called with pocket tens for a turned set. I wasn't out of it as my flush draw was still good. Another jack on the river gave me trips but shipped the chips to his full house. Quite frustrating.

It's easy to say I should have repopped him on the flop, but I knew my hand was good even if an ace came on the turn. I was thinking very well and reading things. I sensed weakness on the flop and made a decision.

Did I miss something on the turn? I doubt it. He doesn't give off much information, and he made a great bet when the set hit on the turn. Many amateurs would have checked there, although I doubt there are many scenarios that would have kept chips in front of me.

Our table broke, and I had $90k or so left. I thought my starting table was tough, but give me a break. I walk over, and there are Chino Rheem, Layne Flack, Chris Ferguson, Chad Brown, Mike Matusow and a couple other top pros. I knew no one was getting any chips the rest of the night, not with these sharks.

Editor's Note: Be sure to check back tomorrow for part two of Liz's recounting of the WPT Five Diamond main event.

-- Liz Lieu - Poker Diva

Drop by Liz's home site, ChiliPoker, and find out how you can earn a heads-up match with the Poker Diva herself. And be sure to take advantage of PokerListings.com's exclusive sign-up bonus.

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Warming Up in the Online Arena

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:02:33 +0100

I am primarily a live cash-game player, but even I see the advantages of playing online poker sometimes.

For some poker professionals it's their primary source of income. For me, it's how I prepare for the live games and live tournament action.

The benefit you have playing online is the ability to go back and review the hand history. It's much easier to find the leaks and holes in your game. You are not relying on your sometimes faulty memory.

As an online player you can go back and look for specific types of betting patterns and tendencies you might have missed during play as well. It's much easier to view mistakes from an objective standpoint by going through your hand history.

I am playing quite a bit on Chilipoker. I've been playing a mixture of $30/$60, $50/$100 and $100/$200 games for the last few days so I can play with some of the regulars on the site.

It's a good opportunity actually to warm up my game for the upcoming Bellagio Five Diamond. It's also a good opportunity to interact with the players on my sponsored site and chat with fans.

I will continue to play a mixture of games. I'll play $30/$60, so that some of you don't have to jump into the nosebleeds to play with me, and I'll play as high as $100/$200.

Normally I play $400/$800 live, but the goal here is to fine-tune my game, and overall my edge online is thinner anyhow so I try not to overexpose my bankroll playing too high online. The swings seem to be bigger and more frequent!

I plan to play a lot more online during the week. I encourage people to come by www.Chilipoker.com and watch me play.

Yes, I am taking this seriously! I am trying to fine-tune my game but that doesn't mean I am not trying to win!! I was feeling pretty good about my game and then I hit a very rough stretch in the last couple of days.

It was a pretty sick stretch of poker and I couldn't have possibly run worse. At one point, I had doubled my original buy-in in a few days. A couple of days later I was down to my last few thousand dollars!!

Luckily, I was playing at mid-level stakes and was able to keep my emotions in check. I must admit I have run into some really interesting players at the $30/$60 limits in particular. I'm not sure if this is typical but I felt like some of the players just wouldn't get off a hand.

It didn't matter if they had queen-high or jack-high with no redraws. They would just continue chasing to the river. I normally welcome that type of chasing, except that over and over again they kept hitting the only card in the deck that could beat me.

If you don't believe me, come and check it out for yourself. I am starting to wonder if I am warming up my game or making it worse! lol :).

Not to worry. I was able to start picking up a few hands and managed to turn it back into a profitable week. I am about $6k ahead of where I started when I made my initial deposit.

Going through this otherwise sick stretch of poker did give me some good ideas for this blog however. It reminded me how important it was to have a decent-sized bankroll.

In poker, if you are playing above your means, a short-term run of bad luck can completely ruin you. For example, I went back and analyzed the hands I played when I went down to a few thousand dollars, and it really was a run of poor luck.

I laughed at some of the hands when I went through my hand history. I wanted to make sure I didn't imagine the action, and I still couldn't believe some of the calls that were made.

It's a good sign for the health of online poker, however. I know many people believe online poker is getting tougher and tougher to beat. I want to let you know there are still a lot of juicy games with many action players.

This leads me to a good discussion. What if this poor run of luck were happening to me in my regular $400/$800 game? This is typically when people get stuck or go broke. They continue to play because statistically it's impossible for this action player to run so good any longer!

Common sense is you stay at the poker table for as long as you have an edge. I would agree with this, but of course you always have to consider your bankroll and your emotional state. Sometimes you might have an edge in skill and it still makes sense to walk away from the game.

Fortunately for me my short-term run of bad luck was at mid-level stakes, as I mentioned, and it was very easy for me not to get emotional about the losses. I continued to play what I felt was a winning strategy and eventually turned a profit.

