Elvie's "The Button Buck"

An 8 pointer, a 4 pointer and a button buck are standing by a field browsing on acorns.


The 8 pointer says, 'I'm happy with my 10 does, we're really
getting along.'


The 4 pointer says, 'I'm happy as heck with my 5, they really take
care of me!'


The Button buck says, 'My two are all right, better than nothing I
guess.'


Then all of a sudden a GIANT 14 pointer walks out into the field. The three
bucks had never seen anything like him before, they were in awe. The big
buck made a huge scrape and pissed in it, rubbed a tree the size of a
telephone pole and snapped it off at the ground! The three bucks looked on
in amazement.


The 8 pointer says, 'I could probably get by with 4
does...........Who really needs 10 anyway?'


The 4 pointer says, 'You know............. come to think of it, I
only use one or two of mine!'


The button buck was silent, as the other two bucks look over to him in
confusion. Suddenly the yearling runs out into the middle of the field! He
rips and tears up some grass........ pisses all over the place, snorts &
wheezes, rubs his head raw on a tree and chews a lickin branch clean off!
Then he runs back over to his buddies.


His friends immediately ask him, 'What the hell are you doing!?'


'I'm just makin' sure that big sumbitch knows I'm a buck!

I can still hear him whining....

Our game of $5/$10 Omaha 8 with the ususal suspects around the table... the Juice, of course; Ronnie; Junior; Bart; Turley; me; Rick and Shirky... in that order. I believe that Monsieur Shirk had already cashed out and Turlinator was on the button, me-the small blind, Rick-the big blind and the Juice with his $25 straddle...

I glance down to find, when the action gets back to me...

The Juice normally re-raises his straddle so I decided to slow play it hoping that he would raise and that someone else would try to isolate, I know, it almost never happens. At any rate, the Juice checks his option and the flop comes...






I like it, but I check because I can tell that the Juice is dying to pump, pump, pump it up. Rick checks and the Juice bets $200 and there are about 4 callers.

I know, I've got a monster (nut low, nut flush draw and pocket aces) but I've already lost about $500 a little earlier when I was holding AA22 with one suit... I re-raised the Juice pre-flop to about $400 or so and the flop was 9x, 10x, Qx... of course, the Juice flopped the nuts! Sorry... that's a different story... back to this hand.

The turn...





I check, the Juice leads out with a fairly quick $300 bet and it folds to Bart. He calls and appears to have about $500 or so more behind. A couple hundred less than my stack and the Juice has us both covered. So when it gets to me, I re-raise another $400. The Juice pushes all in and Bart calls. I immediately call... As is the custom at this table, the person who pushes all in and gets callers (if everyone is all in) must show their hand while the callers have the option of not showing anything till the hand is over and if they lose, they may simply muck. I know... but I kind of like it because it pisses some of the other players off. So, even though I raised, because it was the Juice's bet that put everyone all in, he had to show his cards and I get to slow roll... If I remember correctly he turned over sixes full of eights... Bart had a crappy low and was drawing dead. I had nut low with pocket Aces and another eight or an Ace would give me the best boat with the best low... and guess what? As only it can come in this game....


ye olde river...

What a card! The two-outer of all two-outers! Giving me Aces full of eights (the best boat) and 2d, 4c (second nut low) and a scooper. I am certain that the Juice is still cursing about that card! But the whining.... oh, the humanity! And we did get to hear about it, over and over for the rest of the night... how he was dominating me until that last card... Yep! the world through the eyes of the Juice! Nothing quite like it!

Oh well... let the suck outs begin!

WSOP - The Nuts - Heads Up with Norman Chad and Billy Gazes

The Nuts - Heads Up with Norman Chad and Erick Lindgren

Soggy Bottom Boys - I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow - For Jimbo

The Nuts - Heads Up with Norman Chad and Phil Hellmuth

The Best Hand I Ever Played 1/3

The Best Hand I Ever Played 2/3

The Best Hand I Ever Played 3/3

Assistance Needed

We are attempting to create a post on the Triangle Poker Journal that would recognize NC based on-line poker players and rank them in terms of on-line poker earnings. In the other sites that I have found that list and rank on-line poker players, they are typically all listed by their screen names only. I understand the risk of posting their names and home state and can certainly appreciate someone being hesitant to provide personal info.

