Guidelines

It helps me sometimes to follow some simple guidelines.  Notice that I am calling them guidelines and not rules :) Here are a few:

1. Don't chase straights and flushes on a paired board.
2. Flop or drop small pairs
3. Don't call raises with weak aces.
4. Don't shove with weak aces unless under 3 or 4 big blinds.
5. Don't chase the lower end of straights.
6. Play squeaky tight under the gun and early position.
7. Don't limp much, mostly to trap or with small pairs.
8. Complete the blind if there are several limpers with any two cards.
9. If first in the pot on the button, raise.
10. If short stacked and under the gun with 5 big blinds, go all in with any two cards.
11. Don't forget to raise with your draws in late position to get a free card.

Weak Aces

Let's begin by stating that one of my least favorite hands is ace/weak.  Last night at the legion I was constantly being dealt A/2, A/3, A/4, A/5, A/6, A/8.  I played a few of them last night at the Am. Legion tournament, particularly if suited and in position with only limpers.  I did not win a single hand with them.

The players at my table were the usual mix of aggressive donks, passive donks, semi-pros, and competent players.  4 of the original 9 on my table would end up on the final table of 9.

I played pocket aces differently last night than I ever did before.  I had lost about half my chips to John, an excellent player to my left, who called me down fairly light on my double barrelled missed flush draw bluff.  He won the hand with his weak ace (A/8 as I remember it).  When I picked up my aces, I was in the cutoff with only the blinds in the hand.  I decided to "gamble" and just limp with my rockets.  John completed the blind and the big blind checked.  Darn.  Had hoped for a raise somewhere so I could re-raise and isolate.  Anyway, the flop was 8 high and John bet out (he had K/4, and had bet second pair).  I re-raised all-in and he hesitated then called.  I managed to avoid another 4 or a king and made a key double up.  Whew!!!

A few hands later Blake, sitting to my immediate left, next to John, min-raised my big blind with his short stack.  John, the chip leader at the table, called and I called with K/5.  The flop had a 5, I checked, Blake shoved, John folded and I called, having him covered.  He turns over A/A.  Well played dude until the king hits the river.  Player down.  Very similar scenario to my aces, but I managed to avoid the two pair river card.

On to the final table, I am in fairly good shape but there are a few monster stacks in the hands of competent players.  Two of the big stacks self destructed, including a call from 6/6 against my Q/Q, and we got down to 5 players, with 5 spots plus the bubble being paid.  I was the short stack after another shortie tripled up and when the button raised 2.5 x my big blind, elected to shove with my weak ace, A/6.  Had almost enough to elicit a fold, but he was 2nd in chips and feeling frisky with his A/8, also a weak ace.  When he hit his 8 on the flop it was all over for me, finishing 5th for $72, a  $27 profit after buy-in and gratuity.  Oh well, a win is a win. 

Quitting Time

One of the main leaks in many player's game is staying too long either after they get stuck, or when they are up is staying too long in the game.  They either give back their winnings or get stuck further, seldom "getting even".  So, that begs the question, when do we quit?  In my experience, if I buy in for a reasonable amount, say 10 times the big bet ($200 in a 2/20 game), a good time to quit is if I have at least doubled my buy in, or at maximum, tripled it.  My experience is that I seldom continue running up my winnings to more than 4 times the buy in, and often lose back part of the winnings.

They say that you should not quit a good game, that is, one where there are lots of contributors and you are running good.  I say that the game often turns quickly on you and it is just too easy to give back winnings.

On the other side of the coin is the question when to cut your losses.  If I am "min-buying" in to the 2/20 game for $100 or $120, I am willing to lose the initial buy and reload at least once and sometimes twice.  If it is a good game and I am just getting very unlucky but playing well and getting good cards 3 times is acceptable.  I have found that few times am I able to come back from 4 buy-ins to break even, let alone show a profit.

So there you have it.  What is your "threshold of pain"?  What do you call a good win?

  

Back to Back Quads

Playing online tonight, I had back to back quads.  Never done that before.  I was kind of bummed having busted out of two tournaments right before.  The first one I flopped top two pair with my K/J suited.  A player with J/10 got frisky and reraised me all in on his open ended draw and caught on the river.  The second tournament I flopped top pair top kicker with my AK, then lost to trip 9's.  Short stacked I went all in with my A/10 and bumped into.....AK.  Can't win with them, can't win against them.

How can you write about poker when you don't play any poker?

I was not feeling well Friday night so no poker for the week.  There is no poker at the Legion this Friday due to using the area to prep for Christmas baskets.  Play online is not worth talking about, so, here is a cartoon for your amusement.

 

Another Tournament Cash

This time, only 4th place, good for $60.  The hand of the day which would have propelled me to 1st place and eliminated 2 players (one of whom chopped 3 ways) was this:  Jeff shoved a fairly big stack with 4/4 on the button.  I had limped with AJ.  The big blind shoved a smaller stack with A/10.  I tanked and ultimately folded.  Pocket 4's won, but would not have with a jack that came on the river.  Opportunity missed.  I think Jeff would have folded if I had shoved, but I had too big a stack to shove, and he probably would have called or shoved if I had raised.

The unusual pot of the tournament was a shove by Rob with small suited connectors.  Another player called also with suited connectors.  I was in the big blind and called with Q/3 suited.  The board paired with an ace on the flop,  a brick hit on the turn, then the board paired again.  The other players and I thought that I had won with my queen kicker.  Both Rob and the other player got up and left before the dealer split the pot 3 ways.  Rob never returned and it looked as if the other wouldn't either.  A buddy of his chased him down, he returned and ultimately was one of the 3 players to chop.

Seat Reservation for One, Hall Party-Final Table

Tournament life is treating me well lately.  I stayed away from the Moose yesterday as had not slept well the night before and had a lot of business stuff to attend to.  This morning chopped 3 ways after arriving short stacked and in the big blind on the final table.  The button raised almost enough to put me all in, then the small blind shoved.  Before I even looked at my cards, the button mucked.  That helps.  Finding pocket 9's, I called for all my chips.  She turns over AJ suited, and when the board double pairs queens and 7's, I take the pot (the initial raiser said he had A/7, his bad).

From then on, I just stayed out of trouble and coasted to the finish line.  Honestly, I am somewhat surprised anymore when I don't make the final table or cash.

Sunday Tournament Hands

Had my typical bounty tournament experience.  Got exactly two bounties including my own when we did a 3 way chop for $400 each.  How is that even possible?  My true bounty was a great one.  To lead up to it, I was seated at the back table and dismayed to see Jimmer in seat 8.  I really do consider him to be the one of the best players locally and if he got some chips it would be a very tough table.  Also at the table were Ali, who can bluff with the best, Marco, who can play very tricky and solid, Chad, who paid me the ultimate compliment by saying, "Crap, you had to be on my table".  When I asked why, he said, "because you always get my chips".  Nice rep!!!  Kathy, Jimmer's wife was seated to my right, and Heather to my left.  Kathy can play very aggressively while Heather is fairly predictable with very solid hands if she is calling, and monsters if she is raising.  Rob was seated next to Heather. The other players were wild cards for me.