I'll keep playing at these stakes for another week! I want to encourage people to come play with me if they can. Or rail me and just watch the action if you choose. I am still bringing my best game to the tables so you can see firsthand what winning Limit poker looks like.

Who knows? Maybe I will turn that initial $10,000 deposit on Chilipoker into a few hundred thousand dollars. I will try to play my best, but don't be afraid to take a shot. Anyone can run badly in the short term and maybe you can catch me on a bad day!! :) I look forward to seeing you at the tables.

Cheers!

Liz Lieu - Poker Diva

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Who You Callin' a Hamster You Turkey?

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:22:33 +0100

OK, enough of this hamster crap!

I have been having this running debate with some tournament poker players as well as cash-game players for months now. There is a big misconception about Limit poker.

The common belief held by many No-Limit and tournament players is that NL Hold'em is a much more intricate game than Limit Hold'em. They say that Limit Hold'em doesn't require much skill and No-Limit Hold'em requires much more skill.

Now I'm not talking about a bunch of Internet whiz kids who have never actually played a live hand of tournament poker.

OK; some of them are Internet players, but I am also talking about really good live tournament players and cash-game players.

And they really do think that No-Limit hold'em is some kind of advanced physics of poker. Worse, they say that Limit Hold'em players are hamsters!

Yes, one of those turkeys called me a hamster (jokingly). They say that Limit players are just running around on our little "one-bet wheel" going nowhere fast.

It's a limiting belief. Pun intended. First of all, No-Limit Hold'em and Limit Hold'em are not the same game. They are separated by more than just how you bet.

The idea that you "can't protect your hand" in Limit, so it's some kind of weak game, is wrong. You can't protect your hand because you are a bad player! There are different skills to be mastered to play good Limit poker.

Yes, there are also certain skills to playing No-Limit, but why not be an all-around player, rather than a noisy, No-Limit nit!

Limit Hold'em requires a sophisticated table image, one that says I can take you off this hand with one bet, not because of how big the bet is, but because I have a table image that scares you. Limit Hold'em is played to build a stack, not to steal it in a 51%-49% race, like you do in No-Limit.

I am not knocking No-Limit poker. I play No-Limit all of the time. I understand the difference between the two games and my belief is that the No-Limit players who criticize Limit players are often the ones who don't have the skill or the finesse or the patience to play Limit at a high level.

Why not be a complete player and learn the art of mastering Limit and No-Limit?

Speaking of tournament poker, how many times does your tournament life come down to a coin flip? Not to belittle tournament poker, but it doesn't really take much skill to get into a coin flip late in a tournament where you might have a 2% edge and the winner of that hand doubles up in one hand.

A few big hands in the right situation or stage of a tournament can sometimes determine if you have a very successful tournament or a very poor tournament. It's the very exact reason why amateur players have been so successful in past WSOP events.

It would be much more difficult for an amateur player to go up against one of the best Limit players in the world and be put into a situation where they both have to make a thousand decisions instead of 20 or 30 decisions and consistently come out on top.

Limit Hold'em is a much more complex game than people want to believe. You have to make more decisions in Limit Hold'em. You are constantly being tested in Limit Hold'em and you have to make many more adjustments. It's a highly volatile game and you can still accumulate or lose chips quickly.

Another reason I think Limit Hold'em is a skilled game is because players are also playing after the flop more often. Just because you only make one bet at a time doesn't mean those bets don't add up. Limit players consistently play deeper into the hands than the typical No-Limit player.

Bluffing becomes more complicated. You have to go deeper into the hand to successfully execute a well-timed bluff. When those bluffs don't work out, you are often putting in four or five or more bets to execute that bluff.

In No-Limit Hold'em you can pick your spots. Steal pots. Accumulate a ton of chips in a single hand. Oftentimes you can make one or two moves and win that pot.

In Limit, it's much harder to pick your spots. If you are too patient everyone will bully you out of your chips. If you are too aggressive, over the course of thousands of hands you can be leaking a ton of chips.

I do understand where these tournament and No-Limit players are coming from. The few moves you make in No-Limit Hold'em can be interpreted as more complicated because they involve larger stack sizes and the decisions are more important in that single moment.

In Limit you are making hundreds or thousands of decisions in a single session. Collectively, the cumulative effect of those decisions is just as important as the few decisions you have to make in a No-Limit game. I would say even more important.

Limit Hold'em is complicated because you are constantly making decisions and you have to be accurate and efficient over thousands and thousands of decisions to be an overall winner. If you have a major hole or leak in your game, you cannot win all of your chips back in an all-in situation or a coin flip.

If you make a hundred mistakes in a Hold'em Limit session, it's much harder to come back from those mistakes. In a No-Limit game, you can make four or five mistakes and win a coin flip and recover all of those lost chips in a single hand. It's much harder to overcome leaks and holes in your game when you are playing Limit poker.

Take the time to understand the game. There are nuances and skills that make Limit poker a very intricate game.

