We did decide NOT to play in the USPC event today. We tried a couple of other casinos which turned out to be DEAD! We went to Caesar's and the poker room had only two tables going. We started to go to Bally's but after a quite long walk through a pretty confusing maze of retail/hotel/casino floor space.... we bagged it and headed for the Borgata.
There were probably three big hands for me that day and one really bad call.... I'll tell you all of them in order..... I'm glad the bad call happened first.... At any rate, I've got pocket 7's and limp. The flop is 6, 7, 8 rainbow. There's a bet in front of me and I pump it up to about $75 to see if he really does have the straight. The small blind who had checked it to the better... raised it to $150. Don't you hate it when you put a bet out to find out if someone has something, you find out that they do, but you still can't lay it down. I know.... but I've been running really well all week in the cash games and extremely well at the Borgata. But.... it is still probably an 8 outer at this point, because this guy is trying to convince me that he already has the straight. Then it happened.... it came to me, what would Dave do? So I pushed all-in and he immediately called and turned over his 5, 9 straight! LOL.
Re-buy! The next big hand happened within just a 45 minutes or so... I had re-built my stack from the $500 re-buy to about $750 and look down at Ah, 3h on the button. The UTG raises the $5 blind to $40 and there are 3 callers. I limp in and both the small and big blind call as well. So there are 5 of us going to the flop and it was a sweet..... 3, 3, 9. Check, check, bet $75, call, and I call. The sm and bb both call as well. The turn was the prettiest thing that I think I have ever seen.... Ace. Check, check and the original better bets $150..... I am 100% certain of his hand (A, K).... fold and I re-raise all-in. The sm, bb both fold and the better calls and turns over slick. The river.... (pay attention Jarod), a brick.... and I take all the guys chips! Wee!
Then, this guy sits down, he looks retired military with what appears to be the old flat top hair cut, high and tight and a painted on moustache. At any rate, I've got the Ad, 9d and he raises it to $45 and there are a couple of callers and I call. The flop was the Kd, 8d, 4d..... the colonel bets $125 with one caller and I call. The turn (Jarod, you listening?) a brick. The colonel bets $250, the other guy folds and I re-raise all-in and I look up and it's like the colonel was raptured.... he was gone! The others said that he was awaiting a seat at the high limit table and was going over to it. LOL. Dang.....
The last big hand in AC for me came at about 9:15 or so Friday night..... I've got about $1100 or $1200 in front of me and get ye olde pocket Jacks! There's a raise and a re-raise in front of me so I think I've got to find out if these guys really have something or if they are just trying to steal. I pump it up to $200. The sb folds and a relatively new guy that has been very aggressive moves all-in. I go into the tank for about 4-5 minutes.... I eventually called the clock on myself. At any rate, I had put the guy on a big Ace and why although I think even the cocktail waitress walking by knew that he had Kings or Aces..... for some reason, I did it again! What would Dave do? So I said, damn, I can't re-raise him, he's all-in for another $435 or so..... you know, it's late, it's time for us to leave, if he's got an overpair, god bless him.... I call and flip the Jacks... he sort of slow-rolled me and before he could get his cards over the dealer had started the flop and there on the front door.... a Jack! Pass the sugar! Are you paying attention Jarod? At any rate, the guy headed off for about 5-7 minutes to the ATM and when he returned, I was still stacking chips! LOL.
We play a few more hands but decide to head out and grab the buffet before 10 and before we hit the road for the long drive home.... so I grabbed up 3 racks from the under then table and it was off to the cashier.
The Borgata's comp schedule for poker players appears to be the best that I've seen anyway. You basically earn $2 per hour while sitting at the poker table. It almost paid for our buffets that night. It would have accept that Rick didn't sign up for his card. So we ate and hit the road and drove all night with some napping at a rest area along the way.... and a little napping while driving! I don't think that I want to drive up any more.... too much!
But it was a great trip for me.... brought back "a little" more money than I left with... played in 4 tourneys.... about 28th out of 170 or so in the Omaha 8, 50th or so in a $500 buy-in with Scott Fishman at my table, and of course the one cash, 12th place in the $300 buy-in event.
We need to do this at least every other month or so....
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Thursday in Atlantic City
I played the $500+$50 event at the USPC and caught some cards early that were drawn out as the hands played out so I had to make a stand and just made it at the wrong time. Out before the first break! Wee!
Off to the cash games.... we went over to the Borgata and man, what a difference! At the Taj, we were running into the same players every day. And a couple of them, we thought might have been doing a little collusion. Not certain, but it was definitely borderline. Over at the Borgata, it was an entirely different scene.... first of all, it is HUGE! Probably 4 times the size of the poker room at the Taj, clean, larger tables, larger... more comfortable seats, prettier wattresses..... and literally hundreds of players. I did very well in the cash game and we decided that night before we left that we probaby were not going to play in the $1,000+$80 event at the Taj, but come back to the Borgata or try some other games.
Probably the biggest hand that I played Thursday night was at a pretty aggressive table where I woke up with pocket Queens..... There was a small raise in front of me so I pumped up again from the $2/$5 blinds and the raise to $20 to $50 just to see if I was ahead..... There were four callers..... The flop was kind of sweet..... Qc, Js, 6h.... The small blind who started the pre-flop betting thought that he liked the flop so he lead out with a $60 bet..... There's a caller and there are two people behind me who have already counted out their call.... LOL. I debate about slow play, take it now and decided to slow play.... I call and the other two call as well. I had hoped someone would get a little crazy and re-raise, but no such luck. The turn was a Kd, not my favorite card, someone could have hit an open ended on the flop or even played the A, 10 but I didn't really think so..... The small blind checks so I put a bet out to see where I am..... $125. Two callers... oh crap! The river..... the case Queen. I've got these guys both covered so I push all-in and the girl immediately calls with her nut straight, A, 10..... Sweet!
I love the Borgata! We'll be back!
Off to the cash games.... we went over to the Borgata and man, what a difference! At the Taj, we were running into the same players every day. And a couple of them, we thought might have been doing a little collusion. Not certain, but it was definitely borderline. Over at the Borgata, it was an entirely different scene.... first of all, it is HUGE! Probably 4 times the size of the poker room at the Taj, clean, larger tables, larger... more comfortable seats, prettier wattresses..... and literally hundreds of players. I did very well in the cash game and we decided that night before we left that we probaby were not going to play in the $1,000+$80 event at the Taj, but come back to the Borgata or try some other games.
Probably the biggest hand that I played Thursday night was at a pretty aggressive table where I woke up with pocket Queens..... There was a small raise in front of me so I pumped up again from the $2/$5 blinds and the raise to $20 to $50 just to see if I was ahead..... There were four callers..... The flop was kind of sweet..... Qc, Js, 6h.... The small blind who started the pre-flop betting thought that he liked the flop so he lead out with a $60 bet..... There's a caller and there are two people behind me who have already counted out their call.... LOL. I debate about slow play, take it now and decided to slow play.... I call and the other two call as well. I had hoped someone would get a little crazy and re-raise, but no such luck. The turn was a Kd, not my favorite card, someone could have hit an open ended on the flop or even played the A, 10 but I didn't really think so..... The small blind checks so I put a bet out to see where I am..... $125. Two callers... oh crap! The river..... the case Queen. I've got these guys both covered so I push all-in and the girl immediately calls with her nut straight, A, 10..... Sweet!
I love the Borgata! We'll be back!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Thursday's USPC events....
Today is another of the $500+$50 events and I believe that they are expecting a much larger field than the ones earlier in the week. I will play well and I will go deep! The thing that I like about the higher buy-in events is that you get more chips. The $300 events only give you $3,000 and the way the blinds to up, you've got to hit a hand or two early or you'll be short chipped before the 5th level. And when the antes start on the 7th level... well, cancel Christmas! The $500 and the $1,000 buy-in events provide $5,000 and the Time per level goes up to 50 minutes.... a chance to play a little poker!
We ran into Moody and Jack yesterday. Moody was playing a satellite and I think that Jack was hunting a cash game. We hope to get over to the Borgata today. Everyone is saying that is where the good cash games are played.... you know, lots of tourists. If I had been thinking, I would have asked Dave where he would go and then that would have told me where all the action players would be...... but I'm not certain how I would feel about giving my cash to an action junkie other than Dave..... Don't worry Dave, we'll be back next week and hopefully with some AC cash.
See ya!
We ran into Moody and Jack yesterday. Moody was playing a satellite and I think that Jack was hunting a cash game. We hope to get over to the Borgata today. Everyone is saying that is where the good cash games are played.... you know, lots of tourists. If I had been thinking, I would have asked Dave where he would go and then that would have told me where all the action players would be...... but I'm not certain how I would feel about giving my cash to an action junkie other than Dave..... Don't worry Dave, we'll be back next week and hopefully with some AC cash.
See ya!
I cashed in my first REAL Tourney!
No fan fare... no cameras, no autograph hounds.... just lots and lots of hours of boring card play.... I mean, it was fun.... and I definitely learned from it, but boy it should sure puts a different spin on how hard it must be for the guys who make their living on the tournament circuit! There were 132 entries at $300+$50..... as we were getting near the bubble, 18.... there was a lot of nervousness and chatter about who had the chip lead and who was going to bust out.... We ended up tossing in $10 a piece for the 19th guy out so he wouldn't spend all day long and most of the night for nothing.... apparently with no concern for that very unlucky 20th guy!
At any rate, there were a couple of very nice plays.... a couple of excellent calls, a couple of nice races that worked out and several very, very, very good lay downs.
When we were at the dinner break, I was sitting in about 2nd or 3rd chip position with about $35,000 or so in chips. The chip leader was at another table with approximately $90,000 in chips. There were several players at my table in the $15,000-$22,000 range. A couple of times I raised in late position with big aces and took the pot and there were a couple of times that I raised with big aces or middle pair and got re-raised and made the right lay down as the guy who re-raised me showed me the hand...... Sweet! At any rate, again, when we were down to 12 players, I was the big blind with a limper and the small blind limped. I've got Kc, 10h and the flop comes K, 9, 8.... The small blind checks and I make a bet of about $9,000 into the pot created from $1,500/$3,000 blinds plus $300 antes. The limper in late position re-raised for all his chips.... about $10,000 more. He's made a couple of moves and either has gotten very lucky with them or got caught and folded. At any rate, I put him on a pair, but I figured my kicker was good...... so I call and he turns over K, 6..... and rivers a 6. Although not out, I'm pretty much crippled.... I've got about $14,000 left and the blinds are antes are over $6,000 every 7 hands..... not good. There's about 3 hands left before my big blind and I'm really hoping to catch a big ace to try to steal some blinds/antes.... nothing comes. 7,2 - 9, 2.... then my big blind. I'm pretty much all-in.... With the $3,300 for the blind and ante, I've only got a about $4,000 more. The guy under the gun limps so I push all-in for another $4,000ish hoping to make him lay down... unfortunately he's got nines.... and really unfortunately, I've got 7, 9os.... I don't remember the cards right now, it was all kind of a blur, but I do remember almost sucking out on him with 3 cards to the flush. LOL. Dave could have done it, I'm sure!
At any rate, it was my first cash in a real tournament in a real casino! Tomorrow is a bigger tournament with $500+$50 buy-ins. Oh, the guy that knocked me out ended up getting blown out in about 10th place. Sweet!
Rick was across the poker room in a cash game getting sucked out on pretty regularly.... I bought into a $2/$5 no limit table to kill time while I was waiting on him and won about $100 in about 10 minutes but just couldn't get into it. So I talked him to into quitting and getting out of the casino for a little while......
Blogging time! Well, I hope to bring great news tomorrow with a much better showing in a much larger tournament with a much bigger payday!
Back to the felt!
At any rate, there were a couple of very nice plays.... a couple of excellent calls, a couple of nice races that worked out and several very, very, very good lay downs.
When we were at the dinner break, I was sitting in about 2nd or 3rd chip position with about $35,000 or so in chips. The chip leader was at another table with approximately $90,000 in chips. There were several players at my table in the $15,000-$22,000 range. A couple of times I raised in late position with big aces and took the pot and there were a couple of times that I raised with big aces or middle pair and got re-raised and made the right lay down as the guy who re-raised me showed me the hand...... Sweet! At any rate, again, when we were down to 12 players, I was the big blind with a limper and the small blind limped. I've got Kc, 10h and the flop comes K, 9, 8.... The small blind checks and I make a bet of about $9,000 into the pot created from $1,500/$3,000 blinds plus $300 antes. The limper in late position re-raised for all his chips.... about $10,000 more. He's made a couple of moves and either has gotten very lucky with them or got caught and folded. At any rate, I put him on a pair, but I figured my kicker was good...... so I call and he turns over K, 6..... and rivers a 6. Although not out, I'm pretty much crippled.... I've got about $14,000 left and the blinds are antes are over $6,000 every 7 hands..... not good. There's about 3 hands left before my big blind and I'm really hoping to catch a big ace to try to steal some blinds/antes.... nothing comes. 7,2 - 9, 2.... then my big blind. I'm pretty much all-in.... With the $3,300 for the blind and ante, I've only got a about $4,000 more. The guy under the gun limps so I push all-in for another $4,000ish hoping to make him lay down... unfortunately he's got nines.... and really unfortunately, I've got 7, 9os.... I don't remember the cards right now, it was all kind of a blur, but I do remember almost sucking out on him with 3 cards to the flush. LOL. Dave could have done it, I'm sure!
At any rate, it was my first cash in a real tournament in a real casino! Tomorrow is a bigger tournament with $500+$50 buy-ins. Oh, the guy that knocked me out ended up getting blown out in about 10th place. Sweet!
Rick was across the poker room in a cash game getting sucked out on pretty regularly.... I bought into a $2/$5 no limit table to kill time while I was waiting on him and won about $100 in about 10 minutes but just couldn't get into it. So I talked him to into quitting and getting out of the casino for a little while......
Blogging time! Well, I hope to bring great news tomorrow with a much better showing in a much larger tournament with a much bigger payday!
Back to the felt!