Jimmer played aggressively the first couple of hands, and took them down.  Then, Marco called one of his raises.  Flop was high cards, Marco checks out of position and Jimmer bets.  Marco calls.  Turn is a brick, Jimmer bets bigger (around $800 I think), Marco calls.  River is an ace, Marco says, "All-in", but Jimmer wearing headphones does not hear him, and bets out $1800.  The floor is called and ruled that the $1800 must stay, but he does not have to call the all-in.  He folds, but is now down to about 1/2 original stack.  He recovers some and then I pick up 8/8 in early position (UG +1), I raise 3x blind and Jimmer as well as others call.  Flop is 10 high and I bet around $300, Jimmer raises to $600 and everyone else folds.  I call.  Turn is another small card and I ask Jimmer how many chips he has left.  $1200.  I bet $1200 and he calls.  Good call with 10/7.  Luck however cannot be denied and I spike my 2 outer 8 on the river.  Player down!  I think everyone at the table owed me a big "thank you".

Another noteworthy hand:  Rob goes all in with a short stack and is flat called by Barbara.  Fred (I think that is his name), flat calls, then Marco shoves a fairly large stack, having everyone covered except Fred.  Barbara calls, and Fred goes in the tank.  After much deliberation, he makes the call.  Here are their hands:

Rob:  5/5
Barbara:  7/7
Marco: 10/10
Fred:  Q/Q

No-one hits their pair and 3 players are out.

Later, on the final table, this hand comes up:

Scotty:  6/6 shove
Me:  8/8  fold
Carolyn:  7/7 all-in   (we were seated in that exact order, which is interesting)
Steve:  A/10 call, having everyone easily covered.

Flop is 7/A/x, turn x, river 10

Carolyn takes it all, if I had called would have fallen to Steve's 2 pair as I had her covered (barely).  She donks out shortly thereafter with a preflop shove of her good sized stack with 6/6.  Steve calls with AK and rivers and ace.  I double up through Steve when I got cute 4 handed raising with A/3 suited and him flat calling with A/K.  Flop is low, with a 3 and I shove.  He calls, but no miracle king on the river this time.  If he had re-raised me might have folded, but had about 40% of my stack involved so maybe not. Already being in the money may have gone ahead and gambled.    

Profitable but Unenjoyable

Last night's cash game was painful and marginally profitable.  Mistakes were made that cost me high hand (bet the sole opponent off hand with AK on a flop of AA5.  He bet the flop when I checked, so I called.  On the turn a 10 hit, so thinking I did not want to give a free card that could fill a straight, or fill up a pocket pair, I bet $20.  He folded and the dealer did a rabbit hunt and showed me that I would have hit quads for high hand.  Crap!

The thing that made it painful was not the money, I ended up $101., but it was a loud and obnoxious player.  I even moved to get farther away from him.  Good seat choice, Hendler took the seat and hit quads.  The player was told by the floor to quit talking about an incident (you know the player and the incident...it involved two former employees).  I offended my as I liked the dealers and really dislike playing with this guy.  His final hand that I saw, he bluffed a side pot with 7 high.  The all-in player was an idiot and folded his hand before showdown.  Unbelievable.

Today's morning Moose made the final table but Ali kept snapping me.  I shove with A/J on an ace high flop, he calls with A/4.  The board pairs twice, first the ace then a 9 so we chop.  I shove heads up in blinds with AK suited, he calls with 4/4.  I hit an ace on the flop, pick up the nut flush draw on the turn, then he rivers a 4, but not the 4 of diamonds.  Player down.  Unbelievable.

Moving to the cash game, I play tight until picking up K/K under the gun.  I limp to encourage raisers or plan to bet big if the flop does not contain an ace.  The button makes it 7 to go, Hai calls, and I re-raise to $27.  They both call.  The flop is 9/2/2, I bet $20, the raiser re-raises, Hai calls, I re-raise, he re-raises all in and Hai folds.  I call and see the bad news, pocket 9's.

Moving to the main table, I again get snapped kings, this time with Aaron and Joe in the hand.  Flop is 3/9/J as I remember.  I bet $20, they both call.  turn is another 3, I bet $20, both call.  River is a queen. I check, Joe checks, and Aaron bets $20.  We both call, he has 8/10 for the straight, Joe has trip 3's.  Kings probably cost me over $150 today.

I manage to eke out a $47 profit for the session.   

Flushed Away

Getting ready to play in the Legion tournament tonight I played several sit 'n goes online.  In almost all of them I was flushed away after flopping very strong hands, sets, straights, top/top, etc.  The gamblers won every time, even if it required runner runner to do it.  The last tournament took the cake.  I had ace/king in the big blind while the UTG player raised to 4 times the blinds.  Two other players called, I called and the flop was 4/4/x.  As first to act, I shoved with a small stack and the UTG called while the others folded.  Amazingly, he had A/4 suited and even caught the case 4 on the river. 

Tournament Update

I was expecting a large turnout for the Friday tournament with it being a holiday weekend.  I called in my reservation early and even volunteered to deal table 2 or 3, anticipating 4 full tables.  It was surprising to me that only 19 players showed up.  So, dodging the dealing responsibility got to focus on playing well.  Really unremarkable cards, no big hands for me or anyone else (high hand was won by AAAJJ with the winning hand A/3...there is no requirement to play both cards....he had to be asked to table his hand to post it on the board).  Basically just tried to stay out of trouble and ended up as a short stack on the final table.  Totally card dead, I just let bigger stacks get knocked out and ended up shoving 3 or 4 times and surviving.  With so few players, we paid 4 places (plus bubble).  Managed to finish in 3rd place for a $116 win ($66 after tip and buy-in).  My last hand was a shove with J/J called by the biggest stack with KQ.  They hit the queen on the flop and the king on the turn.  An ace was on the flop, but no miracle 10 or J on the river.

Big Pairs vs. Connectors

I noticed last night that big pairs were not doing well.  One player knocked out with KK vs. A/6, another with QQ vs AK, 10/10 fell to KJ, my JJ to KQ, and there were others.  The lesson learned is that a big pair is only one pair and seldom (once out of 7.5 times) improves to a set, while overcards can win as a pair, and any two cards can make two pair or if connected and/or suited do well as two pair, straight, or flush.  I am seriously rethinking my poker strategy about the hands I am choosing to play against raises.

Keeping Track of Poker Wins

Started recording my poker wins and losses this month.  It is a good practice for both discipline, honesty, and even possibly for taxes (if you can show a loss to offset monte carlo wins).

This is kind of hard to read, but total is $694 net win.  My goal was to earn $1800, but with limited opportunities here on the coast that did not happen.

First Hand Last Hand Amazing Flops

Sometimes the deck just bops you on the head big time.  Last night at the Legion I was fortunate enough not to deal, that freed me up to concentrate on playing poker.  I was a little unhappy about my table draw at first.  Seated in the one seat was a calling station, seat 2 a loose cannon bluffer, seat 3 one of my "nemeses" a loose calling station, seat 4 a calling station, me in 5, a tight player in 6, a wild man good player who has a high bluffing frequency in 7, and the dealer a good tight solid player.  Like I say, kind of a mix and somewhat tough player. 

The very first hand in the tournament I limped in late position with 2/2.  To my surprise, the dealer, a very solid player raised out of the big blind to $125 (blinds were 10/20).  Despite his show of strength, 2 calling stations did what they do best and I called being priced in and in position in the cutoff.  The flop was a monster, 2/2/3 with 2 clubs.  Having flopped the immortals, when the dealer bet $200 and another limper called, I just called.  The turn was interesting, an offsuit 4.  The dealer bet $300 and the limper called.  The river was the gin card for me, the 5 of clubs, completing both a straight and a flush (also a straight flush if you want to see monsters under the bed).  The dealer bet $200, the limper raised to $500 and I pulled the trigger for the all-in bet.  The dealer sighed, mucked his hand (pocket aces), and the limper (my nemesis) thought for a moment, said "I could be going home first again" ....as an aside, he was first out Wednesday night at another tournament.  I replied, "Well, if you call, one of us will".  When he called, showing the A/5 of clubs, I said, "looks like you will".  I proudly posted the high hand of the night (worth $48, as it would hold up) and the player started counting his chips....duh, first hand, we all had the same number.