And all of the other rules still apply. Your table image still matters. Understanding the type of player you are against still matters. The math matters.

Not unlike No-Limit poker, you need to be smart about when you bluff. You need to be smart about how you trap players. All of the same skills apply. You just utilize those skills much more often in a Limit game.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Cheers!

-- Liz Lieu -- Poker Diva

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David "Chino" Rheem, Poker Pro

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:46:09 +0100

I'm rooting for Chino, but the reason is a bit complicated.

When I first heard about the long delay with the Main Event final table at the WSOP, I was more than skeptical.

I didn't like it at all, and my biggest problems were the risk of something happening to one of the players (which didn't happen, or hasn't yet, anyway), plus the change in the players.

With the final table about to start, I think the biggest problem is that no one really cares.

I'm certainly not that interested in what will happen with these nine players. In fact, the only player I have any real connection to is Chino.

I'm a friend of his, but we're not close buddies. I first met David "Chino" Rheem at the Bellagio about five or six years ago. He'd arrived from Florida I think, and he was young.

Many young players can be cocky or obnoxious, but Chino has never been like that.

I've noticed from the first time I met him how respectful he is to women. That may not sound like a big deal, but it is. Poker rooms and casinos can be a rough place for women who are there trying to grind out a living.

Men like Chino make it much more pleasant. Chino has a great way about him at the table as well. He can be funny and sarcastic in cash games, and he's one of those guys who makes the hands fly by at times.

Of course, all the while he's staying sharp at the table.

We haven't played too much together. He's more of a No-Limit player whereas I'm more Limit, but we have played some together. In Macau, he told some folks that he didn't want to play Limit with Liz because she would whip your ass!

And he's right! But why am I pulling for Chino? Because he's a typical poker pro.

When most people think of a poker pro, some think of players they've seen on television like Daniel, Gus, Barry or Jennifer. Other hard-core poker fans may know online superstars like Patrik Antonius, Annette Obrestad or Tom Dwan.

But most poker pros are more like Chino.

They call us rounders or grinders, us poker players, and Chino has been one of us for many years, even though he is still young.

We worry about our bankroll constantly. We hunt for our comps in the poker room, regardless of what stakes we play. We run hot and cold.

We fight our personal demons while we try to stay sharp at the table. We find it hard to have good friends in the poker room. We back players and are backed when times get tough. We fly high when times are good and crash in the dirt when times are tough.

We poker players, we are Chino.

I bumped into Chino recently, and he hadn't changed a bit. He was still the courteous young man, funny and friendly and focused.

He has a great chance heading into the final table, but he'll be up against eight great players who will be fighting him to the last chip.

I'll be pulling for Chino to take it down. He's one of us.

Cheers!

-- Liz Lieu - Poker Diva
www.LizLieu.net
www.iPokerCal.com

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No Poker, Just Six-Pack Abs to Caress

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:41:28 +0100

Sadly, no poker for me here in Las Vegas right now. Just the six-pack abs of some Thunder from Down Under to caress!

One of the not-very-fun parts of bouncing all over the world is when all the mail drops in your lap for the past three months.

I've spent the last few days dealing with FedEx billing errors, wading through hospital bills, and just trying to make sure my accountant is up to date on all of this.

Of course, that means a lot of time on the phone, listening to some jazzy elevator music while I wait for a human to finally pick up the line.

I'd hoped to play in the Festa al Lago at the Bellagio, but I just couldn't get all of that finished and behind me. I'm committed to playing in tournaments only when I feel I'm 100% ready, so I skipped the Bellagio tourney.

The number of players seemed very light to me as well, although I was itching to get back to the table. The cash games weren't happening either, so no poker for me here in Vegas.

Last weekend, I did have a chance to hang out with my girlfriend Lacey Jones. Friday night, we were going to go to the Hard Rock for Justin Timberlake's after-party. He was in town performing and hosting a golf tournament I think.

It was a zoo when we got there, and we saw Jeff Madsen and some of his high school friends. We decided to head to the Bank, a nightclub at the Bellagio.

Last Friday, the music was just awful (think spring break nerd music). I don't even know if they had a DJ. It sounded like the music just came off of a CD.

Lacey and I tried the Bank one more time, and this time it was a ton of fun. Lots of big cash-game players there, and we were at a table on the dance floor. They even had a pole-dancing contest.

It was the first night in a very long time when I totally let myself go. I had a great, great time. But the craziest part of the weekend was still to come.

"Thunder from Down Under!"

I thought it was a joke, but there we were, Lacey and me, walking into the cattle drive that is Thunder from Down Under.

Lacey has a girlfriend whose boyfriend works there, so she reserved us a couple tickets to the show. I tried to get up the nerve to go to Chippendales a few years ago, but no one wanted to go. Lacey's friend told us this wasn't too raunchy - that it was a decent show with good-looking guys.

