When I am home in Cannon Beach it is difficult to play in a "real" poker game more than once a week. Other than the Legion game there are games in Astoria, Seaside, and Wheeler but just don't feel comfortable in those. The Wheeler game in particular is funky, played in a huge upstairs room in a restaurant. It is small, maybe 2 short tables, $40 buy in, so not huge rewards, and feels a little like a home game. Maybe I have residual bad feelings from my one time playing when I got knocked out with pocket jacks vs. pocket queens.
So, playing free tournaments online is my game now. I sometimes judge how well I am playing by my results, which is wrong, but still an indicator if I am consistently "cashing". Yesterday I came in 12th out of a couple hundred, losing my coin flip of AK vs. 66 (I raised, he reraised, and I pushed all in preflop). Day before yesterday I "won" 135,000 by coming in 1st out of 146 players. Also won a couple of other sit n go's. So, feel like I am playing well, and getting good results. Too bad I am not on some real money tables right now. Will be in Tri-Cities for 2 weeks starting next Tuesday and will play in the freeroll tournament if enough hours, which I heard is not a problem. Plan to play lots of tournaments and cash games if they go well. SEE YA!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Pai Gow Poker Dream
I will begin by saying that I am noted for my strange and frequent dreams. I wake up with a really good memory of them and often share them, whether people want to hear them or not. Last night I dreamt about walking into a casino to find that there was not a poker game going on, but a table just loaded with chips in front of every player, arranged in artistic fashion (tall, colorful arrangements). They were playing "Poker Pai Gow" according to the dealer, unexpectedly, my cousin, Linda from Missouri. There was a "seat open" so I sat down, bought in for about 5% as many chips as anyone at the table had and was dealt a large number of cards, at least 6, but seem to think it was much more. My goal was to make the best 4 card hand, and another 2 card hand. Did I forget to mention that there were jokers in the deck? I had two, and was confused as to whether they could only be used to make straights or flushes. Tried to get some help and finally put together a flush and a pair of 10's, which naturally lost to quads and a bigger pair. Hmmmm.
On to another subject: American Legion night. I stepped up and offered to deal when asked, but wanted table 1 (final table), which was no problem. This meant a long night for me if only dealing not playing, but also pretty much assured that I would break even on my buy-in. As luck would have it, I ended up playing on the final table, but not for long, being the 10th place finisher. Found myself in desperate stack position with 3300 and 600/1200 blinds. I pushed with my new almost favorite hand, A/10 (offsuit), and was called in two spots, one player the chip leader and the other with exactly as many chips. The leader had JJ, the other player AQ suited. Oh great, dominated and an overpair, what could possibly go wrong? The flop had an ace on it, so that took care of the big stack, but left me searching for a 10. Nope, there was a queen on the turn putting 4 diamonds on the board. Did I have the 10 of diamonds, nope. Gone unless the river is another diamond for a 3 way chop. Nope.
Anyway, recovered my buy in with a $45 tip, with the other dealers receiving $27 and $17 so not all was lost. On a side note, dealt pocket aces 5 times, once to myself and twice to the eventual 2nd place finisher. When he was heads up the other player jokingly asked if he "wanted to chop", with the leader having about 80% of chips in play. He refused. 4 hands later he was eliminated on 4 pushes that all held up.
On to another subject: American Legion night. I stepped up and offered to deal when asked, but wanted table 1 (final table), which was no problem. This meant a long night for me if only dealing not playing, but also pretty much assured that I would break even on my buy-in. As luck would have it, I ended up playing on the final table, but not for long, being the 10th place finisher. Found myself in desperate stack position with 3300 and 600/1200 blinds. I pushed with my new almost favorite hand, A/10 (offsuit), and was called in two spots, one player the chip leader and the other with exactly as many chips. The leader had JJ, the other player AQ suited. Oh great, dominated and an overpair, what could possibly go wrong? The flop had an ace on it, so that took care of the big stack, but left me searching for a 10. Nope, there was a queen on the turn putting 4 diamonds on the board. Did I have the 10 of diamonds, nope. Gone unless the river is another diamond for a 3 way chop. Nope.
Anyway, recovered my buy in with a $45 tip, with the other dealers receiving $27 and $17 so not all was lost. On a side note, dealt pocket aces 5 times, once to myself and twice to the eventual 2nd place finisher. When he was heads up the other player jokingly asked if he "wanted to chop", with the leader having about 80% of chips in play. He refused. 4 hands later he was eliminated on 4 pushes that all held up.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Non Poker Blog
Just to head in a little different direction, I want to talk a bit about self defense. Recently, the very nice 69 year old concierge at my daughter's condo in Belltown was nearly killed by a rampaging gang of young punks. He has been in critical condition and undergone a couple of surgeries. this happened at midnight one block from the condo. My son-in-law, a very peaceable man is researching guns and concealed weapons permits as am I. The other daughter has cautioned that if I buy a handgun the grandkids may not be permitted to visit. While searching crime statistics in her NE Portland neighborhood I was shocked at the number of crimes, both property and personal that have happened in a 1/2 mile radius. Unbelievable.