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
USPC Day 3 - $500+$50
With over a $40K payout I was very excited about getting into the money in this event. I played very well all day and there were only a couple of plays that in retrospect I wish I had played differently. One, I had Q, Tos and folded in middle position. The button made a raise from the $150/$300 blind to $600 and there were a couple of callers. The flop was 8c, 9c, Js. I flopped the nut straight. The small blind went all in and the button called. The small blind had two pair, Jacks and Nines and the button had 9, 10-middle pair with an open-ended straight draw. My straight would have held up.
I did get sucked out on rather early and it took my $5,000 chip original stack down to about $1,500. I did fight back to about $4,900 before my first big double up. I had AA and made a baby raise hoping that someone would get a little froggy. Sure enough, the big blind (who happens to be from Fayetteville and plays in Benson) raised it to $1,500. Just about 1/3 his stack and there was one caller in front of me so I raise $2,000 and the button calls and the other caller folded. Perfect! The flop was J, 10, 5. I check and the button pushes all-in and I call. He doesn't like my Aces and mucks his cards. They hold up.
Then about 10 minutes later on the button, I get As, 9s and limp in. The big blind bets and the flop comes Ks, Qs, 7s. I check and he pushes all-in. I call and the flush holds up. The guy was actually drawing dead. He had one spade and no pair. LOL.
Of the 275 entries, we were down to 50ish players with the top 28 making money. They broke our table down and I was moved to the table with Scott Fishman. At this point, I've got about $34,000 in chips and Scott appears to be the chip leader at this table with about $70,000 or so. Scott seems to be raising about 3-4 times the big blind everytime he's in middle to late position. There's a maniac to his right that looks and acts brain dead. In one hand against Scott, he pushed all-in with nothing but a flush draw, Scott knew what he had and that Scott's top pair was good so he called and the guy hit a flush on the turn.
About 10 minutes later, the maniac bets $1,600 when the blinds were $400/$800 and $100 antes. I call and the flop is Ah, 8h, 7c. With my Ac, Kh I think I like this flop.... At any rate, the maniac bets $4,000. I re-raise another $6,000 and he pushes all-in. I call and the maniac turns over 7h, 9h. The turn is a brick and Scott turns to the maniac and says something like... see 'ya. Unfortunately, the river is the case 7 and I get to stumble out of the tournament... foiled again. It was interesting to see that the maniac and another guy along from my table as well as Scott Fishman were all in the top 4 along with a woman. The maniac did go out in fourth thank goodness..... I heard some people talking who were watching the game and they were saying that he had sucked out on Scott about 1/2 dozen times since they had been watching. Again someone tries to give me their chips and gets lucky.
The cash games were quite different however.... I seem to be doing pretty well although not cashing out with any monstrous stacks, I like the action.
One hand late last night, I slow played and let two guys suck out on me and a couple of hands later, made a smooth call from early positon with As, 9s and flopped Ks, Qs, 10h. The older Chinese gentleman bets $80 and you couldn't get me out of this hand with dynamite. The turn gives me the nut flush and I check. He bets $125 and I call. The river is a brick and I push all-in with another $150 or so and he calls.
In Dave's honor, Rick did go all-in with a gut-shot straight-flush draw.... it didn't work out for him either! LOL.
Well, another tourney begins in about 2 hours.... so back to the felt!
I did get sucked out on rather early and it took my $5,000 chip original stack down to about $1,500. I did fight back to about $4,900 before my first big double up. I had AA and made a baby raise hoping that someone would get a little froggy. Sure enough, the big blind (who happens to be from Fayetteville and plays in Benson) raised it to $1,500. Just about 1/3 his stack and there was one caller in front of me so I raise $2,000 and the button calls and the other caller folded. Perfect! The flop was J, 10, 5. I check and the button pushes all-in and I call. He doesn't like my Aces and mucks his cards. They hold up.
Then about 10 minutes later on the button, I get As, 9s and limp in. The big blind bets and the flop comes Ks, Qs, 7s. I check and he pushes all-in. I call and the flush holds up. The guy was actually drawing dead. He had one spade and no pair. LOL.
Of the 275 entries, we were down to 50ish players with the top 28 making money. They broke our table down and I was moved to the table with Scott Fishman. At this point, I've got about $34,000 in chips and Scott appears to be the chip leader at this table with about $70,000 or so. Scott seems to be raising about 3-4 times the big blind everytime he's in middle to late position. There's a maniac to his right that looks and acts brain dead. In one hand against Scott, he pushed all-in with nothing but a flush draw, Scott knew what he had and that Scott's top pair was good so he called and the guy hit a flush on the turn.
About 10 minutes later, the maniac bets $1,600 when the blinds were $400/$800 and $100 antes. I call and the flop is Ah, 8h, 7c. With my Ac, Kh I think I like this flop.... At any rate, the maniac bets $4,000. I re-raise another $6,000 and he pushes all-in. I call and the maniac turns over 7h, 9h. The turn is a brick and Scott turns to the maniac and says something like... see 'ya. Unfortunately, the river is the case 7 and I get to stumble out of the tournament... foiled again. It was interesting to see that the maniac and another guy along from my table as well as Scott Fishman were all in the top 4 along with a woman. The maniac did go out in fourth thank goodness..... I heard some people talking who were watching the game and they were saying that he had sucked out on Scott about 1/2 dozen times since they had been watching. Again someone tries to give me their chips and gets lucky.
The cash games were quite different however.... I seem to be doing pretty well although not cashing out with any monstrous stacks, I like the action.
One hand late last night, I slow played and let two guys suck out on me and a couple of hands later, made a smooth call from early positon with As, 9s and flopped Ks, Qs, 10h. The older Chinese gentleman bets $80 and you couldn't get me out of this hand with dynamite. The turn gives me the nut flush and I check. He bets $125 and I call. The river is a brick and I push all-in with another $150 or so and he calls.
In Dave's honor, Rick did go all-in with a gut-shot straight-flush draw.... it didn't work out for him either! LOL.
Well, another tourney begins in about 2 hours.... so back to the felt!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Suck out in AC.....
The $300/$40 NLHE tourney today almost seemed like I was back home playing with guys at PKR! LOL. The first big suck out came within the first hour.... I was the big blind with $25/$50 blinds and there were 3 limpers including the small blind. I've got the 9h, 10h and almost pumped in up in the Juice's honor. But I checked in Dean's honor. The flop was the 7h, 8c, Kh. The small blind lead out with a $75 bet and I called and everyone else folded. The turn was Jc. The small blind bets $100 and I re-raise $250. He thinks for several minutes and pushes in the $250. And then it happened.... in Jarod's honor, the prick dealer paired the board. The 8h! The small blind checked and I checked. Yep. He turned over 8's full of 7's. How screwed is that! Well, wait till you hear the one that knocks me out of the tourney.
It was just after the second break and I've been up and down and the blinds are going up pretty fast or at least it seems so.... I am in late position and raise $200/$400 blinds to $1,000 with Ac, 10c. There are two callers. The flop was the Ah, 10s, 9d. Two guys check in front of me but I've got a pretty good read on the button and it looks as if he is wanting to bet so I just bet.... He bets $1,000 and I, in proper order, re-raise all-in. He immediately calls as he has me covered by about $100..... He turns over Jd, 10d...... You just don't get more dominated than I had him. He hits runner/runner Jacks! Bye, bye.... but off to the cash game!
I did pretty well. There was a guy there that was hemorrhaging cash! This oriental kid sat down beside him and about 45 minutes later cashed out for about $3,000. I doubled through him twice. Once was with a pair of 8's when he made a crazy raise on the turn when there were two over cards on the board! LOL. I had a lot of outs even if I was behind with a gut shot and a flush draw, but it was a $300 raise. Yee haw!
After dinner I went back to the table and they wouldn't let me buy back in for what I had left the table with .... asses. I only took my chips with me because two of the guys had already capped their chips and if I capped mine, there would basicaly be 5-6 players left so I opted to take them with me. At any rate, within about 3 hands, I hit pocket aces and raise from mid-position to $30 over two limpers. Then this really nice guy raises me another $55 to which I promply raise another $255. He calls after much deliberation..... the flop has two connectors and a brick and rather than fart around, I decide to git-r-done and go all-in with another $150ish. He calls and my aces hold up. So although I didn't place in any tourney today, I did win back enough to cover my entry fees for both tourneys that I have played in so far.
There were about 350 players in today's tourney and none other than Minh Nguyen finished in 2nd.... the top three chopped. His brother won. LOL. U2 Nguyer. Check the spelling....
At any rate, Tuesday is the $500/$50 NLHE tournament and I plan to cash!
It was just after the second break and I've been up and down and the blinds are going up pretty fast or at least it seems so.... I am in late position and raise $200/$400 blinds to $1,000 with Ac, 10c. There are two callers. The flop was the Ah, 10s, 9d. Two guys check in front of me but I've got a pretty good read on the button and it looks as if he is wanting to bet so I just bet.... He bets $1,000 and I, in proper order, re-raise all-in. He immediately calls as he has me covered by about $100..... He turns over Jd, 10d...... You just don't get more dominated than I had him. He hits runner/runner Jacks! Bye, bye.... but off to the cash game!
I did pretty well. There was a guy there that was hemorrhaging cash! This oriental kid sat down beside him and about 45 minutes later cashed out for about $3,000. I doubled through him twice. Once was with a pair of 8's when he made a crazy raise on the turn when there were two over cards on the board! LOL. I had a lot of outs even if I was behind with a gut shot and a flush draw, but it was a $300 raise. Yee haw!
After dinner I went back to the table and they wouldn't let me buy back in for what I had left the table with .... asses. I only took my chips with me because two of the guys had already capped their chips and if I capped mine, there would basicaly be 5-6 players left so I opted to take them with me. At any rate, within about 3 hands, I hit pocket aces and raise from mid-position to $30 over two limpers. Then this really nice guy raises me another $55 to which I promply raise another $255. He calls after much deliberation..... the flop has two connectors and a brick and rather than fart around, I decide to git-r-done and go all-in with another $150ish. He calls and my aces hold up. So although I didn't place in any tourney today, I did win back enough to cover my entry fees for both tourneys that I have played in so far.
There were about 350 players in today's tourney and none other than Minh Nguyen finished in 2nd.... the top three chopped. His brother won. LOL. U2 Nguyer. Check the spelling....
At any rate, Tuesday is the $500/$50 NLHE tournament and I plan to cash!
Monday, September 25, 2006
Omaha 8 $500/$50 Tourney at the USPC
Well, although Rick and I both played well in our first tourney at the USPC, we didn't cash although I got really close. We also ran into a couple of Raleigh folks and saw some well-known players. We chatted with Ben from Raleigh who we met at PKR. I also so Aycha playing the women's tourney. I'll let Rick blog some of his stories. We were in line together to buy-in and were seated at the same table, we were able to get that changed.... Since we came up together, I'd hate for one of us to be the one to knock the other one out at least in the early blinds.
There were 178 entries and first gets about $33,000. They will pay the top 18. I was seated at a pretty crazy table.... there was one guy that played every hand in the first 3 hours except for 1. He raised practically every pot and went way up in chips and then way down.... I tried to play quality hands and was able to isolate him a couple of times and basically double up. We were started with $5,000 in chips and at the dinner break I had accumulated $14,500. Yep, the wild man busted out around 4PM when I crippled him when he tried to raise my quads..... LOL. I think he said something like "I've got a boat, I can't lay it down." Sweet!
Within about 2 hands after the dinner break, I flopped and played two monsters that went runner/runner to beat me. That took me down to about $5,000 in chips. I played only good quality cards and was able to get back up to about $14,000, but when the blinds got up to $1,000/$2,000. We were down to 28 players and I got moved from the button on one table to the big blind on another table.... that really sucked! At that point, I basically had to pick a hand and go with it. I made it around one more time to my big blind with about $10,000 and was raised $2,000. I had a pocket pair and two high cards... not really exciting, but with 4 callers, for $2,000 more I might spike a set and be able to p/u about $12,000 or so. I called and spiked the set of sevens but unfortunately there were 2 low cards and a 2 to the flush. I checked and he bet, I raised and he pushed me all in for $2,000 more. He hit his low on the turn and the flush on the river..... bye bye.... only 7 places from the money.
But, I found out that I really like the Omaha 8 limit tourney and I think that it is a good one start with as you get a lot of play time for the bucks!
Well, we're off to the $300/$40 NLHE Tourney today.
There were 178 entries and first gets about $33,000. They will pay the top 18. I was seated at a pretty crazy table.... there was one guy that played every hand in the first 3 hours except for 1. He raised practically every pot and went way up in chips and then way down.... I tried to play quality hands and was able to isolate him a couple of times and basically double up. We were started with $5,000 in chips and at the dinner break I had accumulated $14,500. Yep, the wild man busted out around 4PM when I crippled him when he tried to raise my quads..... LOL. I think he said something like "I've got a boat, I can't lay it down." Sweet!
Within about 2 hands after the dinner break, I flopped and played two monsters that went runner/runner to beat me. That took me down to about $5,000 in chips. I played only good quality cards and was able to get back up to about $14,000, but when the blinds got up to $1,000/$2,000. We were down to 28 players and I got moved from the button on one table to the big blind on another table.... that really sucked! At that point, I basically had to pick a hand and go with it. I made it around one more time to my big blind with about $10,000 and was raised $2,000. I had a pocket pair and two high cards... not really exciting, but with 4 callers, for $2,000 more I might spike a set and be able to p/u about $12,000 or so. I called and spiked the set of sevens but unfortunately there were 2 low cards and a 2 to the flush. I checked and he bet, I raised and he pushed me all in for $2,000 more. He hit his low on the turn and the flush on the river..... bye bye.... only 7 places from the money.
But, I found out that I really like the Omaha 8 limit tourney and I think that it is a good one start with as you get a lot of play time for the bucks!
Well, we're off to the $300/$40 NLHE Tourney today.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Cashing out....
What a load of crap! I'd rather cash out of an internet website! LOL. So, last night with the Juice! He's not happy about me leaving with a big stack.... which typically means he is going to be unhappy alot! LOL. This actually got started on Tuesday when I cashed out with about 1400 or so.... I had all my chips neatly racked and stacked and the old juice meister works completely around me to cash out everyone else.... freely passing out c-notes to everyone in the group. I actually believe that he rounded up a couple of guys that had 10-15 to 100 just to keep from giving them the small bills. He cashes me out for over 1400 with ALL 20's.... Prick!