I wore a cap so that I could be inconspicuous. Well, let me just say that good-looking isn't exactly how I'd describe these boys. These guys were hot!

They all have six-packs, and I don't think any of them eat an ounce of carbs.

I was surprised by the audience. There were men who took their wives there, which I didn't expect. The MC asked for a show of hands for ladies who were married. Some of the ladies didn't raise their hands, and so their husbands had to raise their hands for them! lol.

They asked volunteers to go onstage and fake an orgasm. The first couple people were very embarrassed, although one girl was really good.

Another lady was there at her retirement party. Instead of faking an orgasm, she quietly sang into the MC's ear. I'm not sure if I've heard of someone singing during sex, but to each her own!

After the show Lacey suggested that we get a photo taken with the guys. As you can see, she talked me into it. :)

So that's it for now. No poker for me here in Las Vegas. I'm pretty sure I'm headed back to L.A. as the cash games are still juicy from what my friends tell me. I can't wait to get back to the grind at the Commerce.

Although I may have to sneak one more peek Down Under - we just might have to go back this weekend!

Cheers!

-- Liz Lieu - Poker Diva
www.LizLieu.net
www.iPokerCal.com

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Preventing Tilt

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:29:53 +0100

I had a terrific time in Cabo San Lucas with my three best friends, Cathleen, Jackie and Tiffany, plus their families.

It was a great, relaxing time for me, lounging by the pool, horseback riding on the beach, falling asleep at the spa. I'm so glad I snuck away last weekend, even though the game at the Commerce was so good.

I received a ton of feedback from my last post, so I wanted to share a bit more about my views on tilting and how I work to avoid it. Here are some characteristics of tilting:

Playing with too much emotion
Making improper decisions
Giving off too many tells and too much information
Not reading players well but letting your emotions cloud your senses
Becoming too focused on results, especially thinking about how all your money and chips are sitting in front of everyone else

I rarely tilt any more - on occasion tilting for one or two hands at most. If I ever do feel like I'm losing control, I always get out of my seat and take a walk

During my last session at Commerce where I was down, I felt like I was on tilt for maybe two hands after a tough pot. I started to realize what was happening, and I took a 20-minute break, just walking around and getting back to where I needed to be.

Tilting online is more dangerous. One of the worst aspects of online play is that, for many people, their entire bankroll is at risk when they are tilting.

Most people don't get up and take a break online. If they lose a couple big pots, they suddenly jump up in stakes to try and make it all back. A bad break or dumb decision later, and you're busto.

It is much more difficult to do that live. It takes longer to change tables, and most people don't carry their entire bankroll around with them. But it definitely happens.

Cash games gave my game discipline, and tournaments have helped me with patience. You need both of those skills when you are struggling at the table.

You also have to be smart about your bankroll. If I played in the $2k/$4k game at the Bellagio, I would get brutalized.

Do I have the skills to sit there? Possibly, but you can't play poker if you're concerned about the stakes you're playing at. Sometimes in a cash game, it's about bullying people around.

Your mind has to be sharp, and the stakes can let bad thoughts into your mind that affect your play. When you start looking at the board and searching for cards that will beat you, you've stopped playing poker and started playing roulette.

It's happened to me. I'm running bad, then I start getting aggro to protect my hand, only to find boards that are four to a straight or flush draws that pay and get there. When I detect that I'm thinking more about what can go wrong than about playing my best, that's when I get up.

And for me this weekend, getting up was getting away, all the way to Mexico.

I see so many players who struggle with how they manage the tough times at the table. I don't know if I have the right answers.

Some of the top cash-game players won't get up until they are unstuck, even if they sit there for 40 hours plus at a time. I definitely will stay in a game if I'm down and the game is good. If I'm struggling, I'll get up and get away.

Thanks again for your support here at PokerListings. I'm in Vegas now, and I'll give you a recap of how the games are going at the Bellagio. It's so good to be back home again!

Cheers!

-- Liz Lieu - Poker Diva
www.LizLieu.net
www.iPokerCal.com

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What Credit Crunch?

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:12:12 +0100

While the rest of the world has been shocked by the stock market crash, I've been in some of the juiciest cash games I've seen in a long time.

The $400-$800 game has been spread lately at the Commerce, and a new Jamaican guy has turned it into an action party.

I'd played a good game after shooting bullets at the range and was hoping to dodge bullets at the tables, but couldn't make a hand and lost $19k.

Pots of $15k-$20k haven't been unusual in this game, with three three-bets and multi-player pots the norm. Some players can get in and churn the water when a game loosens up like this. I tightened up a great deal instead.

It was pretty tough to push anyone out of a pot, and some of the players noticed my play in the first game. "If this new Liz sits to my left, I won't mind it," said Mark Newhouse, who's become a regular in the game. "Well, you never know when the old Liz will come back," I said. =)

Here's a typical hand. I limped UTG with pocket deuces. Another guy limped, then Max (who I mentioned in the last post) raised on the button. Brian (a young guy from the East Coast) called in the SB, then Mark three-bet it in the BB.