Anyway, there is another more violent crime I am aware of against a friend that would not have been prevented by a gun due to the location, but bottom line I am thinking with riots world wide and crime all over it is best to be prudent. My son in law challenged me regarding the rarity of violent crimes and I had to recount the number of times a knife had been pulled on me. Five times. And yes, some were "wrong place" but others were not.
In lieu of a gun am thinking of other self-defense weapons. The clear advantage of this is availability, price, convenience, no permit, and ability to carry anywhere short of on the airplane, courthouse, etc.
Anyway, there is another more violent crime I am aware of against a friend that would not have been prevented by a gun due to the location, but bottom line I am thinking with riots world wide and crime all over it is best to be prudent. My son in law challenged me regarding the rarity of violent crimes and I had to recount the number of times a knife had been pulled on me. Five times. And yes, some were "wrong place" but others were not.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Big Hand-Good Timing
Last night was rough in some ways. I get aces cracked (Frosty) by 5/8 offsuit. Frosty hits quad queens when he actually pays a guy $1 to call his big blind (he had mucked his hand). More about that in a moment. Later I crack Frosty's aces with Q/10 and do not hear the end of the whining for maybe 45 minutes. Really? An ATC player whining about my cheese?
Anyway, I am down about $150 when this hand comes up. I am in late position with QQ and raise to $15. Bob Petty, in the big blind, reraises to $35. Now, I know Bob and respect his play, so I instantly know that I am looking at aces or kings as these are the only two hands he would re-raise with, out of position. I just call to see the flop. Beautiful, sort of.....K/Q/10. Bob checks and I bet, hoping that he has aces, but then he raises so I know the range is narrowed to KK or AJ suited only (I don't think he has JJ). I call, fearing the worst. The turn is really ugly, an ace, so when he bets now I am 100% convinced that he is "set over set" ahead of me. I call anyway due to the size of the pot, hoping for my 5 outer (a jack to chop or queen to win). The river? Case queen. Bob bets, I raise, he calls with KK. Nice hand. And I win the $100 backup monte (here is where I feel a little screwed because of Frost's earlier claim on the $256 quad queens), but hey a win is a win.
Finish with a break even day, but lots of hour accumulation towards the freeroll.
Update from this morning, playing in the tournament I place 3rd for a $100 win. Had a chance to beat the chip leader with my all in A/6 vs. J/7, but he spiked a 7. Would have been the leader with that pot. Played exceptionally tight, not playing a single hand until 100/200 blind level and then open shoving. Think I played a total of maybe 10-12 hands the entire tournament and only one call from small blind with A/A heads up, the rest shoves. My shoves incidentally got folds nearly every time as I commented on the lack of hands that I had played ("This is the first hand I have played", etc.) and people gave me more credit than I deserved (Q/J, K/10, KQ). So, I was able to continue as I did not have to show any hands. This is the way to play those tournaments, I believe.
Anyway, I am down about $150 when this hand comes up. I am in late position with QQ and raise to $15. Bob Petty, in the big blind, reraises to $35. Now, I know Bob and respect his play, so I instantly know that I am looking at aces or kings as these are the only two hands he would re-raise with, out of position. I just call to see the flop. Beautiful, sort of.....K/Q/10. Bob checks and I bet, hoping that he has aces, but then he raises so I know the range is narrowed to KK or AJ suited only (I don't think he has JJ). I call, fearing the worst. The turn is really ugly, an ace, so when he bets now I am 100% convinced that he is "set over set" ahead of me. I call anyway due to the size of the pot, hoping for my 5 outer (a jack to chop or queen to win). The river? Case queen. Bob bets, I raise, he calls with KK. Nice hand. And I win the $100 backup monte (here is where I feel a little screwed because of Frost's earlier claim on the $256 quad queens), but hey a win is a win.
Finish with a break even day, but lots of hour accumulation towards the freeroll.
Update from this morning, playing in the tournament I place 3rd for a $100 win. Had a chance to beat the chip leader with my all in A/6 vs. J/7, but he spiked a 7. Would have been the leader with that pot. Played exceptionally tight, not playing a single hand until 100/200 blind level and then open shoving. Think I played a total of maybe 10-12 hands the entire tournament and only one call from small blind with A/A heads up, the rest shoves. My shoves incidentally got folds nearly every time as I commented on the lack of hands that I had played ("This is the first hand I have played", etc.) and people gave me more credit than I deserved (Q/J, K/10, KQ). So, I was able to continue as I did not have to show any hands. This is the way to play those tournaments, I believe.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Off To A Good Start
Started my Tri-City visit in fine fashion last night. Got to town about 9 p.m. and headed straight to the Moose. Playing tight and getting some good cards I was up about $70 when the table broke down. I waited for a seat on the main table and immediately lost about $150 when my KK got cracked by 9/10 when a second 9 hit the river. Slightly on tilt I then chased a flush draw to the river and missed. Dang, I hate starting well then getting stuck.