Making the final table, never really getting too much beyond my stack after the first hand, I was able to make it into 4th place for $100.  My last hand played...going along with the amazing flops theme, I went all in from the small blind with 7000 into the 2nd chip leader who had been doubling up folks (and knocking them out) with his dumb calls and bets the whole time.  He paused momentarily and I thought reluctantly called with his K/10 for about 1/4 of his stack.  I had A/6.  In retrospect I should have just folded or limped (reraising all in if he raised) due to the extreme short stack with only 1.5 big blinds sitting next to me.  However, the difference between 3rd and 4th was only $37????, so I like to go for the win.  The flop was amazing you ask?  K/K/10.  Player down.   

 

Lucky or Good?

To me, one of the classic conundrums in poker...and in life....is the luck vs. skill factor.  I can think of many times in my life when I was just lucky.  You know, being in the right place at the right time.  I have been given many great opportunities, some of them disguised as hard work, but still opportunities not given to everyone.  Some say you make your own luck.  There is some truth in that.  You sometimes cannot "get lucky" unless you choose to gamble.  The thing I keep rubbing my face into is the insane risks that some are willing to take.  The worst odds.  The longshots.  The runner-runners of the world.  The perfect-perfects.

It reminds me of what the guy who I doubled up last Friday said.  "I put you on A/8 or A/9", this after turning over his 7/4 offsuit and my hand being exposed face up.  Duh!!  First of all, if that is the hand you "put me on", then why on earth would you choose that time to shove with two undercards?  He did not have enough chips to force me to fold.  There was no "fold equity" for him.  My mistake was not shoving in early position with my chip stack (less than 10 big blinds), rather than limping.  There was no way he can call with his cards, and I would have picked up the blinds who folded to his 5 big blind bet.  With respect, I can say that the guy is an excellent player, and makes good reads but this play sticks in my mind as unusual and kind of crazy.

Playing Omaha today I kept getting drawn out on by folks who airballed the flop yet called a bet, then picked up a questionable draw on the turn, calling yet another bet.  Then catching the perfect card on the river.  Twice I lost big pots, the first with the flopped nut straight (ace high), then watched as a player catching middle pair went runner runner 9's for a full house.  The second hand, flopped a set and the other player caught a flush draw on the turn and completed it on the river.  What a sick game.  Not even flopping quads one hand saved me from being "stacked".

Probably no poker for me on Friday as I am driving to Portland Thursday to see the kids before they leave for Japan on vacation.  Will drive them to the airport Friday morning and we will see if I am home in time for poker.  Also, Meg & Eva coming to Portland and returning with us to the beach through Thanksgiving.  Looking forward to seeing the little peanut as I call her.

  

Why Me?

Another Friday night dealing at the American Legion.  I almost didn't play, the weather is lousy with heavy rain and wind.  Not a great night to leave the cozy fireplace.

I love it when the donks make a move.  Limping in with my A/9, 2 under the gun, a late position short stack shoved.  Easy call, he turns over 4/7 offsuit.  Nice.  The dealer hates me (it is me dealing), and he (I) bring a 4 on the flop.  The board pairs an overcard on the turn, so I now have 9 outs.  I miss and am now short stacked.

Calling for all my chips with 2/2, another player shoves.  I spike a 2 and fill up on the river.  Now with a decent stack I lose another hand (short stack shoves with Q/Q...I am in big blind with K/2, another player calls with 7/7.  Priced in I call.  Side pot for the rest of my chips goes in on the flop.  Player down.

The most interesting hand I dealt all night was A/J vs. K/K vs. A/A vs. Q/Q  all players were all-in with the ace spiking on the flop and almost a quadruple up.

Nice Hand Online Tonight

Flopped the full house, jacks full of queens, rivered the royal flush.  It was bet by other players the whole way.

Good Omaha Day at Wildhorse

My decision for Tuesday was to go to Wildhorse Casino in Pendleton to either play cash games or the tournament, play in the morning Moose tournament, or do nothing.  I think I made the right decision to play the Omaha 4/8 kill cash game at Wildhorse.  Buying in for $100 I immediately won a couple of hands when "the big one" came up.  There were a couple of aggressive players who raised pre-flop quite a bit, usually with the A/2/XX, so when the first one raised, got a couple of callers, the second one re-raised.  I decided to cap the action with my 3/3/4/Q, not really even a calling hand.  Did I mention this was a kill pot?  So when it got to me, I made it $32 to go, and lots of money already in the pot, just about everyone called to see the flop.  It was a good flop for me with both a queen and a 4.  When the pre-flop raiser bet, I raised.  Everyone called, or it was re-raised (can't remember all the details).  The turn was a brick for the low draws and it was bet again with nearly all calling.  The river, hoping for a 3, I got another 4 instead giving me the "under-full".  Checked to me, I bet and got several callers.  The hand was a scooper and I calculated the pot size as around $300.  It was to be the largest pot of the day and it found a good home in front of me.  I ended up playing until about 3:00 and cashed out for $500.  A very good day of poker.  It sort of made my day when the young kid to my left said, "Sir, you are my hero".       

Barbara and Karma

So much to say, so little time to say it.  Sunday was a great tournament for me.  I chipped up early and often, gathering just one bounty, but short stacking a couple of players.  When we got to the final table I was in great shape, probably 3rd or 4th biggest stack.  As we got down to 4, I suggested a bubble refund which everyone agreed to (Barbara & Rob).  Barbara had the big stack and Rob was close behind.  After a couple of disasters with her, I finally knocked him out.  With the smaller stack I suggested a chop with her getting $30 more.  First paid $540, and second was around $330.  She refused.  O.K. by me, just trying to reduce my variance.  I play a lot of heads up on line and figured I had the advantage (except for luck, which she had in ample supply).  A few hands later I had turned the tables and now had the big stack.  I waited patiently and when she min raised with 8/8, I called on the button with 9/5.  With a 9 high flop, she bet, I raised her all in  and the game was over.  Nice day at the office.  I really feel that Karma was my friend. Oh, and I collected a total of 5 bounties, including Barbara's. 

Sets, Bad Luck, Bad Calls

Usually, flopping a set is a wonderful thing.  It is certainly one of the most powerful hands in poker with not only its power, but its drawing power to the full house or quads.  Give me a set every time and I will crush most games.  This morning, I called a small blind raise from the button with 4/4 and was rewarded with the flopped set.  He bet, I called.  He checked, I went all in he called with K/K.  Player down as he failed to improve.  Ended the tournament on the final table bubble in 11th place when I made a bad call.  In the small blind with KJ, the button min-raised from his big stack.  I called, and a limper also called.  The flop came 9 high, I checked and the limper shoved.  The button said, "you stole my move", and folded.  I had about 1800 left with 300/600 blinds, so I called saying, "I have nothing but 2 overcards".  He sheepishly turned over his A5 no pair, one overcard which was good enough to win the pot and eliminate me as we both failed to pair up.  Bad call, but with only 3 blinds left it was a calculated gamble.  Reviewing my play of this hand, I either should have folded preflop or shoved.  Calling as I did, it would have been a great position as first to act to go ahead and shove (stop & go play) as it would have put the weak ace in an awkward position with the initial raiser yet to play.  I was ahead of the initial raiser's range probably 75% of the time and would have won the hand.