I think for a minute, then muck to all the action, and the other guys call. The flop comes 2-5-Q rainbow, and all go to war with three-bets all over the place. The turn brings a jack, and another three bets are made. Another jack comes on the river; there is a bet, a raise and a call.

Max flips over pocket fives for the higher flopped set, and I squeal when I see it. "I had pocket deuces!" I chirp, and Max is like, "Why weren't you in?"

I went back to the Commerce and got stuck pretty quick. I took a few days off, then came back to join the $400/$800 game with Mark Newhouse, Cathleen Tran, Max, and Kenny Luu, Tommy Hang, Jayde Tran, and Lee.

On one of the first hands, I got very aggressive with Mark when I had middle pair with an open-ended straight draw to his top pair with a mediocre kicker. He ended up calling me due to the size of the pot, but it showed him that I'd come to play. It became a brutal session for me.

A few rounds later I pick up pocket queens in a hand with Max and Kenny. I raise in middle position, Max makes a three-bet and Kenny caps the raise. The flop comes Q 7 3. I just call the first bet, but these two cap the flop.

The T comes on the turn. Kenny bets, I call, Max raises, Kenny mucks, then I reraise. Max looks at me, and he knows I've been playing tight. He just calls. The river is the 6. I bet, and he just calls.

"The ace is good," he says, and I get a sick feeling in my stomach. I turn over my top set, and he shows K 9 for the king-high flush.

I had queens so many times and they never held up. In another hand where I had queens with Jayde and Mark, they capped it pre-flop and on the flop of 8-5-2 rainbow.

The turn is a six, they check, I bet and they call. The river is a seven. Jayde bets out immediately; with the board of four to a straight, my queens can't beat anything at all now. I have to fold.

I'm down to my last $5k when four other players raise pre-flop. I pick up 6 7 on my BB and decide to play due to pot odds. The flop comes 3 4-Jx. I bet, there are two raises, and three players go along with me to the turn.

The 2 on the turn gives me my flush; I bet and there are two callers. The river is a blank 7. Mark checks, I put in my last $500, Kathleen calls, and Mark mucks. I show my flush, and she turns over A Q to take the last pot I'm in.

Every poker player has these days. I had aces and kings a couple times but got no action, then I'd get beaten down when I tried to make anything happen with good hands. It was a huge action game, and I knew after I got down $30k that it could turn in the blink of an eye.

I should have quit when I got down to my first $30k, but the game was just too juicy.

I did speak to Mark during the game. As you may or may not know, Mark had a huge win at the Borgata a couple years ago. He's gone through a very tough time, which I'm sure some of you have followed.

Many players would have burned out or been in real trouble after the tough spell he's been in, but his head seems to be in the right place now. He seems honest and a real stand-up guy and just seems focused on grinding, getting back on his feet.

I told him I hope he keeps doing well, and I really meant it. Poker needs more stories of good guys who can make it through bad times.

Heading back to the Commerce is definitely tempting for me, but instead I'm off to Cabo with my girlfriends.

I know how dangerous a juicy game can be if you're running bad. You lose your vision. That next pot always looks like the one that will turn things around, but then you find yourself all turned around.

I'm leaving early tomorrow morning, and I hope the weekend away will get me ready to head back to the grind. Surely good things happen to good girls sometimes, right? Hehe :)

Cheers!

-- Liz Lieu - Poker Diva

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Hot and Heavy at the Commerce

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:21:26 +0100

While most of the pros are either in Korea or London, I don't mind telling you I'm happy just to be back home in L.A.

I'm off the road for a while I hope, and it's great to spend time with my mother and family. She can't travel anymore, and every day I spend with her is special. Cherish the time with your parents, believe me.

When I say I'm back home, that also means I'm back at my stomping grounds, the Commerce. I'm thankful to get back to the grind of cash games, although I'm not in the same shape as I was a couple years ago.

I remember the 30- and 40-hour marathon games I lived for, but now I can't really last past seven or eight hours. I definitely notice that I'm sharper for a shorter period of time, and three positive sessions are enough to keep the games shorter for me.

No-Limit games are still hot and heavy at the Commerce, but bigger limit games are finally being spread. The games start at $200/$400, then gradually move up to $400/$800 or even $500/$1,000.

I used to get really excited for the bigger games, but now it takes me forever to make my way to the Commerce.

Part of the reason is that all of the games have just gotten tougher, I believe. Online games aren't soft anymore, and neither are the live games. The tough hands aren't any easier to swallow either.

My third session, I was up $20k in less than two hours when I picked up pocket sixes against Lee, a very solid player in this game. I made it two bets and she raised pre-flop. I called and we both checked the flop of Q-Q-7.