My big hand happened when I min-raised on the button with 6/7 suited (hearts). Lot of callers and the flop came great: Jd/4h/5/h, giving me the open ended straight flush draw. Checked to me, I check behind so as not to blow my chance to hit the Monte. Latif seemed visibly upset that I did not bet, and I was soon to find out why. The turn? 8h, completing my 8 high straight flush. Now Latif comes out betting, $8, which another player also calls, and I call. The river? Great card for me, another jack. Latif bets $10, which I raise to $20, he reraises to $30, and I make it $50, he calls. Latif shows pocket 4's for the full house and I rake the pot plus pick up $218 for the Monte. Sweet. The table breaks down around 1:00 and I leave up over $200.
The morning Moose tournament: After a frustrating morning trying to run some reports at work, I decide to play the 10:00. Good choice, ended up chopping with Clark $175 each. My key hands were a three way all-in their KQ & KJ vs my AA, and finally knocking out the 3rd place player with AQ vs 99, hit both the A & Q. Hope the rest of the week goes as well.
My big hand happened when I min-raised on the button with 6/7 suited (hearts). Lot of callers and the flop came great: Jd/4h/5/h, giving me the open ended straight flush draw. Checked to me, I check behind so as not to blow my chance to hit the Monte. Latif seemed visibly upset that I did not bet, and I was soon to find out why. The turn? 8h, completing my 8 high straight flush. Now Latif comes out betting, $8, which another player also calls, and I call. The river? Great card for me, another jack. Latif bets $10, which I raise to $20, he reraises to $30, and I make it $50, he calls. Latif shows pocket 4's for the full house and I rake the pot plus pick up $218 for the Monte. Sweet. The table breaks down around 1:00 and I leave up over $200.
The morning Moose tournament: After a frustrating morning trying to run some reports at work, I decide to play the 10:00. Good choice, ended up chopping with Clark $175 each. My key hands were a three way all-in their KQ & KJ vs my AA, and finally knocking out the 3rd place player with AQ vs 99, hit both the A & Q. Hope the rest of the week goes as well.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Here Is a Play I Don't Understand
I am dealing last night at the American Legion, playing very tight, won one pot early. The table is weird and very beatable. Massive bluffs for almost all their chips from 4 different players. I want their action. Finally, with blinds at 100/200, I am under the gun with 8/8 and a 2100 chip stack. I thought briefly of shoving, but decided to "just" raise to 600, three times the BB and less than 1/3 my stack. A player two to my left who had donked off his chips once and made a comeback announced "all in" for a total of 2000. With everyone folding to me, the pot now at 100 + 200 + 600 + 2000, for a total of 2900 I decided to call for all but one 100 chip, getting 2900/1400, or around 2/1 on my money figuring it for an either way behind or coin flip and facing both blinds the next two hands with only 7.5 BB's remaining. I am thinking at this point that a shove preflop may have been the better option, but winning 300 while risking 2100 didn't sound attractive.
The player turns over.......KQ offsuit! What a donK!!!! Any thinking player would never reraise all in agains an UTG raiser with that hand. There is literally no hand that I or any halfway decent player would raise with UTG that KQ offsuit would beat. So, you know "the rest of the story", he flops a king, turns a queen, and hits a straight on the river for good measure. I am gone (but still have to sit there and fume and deal until my next to last table breaks down) and the donk goes on to chop first 3 ways. The bright spot in my story, made $30 in tips for dealing so my poker night ended up costing me only $10.
One of the other choppers on the final table, my friend Mike, got super lucky against one of the big stacks twice. He shoved with small pairs both times, 4's and 6's I believe, against the big aces and won both coin tosses.
Another lucky player was Robert who was down to $40 in chips early and came back to cash in 5th or 6th place. He shoved with aces and kings winning both multiway pots and then again with AK which ended up filling up for high hand money as well, worth $66.
s
The player turns over.......KQ offsuit! What a donK!!!! Any thinking player would never reraise all in agains an UTG raiser with that hand. There is literally no hand that I or any halfway decent player would raise with UTG that KQ offsuit would beat. So, you know "the rest of the story", he flops a king, turns a queen, and hits a straight on the river for good measure. I am gone (but still have to sit there and fume and deal until my next to last table breaks down) and the donk goes on to chop first 3 ways. The bright spot in my story, made $30 in tips for dealing so my poker night ended up costing me only $10.
One of the other choppers on the final table, my friend Mike, got super lucky against one of the big stacks twice. He shoved with small pairs both times, 4's and 6's I believe, against the big aces and won both coin tosses.
Another lucky player was Robert who was down to $40 in chips early and came back to cash in 5th or 6th place. He shoved with aces and kings winning both multiway pots and then again with AK which ended up filling up for high hand money as well, worth $66.
s
Thursday, August 4, 2011
It Gets Worse
O.K., I am now officially stuck. Lost almost $20,000 in market today. Poker is looking cheap to me. This has got to stop, another day like this and I liquidate it all and put it under my mattress.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Gambling Losses
I have to make a confession. Over the last week I have lost over $15,000 gambling. Wish that I could say it was at the WSOP, Moose, or Spirit Mountain Casino, but it was not. It was in the stupid ass stock market. Man, I gotta play more poker to cover my losses.
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