So, he's really in the mood last night when my stack was north of 2k..... again, he cashes out everyone that is leaving at the same time that I am in front of me and then begins counting out 10's and 5's... when he finished I had a four inch stack of bills. Nate was nice enough to take some of the small bills and give me a few hundreds, but old Davie, he loves to irritate!
I can't wait for the next time I play when he cashes me out, I'll probably need quarter roll papers to get out!
So, he's really in the mood last night when my stack was north of 2k..... again, he cashes out everyone that is leaving at the same time that I am in front of me and then begins counting out 10's and 5's... when he finished I had a four inch stack of bills. Nate was nice enough to take some of the small bills and give me a few hundreds, but old Davie, he loves to irritate!
I can't wait for the next time I play when he cashes me out, I'll probably need quarter roll papers to get out!
Thursday night & the Juice....
What a night! There were several hands that warrant some blog time.... I was really hoping that the JUICE would have already blogged to put his warped view of the world on the happenings....
Probably the first hand of any significance was flopping the nut low and the nut flush draw in Omaha 8 in a hand with Corey and Bill.... sorry dudes! You kind of ran into that one..... hard to believe that with J-rod dealing the flush got there. Corey pushed and then went all-in and got quartered. Unfortunately J-rod "assumed" that everyone was all-in and just ran out the board without giving me a chance to bet at Bill. He had about 300 in front of him and I believe that I would have gotten all of it.
I was helping Dave set up his new ipod and spent quite a bit of the first couple of hours getting that straightened out. I did come back from working on it once and sat down in the Omaha 8 big blind with no raises to discover 9, 10, 10, Q. There were no raises and the flop hit me like it meant it. The flop was 9, 9, 8. I started to slow play it, but I thought that my 9 was probably good so I lead out with 100 bet into the 40ish pot. Phil calls and everyone else folds. The turn was J.... I still felt very good about the hand so I bet another 100 and Phil pushed all-in for another 127 or so. I call.... he turns over 9, 5, 5, 2 and of course J-rod hits his 5 outer on the river by tossing him a 2.... What a card!
One of the other big hands was with the Juice.... I cannot tell you my cards as I determined last night to show it. At any rate, the flop was A, A, 9 and I'm in late position. Dave bets 50ish and I call. The turn as a 2 and Dave bets 75 and I raise to 160, he calls. The river is a 3. Dave checks and I bet 350.... he mumbles something about his panties irritating his skin, that he has A, 9 but only 5, 6 for low so he's going to fold. Yeah... right! If he had A, 9, 5, 6 you couldn't get him out that hand with C-4. At any rate, he folds.
Now I'm going to PKR tonight to check out the Omaha 8 or Omaha high only 1/3 game. I plan on playing in the PKR 40/40/40 tournament tomorrow before Rick and I head out to Atlantic City!
Back to the felt!
Probably the first hand of any significance was flopping the nut low and the nut flush draw in Omaha 8 in a hand with Corey and Bill.... sorry dudes! You kind of ran into that one..... hard to believe that with J-rod dealing the flush got there. Corey pushed and then went all-in and got quartered. Unfortunately J-rod "assumed" that everyone was all-in and just ran out the board without giving me a chance to bet at Bill. He had about 300 in front of him and I believe that I would have gotten all of it.
I was helping Dave set up his new ipod and spent quite a bit of the first couple of hours getting that straightened out. I did come back from working on it once and sat down in the Omaha 8 big blind with no raises to discover 9, 10, 10, Q. There were no raises and the flop hit me like it meant it. The flop was 9, 9, 8. I started to slow play it, but I thought that my 9 was probably good so I lead out with 100 bet into the 40ish pot. Phil calls and everyone else folds. The turn was J.... I still felt very good about the hand so I bet another 100 and Phil pushed all-in for another 127 or so. I call.... he turns over 9, 5, 5, 2 and of course J-rod hits his 5 outer on the river by tossing him a 2.... What a card!
One of the other big hands was with the Juice.... I cannot tell you my cards as I determined last night to show it. At any rate, the flop was A, A, 9 and I'm in late position. Dave bets 50ish and I call. The turn as a 2 and Dave bets 75 and I raise to 160, he calls. The river is a 3. Dave checks and I bet 350.... he mumbles something about his panties irritating his skin, that he has A, 9 but only 5, 6 for low so he's going to fold. Yeah... right! If he had A, 9, 5, 6 you couldn't get him out that hand with C-4. At any rate, he folds.
Now I'm going to PKR tonight to check out the Omaha 8 or Omaha high only 1/3 game. I plan on playing in the PKR 40/40/40 tournament tomorrow before Rick and I head out to Atlantic City!
Back to the felt!
From Way Down Early…
…to way up late! It sure beats the hell out of the alternative. For me, it was very strange night. I almost doubled up right away when I re-raised Dave all-in preflop with 10-10, he calls with 9-9, and my hand holds up.
It went straight downhill from there.
In Omaha 8, it seemed like every low hand I had either got counterfeited on the river, or ended up quartering me. Every straight of flush I had, someone boated up on the turn or river. I even had to lay down two boats when it became obvious they were no good. I had so many good starting hands. I had A-A-2-4, two suits, A-A-J-10, two suits, and A-A-2-7 one suit in the space of about 10 minutes. It’s a funny game, one night those three hands can make you $2,500 or so, another night (um, last night, for example) they just make you poorer and more frustrated.
The killer hand for me came against, who else, The Jizz. I was in position with K-J-J-10, and the flop comes J-5-4 with two hearts. I’m really not that excited about the flop, since there’s obviously a straight, flush and low draw, but I’m not scared either. I’d prefer to see a cheap turn and go from there, but Dave leads out with a huge bet. Of course, I put him on the big low and nut flush draws. We both have fairly big stacks ($800+), and since I know I can get all his chips if my hand holds up, I call, fully ready to ditch my hand if an ugly turn card comes.
The turn brings the Kd, a nice card for me. Dave pushes all-in for $600+. Now it’s a pretty easy call. I’m getting a great price, and I’m pretty sure I scoop if the river brings a 5, 4, or anything higher than a 9. I could also be good for half the pot if many other low cards come. At any rate, you know what’s coming…the 6h, giving Dave the double-nut scooper and the rest of my chips.
As much as I hate losing, it doesn’t bother me so much to lose to The Jizz. For one, I’m a big picture kind of guy. Dave is the first to admit he’s an action junkie, who lives and dies by the sword. Most of the time, the sword is in my hands. I figure I’m up about $213 million lifetime against him, so I can handle the occasional flesh wound. The way I see it, him taking my chips is basically a very short-term loan with an extremely high interest rate. I will get them back, and then I’ll take some more for my trouble.
After more bad luck (and another rebuy), I resisted the temptation to pack it in, book the loss and call it a night. There were a lot of chips on the table (many of them formerly mine), and I got stubborn and decided that I was going to get them back. I started sloooooowly rebuilding my stack, and got a decent portion of them back when several players got scared (you wussies know who you are!) and decided to cash out, leaving just Phil, Dave and myself. I must say that I’m very comfortable playing 2-3 handed, and this looked like a great scenario for me. It wasn’t long before they both started shoving chips my way. I really liked all the pretty colors, especially the greens and chocolates! I broke Davey Boy once, he rebought and I broke him again, then I broke Phil.
After a very long night (and morning), where it looked like I was going to go home a loser, I fought my way back to actually win over $2K - almost as much as Tuesday night. When I left, Dave was sobbing uncontrollably. He was a shell of a man, his spirit having been broken.
Dave, you need to buck up, soldier! I’m counting on you to buy me a new car, even if it means pimping out your wife and getting your daughter into a sweatshop making Nikes™. No excuses! Since I’ll be in AC next week (and not there to take your chips from you), I expect you’ll do very well at the tables. And I expect you to have a nice pile of chips to give to me on my return.
Don’t disappoint me.
See ya at the tables…
Rick
It went straight downhill from there.
In Omaha 8, it seemed like every low hand I had either got counterfeited on the river, or ended up quartering me. Every straight of flush I had, someone boated up on the turn or river. I even had to lay down two boats when it became obvious they were no good. I had so many good starting hands. I had A-A-2-4, two suits, A-A-J-10, two suits, and A-A-2-7 one suit in the space of about 10 minutes. It’s a funny game, one night those three hands can make you $2,500 or so, another night (um, last night, for example) they just make you poorer and more frustrated.
The killer hand for me came against, who else, The Jizz. I was in position with K-J-J-10, and the flop comes J-5-4 with two hearts. I’m really not that excited about the flop, since there’s obviously a straight, flush and low draw, but I’m not scared either. I’d prefer to see a cheap turn and go from there, but Dave leads out with a huge bet. Of course, I put him on the big low and nut flush draws. We both have fairly big stacks ($800+), and since I know I can get all his chips if my hand holds up, I call, fully ready to ditch my hand if an ugly turn card comes.
The turn brings the Kd, a nice card for me. Dave pushes all-in for $600+. Now it’s a pretty easy call. I’m getting a great price, and I’m pretty sure I scoop if the river brings a 5, 4, or anything higher than a 9. I could also be good for half the pot if many other low cards come. At any rate, you know what’s coming…the 6h, giving Dave the double-nut scooper and the rest of my chips.
As much as I hate losing, it doesn’t bother me so much to lose to The Jizz. For one, I’m a big picture kind of guy. Dave is the first to admit he’s an action junkie, who lives and dies by the sword. Most of the time, the sword is in my hands. I figure I’m up about $213 million lifetime against him, so I can handle the occasional flesh wound. The way I see it, him taking my chips is basically a very short-term loan with an extremely high interest rate. I will get them back, and then I’ll take some more for my trouble.
After more bad luck (and another rebuy), I resisted the temptation to pack it in, book the loss and call it a night. There were a lot of chips on the table (many of them formerly mine), and I got stubborn and decided that I was going to get them back. I started sloooooowly rebuilding my stack, and got a decent portion of them back when several players got scared (you wussies know who you are!) and decided to cash out, leaving just Phil, Dave and myself. I must say that I’m very comfortable playing 2-3 handed, and this looked like a great scenario for me. It wasn’t long before they both started shoving chips my way. I really liked all the pretty colors, especially the greens and chocolates! I broke Davey Boy once, he rebought and I broke him again, then I broke Phil.
After a very long night (and morning), where it looked like I was going to go home a loser, I fought my way back to actually win over $2K - almost as much as Tuesday night. When I left, Dave was sobbing uncontrollably. He was a shell of a man, his spirit having been broken.
Dave, you need to buck up, soldier! I’m counting on you to buy me a new car, even if it means pimping out your wife and getting your daughter into a sweatshop making Nikes™. No excuses! Since I’ll be in AC next week (and not there to take your chips from you), I expect you’ll do very well at the tables. And I expect you to have a nice pile of chips to give to me on my return.
Don’t disappoint me.
See ya at the tables…
Rick
Thursday Night Dosage
Rather surprised I'm the first to comment. I figure Charles would have whined that he only cashed out $2K, or Jizz would have blogged that... uh, what am I thinking?
First, it was finally time that I pulled a few hands out of the bag. Funny thing, of all the hands I remember, only a couple involve me. I remember HoldEm between Cory, Dave, and Bill, with a flop of As9sXs, in which Dave bets a sizeable amount ($40?), Bill calls, and Cory pushes about $150-200 more. In a surprising move, and probably the only time you'll ever hear me say this, the Jizz folds 99, a hand I probably couldn't have gotten away from ($150 more was laying him about 2:1 pot odds, almost the same as hitting his outs). Bill.... uh.... Bill..... uh.... Bill.... uh... clock!... well... I'll tell you what Bill did.... in... a.... minute.... Bill folds a flush. Either Q or J high flush. Another hand I can't fold for $150 more. Cory swears he had K-flush, but he mucked it like he was a vampire holding a cross. Of course J-Rod runs it out and runner-runner's what would have given Bill the straight flush. One thing our esteemed dealer is not, besides tan, is a bricklaying sort.
I do remember being terrified a few times, once when Rick, Charles, and I all flop the nut straight in O8, and the turn puts a couple more draws out there, and Rick is freerolling. Thank you J-Rod for throwing a brick. And of course my AA against Davey Boy's JTs with a flop of 89T. That got the night rolling.
First, it was finally time that I pulled a few hands out of the bag. Funny thing, of all the hands I remember, only a couple involve me. I remember HoldEm between Cory, Dave, and Bill, with a flop of As9sXs, in which Dave bets a sizeable amount ($40?), Bill calls, and Cory pushes about $150-200 more. In a surprising move, and probably the only time you'll ever hear me say this, the Jizz folds 99, a hand I probably couldn't have gotten away from ($150 more was laying him about 2:1 pot odds, almost the same as hitting his outs). Bill.... uh.... Bill..... uh.... Bill.... uh... clock!... well... I'll tell you what Bill did.... in... a.... minute.... Bill folds a flush. Either Q or J high flush. Another hand I can't fold for $150 more. Cory swears he had K-flush, but he mucked it like he was a vampire holding a cross. Of course J-Rod runs it out and runner-runner's what would have given Bill the straight flush. One thing our esteemed dealer is not, besides tan, is a bricklaying sort.
I do remember being terrified a few times, once when Rick, Charles, and I all flop the nut straight in O8, and the turn puts a couple more draws out there, and Rick is freerolling. Thank you J-Rod for throwing a brick. And of course my AA against Davey Boy's JTs with a flop of 89T. That got the night rolling.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
US Poker Championship Atlantic City
Rick and I will be leaving late Saturday night for the USPC in Atlantic City. Our plans right now are to arrive Saturday night/Sunday morning in time for play in the Sunday 11a.m. tee time for the $500+$50 Omaha H/L event.... Here is the schedule which we plan to play at this time.....
Sunday 11a.m. Omaha H/L $500+$50
Monday 11a.m. Texas Hold'em $300+$40
Tuesday 11a.m. Texas Hold'em $500+$50
Thursday 11a.m. Texas Hold'em $500+$50
Friday 11a.m. Texas Hold'em $1000+$75
We will be playing in assorted cash games and probably some Super Satellites for the ESPN Televised Championship Event $9,700+$300 5 Day event that begins on October 3.... We'll see!