A six came on the turn and I check-raised her. She reraised me, I reraised again, then she called my last raise. The river came an eight with three diamonds on the board; I bet out, she raised, I three-bet, she reraised, and I just couldn't figure out what she could possibly have.

In Limit, getting these bets in when you're ahead is the difference between being a break-even player and a big winner. I just called and she flipped over pocket eights for the rivered boat.

A few hands later, I got involved in a pot with Max, another local player who has gotten so much better over the last year. He raised in the cut-off and I called from one of the blinds with A-9. The flop came 9-J-Q and we both checked.

Another nine came on the turn and I check-raised him. He used to call quickly or muck, and he thought for a minute or so before calling. A blank six came on the river, I bet out, he raised and I called, only to see his K-T for the flopped straight.

I ended up booking a win after another hour or so, but it stung to lose $15k over those few hands.

I never really tilt anymore at the table, so how do you deal with being down or losing a few tough hands?

Some people have their own vices to escape from the memories of bad beats. Others play and replay hands to figure out how they could have made different decisions. My new trick? Heading to a shooting range.

I don't grab a bazooka or anything, but I'm finding that it's a great way for me to release the stress. I hold the gun, close my eyes, think of a bad beat, open my eyes and start pulling the trigger!

I can't get mad at the table, but I don't mind taking it out on the target at the end of the range. Of course, it's easy to escape my wrath - no bad beats!

Cheers!

-- Liz Lieu - Poker Diva

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Back from Macau and Itching to Play

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:46:57 +0100

Back in L.A. after two months in Vietnam, Macau and Thailand. I'm a little jet-lagged, but it was great to see LAX and great to wait for all my luggage!

I stayed around Macau to play in the APPT High Rollers event. I actually feel like I played well in Macau, but I just couldn't make anything happen when I needed to.

Lee Nelson was on my table at the High Rollers event, as was David Steicke, who became the chip leader for three days. I had queens five times on Day 1 and I lost with them every time.

On the 10th hand of the event, I picked up queens and raised 3x. Steicke reraised me with a big raise; I repopped him $3k (he may have thought I was trying to steal; I don't know).

He called; the flop comes K-rag-rag; he immediately bet out $2,650; I had to lay it down.

After a couple levels, I was the BB and Lee, to my left, made it $1,100 with the blinds at $200/$400. David Saab and Barry Greenstein called, and I picked up pocket queens. I raised another $3,800.

Lee took over a minute, kept looking at me, then smooth-called my raise. David and Barry folded and the flop came Ac-Jc-3x. I had to choke.

When the ace came out, I had about $5,800 left. I checked; he bet $2,850. I thought about it - one of those days I had queens five times, and every time an ace or king came out.

I figured he couldn't be on a bluff. He likely had a huge hand and wanted to suck me in. If he had crap, he wasn't going to do that.

I showed Quinn my queens after mucking, and he said I had the winning hand. Of course, only Lee knows, but I'm 100% I was beat.

Steicke seemed to hit every single flop and played some sick poker while I was there. In one hand against a player I didn't recognize, he got heads-up with the board reading 5 K 6 2.

On the turn, Steicke led out from the big blind for $3,500 before his opponent moved all-in for about $13k. Steicke thought for several minutes, then called to show his pocket sevens. The other guy turned over a big bluff and Steicke stacked the chips to double up.

He took my chips later. I got short and went up against him with A-J to his pocket sevens again. 2-2-3 came on the flop and a seven hit the turn. No outs; bye-bye Liz.

I stayed around for the final table when two of my friends, Quinn Do and Nam Le, made it. They are both terrific players, and I was so impressed with Nam's play on a short stack.

Quinn had $320k and Nam had $67k in chips going to dinner break. After dinner, all the guys decided to play baccarat to keep everyone loose and relaxed. Everyone except Nam. He got so focused during that time. "The game's not over yet," he told us, and it sure wasn't.

Quinn ended up finishing third, and Nam took down the title after getting heads-up against Andrew Scott. Nam had a 2-1 chip advantage when they were heads-up and he used his experience to drive to the win.

One little bit of dirt: Quinn, Nam and J.C. Tran were wearing Asian Poker Tour logos throughout the final table. The two tours are in a fierce battle to become the leader of live poker in Asia.

Of course, I made both final tables at APPT Macau last year, so I'll always play there if it can fit into my schedule. But the APT was just first-class all the way in terms of taking care of players. I really hope there is enough room for both of them in Asia, and the players are definitely improving.

Macau is a tough place, though. I ended up flying to Hong Kong because there still is not much to do in Macau other than gamble.

Once I checked into my hotel in Hong Kong, I found a great place to get my nails done, then went club-hopping with some old friends from Singapore and several friends of Alex at Chilipoker.

The night life in Hong Kong is to die for, believe me! I'm definitely ready to head back there when I get a chance.