What do you think?

Is there a site which not only lists their screen names but their real identities and home states?

If you don't want to post the information, feel free to email me your comments at charles@trianglepokerjournal.com - I will keep your identities and comments private.

Thanks and let the suck outs begin!

Top 10 Ranked NC Players *** ONLINE ***

MakeuTap247 commented on a recent blog that he would like to see NC based players listed on our site in terms of online poker earnings. It has been something that I toyed with, but wasn't certain of the interest level. Since that post, I have had several others tell me that they think that it would be appropriate to list the ranked online players as well.

I'm all for it.... If someone could provide me with some links that would give me something other than just a "screen name" so that we...
1) Can adequately identify the players and their area of residence
2) Can verify their winnings for accuracy purposes

I would be more than happy to coordinate a special place on the TPJ site that would give those excellent players the recognition that they deserve.

Thanks for the input and comments and let's make it happen

Let the suck outs begin!

Updating the TPJ's Top Ten (and more)

We're in the process of updating the TrianglePokerJournal's Top Ten and More.... if you have been inadvertently omitted, please forward your name, career winnings, and home town information to me at charles@trianglepokerjournal.com and we'll see to it that you are put on the list.... we currently do NOT have a minimum amount of career winnings for the post. Although there are quite a few on there right now who have won less in their CAREER than I have lost in a single night of JUICE play... so for what it's worth, if you want it on there... send it to me and I'll post it!

We're toying with including CASH winnings on the list as well and I'm pretty certain that Rick would land somewhere between Raymer and Gracz (just from the Juice's game... last year). LOL.

But since we have no way of verifying cash winnings, we'll have to just go with the tournament information that can be verified.

Thanks for your support and interest in the TPJ!

Omaha 8 - Overbetting the Low Side

One of the most common mistakes that I see in our weekly game of No Limit Omaha 8 (and I've done it myself, by the way) is "overbetting" the low... it is a constant frustration at our table because there are 2-3 guys there who constantly push with nothing but the nut low and more often than not, will cost themselves and "you" if you're there with it, money by getting quartered. Don't get me wrong. I like the nut low and I have tried to employ a little more conservative strategy in betting with it, but I don't think that pushing all the time with the nut low is a great strategy. While quartering on the high hand does happen, it is no where near as often as getting quartered with the low.

The nice thing about these 2-3 guys is that it is pretty easy to tell when they have it and when they are betting it so if you have employed a reasonably conservative strategy, you can catch a decent 2-way hand and get 3 quarters of the pot....

There was one hand last night between me and Akash where I put him on the nut low....

My hand...

The betting went something like this.... Akash pre-flop straddled the $5/$10 No Limit hand to $30 from 1st position. We're playing six-handed at the time and everyone called.

The flop...

Akash leads out with a $175 bet and I guess you can tell that I really liked this flop. There are a couple of cards that could come that would be M-O-N-S-T-E-R-S..... but I am next to Akash in the betting order and I am pretty certain that he has something like Ax... 3x... so I just smooth call, hoping that someone else will join the fray. I would even be open to accomodating a raise at this point.

We do pick up 3 callers and the the turn...










Akash I guess is wanting to project strength and pushes all-in before the card even gets settled into its spot on the table. Now while I could have asked for a better card, this is still a pretty good one. I HAVE the nut straight, 3rd nut low and nut flush re-draw. Unfortunately Akash's bet was bet was $1,975 and while I believe that we might have picked up one caller at about $1k, I knew that we weren't going to get many more callers once I made my call. Sure enough, Dave tucks his tail betwixt his legs and scanters off to the office to pleasure himself. It's a dirty job and I'm certain that no one else will do it.

So once I make the call, Akash turns over his cards and sure enough... he has the nut low but with nothing else. I think he had something like Ax, 3x, 5x and Jx. And as is usually the case, if you're betting with the nut with no re-draw, the re-draw will be required. And so one of the 2 cards that he definitely didn't want to see sprung up.

The river...





It was a nice card for me though... it left my nut straight in tact and counterfeited Akash's low... so my 4x, 6x took the low and the 9 high straight took the high and I scooped about a $5500 pot.