At any rate, we aren't staying at the Taj as Rick was able to get us a super rate at another smaller, less luxurious facility for some sort of sexual favors which I am scared to inquire about because at this point, I don't think they include me.
Wish us luck and let us know if any of you are going to be up there during that time! I'll be happy to provide my phone number for those of you who might be going up.
In the meantime, I do believe that we'll be playing Thursday with the Juice (you probably don't want to know).... Friday @ PKR 1/3 Omaha and Omaha H/L Pot Limit as well as the Saturday 40/40/40 tournament at PKR.
Get excited! Dead money is back!
Sunday 11a.m. Omaha H/L $500+$50
Monday 11a.m. Texas Hold'em $300+$40
Tuesday 11a.m. Texas Hold'em $500+$50
Thursday 11a.m. Texas Hold'em $500+$50
Friday 11a.m. Texas Hold'em $1000+$75
We will be playing in assorted cash games and probably some Super Satellites for the ESPN Televised Championship Event $9,700+$300 5 Day event that begins on October 3.... We'll see!
At any rate, we aren't staying at the Taj as Rick was able to get us a super rate at another smaller, less luxurious facility for some sort of sexual favors which I am scared to inquire about because at this point, I don't think they include me.
Wish us luck and let us know if any of you are going to be up there during that time! I'll be happy to provide my phone number for those of you who might be going up.
In the meantime, I do believe that we'll be playing Thursday with the Juice (you probably don't want to know).... Friday @ PKR 1/3 Omaha and Omaha H/L Pot Limit as well as the Saturday 40/40/40 tournament at PKR.
Get excited! Dead money is back!
The One Chip Rule - I Stand Corrected!
Thank you to Rick for researching this topic for us today and confirming the rule as follows....
over-sized chip rule (n phrase) The rule, enforced in many cardrooms, that, when responding to action, a player puts into the pot a single chip or bill with a denomination larger than the bet indicated at that juncture, but does not announce a raise, that player's action is ruled to have been only a call. The over-sized chip or bill rule also applies when more than one chip is necessary to call a bet, but the last chip might be construed as a raise. The preceding applies to all rounds in limit games. In no-limit games, on the first round, the opening bet made with an over-sized chip or bill on the first round is considered a call of the bring-in amount; on any succeeding round, the first bet is equal to the size of over-sized chip or bill, unless an announcement to the contrary is made. In stud games a single oversized chip or bill does not automatically complete a forced bring-in bet unless it is verbally declared to do so. Two examples clarify this rule. Also known as one-chip rule. Examples: (1) The main chips in a $20-limit hold 'em game are $5 chips. John has just exchanged a rack of $5 chips for five $100 chips, and has only four $5 chips left. He loses these on the next hand, leaving him only those $100 chips. On the next hand, Susie limps for $20. John throws in one of his $100 chips. Unless John says "I raise," or words to that effect," by the over-sized chip rule, he has only called, and the house dealer would give John $80 change. There might be some raising. Say the betting is capped, perhaps at five bets. On the flop, Susie bets $20. John throws in another of his $100 bets. This is understood to be only a call. (2) In a no-limit game, the same happens. On the first round of betting of the hand in question, again Susie limps for $20. John throws in one of his $100 chips. Again, by the over-sized chip rule, he has only called. Now, Bill announces a raise of $80. Susie folds and John calls the raise the $80 in change the house dealer initially gave him for the $100 chip. On the flop, John is first to bet. He tosses in a $100 chip. This being a no-limit game, his bet is understood to be $100.
Thanks again Rick and I apologize for my error!
over-sized chip rule (n phrase) The rule, enforced in many cardrooms, that, when responding to action, a player puts into the pot a single chip or bill with a denomination larger than the bet indicated at that juncture, but does not announce a raise, that player's action is ruled to have been only a call. The over-sized chip or bill rule also applies when more than one chip is necessary to call a bet, but the last chip might be construed as a raise. The preceding applies to all rounds in limit games. In no-limit games, on the first round, the opening bet made with an over-sized chip or bill on the first round is considered a call of the bring-in amount; on any succeeding round, the first bet is equal to the size of over-sized chip or bill, unless an announcement to the contrary is made. In stud games a single oversized chip or bill does not automatically complete a forced bring-in bet unless it is verbally declared to do so. Two examples clarify this rule. Also known as one-chip rule. Examples: (1) The main chips in a $20-limit hold 'em game are $5 chips. John has just exchanged a rack of $5 chips for five $100 chips, and has only four $5 chips left. He loses these on the next hand, leaving him only those $100 chips. On the next hand, Susie limps for $20. John throws in one of his $100 chips. Unless John says "I raise," or words to that effect," by the over-sized chip rule, he has only called, and the house dealer would give John $80 change. There might be some raising. Say the betting is capped, perhaps at five bets. On the flop, Susie bets $20. John throws in another of his $100 bets. This is understood to be only a call. (2) In a no-limit game, the same happens. On the first round of betting of the hand in question, again Susie limps for $20. John throws in one of his $100 chips. Again, by the over-sized chip rule, he has only called. Now, Bill announces a raise of $80. Susie folds and John calls the raise the $80 in change the house dealer initially gave him for the $100 chip. On the flop, John is first to bet. He tosses in a $100 chip. This being a no-limit game, his bet is understood to be $100.
Thanks again Rick and I apologize for my error!
The Pre-Blog.... the BEST!
I have to say that I think that the PRE-BLOG is one of the best posts ever! Probably 2nd only to Rick posting the Juice's Top Ten hands for him.... LOL.
At any rate, it was close, but not quite 100% correct.... but it was close.....
Probably one of my best hands of the nights was Omaha 8 with 2c, 3c, 4d, 9d..... I'm the button and there's no raise pre-flop.... as usual there are 9 limpers.... The flop Ac, 4s, 9s.... I like it! But it is still just a drawing hand. It checks to me and I bet 9 just to get the pot growing a little... just in case! I think everybody calls and two guys phone in a call who couldn't make it to the game, Jim and Jeffrey. The turn was 6c.... Now we're talking.... I've got nut low and two pair -AND- a flush draw! Sweet! So everyone checks to me and I bet 24 and there are 5 callers. I'll bet that I actually woke some of you up chanting for a 4 or a 9 on the river.... At any rate, the river brings in 4c.... Whee! You go Jarod! It checks to me and I bet 38 and Elvie and Dave calls..... Scooper! Nut low and a boat!
There were several other hands that were significant, but I am hoping that some of those technology challenged participants will plug in and post!
At any rate, it was close, but not quite 100% correct.... but it was close.....
Probably one of my best hands of the nights was Omaha 8 with 2c, 3c, 4d, 9d..... I'm the button and there's no raise pre-flop.... as usual there are 9 limpers.... The flop Ac, 4s, 9s.... I like it! But it is still just a drawing hand. It checks to me and I bet 9 just to get the pot growing a little... just in case! I think everybody calls and two guys phone in a call who couldn't make it to the game, Jim and Jeffrey. The turn was 6c.... Now we're talking.... I've got nut low and two pair -AND- a flush draw! Sweet! So everyone checks to me and I bet 24 and there are 5 callers. I'll bet that I actually woke some of you up chanting for a 4 or a 9 on the river.... At any rate, the river brings in 4c.... Whee! You go Jarod! It checks to me and I bet 38 and Elvie and Dave calls..... Scooper! Nut low and a boat!
There were several other hands that were significant, but I am hoping that some of those technology challenged participants will plug in and post!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Tater 10-uples up.... (PKR 9/18/06)
This is my first contribution to any blog so here goes. Last night chips were flying at the $1/2 NL game at PKR. For the most part I sat and watched the action (losing $60 for my first losing Monday in a while) which was fine since it was my first experience playing with wildmen Eli and Akash (who were on my left nonetheless) Action was hot early as Akash got busted on the third hand by a new player from New Jersey named Ron. Shortly after the table went ten handed I got to witness the wildest hand I've ever seen as one of the college kids from Wilson, Tater, quintupled up by hitting a straight flush on the river. On the hand I raised to $10 from the big blind with KQ off suit and got 7 callers. The flop came out Ad 3d 4h. Of course I'm pretty well out of the hand after Eli (~$100 in his stack)(sitting two seats to my left bets), G-man (Big stack @ ~$400)immediately follows Eli with a raise. Akash (Had recovered from his early hit and had roughly $400 in front of him)then goes all in right after G-man. Tater was short stacked (~$80) and took a gander with his straight and flush draw <4d>. Wally (~110 in his stack) joined the fray with his nut flush draw (Kd 8d), and Eli made his call of the all ins as well. A 2 hit on the turn, and then wham!!! 5d on the river!! Tater suddenly assumed the big stack @ $450. Wally managed to break even on the hand due to his flush. And G-man and Akash split the rest due to the straight on the board.
Tater wasn't done though. Later he and Eli were involved in another killer suck out hand. Eli was flailing around with 5c 2c after a preflop raise and flopped trips after the 9 2 2 flop. He eventually managed to get Tater all-in with his pocket 10s. Then POW!!! a 10 on the turn, and Eli drops his head into his folded arms in disbelief. This added another $260 to Tater's stack and eventually grew to $840 by the time he left.
Tater wasn't done though. Later he and Eli were involved in another killer suck out hand. Eli was flailing around with 5c 2c after a preflop raise and flopped trips after the 9 2 2 flop. He eventually managed to get Tater all-in with his pocket 10s. Then POW!!! a 10 on the turn, and Eli drops his head into his folded arms in disbelief. This added another $260 to Tater's stack and eventually grew to $840 by the time he left.
Tuesday Night’s Results
Well, it’s a busy week for me at work. Since I probably won’t find the time to blog the results of our Tuesday night game tomorrow, I figured I would be efficient and “pre-blog” them today:
Wow, it was another great night for me! Not so much for Davey Boy, but who could have predicted that...? Most nights he accumulates a nice stack before dutifully distributing them out to his guests (like a good host should), but last night he never seemed to get it going. Every time he re-bought it was like an old lady feeding pigeons. We’d all come and peck away at his stack until it was gone, then disappear into the night until he emerged with some more bread crumbs.
Charles was his usual self, grumbling and belly-aching about his bad luck, and the endless stream of suckouts against him by unworthy opponents who had no business calling his raises with “that crap.” He ended up making a little money, but only because of his “incredibly skillful play.”
Dean, the master of the slow roll, I believe is still at the table waiting for the right time to turn over his quads from hand #4.
“Molasses Bill” is right next to him, still looking at his hole cards from the same hand, trying to figure out what he has and whether the action is to him yet.
Mike, the crazy Chinaman, went all-in 27 times - the largest pot was $14.
Jeff re-raised a re-raiser eight times with A-7os, and twice with 3-3. He did it with an actual hand once, and it almost caused a rip in the space-time continuum.
Elvie flopped top two pair in Omaha 8, and called a $350 bet when the third spade came out on the turn.
Jim played for a while but didn’t get involved in too many pots. He did, however, take the time to educate us on the latest street slang for various parts of the female anatomy. For that we are eternally grateful.
“J-Rod-Up-The-Ass” (our intrepid dealer) was in rare form last night. Every river card either gave someone quads, or fit perfectly into their inside straight flush draw. The man has never laid a brick in his life. They didn’t kick him out of the Mason’s Union Local #71 for nothing.
A crazy night in the eyes of the casual observer, but really just a typical Tuesday. It’s like a long-running Broadway play. You can go see and enjoy it several times, but while there are subtle differences every time, you already know how it’s going to end... :-)
See ya at the tables!
Rick
Wow, it was another great night for me! Not so much for Davey Boy, but who could have predicted that...? Most nights he accumulates a nice stack before dutifully distributing them out to his guests (like a good host should), but last night he never seemed to get it going. Every time he re-bought it was like an old lady feeding pigeons. We’d all come and peck away at his stack until it was gone, then disappear into the night until he emerged with some more bread crumbs.
Charles was his usual self, grumbling and belly-aching about his bad luck, and the endless stream of suckouts against him by unworthy opponents who had no business calling his raises with “that crap.” He ended up making a little money, but only because of his “incredibly skillful play.”
Dean, the master of the slow roll, I believe is still at the table waiting for the right time to turn over his quads from hand #4.
“Molasses Bill” is right next to him, still looking at his hole cards from the same hand, trying to figure out what he has and whether the action is to him yet.
Mike, the crazy Chinaman, went all-in 27 times - the largest pot was $14.
Jeff re-raised a re-raiser eight times with A-7os, and twice with 3-3. He did it with an actual hand once, and it almost caused a rip in the space-time continuum.
Elvie flopped top two pair in Omaha 8, and called a $350 bet when the third spade came out on the turn.
Jim played for a while but didn’t get involved in too many pots. He did, however, take the time to educate us on the latest street slang for various parts of the female anatomy. For that we are eternally grateful.
“J-Rod-Up-The-Ass” (our intrepid dealer) was in rare form last night. Every river card either gave someone quads, or fit perfectly into their inside straight flush draw. The man has never laid a brick in his life. They didn’t kick him out of the Mason’s Union Local #71 for nothing.
A crazy night in the eyes of the casual observer, but really just a typical Tuesday. It’s like a long-running Broadway play. You can go see and enjoy it several times, but while there are subtle differences every time, you already know how it’s going to end... :-)
See ya at the tables!
Rick
Monday, September 18, 2006
Tequila - The Wonder Drug!
Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
Do you suffer from shyness?
Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Tequila. Tequila is the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. Tequila can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of Tequila almost immediately, and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live.
Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past, (well, shyness anyway) and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with Tequila.
Tequila may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Tequila. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it. Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, loss of virginity, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke and play all-night rounds of Strip Poker, Truth Or Dare, and Naked Twister.
Tequila. Leave Shyness Behind.
Do you suffer from shyness?
Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Tequila. Tequila is the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. Tequila can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of Tequila almost immediately, and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live.
Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past, (well, shyness anyway) and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with Tequila.
Tequila may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Tequila. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it. Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, loss of virginity, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke and play all-night rounds of Strip Poker, Truth Or Dare, and Naked Twister.