So, then playing some online Omaha, I flopped 4 sets in a row!!!!!  And lost with every one of them!!!!  A straight beat me each time on the river as I could not buy a paired board.  Then, my last hand, I turn the nut flush.....and the board pairs on the river to beat me with a full house.  Go figure.

This week is the Pendleton Round Up.  I am planning to play the $215 buy in Saturday NL holdem.  Will see how I do and perhaps play either the seniors or the Omaha next week. 

Talking Stick

Here is a quick recap of my Arizona poker tournament at the talking stick resort.  First off, thanks to my high school buddy Don for the good company and ride to the casino.  What an awesome poker room!  47 tables, computerized check in (take note, Crazy Moose).  Spreading every imaginable game, but unfortunately Don & I busted out a few minutes apart and we were too bummed to play more.  The structure was great, 20 minute blinds, 7500 starting chips, and after break, 30 minute blinds.  I had some ups and downs, running into a couple of monsters, including slow played kings against my AJ, top pair, top kicker flop.  Also hit a set of 5's on the turn against my ace king preflop raise.  My downfall came with my short stack (5.5K, with blinds @ 500/1000...me in big blind).  An early position raiser had one caller with his 2500 raise.  I had AK suited, but was not in a good spot to shove having no "fold equity".  I elected to flat call and shove on any flop (the old "stop & go" play).  The flop was 8/9/x with 2 hearts.  Shove away!!!!  The initial raiser folded, and the limper called with KQ of hearts.  The turn was a dagger in my heart, a Queen.  My heart then soared like an eagle when an ace hit the river.....but then fell like a rock when I saw it was the ace of hearts.  Player down.  A victim of being a short stack as much as anything else. 

Variance

Thinking about variance today.  Both in life and in poker (is there really any difference?).  I think my life has revolved around avoiding variance.  I really do hate those poker games where there is a ton of pre-flop raising and re-raising.  Even with great starting hands, you can be destroyed by a bad flop.  Entering a lot of these big pots can quickly destroy your bankroll, or on the other side of it, build a huge stack.  The problem is the big variance, or swing in your fortunes.  I much prefer a more steady game, with few raises early which gives you a chance to see more flops, evaluate your hand, and actually give or accept correct pot odds.

On another topic, after hearing about the table changes at the Crazy Moose, I am thinking about not playing there anymore.  It is sort of like my little private club (cozy atmosphere) has been invaded by the masses.  I really don't like playing poker on the table games layout, even if only for a while in a tournament.  What I really do hate is the slow deterioration of the poker room....from 4 tables, to 3, and now 2.  Also, I have been hating the 2/20 spread game for a while.  I used to be a much more consistent winner at the 3/6 and 4/8 games.  Also, if that were not enough, I also am not happy about the increased rake.  Add to that the bingo mentality of the monte carlo board "had to play my suited 2/3 because the straight flush pays $500".  So, your aces get crushed because the idiot played them, and then you could not protect against his draws with a big bet because of the spread odds.  Great.

I am not crazy about Jokers, and the same is more true about the Lucky Bridge.  Jokers does have some good structure tournaments however, and I may restrict myself to tournaments only at both casinos (except of course for the Omaha game).  

Final Table Dealing

 

For the first time in several years, I was asked to deal the final table.  This decision's main ramification is that you are stuck there until the tournament ends, usually about 11:30.  Way too late for this old guy!!!  But, there were 33 players signed up and tips would be good (FT dealer gets 50%), so I said, "Okeydokey".  I ended up going out around 18th (lost 1/2 my chips against what I believe was a massive bluff), and then the rest on a blind vs. blind with my A/10 suited shove against K/5 offsuit.  He flopped a 5, I turned a 10, he rivered a 4 card flush with his 5.  Sigh, some days just go like that.  I dealt several major suckouts, including another 4 card flush on the board, a 4 card straight that busted a flopped set.

So, I went home late, tired, and richer by $18 after my buy-in.  Could have been worse I guess.

Omaha

I want to talk a little about my favorite poker game, Omaha 8.  I have frequently said that if I could play Omaha at every casino that I would never play another hand of Texas Hold'em.  I have several reasons for this.  First, it is a more complex game, thus relying more on skill.  For example, the number of possible distinct starting hands in hold 'em is 1326, but discounting suits, there are only 169.  In Omaha, there are 270,725, and leaving out suits, 16,432.  So, you can immediately see that you seldom see the same exact starting hands, unlike hold'em. This requires more critical thinking before deciding to play a hand.  That said, the pots in Omaha are usually pretty large due to loose pre-flop play and the large number of interesting looking starting hands.  It is not unusual to have 6 or 7 players in a pot, sometimes to the river.  There are always pot odds working either for or against you, and the river is unusually brutal (or generous).  Drawing hands are sometimes more powerful than made hands, and you can lose or win half the pot anytime during the hand.  To me, the keys to winning at this game are starting with reasonable hands, analyzing the possibilities after the flop, not chasing when the board is obviously scary, and saving that river bet or call as often as possible.

So, after playing probably 100's of thousands of hands, what is my advice for the novice Omaha player?

1.  Discard the junk hands.  These include those with a dangler (a card that doesn't fit with the other 3 cards).  Also unplayable are middle cards, even those in sequence.  This particularly applies to 9/8/7, which are called "pirates", presumably because they steal your chips.  I am not a fan of ace/5 or bigger, unless suited ace and a couple of cards that work together.  For instance A/5/K/J, single or double suited is playable, while A/5/9/Q non-suited is not.

2.  Premium starting hands always include an ace, with A/A/2/3 double suited being the best starting hands in most opinions.  I particularly like 4 cards below a 6, while I really love any A/small with a 6.  I will even play these with a "dangler", like a jack.  The reason is, the 6 gives you the option of a 3/4 pot.  Imagine the action you get with an A/2/6/x on a flop of 3/4/5.  You may get jammed and re-jammed by other A/2 hands, but end up chopping the low and hogging the high.

3.  I like, and will play, hands containing 2 high cards and 2 low cards.  Many people will not, but 2/3/10/J can make many nut hands.

4.  Sometimes "taking one off" will yield very good results.  You must evaluate your hand for drawing potential when the "perfect" card comes on the turn.  Since it is a less expensive street, I find it sometimes possible to call a bet, but usually not a bet and raise.

5.  The river changes everything in Omaha.  You can go from a hogger to nothing or a chopped pot with one card.  I find that it is usually best to fold when the action is heavy unless I have a nut hand on the high or low side.  If it is THE nut hand on the high, this is when you can dearly charge the lows and second nuts.

6.  I quit chasing anything except nut low when the board is paired.

7.  A flopped straight or 2 pair almost never works out well.  You can bet, or raise but with many callers you are treading a mine field against the flopped sets and flush draws, not to mention the low draws.

8.  Small pairs are playable, but you have to be very cautious about making the underfull or smaller set.  Best not to be too aggressive with them, better to check call.  Eights are my favorites of the small pairs.  Don't ask.  I just tend to flop sets more often with them, and they have enough high card strength to crush smaller sets.  Also, you are often going to lose half the pot, since an eight is essential for low hands.  But, if you are playing a couple of low cards too.........