Feel free to comment, but as always, your read on what you feel the others have is important, I believe that you should have a very good read and perhaps a re-draw or two before you overbet the nut low.

Famous Poker Quotes...

"If you play bridge badly you make your partner suffer, but if you play poker badly you make everybody happy."

-------------Joe Laurie Jr

Three Biggest Online Poker Scandals

Three Biggest Online Poker Scandals
http://www.pokerlistings.com/

*#3 TheVOid Plays* *WCOOP on Two Accounts*
PokerStars player "TheVOid" was found guilty of playing the World Championship of 2007 Online Poker (WCOOP) Main Event on two separate accounts. This is obviously considered cheating in all online poker rooms, and consequently, TheVOid was disqualified.

#2 UltimateBet Sees Your Hole Cards
For 21 months, former UltimateBet employees had access to hand data and could play poker while they saw their opponents’ hole cards. “The fraudulent activity was enabled by unauthorized software code that allowed the perpetrators to obtain hole card information during live play,” official statement on UB.com.

#1 Absolute Poker Cheat
This bares much resemblance with the previous scandal. Old Absolute Poker employees had access to code allowing them to see the hole cards of the poker players they were up against. AP started by claiming that it was “determined with reasonable certainty that no can see the hole cards.” They were proven wrong.

The Nuts - Young vs Old

R-I-C-K > or = S-A-T-A-N

I am certain that there is some mathematical formula to translate the name/word Rick and find that it is somehow synomous with Satan.... and he apparently has been performing some sex acts on Leprechauns too... just as insurance you understand. I'm certain that he is not doing those dreadful things just for the fun of it. Based on the way that Dave's luck has been running, I think that he and Rick might be doing some-sort-of-weird-satanic-leprechaunish-orgy.... I know its almost too much to imagine. I shouldn't say that though because I'm pretty certain that Leprechaun-porn is probably the ONLY porn that Dave doesn't have stock-piled for the game.

At any rate, it was definitely HIS night... card after card after card... hand after hand after hand... I believe that he had the stone-cold nuts a dozen or more times AND in several there was someone else in the hand willing to pay him... (ME-MOSTLY)... to see it. Although he did catch TWO STRAIGHT FLUSHES against Turley when Turley had a nice boat.

Well, he had a monster night... and I have to mortgage the kids... just like normal.

The Nuts - The Ten Commandments of Poker

The Nuts - Poker Face

"That's Not Poker?" Jamie Gold

Bad Poker Face

NUTS POKER - I'm pretty sure that Michael or Corey was dealing...

Some of our friends... AWOL!

I know that life makes demanding calls on us from time-to-time, but I was just thinking based on a recent draft that I was reading through how many of our local players have somehow disappeared from our games.... I know that I don't get around to all of the local home games, but I haven't seen some of these guys in 2 years! I know that I would probably miss some of the names if I tried to start listing them... but where the heck are these guys getting their gambling fix now?

Jack A Dean-O Don A Sean B Carl B Braxton Jeff B Boston J Greg B Ed Flush... I think I know - I think he's at the beach... good for you EddieEarl
Laura ... well, there you go Jeff B Rick C Joe C Mike D Ron D Bill D Zhao Mike F Steve F Sean G Mike H Jason H Mike H Jim H Chris H Steve F Dave I Jeff J Tom J Walt K Bob K Phil L Lenny Jim L Dwayne M Jack M Matt J-ROD (not for the poker, but the abuse) Donnie F Brian M Dave M Randy M Nathan Sai Scott (sh**ty draws) Chris O Michael O Mike P Eddie P Tinh Stewart P Q Rajesh Gabe Scott R Rene' Frank R Ben R Cary R Keith S David S Nate (come back from Atlanta) Sherman Dale S Daniel S Chad Jeffrey S Al S Bob K Spaceboy Jon S Nathan L George S Tony Chuck T Matt T Derek T Howard F Tyler "TheCrocer" Reed V Brian V Rich W Jonathan W Dave W Kevin B Joe M Jeff W Christine W Gil W Justin W Chad W Patrick W Marty Y and of course ... Eli Z - who does pop in from time to time!

Where are they now?