Tequila. Leave Shyness Behind.
Sunday @ PKR
The Sunday PKR tourney ended with Rick and me heads up.... It is amazing to me that apparently the only way that Rick can beat me is to draw out on me.... We're playing No Limit Hold 'em and Rick busted out Toad so he had me out chipped by roughly 2 to 1. We'd been playing for about 45 minutes or so heads up when I get one of my favorite hands... the olde Willie Nelson.... Jd, 10c. I'm the big blind and check.... The flop is Ac, Kc, Qs.... ye nuts! I check and Rick bets 700 and I raise another 1,000... he quickly moves all-in and I call. He turns over the Jc, 6c...... He does have the flush draw and any 10 would permit him to chop the pot with me.... He does suck out on me and win the tourney when the 8c hits on the river....
I'm persuaded he thinks that was a great play. And because it worked, he's probably right, BUT if his club doesn't hit and he doubles me up.... his arse is kicked! Keep making those donkey moves.....
Bray, bray, winnie, winnie!
I'm persuaded he thinks that was a great play. And because it worked, he's probably right, BUT if his club doesn't hit and he doubles me up.... his arse is kicked! Keep making those donkey moves.....
Bray, bray, winnie, winnie!
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Unbreak My Heart…
Dave, how could you? After all this time together, after all we’ve been through. After all the energy I’ve invested in our relationship. I thought we had something special, I thought we were a team.
I thought we were exclusive.
Words cannot express my hurt and disappointment. It’s as if someone has kicked me in the groin, then reached inside of me and ripped my guts out. I find myself walking around in circles, not knowing which way to turn next. Food has no taste anymore. Jessica Alba is beginning to look like my kid brother.
Don’t pretend that you don’t know what you did; you know it all too well! Hell, you even had the audacity to do it right in front of me! Yes, that’s right you cad. You gave your entire stack of chips to someone else!
You promised those chips to me. Now I know that your words are just that. Words. They, like Tara Reid’s celebrity, have no meaning. Do you have any concept of what that does to me? It means I will have to wait at least another week before I can purchase that new BMW. Do you have any idea what it’s like driving around town in a 1995 Camry? Well, do you?! Try to take a step back and see things from my perspective for once, you selfish bastard.
As for me, even though I’m in a lot of pain right now, I’m willing to give it another chance. I won’t lie, however. It will take some time for you to gain back my trust, which you so haphazardly tore asunder. I will swallow my pride, and will be there next Tuesday night as usual. And if you ever felt anything for me, you will start pushing your chips my way early, and often.
Then, and only then, can the healing begin…
Rick
I thought we were exclusive.
Words cannot express my hurt and disappointment. It’s as if someone has kicked me in the groin, then reached inside of me and ripped my guts out. I find myself walking around in circles, not knowing which way to turn next. Food has no taste anymore. Jessica Alba is beginning to look like my kid brother.
Don’t pretend that you don’t know what you did; you know it all too well! Hell, you even had the audacity to do it right in front of me! Yes, that’s right you cad. You gave your entire stack of chips to someone else!
You promised those chips to me. Now I know that your words are just that. Words. They, like Tara Reid’s celebrity, have no meaning. Do you have any concept of what that does to me? It means I will have to wait at least another week before I can purchase that new BMW. Do you have any idea what it’s like driving around town in a 1995 Camry? Well, do you?! Try to take a step back and see things from my perspective for once, you selfish bastard.
As for me, even though I’m in a lot of pain right now, I’m willing to give it another chance. I won’t lie, however. It will take some time for you to gain back my trust, which you so haphazardly tore asunder. I will swallow my pride, and will be there next Tuesday night as usual. And if you ever felt anything for me, you will start pushing your chips my way early, and often.
Then, and only then, can the healing begin…
Rick
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
The crazy Chinaman tried to give away his chips!
But the poker gods wouldn't let him..... In what had to be one of the largest 5-way pots that I've seen over at the Juice's in a while...... the Chinaman takes it down!
At any rate, the game is Omaha 8 - 2/4 No Limit.... the Juice raises under the gun to 12 and there are about 5 callers and when it gets back to the crazy Chinaman.... he raises it 125 on top. The Juice does what he always does, he calls.... I've got Kd, 10d, Ac, 2h and decide that I'll play as well. There are five players going to the flop. The flop was Kx, 10x, 7x and Mikey goes all-in for about 235 or so.... Dave calls, I call and there are two other callers. I really wanted to push all-in, but I only had about 85 or so and knew that it wouldn't flush at least two of the guys out, in retrospect, I should have done it anyway..... the turn was a 9x and it checked all the way around. The river was Mike's magic card.... apparently he thought on the flop that with the Ax, Qx that an all-in raise on the gut-shot was the right play, but it worked out.... The river was a Jx and he took down a monster when he tried to make a move and got really, really, really lucky! In his defense, I don't recall what his other two cards were... but I don't think they were significant.... I am pretty certain that he was behind at least two other players all the way to the river.....
I managed to win back most of the $$ that I lost in that hand before I left, but the Juice doubled Mikey up again and busted out and wimped, limped off to his office to lick his wounds. Nice!
Oh and then he wants to know if we're playing Thursday..... LOL.
At any rate, the game is Omaha 8 - 2/4 No Limit.... the Juice raises under the gun to 12 and there are about 5 callers and when it gets back to the crazy Chinaman.... he raises it 125 on top. The Juice does what he always does, he calls.... I've got Kd, 10d, Ac, 2h and decide that I'll play as well. There are five players going to the flop. The flop was Kx, 10x, 7x and Mikey goes all-in for about 235 or so.... Dave calls, I call and there are two other callers. I really wanted to push all-in, but I only had about 85 or so and knew that it wouldn't flush at least two of the guys out, in retrospect, I should have done it anyway..... the turn was a 9x and it checked all the way around. The river was Mike's magic card.... apparently he thought on the flop that with the Ax, Qx that an all-in raise on the gut-shot was the right play, but it worked out.... The river was a Jx and he took down a monster when he tried to make a move and got really, really, really lucky! In his defense, I don't recall what his other two cards were... but I don't think they were significant.... I am pretty certain that he was behind at least two other players all the way to the river.....
I managed to win back most of the $$ that I lost in that hand before I left, but the Juice doubled Mikey up again and busted out and wimped, limped off to his office to lick his wounds. Nice!
Oh and then he wants to know if we're playing Thursday..... LOL.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Dave’s Top Ten Starting Hands
As usual, Dave is having problems mastering the intracacies of the computer (or as he calls it, the "porn machine"). As a favor to him, I agreed to post his list for him, so here it is, word for word:
You guys don’t know anything about poker! Allow the Master to show you a REAL top ten list of starting hands!
1. 7-2os – In the possession of mere mortals, this hand is a piece of crap. Deal it to The Jizz, however, and I’ll be p-p-p-pumping up the volume and scooping some of Rick’s chips!
2. J-3s – I’m going to flop two threes and rock your world! But not before I push you and your measly kings in pre-flop.
3. A-6os – What’s not to love about this hand? It has an ace, and as you may know, many pros play hands with an ace in it. Also, it has a six, which in a pinch will no doubt fill an inside straight by the time the river hits. All good players have a Plan B.
4. 10-4s – They’re suited, enough said.
5. 8 – That’s right, just an eight. I am The Jizz! Only wussy losers need two cards in this game. Now kneel before your God!
6. 9-5os – The Dolly Parton is one of my favorites, because it’s named after a woman with big ol’ boobies! And who likes boobies? This guy!
7. K-Qs – This hand takes me a little out of my comfort zone, but the books say you have to mix up your play now and then. Playing good cards now and then makes it hard for my weak opponents to put me on a hand!
8. Q-2os – Okay, now we’re back in my territory. When the flop comes Q-2-2, they will never know what hit them! Charles will bet into me with his A-Q, and he’ll soon be crying out for his mommy!
9. 8-4os – Obviously, I play this powerhouse because every few months the flop will come 5-6-7, and when it does, I’ll have the second nut (well, at least until the turn)!
10. A-A – Strangely, I’ve found that I can actually make a little money playing this hand now and then. Doing so allows me to last a bit longer before busting out playing so-called “garbage” cards like the hands mentioned above.
There you have it, the recipe for my success! The reason that I, The Jizz, am known far and wide for my amazing prowess at the poker tables! With a bit of study and a little practice, you too can accomplish results similar to mine. One little tip however: you might want to start with a very large bankroll…
Dave – AKA “The Jizz”
You guys don’t know anything about poker! Allow the Master to show you a REAL top ten list of starting hands!
1. 7-2os – In the possession of mere mortals, this hand is a piece of crap. Deal it to The Jizz, however, and I’ll be p-p-p-pumping up the volume and scooping some of Rick’s chips!
2. J-3s – I’m going to flop two threes and rock your world! But not before I push you and your measly kings in pre-flop.
3. A-6os – What’s not to love about this hand? It has an ace, and as you may know, many pros play hands with an ace in it. Also, it has a six, which in a pinch will no doubt fill an inside straight by the time the river hits. All good players have a Plan B.
4. 10-4s – They’re suited, enough said.
5. 8 – That’s right, just an eight. I am The Jizz! Only wussy losers need two cards in this game. Now kneel before your God!
6. 9-5os – The Dolly Parton is one of my favorites, because it’s named after a woman with big ol’ boobies! And who likes boobies? This guy!
7. K-Qs – This hand takes me a little out of my comfort zone, but the books say you have to mix up your play now and then. Playing good cards now and then makes it hard for my weak opponents to put me on a hand!
8. Q-2os – Okay, now we’re back in my territory. When the flop comes Q-2-2, they will never know what hit them! Charles will bet into me with his A-Q, and he’ll soon be crying out for his mommy!
9. 8-4os – Obviously, I play this powerhouse because every few months the flop will come 5-6-7, and when it does, I’ll have the second nut (well, at least until the turn)!
10. A-A – Strangely, I’ve found that I can actually make a little money playing this hand now and then. Doing so allows me to last a bit longer before busting out playing so-called “garbage” cards like the hands mentioned above.
There you have it, the recipe for my success! The reason that I, The Jizz, am known far and wide for my amazing prowess at the poker tables! With a bit of study and a little practice, you too can accomplish results similar to mine. One little tip however: you might want to start with a very large bankroll…
Dave – AKA “The Jizz”
Do Not Ban On-Line Poker!
Let's get active in trying to CHANGE government's mind about on-line poker and hopefully, eventually poker establishments in NC.... The organization that is taking the bull by the horns and leading the way with this process is the Poker Players Alliance (http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/index.html) and on this site, you'll find all sorts of information on how, when, who, etc.,
In addition, there are sample letters for you to use in communicating with the powers that be to let them know that the US House voted against the will of the people when they passed H.R. 4411 and that we don't want any government officials to make this same mistake going forward. Right now the people in government who we can have the most impact on are the US Senators who will be the next ones faced with this vote. In NC, they are Senator Elizabeth Dole and Senator Richard Burr. In addition to the phone call that is recommended by the PPA in the earlier post on this site, you may also send letters and emails. Here are the websites for the two Senators listed above and you can cut & paste the sample letters from the PPA site into the email space at the Senators' website. For Elizabeth Dole, the website is http://dole.senate.gov/ and for Richard Burr, the website is http://burr.senate.gov/
Please help us with this TODAY! If you enjoy poker, you should take the 10-15 minutes necessary to make the phone call and follow it up with emails to both Senators.
Do it Now!
In addition, there are sample letters for you to use in communicating with the powers that be to let them know that the US House voted against the will of the people when they passed H.R. 4411 and that we don't want any government officials to make this same mistake going forward. Right now the people in government who we can have the most impact on are the US Senators who will be the next ones faced with this vote. In NC, they are Senator Elizabeth Dole and Senator Richard Burr. In addition to the phone call that is recommended by the PPA in the earlier post on this site, you may also send letters and emails. Here are the websites for the two Senators listed above and you can cut & paste the sample letters from the PPA site into the email space at the Senators' website. For Elizabeth Dole, the website is http://dole.senate.gov/ and for Richard Burr, the website is http://burr.senate.gov/
Please help us with this TODAY! If you enjoy poker, you should take the 10-15 minutes necessary to make the phone call and follow it up with emails to both Senators.
Do it Now!
Monday, September 11, 2006
The hand of my life (thus far)
Trying to kill a half hour here, so I thought I'd blog a hand, or series of hands, that happened to me roughly two years ago at Borgata, that thus far is still the biggest pot I've ever been involved in, in the craziest sequence of poker events in my life...
It was actually this trip to Borgata that we ran into Daniel Negreanu as soon as we arrived, at about 5AM, about 3-4 hours after he had just won a WPT event held there. We ran into him heading to his hotel room, completely hammered, said hi and congratulations. He told us about his big AA vs KK hand heads up vs David Williams that won the event. He's really a nice guy...
Anyway, back to the story. Was a bad trip for me. I think I was down about $1500 for the trip. One of those weekends where set over set gets run down when the underset quads up on you. It was also the weekend I finished around 90th place out of 850 in the $500 buy in event of the US Poker Championships at the Taj. Chip Jett was at the table next to me, and a couple other big names... I of course get sucked out on in the tourney 2 straight hands to bust out.
But enough whining. It's about 7AM on the last day we're staying (checkout is at 10AM), and I don't feel like sleeping until the car ride home. I figure I'll play a couple more hours and then we'll hit the road. I sit down 1/2 NL, with about $200. Since it's early, they are combining tables as players leave, and they sit a guy next to me who was at another 1/2 table, and this guy has about 6 racks in front of him. And let me tell you, they weren't racks of red $5 chips. They were racks of blues ($10 at Borgata), yellows ($20), and green ($25). He even had about 3 black chips ($100). I remember counting, and it was something greater than $4000. At a 1/2 game! Which is simply unheard of.