9.  The worst situation, the one that costs me the most money is being sandwiched between a nut low and a made high (which I have a draw against...like a straight or flush with my set).  Even though it may be a huge pot, I must remind myself that I am only playing for 1/2 most of the time.  The absolute worst situation is having 2 nuts  both high and low that you cannot force yourself to muck.  Imagine sitting with 2/4/K/Q suited king.  The flop is A/3/10, two of your suit.  Great, you have nut nut draws as a 5 will give you the wheel, a jack gives you the straight.  In it to win it.  Now the turn brings a 6.  It is bet and raised to you.  Wow, nut low.  River is a 2.  You lose to the 6 high straight from the 4/5 who hogs the pot.  The other player turns over 2/4/10/10.  You were playing for a chop on the low and a 3 outer on the high.  Great.

10.  Most players play too many hands.  That said, I am in about 65% of the pots.  Many players would say that is too high, but given the limpfest, you are playing virtually all blinds and buttons, so that is a third of the dealt hands.  Position is not king like in hold'em, but it is still important.  Much better to see the action from last position.

11.  Another unplayable hand:  trips (even aces, unless your 4th card is a 2 or 3 suited).  You will seldom have more than a pair.  You are drawing to one out for a set.

Hope this helps.  I highly recommend playing Omaha on a free site like pokerstars.net.  You can gain experience and it is fun. 

Coin Flips, Jabba the Hut & Getting Your Money In Good

I like to think that I usually, and that is a big usually, get my money in good.  For me, that means entering a coin flip situation with the pair, rather than with the over-cards.  On Friday night I was not running too well.  I won one nice pot with a turned aces up.  The person driving the betting reminded me of Jabba the Hutt on Star Wars.  He had a sneer on his face as he kept winning pots with massive bluffs.  He played virtually every hand, usually raising with some real crap...think K/3 offsuit, with which he rivered a straight, naturally using the 3.  He was able to get away from his hand when I bet big on the turn due to two flush draws on the board.  Opportunity missed as I believe he would have donked off more chips to me if I had checked.

Down to 2 tables, and 13 players, I was short stacked with a little more than 5 big blinds when I picked up 8/8 in early position.  Easy shove decision.  The big blind, a shorter stack, called with A/Q.  A queen showed up on the river to put me down to 1-1/2 blinds.  With most of my chips in the pot with the BB, the small blind raised me all-in with A/6 vs. my J/5 suited.  I called.  He hit a six on the flop, an ace on the turn, and rivered another ace for the high hand of the night.  Player down.  I did not get them all in with the best hand, but was only a 60/40 dog.  I watched another short stack shove the hand before with 4/4 and triple up when her callers failed to pair.  This game is unfair at times.

The big bluffing player?  Glad you asked.  He redrew a seat on my table when we broke the third table.  He was one of the first out despite his big stack.  Han Solo would be proud.  

Bluffing and Showing

I would like to throw out the topic of bluffing this morning.  We all do it sometimes, some with lots more frequency than others.  It is necessary to bluff in order to win some hands (those flush or straight draws that don't arrive), and sometimes it is dictated by our chip stack, our table position, and/or our table image.  Here are some nuggets I would like to pass on, and ask for the readers' input. 

 Do you ever show a bluff?  This is a subject for some serious discussion.  One school of thought says that you should never show a bluff as this allows for successful future bluffs.  Another school says that "advertising" a bluff can pay off nicely for you when you want a call.  To me, the quandary is the fact that while never showing keeps your opponents guessing, showing a bluff gets those calls you may want, but also may result in calls you don't want.  This happened to me a couple of months ago when I showed a massive bluff to a frequent bluffer (Dougy Fresh) who called me down very light when I had a strong hand, and then caught a miracle card on the river.  I believe that he would have folded except for the fact he had seen my earlier bluff.  I am leaning now towards the never show school.  This is true for about 99% of the hands.  Keep them guessing, show only when required, as in all-in situation or to win the pot.

 

I believe that we all bluff much more often than we think we do.  An example is when we raise after multiple limpers with a small pair, say 6's.  While we do indeed have a "made" hand, we are in no better than a coin flip with almost any other hand.  Thus, we are semi-bluffing at best.  While this is not a true bluff, as that would imply having "nothing", when we bet with bottom pair, or with ace high, we sometimes have the best hand, but more often than not are actually bluffing.  I personally prefer to check these hands down as they have quite a bit of showdown value and if you are called, you are beat.  Also, if you are raised then you must fold which takes away from the showdown value you enjoyed.

 

I have noticed several players in the cash game betting big when checked to in last position after the flop.  Say, a $20 bet into a $10 pot.  I am very tempted to check raise these players, as I believe that they have nothing or maybe an unimproved small pair.  What do you say?  Bluff or "semi-bluff"?  Waiting to do this with top pair or maybe a pair with only one over-card on the table.

 

Frequency of bluffing.  The reason the infamous 2/7 or my previous favorite, 2/3, is such a good bluffing opportunity is the frequency with which you are dealt these cards.  That is why K/9 or J2 also works.  It is not the card strength, but just your commitment to bluff that makes it work.  On the whole, I would prefer to use k9 as my bluff cards, as they have so much more pure high card strength.  We all gain attachments to certain combinations of cards due to our history with them.  We remember the huge pot we won when the monster flop hit us right between the eyes.  All told, I think that we need to bluff with infrequency, but using some outside measure.  Say, at 5 minutes before the hour, or third hand dealt by the new dealer.  Regular, but random.  That way, we are not influenced by other factors.

 

Nuff Said

 

This was my 4th Royal Flush online, 2 in cash games.  Note chip count, bought in for $400.

Ace King Rules

It is not often that you see it, but in today's Morning Moose, ace king won every single time.  It was an amazing sight to see player shove with it, get multiple callers and win.  One big pot was won with two callers both having AQ.  I got my money in good on a raise from a big ace, caller with Q/3 suited, and my 5/5.  Flop was J/6/5, with two clubs.  Big ace shoves, called by the suited cards (clubs), and of course by my set.  Runners brought a straight to the flush draw using his 3.  Player down, but not me as had chipped up earlier.  Later in the tournament I had the pleasure of calling his short stack out of my big blind with Q/9 and hitting two pair despite his rivering the ace.  Revenge is sweet after all!!  Queen nine was very good to me, knocking out Dirt Farmer with Q9 suited.  Helps to flop the flush.

We ended up doing a 5 way chop for $136 each.  I was second in chips, but with only 7 big blinds it seemed prudent.  I will take a $100 net win any day of the week.

All Quiet

My apologies for no posts this week. We enjoyed a visit from our long time friends, Ron and Linda Lincoln, and just too busy to get on the computer (besides, Ron was borrowing it to stream a pool tournament).  We had a great time and are now in Seattle to visit the baby.  On to the Tri-Cities tomorrow for the week. 

Legion Cash

It has been a long time since I have cashed in the Legion tournament, but finally broke the dry spell last night.  Volunteered to deal table 2, which worked out to a $30 tip at the end of the night.  Placed 6th for $67 win, so after my $40 buy in and $5. tip, worked out to be a $52 win.  I dealt the high hand which never had any competition (even quad aces later) a royal flush in spades.  He tipped me extra, a free drink token.

In attendance from the Tri-cities were Aaron and Stan.  They had come to the coast to do some work on Aaron's house in Rockaway.  I had told them about the tournament last week.