My other quick trip was to Thailand. No clubbing; I was there on a mission: a new tattoo! Thailand is one of the only places in the world to get a tattoo with bamboo rather than a mechanical tattoo.

The artist has to pierce your skin with a bamboo point, so it takes much longer (3 ½ hours, give or take a few). What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? Look for a sneak peak of my new tattoo coming soon.

I'm spending some time with my mom and family, and you know I'll sneak in some time at The Commerce to get my cash game back in line. I'm itching to play - it's been over two months since I sat in a juicy cash game.

I can't wait!

Cheers!

-- Liz Lieu - Poker Diva

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Sleepless in Macau

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:07:16 +0100

I have a riddle for you. What do you get when you mix no cards, no cash games and a bad Internet connection in Macau?

One very unhappy camper!

I made back-to-back final tables at the APPT last year, and I had high hopes coming into the Macau tournaments this year. Two tournaments, but nothing but a Day 1 exit for both of them.

Everything was high class with the APT event last week. The APT could teach Harrah's and the WPT a few things about how to make players feel great.

The only thing they didn't do was put me at a soft table to start off. Which was absolutely fine with me! We had several solid online players as well as Harry Demetriou and Johnny Chan.

Oh, I dream about the days when online players came in two types: weak/tight and reckless. Those days are behind us, I'm afraid (even though many of them still lack live experience).

I don't do a very good job following online players or their screen names, but I definitely take notice when I see a solid player (whether I know them or not). There was one guy, Alex I think, who pushed me out of a big hand that I didn't hit after the flop.

So no luck with the APT, and the APPT was actually a softer event for me. The table had one solid player, Mike "Timex" McDonald. Half the players seemed inexperienced, and it was difficult to put them on a hand or to get them off a hand.

That's a good combination to be up against in one player, but not six! I made it until 7 at night, but all that really did was eat up several hours of my time.

I did want to point out a big call that Timex made that I found very interesting. I don't remember the pre-flop action, but the flop came J T 5. Timex bet, and his opponent called (having double the amount of chips Timex had).

The turn was 7 and Timex bet. His opponent raised to $10k (putting Timex all-in). He went in the tank for awhile and called with Q-Jo. His opponent had A 8. A very big call in a tough spot.

So I've been doing a lot of nothing over the last couple days. Horrible Internet is not something I'm used to, so I can't do much online.

I have the APPT High Rollers event on the 7th, so I may sneak over to Hong Kong for a couple days. There are definitely things to do in Macau if you are a guy or a wild Asian gambler.

No trips to the local massage parlor for me - although that might be a post that PokerListings wouldn't mind seeing! I can't even find a good nail salon here in Macau.

What's a girl to do?

Cheers!

-- Liz Lieu

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On to Poker in Macau

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:17:44 +0100

From my homeland of Vietnam I hopped a flight to Bangkok, then boarded an Air Macau jet to land here, the Asian center of the gambling world. For two weeks, poker will rule Macau.

It was difficult for me to leave Vietnam, but the Asian Poker Tour team made me feel welcome as soon as I landed. When I arrived, I met with their CEO, Chris Parker, as well as David Saab, winner of the APT Manila event.

They showed me around the casino, then the three of us went to the MGM for dinner. Macau has just exploded since last November. It looks more like Las Vegas with every passing day.

The next day, I made my way to the APT poker room around 3:30 p.m. to attend their official opening.

When I arrived, I was introduced to several high-level executives at Star World Hotel and also to Chris Parker's partner, Tom Hall, who owns not only the APT but also a portion of the iPoker network.

It was nice to see some familiar faces. Quinn Do, Nam Le, J.C. Tran and David "Chino" Rheem were all here to play in this event, and it was great to catch up with them. The big treat of the evening was the APT Celebrity Charity event.

There were so many press people there, many more than even at a WSOP event. They were all there to cover the Hong Kong celebrities in attendance: actor Michael Wong, singer Renee Dai, commentator Angie Mak and models Natalie Ng, Erica Yuen, Janice Man, Cha Cha and Wylien Chiu, Tracy Ip and Tila Tequila.

The sweet part was when all the Hong Kong celebrities had to pose for the media. Michael Wong, being the most famous of them all, requested to have his photos taken with the poker pros instead of with the beautiful ladies.

Shortly after being blinded by all the flash lights, Warren Lush and Michael Wong approached me before the event for a quick lesson, so I gave them a quick rundown of tournament strategies.

The lesson would have been great if we were playing poker, but there were so many beginners, I don't even know what we were playing! The celebrities played so many hands, they would make just about anyone blush!

When I had the chance, I grabbed Michael again. "Forget everything I told you," I said. "None of it will work tonight!"

I ended up getting busted by Janice Man - my pocket tens up against her A-9. She snapped an ace on the flop, and I was done.