The Nuts - How to find the Fish

Police hit jackpot in illegal gambling bust

Copied from www.wral.com/
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/3684348/

Police hit jackpot in illegal gambling bust
Posted: Oct. 6 6:57 p.m. Updated: Oct. 6 11:34 p.m.

Fayetteville, N.C. — Dozens of people were arrested during an illegal gambling bust in Fayetteville over the weekend.

Officers received a complaint in March about a gambling house operating at 407-A Festus Ave. Friday evening, members of the Narcotics Vice Suppression Unit, the Special Projects Unit and the Emergency Response Team served a gambling search warrant at the house.

The officers charged 39 patrons, many of them Fort Bragg soldiers, with illegal gambling.

Officers say they collected playing cards, poker chips and approximately $12,000 in cash as evidence. They also seized poker tables, flat screen TVs, surveillance cameras, and gambling paraphernalia.

In addition to the gambling charges, patron John Preston Melvin, 27, was charged with trafficking opium and heroin, possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana.

Police said they also found three handguns in vehicles on the premises.

The owner of the house, Christian Patrick Lusardi, 36, was charged with gambling and illegal alcohol sales. His mother, Diana Lusardi, was charged with illegal gambling.


Officers seized between $6,000 and $7,000 from Lusardi at the Festus Avenue house and an additional $3,000 to $4,000 from his Lullwater Drive residence, they said.


Reporter: Bryan Mims
Photographer: Michael Joyner
Web Editor: Minnie Bridgers

Copied from www.wral.com/
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/3684348/

Sick bad beat.....

A Little Blog Maintenance

I am trying to keep this as organized as possible for our friends so I have saved all the DRAFT dates to 12/31/08 so that you won't have to hunt them to make your edits and your ultimate posts.

Thanks for your contributions and get them off USER HOLD....

Yadkin Road poker bust nets 40 people, $21,000

Copied from www.fayobserver.com/
http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=306596


Yadkin Road poker bust nets 40 people, $21,000
By Nancy McClearyStaff writer

Police seized $21,000, drugs and weapons when they raided an illegal poker game in a building off Yadkin Road on Friday.

Misdemeanor citations were issued to 40 people, many of them identified as Fort Bragg soldiers, said Lt. Chris Davis of the Fayetteville Police Department.

The game operator was identified as Christian Lusardi, 36, of the 2500 block of Lullwater Drive, Davis said.

City police were assisted by state Alcohol Law Enforcement agents, he said.

Police received a complaint in March about a gambling house that was operating out of a building at 704-A Festus Ave., Davis said.

The cinder-block building had a bay door on the front, Davis said. There were three gambling tables, two pool tables and four large-screen televisions inside, he said.

About 40 people were there when officers arrived about 9:45 p.m., Davis said.

Officers seized about $12,000 from the patrons who were cited with a misdemeanor gambling violation, Davis said.

Between $6,000 and $7,000 was seized from the game that was operated by Christian Lusardi, 36, of the 2500 block of Lullwater Drive in the Birch Creek subdivisions, Davis said.

Officers also searched Lusardi’s home where they found $3,000, he said.

Searches of the vehicles that were at the gaming house turned up 57 Oxycodone pills, two pistols, a rifle and small amounts of crack cocaine and marijuana, Davis said.

State agents have charged Lusardi with alcohol violations, Davis said.

Bail information was not available.

Staff writer Nancy McCleary can be reached at mcclearyn@fayobserver.com or 486-3568.

Copied from www.fayobserver.com
http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=306596

Dave & The Turlinator --- Heads Up

Well, Dave asked me to blog this one for him since he is apparently keyboard impaired (along with his many other afflictions, failures and short comings)... at any rate, I left b4 midnight and he called me to make certain that this one got posted.

I don't know if Rick was there or had already left, but in this hand, the one that ended the night, Dave is last to act and Turley has a monster... and is normally the case in this game... Omaha 8 NO LIMIT - if there is card that will give you the 2nd nut... your opponent is hitting the first nut.

It seems that everyone had vacated the building and it was just the two bone-heads, Dave & Turley. They have about the same size stacks and Turley announces that he is going to take all Dave's chips and leave. Dave has Turley slightly out-chipped with $5,200 to Turley's $4,700. I can't believe that Rick isn't in the middle of this one....