The Comeback Kid

Let me begin by saying that once I get "stuck", I usually find it impossible to make a comeback.  Today I bought in for my usual $100, played for several hours with little variance, then finally lost it.  I then did a short buy for $40, losing that too.  Determined not to leave a juicy game (Tony, Thuy, Penny, Doug, etc.), I bought in for another $60.  Tony was crushing the table, had about $700 in front of him, hitting every flop turn or river, but I could see all of that going away.  Thuy was into it for at least $400-500, but of course never stopped playing her ultra aggressive game.  I lost that $60 in a multi-way pot with J/J vs. 8/8 vs. Q/5 suited (plus another folded hand on the river).  Janny flopped a set, the flush hit his hand on the river, and I was felted yet again.

My poker bankroll gone, and most of my cash, I bought in for one last short buy of $40.  I was determined to either fight my way back or leave with that loss.  Miraculously, I won a pot that got me back to $100, then another that put me almost even.  As you know, poker players never leave when they are even.  I kept playing, won a huge pot and another decent sized ones, finally cashing out for $509, for a $269 win.  It is so nice to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.  Tony?  Oh yes, I watched him lose the last of his chips before leaving the room.  Thuy left too.

I leave for the beach tomorrow, up about $300 for my week and a half of "adventures in pokerland".

Dear Mom, Funny writing to you from prison

Yesterday I felt like the new guy in prison.  You know, meeting my new BFF's in the shower room, playing "drop the soap".  Wow.  My Omaha game was going so well, at first.  Up about $150 early, I get involved with an Omaha newbie who is constantly being explained how pots are split, which hands are best, even how much money to put in the pot.  So, playing an A/3/9/9, the flop is pretty darn sweet, A/A/3.  You can tell the newbie is excited, wanting to know how much he can raise my bet (with one other limper who is chasing low).  He raises, I reraise, he caps it.  The turn brings another 3.  Fine with me when we cap again.  He runs out of money on the river, and it is a queen.  He scoops the pot with his A/Q.  He thought he had the full house on the turn.  Sick.

I get rivered twice by one of my least favorite players, "Mr. Tight", who "only plays the nuts".  Except someone forgot to tell him that he was only chasing the nuts.  I flopped a set, he chased to the river and caught a straight.  Then, I flop a straight, he flops two pair and fills up on the turn.  He sneakily checked the turn, expecting me to bet, but I checked behind to disappoint his check raise plan.  I called the river, but could have folded just as easily.  Ended up stuck $90 and very disappointed.  If any of those hands had held up would have at least broken even.

Gluten Free (at last)

On an entirely different note, I would like to sing the praises about my gluten free diet.  It was not begun as a weight loss diet, however that has been one of the many benefits.  I began it because I stumbled on an article written by the guy who invented the south beach diet.  He claimed that many of his clients did not want to move on from the initial phase of the diet which excluded wheat products and sugar because they felt so much better.  On further study he found that about 15% of us are gluten intolerant. 

More than 55 diseases have been linked to gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. It’s estimated that 99% of the people who have either gluten intolerance or celiac disease are never diagnosed.

If you have any of the following symptoms it could be a sign that you have gluten intolerance:

1. Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea and even constipation. I see the constipation particularly in children after eating gluten.

 

2. Keratosis Pilaris, (also known as ‘chicken skin’ on the back of your arms). This tends be as a result of a fatty acid deficiency and vitamin A deficiency secondary to fat-malabsorption caused by gluten damaging the gut.

 

3. Fatigue, brain fog or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten.

 

4. Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Scleroderma or Multiple sclerosis.

5. Neurologic symptoms such as dizziness or feeling of being off balance.

 

6. Hormone imbalances such as PMS, PCOS or unexplained infertility.

 

7. Migraine headaches.

 

8. Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. These diagnoses simply indicate your conventional doctor cannot pin point the cause of your fatigue or pain.

 

9. Inflammation, swelling or pain in your joints such as fingers, knees or hips.

 

10. Mood issues such as anxiety, depression, mood swings and ADD.

 

Anyway, after giving it a trial, I am off gluten forever.  I feel great, problems gone and am now a "gluten free evangelist".  My wife bumped into an old acquaintance at the the beach who recently discovered his intolerance and says it "changed his life".

I Am So Upset...I Am Going to the Moose

Before I get into my poker bad beats (2 involving trip queens), I have a marvelous story to tell you.  Playing in the cash game today, an older tournament regular lady calls a fairly good sized bet preflop.  On the flop, heads up, she checks to him and he grabs a stack of red chips and she immediately folds her hand.  He then throws two white chips across the line.  I laugh out loud, and say "good one, man".  She then rips into me, and the dealer, as she claims he moved all the chips over the line, which he definitely did not.  They argued for a while, I just shut up and listened.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorow/3649554903/

 

 

(YOU MUST CLICK THE ABOVE LINK...  after reading below....YOU WILL LOL, LMAO, ROLF)


After a bit, she went broke, as she nearly always does, and as she left, came over to me, laid her hand on my shoulder and said, "You were very rude to me, and I am emotionally upset anyway today.  You probably did not know that my mother just died".  I apologized, saying of course I had no way of knowing that.  After she left I commented that "now I have heard everything at the poker table".  She was so full of grief that she......came down to the Moose and played poker.......Good Grief!!!!  I thought the story was so funny that I called my own mother and told her about it, reassuring her that I will be rending my clothing and be too grief stricken to get out of bed when she passes.  She assured me that she would not interrupt her bridge game for me, and that I probably would play poker.  Good to know that compassion runs deep in the family.

Golf joke:  A foursome is playing when a funeral procession passes by the golf course.  One of the players pauses, takes off his hat and bows his head for a moment.  One of the other players asks if he knew the deceased.  He replies, "We were married for over 40 years".

Now to the beats.  Have been continuing my success in getting to the final table, including the deepstack on Friday night, and two Saturday tournaments.  Finally broke my streak today, going out with 3 tables still full.  The hands I busted out on Friday and today were very similar.  Friday we were down to 7 players, I was sitting good, 3rd in chips with about $60,000 or so.  With blinds at 1/2000, I checked my option in the big blind with one limper and the small blind completing.  I had Q/10.  The flop was awesome, Q/Q/7 with 2 clubs.  Not wanting to give a club draw good chasing odds, I bet 10,000 after the small blind checked to me.  The limper folded and the small blind called.  We had been sitting together the entire tournament, and were friendly.  He was the only player not willing to chop as someone had suggested.  I took him for kind of a tournament rooky as he said he didn't get much chance to play.  After my bet, and his call, he commented something about a flush draw.  Obviously, I am never betting a flush draw here so I assumed that he might be on one.  The turn brought a harmless 2, and he checked again.  I then bet 20,000 and he went into the tank, muttering about flush draws.  I thought he was going to fold but instead he went all in.  He was one of the two players having me covered.  I reasoned that there is no way he had a better kicker or he would not have tanked.  I called.  He turned over Q/5 offsuit.  Awesome.  When I win this hand, will have over 1/3 of all chips in play.  River is a 5 and I am gone.  Unbelievable.

Fast forward to today.  I am on a wild table.  A player doubles up the very first hand on a flush draw...A/9 vs. K/9 suited on a 9 high flop.  He hits his flush and doubles up.  We later have back to back AA vs. KK all-ins which result in 2 eliminations.  I short stack with KK vs J/9 on a 7/8/10 flop.  The table is a nightmare of match ups.  The big stack double up loses with KK vs AK vs JJ when the 3 way all-in flop is J/J/X.  Very sick indeed.