By the way, you can google her if you want to see if she looks like a man or not. Believe me, she definitely does not! As a matter of fact, she's absolutely stunning. All the guys were practically drooling over her.

And of course who wins the charity event? My buddy Quinn Do! Congrats Mighty Quinn!

Thursday I play in the APT Macau main event. Next week, the PokerStars gang comes to town for the APPT Macau tourney. I know either the APT or the APPT invited Michael Phelps to play, and that would be a nice treat if he showed up.

Macau was good to me last year when I made the final table of the APPT Macau. Let's hope lightning can strike twice.

Thanks again for so many nice comments and words of encouragement. I have one more post about my father that I'll put up on LizLieu.net, although it may be a day or two.

I am at peace, and I hope that Aug. 28 will be the first day of a great new year for me, on and especially away from the felt.

Cheers!

-- Liz Lieu

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Good-Bye, Dad

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:21:41 +0100

I have grieved for my father the last 12 months, and I've suffered at times. Physically for part of the year, but mainly mentally and emotionally.

The one-year ceremony for the death of my father was conducted yesterday. For the last two weeks, I've worked hard to plan two special ceremonies.

Ninety monks from different temples all came to pray and participate in the ceremony. There aren't any Web sites where you order 90 monks for a ceremony - you have to invite each monk individually.

One of the highlights for me was my experience with a photographer for the ceremony.

I'm a big flickr fan, and I've always followed the work of Ian Morton on his Web site. He captures the beauty of my homeland in everyday life and everyday people.

I reached out to him to see if he was in the area and would be available to shoot the ceremony. We met at a coffee shop, and he told me he would not accept payment for the photography.

"If you would donate the fee I charge as part of your next charity, that would be enough for me," he told me.

I can't wait to see the pictures. He didn't want anything staged, he just wanted to lurk in the background as he captured all of the images of the day.

It has been a special time for me. These last few weeks have been a great time of spiritual renewal. My times with the monks and in the remote areas of my homeland have brought humbleness to me.

I didn't fully understand that my greatest pain was spiritual until these last few weeks. I don't know if I needed to change or not, but I have been tweaked and twittered a bit.

I normally stay at the nicest hotel in Saigon, but I've been with my aunt during my stay. One-thousand thread-count sheets and ultra luxurious spas have been replaced by no A/C and sharing a bed with my niece. And it has been so special.

We eat promptly at noon, again at 3:00, take a nap, then eat again at 7:00. Each day with relatives who have taken me in without expectation but also without pampering.

During the ceremony, I also released 1,260 birds. In my culture, the release of a bird gives it freedom and life, taking away a sin from the loved one being honored. Afterward, as I sat in prayer, a lone feather floated in from the window and landed in my lap.

Last year, I cried and cried during both the 49th-day and 100th-day ceremonies for my father. Yesterday, I really wanted to cry for him, but it was different.

My grief had been replaced with honor, my pain replaced with peace. At one point, a few tears drifted down my cheek, and I wasn't sure where they had come from.

I'm really happy now. I feel at peace now. All of the best wishes and messages from you have been so helpful, really for this entire year for me.

I'll write more on LizLieu.net later in the week. Thank you, and thanks to PokerListings for sharing this with you. They didn't have to do this as there really isn't much poker in this post, but thank you just the same.

-- Liz Lieu

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Alone with my Father

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:24:46 +0100

Da Nang is about as far away from Las Vegas as you can get on Earth. And it is here that I find myself for the one-year anniversary of my dear father's passing.

I arrived in Saigon on the 29th of July after connecting in London. It had been seven months since I'd been back to my homeland, and I'd forgotten the blaring horns at all hours of the morning, the neon lights, the smells and sounds of energy and excitement.

I have to say that I was almost in a fog that first day, partly from jet lag, partly from culture shock, partly from the stifling heat. Mostly for the task at hand - planning the ceremony for my father.

This has been a more personal, intimate trip for me than probably any that I've been on in quite a while. I've traveled here to do charity work with my cousin, niece and nephew.

This week, I've been alone in the middle of monks, villagers and children. I've been alone with my father close to me, thinking of him, praying for him. I have had no great expectations for this trip, although I hope for some peace and comfort that can come from all this.

I traveled to the poorest of villages with my Teacher Monk, who has aided me throughout this last year. My Teacher Monk conducted a ceremony for us before we deliver food to the villagers. It was a special time for me, draped in a simple blue cloth, barefoot in the temple as is our custom.

I met many villagers later that day, young and old, to pass out the much-needed supply of food. One of my favorites was meeting my Teacher Monk's 89-year old mother. Delightful spirit.

I felt whisked from place to place, and these places were strange to me. Yet these were the roads my father walked, the river my father navigated, the aromas my father smelled, the wind across my father's face.

Today, I write these words for me, and I apologize to anyone who may not understand them all. I return to Saigon soon, then Macau in a few weeks. Today, I am here. With him.

-- Liz Lieu