So after the announcement by Turley, Dave raises the $25/$50 blinds to $200 and the Turlinator quickly calls....

The flop...

This looks like it would have hit Bart had he been there... But since Dave likes chips, he bets $500 and the Turlinator quickly calls.

The turn...

What a card... you'll see below that this card hits them both! It gives Dave the stone-cold, don't-get-any-better-than-this... NUTS! But Turley has flopped trips and turned the nut flush and he's not going anywhere without gun-play. So as is normally the case in a game such as this, Dave checks... and Turley leads out with a $1,000 feeler bet... LOL. Dave smooth calls.

And then it happens, the most beautiful river card that Turley could ever ask for... or so the thinks...

The river...

Dave checks and Turley bets a stinky little $500 into this already $3,400 pot. Dave sitting there with the nuts banging him in the forehead immediately moves all-in and Turley stands up, announces call and shouts "NUTS!" To which Dave of course put the slow-roll on him showing his crappy little Sixes full of Jacks boat that he flopped... and then, the slor-roll... ye olde Aces full of sixes... the real nuts. And Dave says that Turley just collapsed into his chair... probably not unlike I would have done. Only Dave would have liked it a lot more had it been me....

Turley's hand...

Dave's hand...

Do I even need to say it? Let the suck outs begin!

39 Arrested in Illegal Gambling Bust in Fayetteville

Copied from www.nbc17.com/
http://www.nbc17.com/midatlantic/ncn/news.apx.-content-articles-NCN-2008-10-06-0018.html

39 Arrested In Illegal Gambling Bust In Fayetteville
Monday, Oct 06, 2008 - 02:16 PM

The owner of the Yadkin Road Poker House, Christian Patrick Lusardi, 36, was charged with gambling and illegal alcohol sales.

By NBC17

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The owner of Yadkin Road Poker House and 39 of his patrons were arrested Friday night and charged with illegal gambling.

Theresa Chance, spokeswoman for the Fayetteville PD said the Narcotics/Vice Suppression Unit, the Special Projects Unit, and the Emergency Response Team served a gambling search warrant at the establishment located at 704-A Festus Avenue.

The owner of the Yadkin Road Poker House, Christian Patrick Lusardi, 36, was charged with gambling and illegal alcohol sales. His mother, Diana Lusardi, was also charged with illegal gambling.

Officers seized playing cards, poker chips, poker tables, flat screen TVs, surveillance cameras and $12,000 in cash. Officials also seized $6,000-$7,000 from Lusardi at the scene and an additional $3,000-$4,000 from his home at 2537 Lullwater Drive in Fayetteville.

John Preston Melvin, 27, a patron was also charged with trafficking opium/heroin, possession of cocaine, and possession of marijuana. Three handguns were also found in vehicles driven by patrons.

Thirty-eight patrons were arrested and charged with illegal gambling. Several of the charged patrons were members of the military, said Chance in a press release, but Ft. Bragg's Criminal Investigative Division declined to respond to the scene.

The list of those charged.

Last Name First Name Age
Adams Michael 36
Anderson Joshua 24
Best Aaron 26
Blankenship Jonah 43
Bunce Rufus 46
Bungo Justin 22
Carter Jonathan 46
Cashwell Larry 35
Cole Vincent 24
Davis Joshua 21
Davis Titus 33
Ferguson Joshua 24
Fields Michael 24
Green Kenneth 32
Green Denise 38
Griffin Deshaune 21
Hall Lori 42
Jesus Villanueva 22
Jimenez Gabriel 41
Johnson Jeremie 24
Krick Kyle 23
Lee Robert 23
Lowther Gary 19
Melvin John 27
O'Conner Brendan 24
Pope Terrance 39
Powers Parrish 36
Quick James 41
Richburg Julius 25
Ross Robert 33
Scott Walter 26
Shadmoni David 20
Sheridan Shaheim 22
Taylor Charles 23
Toogood Myuna 69
Whetton Cory 27
Williams Roderick 25
Williams Kevin 37
Williams Anthony 44


Copied from www.nbc17.com/
http://www.nbc17.com/midatlantic/ncn/news.apx.-content-articles-NCN-2008-10-06-0018.html

Poker Bust in Fayetteville Friday October 3, 2008

First hand account provided by Jonah....