After about 2 minutes, I see why he's got all those chips. This guy, aside from either being incredibly drunk or stoned out of his gourd, was nuts. He made every pot preflop like $100. He'd put someone all-in every hand, he'd be so far behind every hand, and somehow catch the gutshot with 2 cards to come, or runner runner to bust someone. For about an hour, it was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. This guy made Super Dave look like small potatos. He almost couldn't lose a hand. Everyone at the table is oo-ing and ah-ing at ever hand when some wild thing would happen, and we were attracting quite a few onlookers. It was a game to see who was next to try to double up, and would end up bust. Couple that with his chips and his bets, and he's well over $5000 by now. Maybe not quite that high, because he was tipping the dealer about $100 every time he'd win. And the way he was talking, I had no doubt he was stoned beyond comprehension.
I've watched him quite a bit. I know a few of his moves now. It's important later, but when he's got a couple big cards, and ace, or a pair, he'll make it $100 or more preflop. With really crappy cards, it'd be more like $40 or $50. Semi decent cards were worth about $75.
So I finally get into mix. I forget how the first hand went the first time he busted me, but it was basically AA vs some garbage random hand, and he hit two pair. I buy back in for $300. Very next hand I find AK, so after he had raised to $100, I put em all in preflop, and his A3 runs down slick.
I buy in for my last $300.
Finally, his luck changes a little, but being the big stack, he's still doing well by bullying. But another guy and I manage to wean about down his chips. It really helps that he's just to my right, as I can kill the action by going all in and getting him heads up with decent hands. I get TT, and after I'm all in after 3-undercards hit the flop, he doubles me up. 3 or 4 other hands I win, and a couple times he lays down a few hands to me. I played him like a fiddle. His betting was so transparent. Someone else at the table had taken about $1500 of his chips, and I have sucked about $1100 from him. I'm up to about $1300-1400 at this point, and I've even got his black chips. He's down to about $2K.
So, I decide it's time to go. I'm nearly back to even for the trip. I post my small blind, and decide it will be my last hand. Stoner is on the button. As is typical, it limps to him, I think 2 callers maybe. He makes it $35. I have about 4 racks collected, ready to fold my cards, and head for the cashier. But I see that it's KdTd. For $35 let's look. So I call. The two limpers called. Flop comes three diamonds. Wow! What on earth do I do with Stoner behind me?
I bet $100. The limpers fold, and the nut job makes it $200. I have to think. Does he have the Ad and drawing? Or even A-high flush already? I decide there's absolutely no way he has an A. By this time, I know his moves probably better than he does. I'm convinced his $35 bet preflop absolutely said no Ace. So I go all in for almost $1500.
Almost before I get the words out, he calls. He's so proud of his hand that he slams it down on the table... 2 pair, like a 3 and 6. Um... Yeah. What did you think I had?
Turn is a blank. Just before the river, I stand up and scream at the dealer not to pair the board. I think it's the last thing I said for 2 days. I think the air was sucked out of the room.
It was actually this trip to Borgata that we ran into Daniel Negreanu as soon as we arrived, at about 5AM, about 3-4 hours after he had just won a WPT event held there. We ran into him heading to his hotel room, completely hammered, said hi and congratulations. He told us about his big AA vs KK hand heads up vs David Williams that won the event. He's really a nice guy...
Anyway, back to the story. Was a bad trip for me. I think I was down about $1500 for the trip. One of those weekends where set over set gets run down when the underset quads up on you. It was also the weekend I finished around 90th place out of 850 in the $500 buy in event of the US Poker Championships at the Taj. Chip Jett was at the table next to me, and a couple other big names... I of course get sucked out on in the tourney 2 straight hands to bust out.
But enough whining. It's about 7AM on the last day we're staying (checkout is at 10AM), and I don't feel like sleeping until the car ride home. I figure I'll play a couple more hours and then we'll hit the road. I sit down 1/2 NL, with about $200. Since it's early, they are combining tables as players leave, and they sit a guy next to me who was at another 1/2 table, and this guy has about 6 racks in front of him. And let me tell you, they weren't racks of red $5 chips. They were racks of blues ($10 at Borgata), yellows ($20), and green ($25). He even had about 3 black chips ($100). I remember counting, and it was something greater than $4000. At a 1/2 game! Which is simply unheard of.
After about 2 minutes, I see why he's got all those chips. This guy, aside from either being incredibly drunk or stoned out of his gourd, was nuts. He made every pot preflop like $100. He'd put someone all-in every hand, he'd be so far behind every hand, and somehow catch the gutshot with 2 cards to come, or runner runner to bust someone. For about an hour, it was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. This guy made Super Dave look like small potatos. He almost couldn't lose a hand. Everyone at the table is oo-ing and ah-ing at ever hand when some wild thing would happen, and we were attracting quite a few onlookers. It was a game to see who was next to try to double up, and would end up bust. Couple that with his chips and his bets, and he's well over $5000 by now. Maybe not quite that high, because he was tipping the dealer about $100 every time he'd win. And the way he was talking, I had no doubt he was stoned beyond comprehension.
I've watched him quite a bit. I know a few of his moves now. It's important later, but when he's got a couple big cards, and ace, or a pair, he'll make it $100 or more preflop. With really crappy cards, it'd be more like $40 or $50. Semi decent cards were worth about $75.
So I finally get into mix. I forget how the first hand went the first time he busted me, but it was basically AA vs some garbage random hand, and he hit two pair. I buy back in for $300. Very next hand I find AK, so after he had raised to $100, I put em all in preflop, and his A3 runs down slick.
I buy in for my last $300.
Finally, his luck changes a little, but being the big stack, he's still doing well by bullying. But another guy and I manage to wean about down his chips. It really helps that he's just to my right, as I can kill the action by going all in and getting him heads up with decent hands. I get TT, and after I'm all in after 3-undercards hit the flop, he doubles me up. 3 or 4 other hands I win, and a couple times he lays down a few hands to me. I played him like a fiddle. His betting was so transparent. Someone else at the table had taken about $1500 of his chips, and I have sucked about $1100 from him. I'm up to about $1300-1400 at this point, and I've even got his black chips. He's down to about $2K.
So, I decide it's time to go. I'm nearly back to even for the trip. I post my small blind, and decide it will be my last hand. Stoner is on the button. As is typical, it limps to him, I think 2 callers maybe. He makes it $35. I have about 4 racks collected, ready to fold my cards, and head for the cashier. But I see that it's KdTd. For $35 let's look. So I call. The two limpers called. Flop comes three diamonds. Wow! What on earth do I do with Stoner behind me?
I bet $100. The limpers fold, and the nut job makes it $200. I have to think. Does he have the Ad and drawing? Or even A-high flush already? I decide there's absolutely no way he has an A. By this time, I know his moves probably better than he does. I'm convinced his $35 bet preflop absolutely said no Ace. So I go all in for almost $1500.
Almost before I get the words out, he calls. He's so proud of his hand that he slams it down on the table... 2 pair, like a 3 and 6. Um... Yeah. What did you think I had?
Turn is a blank. Just before the river, I stand up and scream at the dealer not to pair the board. I think it's the last thing I said for 2 days. I think the air was sucked out of the room.
PPA Requesting Phone March Tuesday, Sept. 12th
Reprinted from email received from Poker Players Alliance on September 10, 2006
**************************************************************************
From: Poker Players Alliance [mailto:email@pokerplayersalliance.org]
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 6:07 PM
Subject: Alert: Phone March on Capitol Hill Tues. Sept. 12th
The U.S. Senate is Seeking to Ban Online Poker PPA Phone March on Capitol Hill Scheduled for Sept. 12
Dear PPA Member:
Your urgent action is needed! On September 12th the Poker Players Alliance with the support of leading poker blogs and forums, PocketFives.com, Wicked Chops Poker and others are organizing a "Phone March" on Capitol Hill. From 9:00 AM Eastern Time, until 5:30 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, September 12th, we are asking all PPA members and anyone interested in defending poker to call this toll free number, 800-289-1136 and be patched through to one of your two U.S. Senators in Washington D.C. When you call the 800 number you will hear a recording from fellow PPA member Greg "Fossilman" Raymer and then you will be prompted to enter your five digit zip code so you can be directed, free of charge, to your Senator's office.
Note: The 800 number will only be active between 9:00 AM EST and 5:30 PM EST on Tuesday September 12.
Key points you should make:
* I am voter in your state.
* I strongly oppose any legislation that would prohibit online poker, and urge the Senator to vote against such legislation.
* Poker is a skill game enjoyed by 70 Million Americans.
* The Senator should seek to regulate online poker much like the government regulates other forms of gaming, like lotteries.
* Prohibitions don't work. Any legislation that tries to ban online poker will only drive those players underground.
* Again, I urge the Senator to oppose any attempts to prohibit me from playing the great American game of poker on the Internet.
The threat to poker is real. Please forward this information to everyone you know who cares about poker and an American's freedom to use the
Internet. We need everyone possible to make their voice heard on September
12th!
Sincerely,
Michael Bolcerek
President
Poker Players Alliance
**************************************************************************
From: Poker Players Alliance [mailto:email@pokerplayersalliance.org]
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 6:07 PM
Subject: Alert: Phone March on Capitol Hill Tues. Sept. 12th
The U.S. Senate is Seeking to Ban Online Poker PPA Phone March on Capitol Hill Scheduled for Sept. 12
Dear PPA Member:
Your urgent action is needed! On September 12th the Poker Players Alliance with the support of leading poker blogs and forums, PocketFives.com, Wicked Chops Poker and others are organizing a "Phone March" on Capitol Hill. From 9:00 AM Eastern Time, until 5:30 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, September 12th, we are asking all PPA members and anyone interested in defending poker to call this toll free number, 800-289-1136 and be patched through to one of your two U.S. Senators in Washington D.C. When you call the 800 number you will hear a recording from fellow PPA member Greg "Fossilman" Raymer and then you will be prompted to enter your five digit zip code so you can be directed, free of charge, to your Senator's office.
Note: The 800 number will only be active between 9:00 AM EST and 5:30 PM EST on Tuesday September 12.
Key points you should make:
* I am voter in your state.
* I strongly oppose any legislation that would prohibit online poker, and urge the Senator to vote against such legislation.
* Poker is a skill game enjoyed by 70 Million Americans.
* The Senator should seek to regulate online poker much like the government regulates other forms of gaming, like lotteries.
* Prohibitions don't work. Any legislation that tries to ban online poker will only drive those players underground.
* Again, I urge the Senator to oppose any attempts to prohibit me from playing the great American game of poker on the Internet.
The threat to poker is real. Please forward this information to everyone you know who cares about poker and an American's freedom to use the
Internet. We need everyone possible to make their voice heard on September
12th!
Sincerely,
Michael Bolcerek
President
Poker Players Alliance
Hold 'em Top Ten Starting Hands
For everyone but the Juice.... (with Rick's corrections....)
Ace/Ace
King/King
Queen/Queen
Jack/Jack
Ace/King (suited)
Ace/Queen (suited)
Ten/Ten
Ace/King (off-suit)
Ace/Jack (suited)
King/Queen (suited)
Here is a real top ten list (based on EV), compiled from over 115 million hands. Keep in mind that position and player skill level do not enter into the equations.
Ace/Ace
King/King
Queen/Queen
Jack/Jack
Ace/King (suited)
Ace/Queen (suited)
Ten/Ten
Ace/King (off-suit)
Ace/Jack (suited)
King/Queen (suited)
Here is a real top ten list (based on EV), compiled from over 115 million hands. Keep in mind that position and player skill level do not enter into the equations.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
PL O/8 @ PKR
The quest for a regular Friday night PL Omaha game at PKR commences....
Finally... Cashed out on the plus side. After some debacles at you-know-where, it's nice for a change. Maybe it's PL vs NL. Who ever heard of NL O8 anyway? Maybe it's the competition... people who actually fold ;) Anyway, were there any big hands to report? Buy in $200, whittle it down to about $100-125, and get all my chips in calling Cash-Akash (I think, like Joe, we'll call him AhCash... which sounds like someone sneezing chips... which, well, is what he sounds like sometimes :) when I had a monster draw and Rick calls too. Triple up. Then hit a couple medium pots and a couple biggies in a row. The only one that really stands out is the one with Rick. Limped of course preflop. Flop JJ7, and I had J7xx. Rick pots the flop, I just call... frankly because I didn't remember I had the 7 to go with my Jack. I'm one of those guys that looks at his cards a few times preflop, and I don't necessarily memorize them (not that it's that hard), but categorize them instead, so I try not to have to look back during the hand so I can watch the action. Well, sometimes that means I miss the cards that don't seem to go together, and in a case like this I'd look back. But I didn't until after I called... who knows. Anyway, I was praying for an undercard to the 7, and wham-o... a 6 hits the turn. Rick pots again for like $140(?), and I take the opportunity to reraise the pot something like $320 more. Woulda been nicer if I got a call (river was a blank), but hey, a rub and tug from Jessica Alba would be nice too...
Building up that bankroll so I can get back in that big game... I'll be back...
Finally... Cashed out on the plus side. After some debacles at you-know-where, it's nice for a change. Maybe it's PL vs NL. Who ever heard of NL O8 anyway? Maybe it's the competition... people who actually fold ;) Anyway, were there any big hands to report? Buy in $200, whittle it down to about $100-125, and get all my chips in calling Cash-Akash (I think, like Joe, we'll call him AhCash... which sounds like someone sneezing chips... which, well, is what he sounds like sometimes :) when I had a monster draw and Rick calls too. Triple up. Then hit a couple medium pots and a couple biggies in a row. The only one that really stands out is the one with Rick. Limped of course preflop. Flop JJ7, and I had J7xx. Rick pots the flop, I just call... frankly because I didn't remember I had the 7 to go with my Jack. I'm one of those guys that looks at his cards a few times preflop, and I don't necessarily memorize them (not that it's that hard), but categorize them instead, so I try not to have to look back during the hand so I can watch the action. Well, sometimes that means I miss the cards that don't seem to go together, and in a case like this I'd look back. But I didn't until after I called... who knows. Anyway, I was praying for an undercard to the 7, and wham-o... a 6 hits the turn. Rick pots again for like $140(?), and I take the opportunity to reraise the pot something like $320 more. Woulda been nicer if I got a call (river was a blank), but hey, a rub and tug from Jessica Alba would be nice too...
Building up that bankroll so I can get back in that big game... I'll be back...
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Oh, What a Night!