My hand is Q/9 suited on the button against a 200 bet (blinds 50/100) with 2 callers in front of me.  The flop is Q/Q/x, and when the original bettor checks, followed by one player, the other bets fairly large, maybe 1800.  Without giving it enough thought, I re-raise all-in.  One of the players comments, "guess you are sorry you bet", he responds, "Nope, I call" as he turns over K/Q.  I, unlike my lucky friend on Friday, am unable to find my 3 outer 9 on the river and am eliminated.  Where the heck is karma hiding out?

End of the day financial report:  Tournament buy-in  $60, Free play win $15, Cash game win, $100, net win for the day $55.

Way to go Lynne!!!  Winner-winner, chicken dinner.

           

Fun Fact

Here is a fun fact.  Of the last 12 tournaments I have played in, have made the final table on 11 of them.  I think that I am playing well, but not getting lucky too often when it counts.  Thursday's results show what I can do with some decent luck (and cards too).  Here is an online tournament that I made the final table, but short stacked.  Ended up going out in 8th place on a big blind shove bluff.

 

 

 Only top 3 made the big tournament final for a televised event (several hundred in final).

Update on the MM.  42 players, came in 6th place (bubble).  Yet another final table, but nothing to show for it.

Worst Drivers in The World plus McCain Poker

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/09/05/mccain-poker-syria-hearing-conan-letterman-leno-stewart/2770115/

O.K., some have accused me of having a "poker addiction".  Well, at least I am not playing online while discussing the ramifications of bombing a country and plunging us into WWIII.  Seriously.

Just a quick note regarding the Tri-Cities drivers.  ARGGGGGH, WTF, GOOD GRIEF!  Yesterday I witnessed 2 cars running very red lights, walking kids crossing against a light (and I might add, taking their strolling sweet time about it)....guess they are future drivers.  Today, a woman stopped like 4 car lengths back from the street (exit from 397 onto Court), and blocked multiple drivers from taking the free right turn.  A recent survey said the Washington D.C. drivers were the worst in the nation, but I beg to differ.  I will put my homies up against anyone, anytime, anywhere.  They are that bad.

Quick poker note:  played the MM and chopped 1/2 with Gerry for $245 ea. (2 full tables plus 8 alternates).  Sweet....and I was chip leader by about 4K.  To add to my winnings, the guy sitting next to me on the 1st table gave me his free play, and I won both hands.

Would It Be Too Much to Ask?

Would it be too much to ask to get just a little luck sometimes?  Playing in the "Morning Moose", hereafter to be referred to as the "MM", I started off very well, with K/K as my first hand.  I raised and am re-raised by an older player who was playing for the first time.  This can spell trouble, so I just flat called.  The flop was low, and the player bet out.  I raised and he called.  Turn brought a 10, he checked, I bet, he folded.  Good start.

Making the final table, with blinds at 300/600, I had about 4000 in chips.  Recognizing that I am now a short stack, I raised to 1800 UTG, with K/Q off-suit.  I am re-raised, all-in, by a player who I have covered by 700.  I call.  He shows A/J, so I am behind, but live cards.  Flop is awesome, with queen high.  My joy is quickly squashed when an ace hits on the turn.

Now in the big blind for all but $100, a player goes all-in, another player comes over the top of him, the small blind calls for all of his chips, and I discover 7/7.  I call.  With everyone in, we turn over our cards and as expected, I am the only one with a pair.  But, there is a minefield out there, with nearly every face card represented, A/10, A/Q, K/3 (really, small blind?).  The turn is 6/x/3, turn 6, river 3.  The side pot is taken by A/Q, the K/3 takes the main pot.  Sick. 

Socially Redeeming Value?

Legion update:  dealt, $27 tip, 1st out on final table (9th place).  'Nuff said.

I have been thinking about gambling some due to an email I received from an old friend.  Let me begin by saying that they were a'gin it due to family history.  I proceeded to give my defense of it, including the arguments of game of skill, managing and playing within my bankroll, enjoyment, limited loss in tournaments, etc.  The more I have been thinking the more I see the huge problems I witness almost daily when playing.  I personally know three people whose lives have been destroyed by gambling (but not poker).  On the other hand, I know more people whose lives have been wrecked by alcohol and/or drugs.  Let's just say that addictive behavior is problematic.

I think we all recognize some of the people in the casino who should not be gambling.  The guy who is young, working, and playing in the middle of the day, the woman who consistently loses....large amounts, the guy who is trying to get away from a bad situation at home, the poor folks literally playing with the rent money.

When I kept careful track of my wins/losses, I was apparently a winning player.  My total win or loss over my entire career probably would not buy or lose a decent used car.  But, that is not really the point.  What is important long run is how your habit may affect your character and your relationships.  I like to think that poker is my "social hour", though we all know it is much more than an hour.  I have made many friendships around the poker table, and with a lack of other contacts, that is a good thing.  Having an addictive personality I probably could have channeled the last few years more productively into business, exercise, reading, writing, or something more socially acceptable and redeeming.  But as my little sister says, "It is what it is".

All of this reminds me of a joke I heard recently.

A woman sees a man smoking and decides to educate him.
Woman:  How many packs of cigarettes do you smoke a day?
Man:  About 3
Woman:  How much does each pack cost?
Man:  Around 5 dollars.
Woman:  How many years have you been smoking?
Man:  Ten years, why?
Woman:  Well, if you would've saved all the money from buying cigarettes you could have bought a Lamborghini by now.
Man:  Wow!  Do you smoke?
Woman:  No.
Man:  Then where's your Lamborghini?

Feeling All Twerked Out

Rainy day at the coast.  All of my projects are outdoors ones like painting.  Guess I will just have to sit by the fireplace and play online poker all day (boo-hoo).  Makes me feel all twerked out.  Am I using the word correctly (LOL)?  Have heard it a lot on t.v. lately. 

Playing in a larger than normal limit Omaha game today I ripped the table a new one.  The players were surprisingly bad, chasing straights, flushes with the board paired, and chasing low draws when only one low card flopped.  Read some great articles about Omaha and am trying to improve my game so I can try the higher limit games next time I am in Vegas.....which if I have my way.....which I usually do......will be sometime in the next couple of months.  Had to turn down an invite from one of my local friends in early September due to work requirements.  His wife was out of town and he wanted to go mid week.  Could have done it if it had been the weekend.

One more day till the Legion tournament.  Planning on a repeat of last week.  Then, on to Seattle on Sunday and Tri-Cities on Monday.  Looking forward to everything, especially seeing "The Peanut", Eva.

Visiting the tooth fairy.  Hope she doesn't turn out like Miley. 

Why Do I Have Such Horrible Problems (1st World Variety)

1.  The battery on my cell phone is low and I am trying to play poker online.

2.  The ice cream is almost finished in my freezer.

3.  There are no movies on HBO that I want to watch.

4.  I occasionally drop calls on my 4G smartphone.

5.  The coffee shop I go to is closed on Wednesdays.

6.  My hot water in the shower takes a few minutes to warm up.

7.  I am totally out of brie.

8.  None of my friends have posted anything interesting on facebook today.

9.  It's a little rainy today in the resort beach community I live in.

10.  The recycling machine wouldn't give my credit for some of my empty beer bottles.

11.  My espresso machine is making some funny noises.

12.  They didn't offer me free refills for my chai at the Indian restaurant we ate at yesterday.

13.  Someone had an auto accident on the highway yesterday and I had to take a detour.

14.  Had to walk all the way to the basement to get another roll of toilet paper.

15.  My bank changed names so all of my checks look incorrect.

16.  Not all of the kernels popped in the big bowl of popcorn I fixed last night.

17.  My favorite tv shows are still on summer reruns.

18.  My view of the ocean is partially blocked by a new house.

19.  I ordered pizza, now I have to put on pants.

20.  There's nothing to drink at home except an endless supply of clean fresh drinking water.

21.  I am only getting one bar of coverage with my new 4G phone in the bathroom.

22.  My wallet won't close, there's too much money in it.

23.  I want food from the back of the fridge, but it's blocked by food in the front.

24.  Tried to carefully open the cereal bag but tore a huge opening down the side.

So This is What Running Good Looks Like. King of the Legion.