Hello fellow poker players, I have news of the latest bust! I was at a game in Fayetteville last night on Yadkin Road otherwise known as Yadkin poker house and we we're raided at about 10pm. There about 50 to 60 people there playing a "freeroll Friday tourney" and they shut it down, arrested everyone, and confiscated everything including our money in our pockets which was not even on the table. I received a citation along with about 40 others and about 4 others went to jail, they also went to the owner's house and busted in his front door and searched and confiscated all the money there as well. They came in with full dress swat attire, including kevlar helmets, ski masks, automatic weapons, flak jackets, the works. I am so upset about this crap as any of you would be. The law states that a wager can not be placed on a game of chance so why don't they raid the bingo games as well? B.......S....... huh Well, keep a look out on the news for this bust, thanks,


More detailed account provided in second email by Jonah...


First I want to say that I love living in the good ole state of North Carolina! But now, I am getting sick and tired of the issue of whether poker is a game of skill or not according to North Carolina law. I, along with approximately 40 of my peers were arrested last night for recreational poker otherwise known here as "illegal gambling". Let me tell you that there is no difference in the character of a person who plays poker verses the person who plays bingo except that the bingo player has to depend solely on luck alone. At least us poker players have a chance to determine the outcome of our session. Yes of course, if we have the odds of bad cards coming our way which could mean a loss for us but if we are smart we play carefully when those cards are coming to us so we minimize our losses and on the other hand we play more aggressively when the good cards are coming which results in gains. So all in all, if we play smart, strategically, careful, when we are suppose to according to gambling strategy, then we can usually be overall winners in the long run. There is no such chance for this to happen playing bingo, period! Yes, if we were allowed to play or run poker games, then perhaps we could donate a portion to church and state if that would be necessary.

Please read the following:

§ 14‑309.5. Bingo.

(a) The purpose of the conduct of bingo is to insure a maximum availability of the net proceeds exclusively for application to the charitable, nonprofit causes and undertakings specified herein; that the only justification for this Part is to support such charitable, nonprofit causes; and such purpose should be carried out to prevent the operation of bingo by professionals for profit, prevent commercialized gambling, prevent the disguise of bingo and other game forms or promotional schemes, prevent participation by criminal and other undesirable elements, and prevent the diversion of funds for the purpose herein authorized.


I know a lot of bingo games that are not being run by religious persons and are being run for sole purpose of profit for themselves. Why according to the law, are they not investigated, busted, and raided like I was last night. Let me tell you something, the Fayetteville police along with a local swat team came in with kevlar helmets, flak jackets, ski masks, automatic weapons, etc. and made us lay on the floor for 30 minutes face down, and then another 2 hours with our hands cuffed behind our backs! This was very painful for us because you had overweight people, older women, older men, etc. People were scared to death, treated like bank robbers, thieves, convicts, and felons. I think it is a shame when 50 average tax paying, upstanding, good-hearted, citizens, some grandpas, some grandmas, military, law enforcement, firefighters, and perhaps a few bad apples get treated like hardened criminals. Like I said, they confiscated all money, whether in pockets, or in personal vehicles as well, and that isn't necessarily right when there is no way of proving that any of that money would have been used for gambling. I'm sure that they took money from some that needed that money which was more than likely not even going to used for gambling. Three out of the four tables that were busted was in actuality a "freeroll" which means the entry fee was FREE, no charge. I entered free along with others and we were arrested for gambling when no money was wagered. That is not against the law! I have attained a lawyer along with most of the other participants and we will go to court. There are at least 15 other states that legalized poker and our leaders here in North Carolina continue to look the other way while big bingo operations are in full force. I am and will report this incident to all local news agencies because I want the general public to know how North Carolinians who engage in recreational poker can and will be treated by our law enforcement. I have emailed each and everyone of you before on this issue and my feedback was truly scarce. We are tired of this treatment when the people we voted in create lotteries and continue to let crooked bingo operators rake in thousands but meanwhile treat us poker players like big-time criminals. We will make change here in North Carolina! We will strive to get these bingo establishments shut down! Fair is fair. There are thousands of people in North Carolina who love to play poker and millions nationwide! Would somebody please do something, get the ball rolling.

The Nuts - The Superlatives

The story of Archie Karas....