PokerPlasm.com

What is the Tourneyblog?

published on 12/08/08 at 10:15 am

Only a few websites provide an interested poker player in the numerous tournaments being played around the world. One of these websites is Tourneyblog.com! Based in the UK, they cover the whole spectrum from land-based to online poker tournaments. in time, they will become a giant among the Poker News websites.

What was the reason or the concept behind starting Tourneyblog? What did you see missing in this field? How long has it been in existence?
Tourneyblog is geared towards being a site that’s specialized for tournament players. That’s the kind of poker I like to play and with tours such as the WPT, EPT, APPT and more, tournament poker is growing. I didn’t see much on the market that was tournament-specific and that was the niche we hoped to fill with the site.

I’ve been working with Tourneyblog for about 18 months but the site has been in existence for almost two years now. I started out writing for another blog in 2004 called Chicksnchips that was set up for ‘women in poker’.

How many people are involved with Tourneyblog? Writers?
I’m the editor of Tourneyblog and a major content producer. I have several ‘characters’ I write under, but I won’t tell you who they are exactly.

We also have one other regular contributor, a few folks who write for us from time to time and we just brought someone else on to help us out with our lifestyle and promotions section.

Do you have a plan on where you see the website going within the next 2-3 years?
We have lots of plans for Tourneyblog (TB). Right now, the site is working to expand its content base specifically with strategy pieces. We are also trying to maximize promotional information and, of course, report on as many tournaments as possible. Tournament poker will always be our focus. To that end, we are going to be implementing a poker diary or calendar in the next few months.

We are also re-evaluating our front-end design and would appreciate comments from any of our current or new readers. We want the TB experience to be as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

If you follow us on http://twitter.com/pokertour — you can DM us your suggestions using the hashtag #TBdesign for (near) immediate feedback!

Ultimately, my hope is that people can come to Tourneyblog and find out what’s going on where and when. I want them to come back because they know they’ll get the best coverage possible on poker tournament action.

What missteps or problems have you encountered along the way?
I see problems and missteps as learning opportunities. I think in the beginning, we weren’t nearly so focused on our content. It was more about room reviews and getting the base design right.

I want to ensure that we have consistent and good content that adds something to the conversations in the poker world. Sometimes, I feel that we lag behind the bigger guys, but…with hard work and continued dedication, I’m sure we’ll get there (and find new challenges along the way).

Do you see any improvements that could be made to the website? Why?
We’re constantly improving Tourneyblog because we don’t think that resting on our laurels is an option. Right now, as I mentioned, we’re working with our development team in Mumbai (India) on creating a poker diary. We are also going to make some changes to the main page interface to make it easier for people to navigate.

Some of the items on my wish list include – more interactivity including video, comments, hand histories and short poker tips. The most major complication we’ve had is the lack of time. Poker moves so fast and content will always be our focus (as it should be).

Do you have any sponsored online or live tourneys? Or are they in the works?
We have not sponsored any live tourneys or online ones yet. We are currently working on trying to set up a Tourneyblog Poker Tour online, but that is something that we have not finalized yet.

How much poker do you and the other associates play in a week? Stakes? Live versus online?
I try to play several times a week. I average about 10 hours of play right now. I am strictly an online player for the time being as I live in Texas and have two young children. Sometimes, I’ll make it out to a local live event, but I have to get a sitter and permission, etc It’s rough (LOL), which is why I love events like the Twitter Poker Tour that gives me the opportunity for regular interaction with a nice group of good players who just love the game as much as I do.

The stakes I play are low right now because I’m reinventing my table image, overhauling my game and trying new things…much to the chagrin of my bankroll and opponents. My ultimate dream is to make a go as a part-time pro and writer/blogger. I keep saying…after the kids graduate college.

As for the other associates, most of them play online from time to time. A few go to Vegas once in a while and play in events such as the LIPS Ladies Championship or the World Series of Poker. We’d love to get invites to Europe and will go wherever people want us

Any online pet peeves?
I have a bunch of online pet peeves, but I can’t give away all my trade secrets. Basically, I like to see people who make solid decisions and put me to the test so I can become a better player. I really hate it when people play No-Limit for example and…go all-in every hand they play. It’s almost like…why bother playing at all.

In general, I try to avoid people who call others out for ‘bad playing’ because I feel everyone’s learning and people should be kinder to each other. Online people seem to forget that real people are there behind the avatar and those people have feelings. If you wouldn’t do it live, don’t do it online. Besides, you never know if the person you’re calling out isn’t doing that just to get you to call them out…and, I’ve yet to meet a perfect poker player or one perfect way to play the game.

I also can’t stand when someone is playing and seems to get no joy in the game. Why play poker if it isn’t fun?

What types of online tells have you seen while playing or even watching?
Contrary to popular belief, there are definitely online tells. I’ll give away two.

1. Usually if someone waits for a while without taking ‘TIME’, they are going to fold and just trying to make you sweat.
2. If a person chats a lot in the box when they’re not playing and suddenly get quiet, then…they’ve got a good hand. Get out if you can.

What is the best piece of poker advice you would give to a beginner?
Start small and practice good bankroll management. Too many people start too high on the stakes ladder and move up way too fast…and, of course, I’d tell them to check out sites like yours and TourneyBlog for some solid poker tips.

No related posts.