Another exciting night of poker with The Jizz and Company! My night had an inauspicious start, as I flopped top pair three hands in a row, only to get drawn out on every time. As confident as I was going in, I couldn’t help but start to think “Great, it’s going to be one of those nights…” And boy was I right (just not in the way I thought)! After rebuying for a couple hundred more, the hands started coming. It was a long night with many big hands, so I’m sure I’ll “Pull a Charles” and hose up some of the details. Anyway, some of the highlights were:
1) Hold ‘Em – I have A-A and limp UTG for $4. Several callers, then button raises to $30. BB calls, and I re-raise to $100. Button calls, flop comes 8-5-2 or some garbage like that. I push in for the remainder of the button’s stack, around $225(?) or so. He calls and turns over J-J, and the aces hold up.
2) Omaha 8 – I have A-A-K-2 on the button, and flop comes A-J-7. There’s a bet a several callers and I just call. I don’t want to tip off the strength of my hand yet, and I want to see what the turn brings before I commit too much of my stack. As good as it looks, any card that doesn’t pair the board makes a straight or a low. A sweet little 7 comes on the turn, and it goes something like bet-raise-call-call in front of me. I want as many callers as possible, so I just call and go along for the ride. A no-low brick (9 maybe) comes on the river. Again there’s action in front of me, and I push in when it gets to me. I get a couple of callers, nobody has quads, and I scoop a very nice pot.
3) Omaha 8 – More of the same. I have A-A-2-6 on the button, blah, blah, blah. Ace comes on the flop, I boat up on the turn, and scoop a nice pot.
4) Hold ‘Em – I’m heads-up against Dave before the flop with Q-9, and the flop comes Q-8-5. I bet $20, and Dave raises $35 more. Davey Boy, of course, will make this play with 10-3, so it’s an easy call. The turn brings a K, I check and he bets $50. At this point I feel that two-pair is an option, maybe Q-8 or Q-5. With Dave, however, it’s all about the implied odds, plus I figured the K was a good card for me (if it paired he would be counterfeited and I would have him outkicked). The river brings a sweet little 9. I check, he bets $50, I raise $100 more and he calls, showing 8-5 for bottom two-pair. If I’d known for sure he had two-pair, I’d have put him all-in (since I know he would call). I wanted to make sure I got paid if he just had a lone Q, and I figured he’d re-raise me if he had two-pair. I think he showed considerable restraint by just calling and losing the extra $100. Dave, I’m proud of you!
5) Omaha 8 – This one’s for Charles. It didn’t come close to cracking my top five hands of the night, but any hand where I get the remainder of his chip stack deserves to be blogged. I have J-7-x-x in middle position, and flop comes J-7-2. Three of us in the hand, and Jeffrey leads out with a smallish bet of $17 or so. I call, and Charles calls in position. An 8 comes on the turn, creating a possible straight and a low. Jeff bets another smallish bet ($30 maybe?), I call, and Charles calls. The river brings a 7. Jeff checks, and I go all-in, trying to get rid of the low hand and scoop the pot. Charles makes a crying call for his last $51 or so, and Jeff folds. Charles turns up 2-2 for a cute little baby boat. Of course, he definitely could have raised me off the hand on the flop, and maybe even on the turn, but he must have been afraid of a bigger set or straight. In his defense, I’ve found bottom set to be one the hardest (and most expensive!) hands to play in O8. In many ways it’s easier to play in early position. If you bet and get raised (by anyone not named Dave, that is…), you have a pretty good idea it’s no good. If you don’t put in a raise from late position, you never really know where you stand.
6) Omaha 8 – The big hand of the night! I’m on the button with Ac-2c-5x-6x, and the flop comes Ax-Qc-Jc. Bill leads out with a $20 bet, and Elvie raises to $60. Interesting situation! I have the nut flush draw, and several runner-runner possibilities. The main question in my mind is whether or not Bill is going to re-raise if I call the $60. Bill will lead out with any number of hands, and I’m pretty sure Elvie has the nuts right now. Elvie has a huge stack, and has shown the propensity to call large bets even after getting drawn out on, so the implied odds make this irresistible, and a pretty easy call. Bill calls as well, and the turn brings a 3x. Not a bad card, as I’m pretty sure my low is good if it comes. Now I just need Bill to check to Elvie and …No, don’t do it Bill! Aaargh! Bill leads out with $100, betting into Elvie’s nuts! Elvie raises to $400. Crap. Strange as it sounds, I know Bill has nothing (two-pair or a straight draw is most likely), and it’s pretty obvious what Elvie has. I’m sure that Bill will call the raise, and I’m also sure that Elvie will call a large bet if I hit my hand, so I think for a few seconds and decide the implied odds make this a correct call. I call and Bill calls behind, making the pot around $1,400 right now. The river brings the 3c – woo hoo! Under most other circumstances I would be worried that my flush card paired the board, and would proceed with caution. Here, however, I knew I was golden. Bill and Elvie both check, and I decide that $400 is the right bet here. Bill calls for his remaining chips, $100 or so, and Elvie calls as well. Elvie turns over the straight, of course, Bill turns over two-pair (I think), and I scoop a $2,300 pot!
A very good night overall, one of my best ever. Good timing too, as my 50” Pioneer Plasma TV (oh yes, you heard right) got delivered this afternoon - now I can stamp PAID on it! Time Warner is coming tomorrow to hook up the HD-DVR, and after that I don’t anticipate leaving the recliner for at least a week…
See ya at the tables (well, in a couple weeks anyway…)
Rick
1) Hold ‘Em – I have A-A and limp UTG for $4. Several callers, then button raises to $30. BB calls, and I re-raise to $100. Button calls, flop comes 8-5-2 or some garbage like that. I push in for the remainder of the button’s stack, around $225(?) or so. He calls and turns over J-J, and the aces hold up.
2) Omaha 8 – I have A-A-K-2 on the button, and flop comes A-J-7. There’s a bet a several callers and I just call. I don’t want to tip off the strength of my hand yet, and I want to see what the turn brings before I commit too much of my stack. As good as it looks, any card that doesn’t pair the board makes a straight or a low. A sweet little 7 comes on the turn, and it goes something like bet-raise-call-call in front of me. I want as many callers as possible, so I just call and go along for the ride. A no-low brick (9 maybe) comes on the river. Again there’s action in front of me, and I push in when it gets to me. I get a couple of callers, nobody has quads, and I scoop a very nice pot.
3) Omaha 8 – More of the same. I have A-A-2-6 on the button, blah, blah, blah. Ace comes on the flop, I boat up on the turn, and scoop a nice pot.
4) Hold ‘Em – I’m heads-up against Dave before the flop with Q-9, and the flop comes Q-8-5. I bet $20, and Dave raises $35 more. Davey Boy, of course, will make this play with 10-3, so it’s an easy call. The turn brings a K, I check and he bets $50. At this point I feel that two-pair is an option, maybe Q-8 or Q-5. With Dave, however, it’s all about the implied odds, plus I figured the K was a good card for me (if it paired he would be counterfeited and I would have him outkicked). The river brings a sweet little 9. I check, he bets $50, I raise $100 more and he calls, showing 8-5 for bottom two-pair. If I’d known for sure he had two-pair, I’d have put him all-in (since I know he would call). I wanted to make sure I got paid if he just had a lone Q, and I figured he’d re-raise me if he had two-pair. I think he showed considerable restraint by just calling and losing the extra $100. Dave, I’m proud of you!
5) Omaha 8 – This one’s for Charles. It didn’t come close to cracking my top five hands of the night, but any hand where I get the remainder of his chip stack deserves to be blogged. I have J-7-x-x in middle position, and flop comes J-7-2. Three of us in the hand, and Jeffrey leads out with a smallish bet of $17 or so. I call, and Charles calls in position. An 8 comes on the turn, creating a possible straight and a low. Jeff bets another smallish bet ($30 maybe?), I call, and Charles calls. The river brings a 7. Jeff checks, and I go all-in, trying to get rid of the low hand and scoop the pot. Charles makes a crying call for his last $51 or so, and Jeff folds. Charles turns up 2-2 for a cute little baby boat. Of course, he definitely could have raised me off the hand on the flop, and maybe even on the turn, but he must have been afraid of a bigger set or straight. In his defense, I’ve found bottom set to be one the hardest (and most expensive!) hands to play in O8. In many ways it’s easier to play in early position. If you bet and get raised (by anyone not named Dave, that is…), you have a pretty good idea it’s no good. If you don’t put in a raise from late position, you never really know where you stand.
6) Omaha 8 – The big hand of the night! I’m on the button with Ac-2c-5x-6x, and the flop comes Ax-Qc-Jc. Bill leads out with a $20 bet, and Elvie raises to $60. Interesting situation! I have the nut flush draw, and several runner-runner possibilities. The main question in my mind is whether or not Bill is going to re-raise if I call the $60. Bill will lead out with any number of hands, and I’m pretty sure Elvie has the nuts right now. Elvie has a huge stack, and has shown the propensity to call large bets even after getting drawn out on, so the implied odds make this irresistible, and a pretty easy call. Bill calls as well, and the turn brings a 3x. Not a bad card, as I’m pretty sure my low is good if it comes. Now I just need Bill to check to Elvie and …No, don’t do it Bill! Aaargh! Bill leads out with $100, betting into Elvie’s nuts! Elvie raises to $400. Crap. Strange as it sounds, I know Bill has nothing (two-pair or a straight draw is most likely), and it’s pretty obvious what Elvie has. I’m sure that Bill will call the raise, and I’m also sure that Elvie will call a large bet if I hit my hand, so I think for a few seconds and decide the implied odds make this a correct call. I call and Bill calls behind, making the pot around $1,400 right now. The river brings the 3c – woo hoo! Under most other circumstances I would be worried that my flush card paired the board, and would proceed with caution. Here, however, I knew I was golden. Bill and Elvie both check, and I decide that $400 is the right bet here. Bill calls for his remaining chips, $100 or so, and Elvie calls as well. Elvie turns over the straight, of course, Bill turns over two-pair (I think), and I scoop a $2,300 pot!
A very good night overall, one of my best ever. Good timing too, as my 50” Pioneer Plasma TV (oh yes, you heard right) got delivered this afternoon - now I can stamp PAID on it! Time Warner is coming tomorrow to hook up the HD-DVR, and after that I don’t anticipate leaving the recliner for at least a week…
See ya at the tables (well, in a couple weeks anyway…)
Rick
Stay Power
Poker - Bad Beats & Great Hands
All of you know me as the "Juice" or usually just the best player at the table. Last night was no exception. I quickly mounted a stack up to $1900 of which, two hands later, I kindly handed over to Rick and Elvie, leaving me with just short of $200. After another $200 buy in, I had $400 to work with. I announced, "I am ready to attack the table stacks!" Within just a few hands, my prowess and keen play, led me to have once again, second commanding stack only to Rick. I once again announce, "I am recruiting for you, Rick." After I loan out roughly $2500 to the weaker players at the table, I notice my stack is still in second dominating position. I felt that with Rick's tenacious play and ability to read me like a one page, one sentence, one word book, it's only a matter of time before he takes my stack to mount what would appear on the surface as a table raping. At this point, the 18 year old, single barrel bourbon hits me like a 5 lb. vat of pus from a dead possum's ass. Tums were no match for the Juice. I gracefully dismiss myself and the rest of the pussys fall in line like little puppets to Rick's amazing stack. Once again, I get blamed for breaking up the game. OR - is it the fear of the mighty stack that Rick yielded like Excalibur that made their tails tuck between their legs like little squirrelly mice??
The "Juice," Master of the Blog
All of you know me as the "Juice" or usually just the best player at the table. Last night was no exception. I quickly mounted a stack up to $1900 of which, two hands later, I kindly handed over to Rick and Elvie, leaving me with just short of $200. After another $200 buy in, I had $400 to work with. I announced, "I am ready to attack the table stacks!" Within just a few hands, my prowess and keen play, led me to have once again, second commanding stack only to Rick. I once again announce, "I am recruiting for you, Rick." After I loan out roughly $2500 to the weaker players at the table, I notice my stack is still in second dominating position. I felt that with Rick's tenacious play and ability to read me like a one page, one sentence, one word book, it's only a matter of time before he takes my stack to mount what would appear on the surface as a table raping. At this point, the 18 year old, single barrel bourbon hits me like a 5 lb. vat of pus from a dead possum's ass. Tums were no match for the Juice. I gracefully dismiss myself and the rest of the pussys fall in line like little puppets to Rick's amazing stack. Once again, I get blamed for breaking up the game. OR - is it the fear of the mighty stack that Rick yielded like Excalibur that made their tails tuck between their legs like little squirrelly mice??
The "Juice," Master of the Blog
Poker with the Juice!
Well, it was an unbelievable night at Dave's..... I forget sometimes.... specifically against a couple of players that I must FORGET friendships and focus on the cold-blooded, merciless aspect of the game of poker. Two different times last night I played soft to "be kind" only to have the guy that I was being kind to.... hit his card and then bet at me. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, and this time I mean it.... the gloves are off and if you happen to step in front of me when I am trying to protect a strong, but vulnerable hand..... look out, it's coming! LOL.
The good news as far as last night is concerned for me anyways that I played pretty solid other than the couple of instances that I played soft and I'll tell you about the last big hand for me of the night.....
We've pretty much sent all the "weaker" of the group to the rail mumbling something about work on Wednesday, when, in late position, I wake up to As, Qs.... one of my favorite hands! At any rate, the Juice is to my right and raises the 2/4 blinds to 23.... I smooth call. Jeff folds and John in the big blind goes all-in for another 177.... he had just bought back in for 200 I believe. Rick folds (his first time of the night), Dave calls and I call. The flop is something like 2s, 4c, 7d and Dave leads out with 102. I call and the side pot gets started. The turn is the 3s which puts me on a straight draw and a flush draw. Dave bets another 102 and I call. The river is the Js and Dave bets 400 but unfortunately I only have another 102 but gladly put it in as I proclaim.... "the stone-cold nuts!"
That was definitely my biggest pot of the night with about 1200 or so in it.... It helped me get back to even and actually a little up for the night! Woo hoo!
The good news as far as last night is concerned for me anyways that I played pretty solid other than the couple of instances that I played soft and I'll tell you about the last big hand for me of the night.....