Finally, running very good at the American Legion.  As usual, I am dealing table 2 to cut my expenses with the dealer tip fund.  I am distracted, not playing as well as I could as evidenced by my brain fog on one hand.  I raise pre-flop with K/K and am called by K/10 (can you tell he might be in some trouble?).  The flop is K/8/8 and the player leads fairly large into me.  I count my chips, I have him covered and figure he is pot committed so I re-raise all-in which he insta-calls.  I figure him for an 8 and am very happy to see his hand.  The turn is another 8, and the river a blank.  I get all pissed off and start chopping the pot when another player points out that I have the overfull.  Duh!  Never would have had that brain fart if I was not dealing.  Player down.

All told, had pocket kings three times last night, winning all three, and knocking another player out on the final table with my K/K vs Q/Q.  Ended up with a three way split of $225 each and the best part, my $20 tip at the end came back to me as my dealer tip!!!  Ended up knocking 3 players out, 2 on the final table and had 2nd most chips after being the short stack at the start of the FT.  Had AK several times and several pocket pairs.  Makes a huge difference when your great hands hold up and you are actually getting some good starting hands.

Dealing with our Addictions (Poker included)

Showboat

Great classic song in a classic movie.  Got hooked last night and had to watch to the end.  This was the original version from 1936.  It is considered a masterpiece, and one of the best adaptations from a stage play ever.  The racial and interracial themes are pretty amazing for this time.  Pretty choppy by today's standards, and the acting is....interesting, but somehow is totally compelling.  I wanted to add one of my favorite songs, "Lovin' Dat Man of Mine", but they disabled the embedding on youtube, so you will just have to go to this link instead:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5WEQ8j1Me0

There are like a million versions of this on youtube, so take your pick from Annie Lennox to Ella Fitzgerald or Barbra Streisand.  Also, you get to see Hattie McDaniel in an early movie.

Now sleep deprived and with a headache I have tasks to do.  Have a good day.
 

S'more Poker Jokes

Poker jokes are like butt cracks- everyone has one and they all stink.

Q: What does a poker player eat for dinner?
A: Whatever his comp card allows him to.

 What is poker hell like? A limit game at 9:00 AM.

Besides lovemaking and singing in the shower, there aren’t many human activities where there is a greater difference between a person’s self-delusional ability and actual ability than in poker.
-Anonymous

In a book store:
“I am looking for the book named 'How to win easily and fast with poker.'
Clerk says: “Please check the science fiction section.”

I couldn't hit a river if I fell out of the boat.

A Disturbing Week

This week was going so well.  Picked up my sisters-in-law on Monday and enjoying a visit, looking forward to entire family coming this weekend.  Then, I receive a very disturbing email from my lessee on our commercial property.  They have been on a lease with option to purchase for the past 7 years.  They have been successful in their business, improved the property by adding an addition, and made a substantial down payment.  Trouble was on the horizon when their balloon payment came due in May.  They were unable to obtain financing, so I granted an extension for 6 months with their assurance that they would be able to make it happen by then.  On Tuesday I received an email informing me that they were going to move their operation to Portland and close the store in September.  I am now back to square one, albeit with some money and a better building.  I am now weighing my options, which include:  selling the building, leasing the building, or re-opening my old business there with some changes.  I am not excited about running a seasonal business in a resort town again, but it may be my only option.  The cost of keeping a building is fairly cheap with utilities taxes and upkeep, but it is a constant drain on my resources. 

Pocket Jacks & C-Bet Pro Advice

Source: www.foxnews.com via Filadog on Gentlemint

Testicle biting fish may be invading Denmark.  Places I have taken off my "want to visit" list:  Denmark

 

Exceptions to the "no cash game rule"

Every rule should have an exception, right?  I have been determined this week to play only in tournaments and stay the hell away from the Moose cash game.  Mission sort of accomplished.  Played in 3 tournaments Friday (8 & 10 a.m. Moose, then the 3:00 Jokers).  Made the final table all three times, but only got money bubble $40 at Joker's.  What was bad, was that they chopped after I was eliminated for $240 each.  The hand I lost was K7 on the button, flop was K/10/7.  Small bet from SB there is a flush draw, I shove, he calls with K/10.  How sick is that?  The worst part was that I stayed in the tournament so long that I lost my seat in the Omaha game.  Fearing that I would not get a seat....and yes I know this is a cash game.....was ready to leave but stayed and chatted with a player that I had not seen for a while.  Then a seat opened up and bought in for $200.  The usual suspects were playing, Dougie Fresh, old Bob, my friend Bob, Matt the dealer, Evan, and a couple of others I recognized.  I lost about $20 early on, but from there it was nothing but win.  The manager, Steve, even commented, "Getting any flops you like Phil?"  Oh yeah.  Draws came in, I folded early when beaten, scooped several....which is key in high/low....too many chops are really bad.  Long story short, I broke several players and broke the game when I left with 6 full racks of chips.  Excellent session of poker, and covered all tournament buy-in losses for the week.

Saturday played in only 2, the 8 a.m. & 10 am moose.  We chopped the 8 o'clock 6 ways for $70 each, and I just missed cashing the 10 o'clock.

Finally, Sunday a.m. moose, I am playing well but not getting anywhere.  Missed a huge pot when Donna shoved $1900 with A/10 on a Q/10/x board.  I made the mistake of calling her instead of re-raising all-in with my K/J.  The action got to Marco who shoved about $4500 more.  A call on my draw would have cost me all but about 1500 of my stack, placing me on life support.  I considered calling for two reasons:  first the $10 bounties, second, I owed Marco a bad beat from my last visit.  I put out of my head that revenge idea and focused on the financial.  I knew they both had gotten a chunk of the flop (Marco had Q/10), and figured that keeping a decent stack was more important than the other considerations.  However, I did not consider that winning the pot would propel me to the top chips on the table and a great shot at winning.  I folded.  The turn was no help, the river brought the ace and Donna tripled up, hurting Marco.  Opportunity missed.

My last hand was at the 300/600 level.  I was on the button and there were 2 limpers, including Gary sitting in the cutoff next to me.  With 2100 in the pot and my stack at 4200, I find pocket 8's.  There was no hesitation on my shove.  Everyone folded to Gary, who commented that he thought I was stealing.  I assured him that I had a "real hand" but he called with his Q/J offsuit.  The flop brought k/k/Q and I could not catch a two outer.  This was the first tournament this week that I did not make the final table, and the second one that I lost with a race where I started with a pocket pair.

Final weekly tally (leaving tomorrow morning):  Played freaking 8 tournaments, final table on 7, two small cashes, total investment loss:  $255 buy ins, less $110 cash, $20 free play wins, net:  $125 loss.
Cash game:  $397 win.  Total net win for the week $272 for about 20 hours of play.  Better than minimum wage.  With just a couple of breaks it would have been double that.