We've pretty much sent all the "weaker" of the group to the rail mumbling something about work on Wednesday, when, in late position, I wake up to As, Qs.... one of my favorite hands! At any rate, the Juice is to my right and raises the 2/4 blinds to 23.... I smooth call. Jeff folds and John in the big blind goes all-in for another 177.... he had just bought back in for 200 I believe. Rick folds (his first time of the night), Dave calls and I call. The flop is something like 2s, 4c, 7d and Dave leads out with 102. I call and the side pot gets started. The turn is the 3s which puts me on a straight draw and a flush draw. Dave bets another 102 and I call. The river is the Js and Dave bets 400 but unfortunately I only have another 102 but gladly put it in as I proclaim.... "the stone-cold nuts!"
That was definitely my biggest pot of the night with about 1200 or so in it.... It helped me get back to even and actually a little up for the night! Woo hoo!
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Poker Tips - Hold 'em
Learn to put your opponents on a hand
This is not as amazing as you might think, but it is very important. Probably the easiest way to get you think this way would be for you to try putting yourself in your opponents shoes, and learn to put them on a hand.
What cards would you have to hold to make a smooth call?
What cards would you have to hold to re-raise?
What cards could he have that if you raised, he would fold?
What cards would he have to have to re-raise me that amount?
Why did he only call in the previous betting round?
All good questions that will help you put your opponent on a hand. There are many more.... once you have him narrowed down to a few hands you now know how to bet based on the strength of your hand.
This is not as amazing as you might think, but it is very important. Probably the easiest way to get you think this way would be for you to try putting yourself in your opponents shoes, and learn to put them on a hand.
What cards would you have to hold to make a smooth call?
What cards would you have to hold to re-raise?
What cards could he have that if you raised, he would fold?
What cards would he have to have to re-raise me that amount?
Why did he only call in the previous betting round?
All good questions that will help you put your opponent on a hand. There are many more.... once you have him narrowed down to a few hands you now know how to bet based on the strength of your hand.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Donkey Fest Part II
Sunday at PKR.... You'd think that the larger buy-in would prevent it, but not so.... I basically got knocked out by Joe-Bob going all-in with 7h, 2h.... I've got pocket sevens and the board gets 4 hearts! LOL.
I'll let Rick tell you of his play for the day.
I'll let Rick tell you of his play for the day.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Donkey Fest @ PKR Today!
Well, it was back to the old times today at PKR..... Everybody making moves all the time! I got sucked out on a couple times early and had to re-buy and then just short of the re-buy period, I re-raised Rick with Ad, Kd and he pushes all-in with Qd, 9d and wins with a 9 on the turn. Whee! But in his defense, he had been sucked out on a couple of times as well and was steaming a little from it.
At any rate, there were two big hands for me near the end of the day. I was in the big blind and 9, 5os and Frank limps in from the small blind. The flop was 7c, 5h, 3s. Frank checks and I bet 6000 and he raised to 12,000. I call. He had about 9000 remaining and I knew he was pushing on the turn regardless of the cards. The turn was a Qh and he went all-in. It took me a minute or two, but I just couldn't put him on any of those cards. He turned over the A, Jos and my fives held up.
The next hand was five handed with me on the button... I get the Qd, Jd and raise the 2000/4000 blinds to 10000 and Jason calls. The flop is the Qc, 4s, 3d and Jason immediately pushes all-in. I put him on some sort of messed up draw so I immediately call and he turns proudly turns the 5, 2os. LOL. At any rate, he's got about 26000 and goes runner/runner fives for trip fives.
Now I'm really on tilt.... we're down to four players and I catch Kh, Qh and raise to 12000. Akash quietly goes all-in.... No, I mean really quietly.... I had no idea that he had acted. I couldn't decide whether he was on a big Ace or a middle pair... I settled unfortunately on the big ace and called. He had one of my scare hands, A, Qos and the ace held up.... Finished fourth again!
Good playing guys.... I'll get you next week!
At any rate, there were two big hands for me near the end of the day. I was in the big blind and 9, 5os and Frank limps in from the small blind. The flop was 7c, 5h, 3s. Frank checks and I bet 6000 and he raised to 12,000. I call. He had about 9000 remaining and I knew he was pushing on the turn regardless of the cards. The turn was a Qh and he went all-in. It took me a minute or two, but I just couldn't put him on any of those cards. He turned over the A, Jos and my fives held up.
The next hand was five handed with me on the button... I get the Qd, Jd and raise the 2000/4000 blinds to 10000 and Jason calls. The flop is the Qc, 4s, 3d and Jason immediately pushes all-in. I put him on some sort of messed up draw so I immediately call and he turns proudly turns the 5, 2os. LOL. At any rate, he's got about 26000 and goes runner/runner fives for trip fives.
Now I'm really on tilt.... we're down to four players and I catch Kh, Qh and raise to 12000. Akash quietly goes all-in.... No, I mean really quietly.... I had no idea that he had acted. I couldn't decide whether he was on a big Ace or a middle pair... I settled unfortunately on the big ace and called. He had one of my scare hands, A, Qos and the ace held up.... Finished fourth again!
Good playing guys.... I'll get you next week!
Week 1 of 12 Week Tourney Begins @ PKR
At 2pm today, we begin the first of a 12 week tourney culminating in an event where the TOP 10 of the 12 week session may participate in the BIG EVENT.
Each week of the 40/40/40 (40 buy-in, 40 re-buy, 40 add-on) tourney, a pot is created from each players contribution that will be offered up to the Top 10 point getters from the 12 week tourneys PLUS a wild card selection based on attendance and points. The weekly tourneys payout 1-3 positions with first place usually worth over 1,000. The qualifying "season" championship event typically has a pot of over 3,000 that will be paid out to the top 3 positions of that event!
It's a great format and a lot of fun.... I'll be there!
Each week of the 40/40/40 (40 buy-in, 40 re-buy, 40 add-on) tourney, a pot is created from each players contribution that will be offered up to the Top 10 point getters from the 12 week tourneys PLUS a wild card selection based on attendance and points. The weekly tourneys payout 1-3 positions with first place usually worth over 1,000. The qualifying "season" championship event typically has a pot of over 3,000 that will be paid out to the top 3 positions of that event!
It's a great format and a lot of fun.... I'll be there!
Friday, September 01, 2006
BigChipPoker.Com
Hi guys, I have just recently signed up at BigChipPoker.Com. I've done pretty well in the cash games and OK in the tourneys. It is also a referral based marketing program where YOU can make money by referring others to the site -AND- you can SPONSOR others who can make money by sponsoring others and referring others to the site..... kind of like..... Amway for gamblers, but without the soap. LOL. At any rate, I've signed up and like what I see.
You can sign up by following the link on the right or by going to BigChipPoker.Com and if you'll enter this code BCP1123, you'll get your deposit matched 100% up to $300.
My id on BigChipPoker.Com is crichards so sign up and let me know when you're going to play!
Back to the felt.... ur... keyboard!
You can sign up by following the link on the right or by going to BigChipPoker.Com and if you'll enter this code BCP1123, you'll get your deposit matched 100% up to $300.
My id on BigChipPoker.Com is crichards so sign up and let me know when you're going to play!
Back to the felt.... ur... keyboard!
An extra 2,000,000 in chips at the WSOP
With 8773 paid entrants, this years WSOP Main Event was the biggest ever. Each player started with $10,000 in tournament chips, so there should have been 87,730,000 chips in play.
But both www.pokerwire.com and www.cardplayer lists the final table chip count at 90,140,000.
Where did these extra chips come from?
Start Quote
Richard Brodie writes on his Quiet Lion blog (http://www.brodietech.com/liontales/blog.htm) . Omissions from his text are indicated by [...], Editors Note:[bracketed comments of this type are comments or additions by Dennis]
"[...] I shouldn't be surprised by the degree to which many in the poker community consider the 2.2 million extra chips found at the WSOP main event "business as usual." Cheating has been around since before poker [...]. There's the possibility the chips were added through incompetence rather than dishonesty, and there's still a tiny chance the reports of the final chip total are simply wrong. I wasn't there."
[The following] questions [...] ought to be asked by the Nevada Gaming Control Board: • Harrah's [used the] same chips in the main event as they used in previous tournaments [...].
Were the chips counted at the conclusion of each event? If not, why not?
If so, how many chips were missing after each event?
If they did discover missing chips, was there any effort to use the video surveillance to catch the [presumed] cheaters?
Were there official chip counts done at any point in the main event? If not, why not? If so, what was the result?
What was the discrepancy between each official count [if any]?
Were the same precautions taken to guard and log the movements of the house bank of tournament chip as are taken with casino chips of similar value? If not, why not?
How many dead stacks were blinded off through errors during day one?
What is the list of names of people who were allowed to play on a different day but had stacks being blinded off on another day?
Why were so many errors possible?
Were there stacks being blinded off for players who had been given refunds? If so, why?
The current explanation by a Harrah's spokesman, that the extra chips were a result of rounding up during chip races, has been proved impossible both by me and by Jerrod Ankenman, co-author (with two-bracelet winner Bill Chen) of the forthcoming book The Mathematics of Poker."
End quote
So was it an honest mistake...somehow...but bordering on the incompetent? Did Harrah's pocket 200 extra entries? Systematic cheating? If I was an player who entered (and god willing I will be next year) I would definitely consider legal options. Certainly this has all the marks of a class action suit.
With next year's field projected at over 10,000, this could be deja vu all over again.
But both www.pokerwire.com and www.cardplayer lists the final table chip count at 90,140,000.
Where did these extra chips come from?
Start Quote
Richard Brodie writes on his Quiet Lion blog (http://www.brodietech.com/liontales/blog.htm) . Omissions from his text are indicated by [...], Editors Note:[bracketed comments of this type are comments or additions by Dennis]
"[...] I shouldn't be surprised by the degree to which many in the poker community consider the 2.2 million extra chips found at the WSOP main event "business as usual." Cheating has been around since before poker [...]. There's the possibility the chips were added through incompetence rather than dishonesty, and there's still a tiny chance the reports of the final chip total are simply wrong. I wasn't there."
[The following] questions [...] ought to be asked by the Nevada Gaming Control Board: • Harrah's [used the] same chips in the main event as they used in previous tournaments [...].
Were the chips counted at the conclusion of each event? If not, why not?
If so, how many chips were missing after each event?
If they did discover missing chips, was there any effort to use the video surveillance to catch the [presumed] cheaters?
Were there official chip counts done at any point in the main event? If not, why not? If so, what was the result?
What was the discrepancy between each official count [if any]?
Were the same precautions taken to guard and log the movements of the house bank of tournament chip as are taken with casino chips of similar value? If not, why not?
How many dead stacks were blinded off through errors during day one?
What is the list of names of people who were allowed to play on a different day but had stacks being blinded off on another day?
Why were so many errors possible?
Were there stacks being blinded off for players who had been given refunds? If so, why?
The current explanation by a Harrah's spokesman, that the extra chips were a result of rounding up during chip races, has been proved impossible both by me and by Jerrod Ankenman, co-author (with two-bracelet winner Bill Chen) of the forthcoming book The Mathematics of Poker."
End quote
So was it an honest mistake...somehow...but bordering on the incompetent? Did Harrah's pocket 200 extra entries? Systematic cheating? If I was an player who entered (and god willing I will be next year) I would definitely consider legal options. Certainly this has all the marks of a class action suit.
With next year's field projected at over 10,000, this could be deja vu all over again.
Poker Tips - Hold 'em
Utilize the bluff and semi-bluff
The most fun in poker.... the bluff. I got nothing, but I raise! Well, there you go! There's nothing quite like the feeling of rush... and relief when you pull off the perfectly executed bluff. I've got friends who are excellent at making nice bets at the right time, against the right players, and at the right frequency when a "scare" card shows up on the turn or river. In this year's WSOP, Daniel Negreanu is bluffed out of a pot on day two when a 10 pairs the board on the river by an all-in bet from another player at the table. Daniel had the best hand, put his opponent on the right hand but folded to the bluff. How sweet is that.... to bluff Daniel Negreanu out of a pot where he is ahead on national... international television. The only thing that would have made that bluff better would have been for the perpetrator to have shown the bluff.
A bluff can be very effective when used rarely, and where there is a seemingly low risk of being called by your opponent.
The semi-bluff is quite different. There are those times in poker where you may not have the best hand, but you have a tremendous "drawing" hand. In other words, while you may be behind right now, there are so many cards that would put you ahead, you feel safe in making a semi-bluff bet. In many instances, you will take the pot down right there and in those instances where you do not, and get called, it is very possible that your improvement cards will come. And if you're in late position and make that bet after the flop, it may get you a free card on the river. The semi-bluff is a great play and in many instances when you get called, you have made a pot builder bet that when your card hits, you can often get paid off because your opponents may not put you on the newly made hand!
The most fun in poker.... the bluff. I got nothing, but I raise! Well, there you go! There's nothing quite like the feeling of rush... and relief when you pull off the perfectly executed bluff. I've got friends who are excellent at making nice bets at the right time, against the right players, and at the right frequency when a "scare" card shows up on the turn or river. In this year's WSOP, Daniel Negreanu is bluffed out of a pot on day two when a 10 pairs the board on the river by an all-in bet from another player at the table. Daniel had the best hand, put his opponent on the right hand but folded to the bluff. How sweet is that.... to bluff Daniel Negreanu out of a pot where he is ahead on national... international television. The only thing that would have made that bluff better would have been for the perpetrator to have shown the bluff.
A bluff can be very effective when used rarely, and where there is a seemingly low risk of being called by your opponent.
The semi-bluff is quite different. There are those times in poker where you may not have the best hand, but you have a tremendous "drawing" hand. In other words, while you may be behind right now, there are so many cards that would put you ahead, you feel safe in making a semi-bluff bet. In many instances, you will take the pot down right there and in those instances where you do not, and get called, it is very possible that your improvement cards will come. And if you're in late position and make that bet after the flop, it may get you a free card on the river. The semi-bluff is a great play and in many instances when you get called, you have made a pot builder bet that when your card hits, you can often get paid off because your opponents may not put you on the newly made hand!
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