Change in Focus???

Getting beaten up in the Omaha games has forced me to take a long hard look at my game fundamentals.  After reading a chapter in one of my poker books I was struck with the revelation that I have been playing way too loose.  Also, since the cash game has been brutal, I wanted to change my focus back to tournaments to control my bankroll and take a break from cash.  My decision was very short lived.  There is a casino about 10 minutes from my apartment so I wandered in yesterday to check out their tournament schedule.  They feature a daily 11 a.m. with varied buying.  Too late for that, I sat down in the $4/8 limit kill game buying in for $100.  Determined to be a smart, tight player I folded, folded, folded.  Finally picking up Q/J suited, I reraised a frequent straddler.  The flop was awesome, 9/10/x with my suit.  Ramming and jamming my straight flush draw, the turn completed the flush with the ace, giving me second nuts.  More jamming and i took down a nice pot.  Later doing the same thing with a short stack with K/Q suited, took down another big one.  Most of the players were loose, overly aggressive and hero callers.  I left after an hour up $140.

Getting back to my "plan" today, drove to Tulalip for the morning $25 turbo tournament.  Arriving a few minutes late, my first hand pick up A/A in cutoff.  I raise to 200 and get a couple of callers (starting stack is $2000), blinds at 25/50.  Flop is K/Q/J, two hearts (My aces are black).  I c-bet 200 and get one caller.  Turn is a 9 and I check/fold to his 600 bet, folding face up.  He shows 10/10 for the straight.  Never won a single hand and was out within an hour, just in time to start a new 1/3 no limit Hold em  game.  See how long my resolutions last? Buying in for $220, I quickly lost $100 with J/J to a super aggressive player (straddled every hand he could and frequently raised preflop) who re-raised me preflop then bet the ace high flop.  He later stacked a couple of players with very unconventional holdings.  Playing his game, I tripled up with 7/8 suited hitting a flush on an all in with him.  Later, hit a set of 3's against him on a low flop and got $350 all in, winning a monster pot.  Sitting comfortably with $800, cashed out after exactly 2 hours, which qualified for a free tournament entry card.  Great day of poker.

Military Part 3 Ft. Bliss

In many ways, the assignment in El Paso, Texas was true bliss.  As a young married soldier with a baby I was eligible for on base housing.  The houses were identical 2 bedroom units that cost around $40 a month (I was earning maybe $200 a month).  Helene was able to substitute teach and 2 days of work would pay our rent.  We were rich as compared with most of the others in our housing tract anyway.  We hung out with 2 couples on our street who also had babies and life was pretty good.

One incident sticks in my memory.  I had some friends from the month I lived in the barracks over for cards one night.  After they left we had gone to bed and I woke up suddenly to see a man standing at the foot of our bed.  I yelled at the top of my voice and jumped up.  He ran out the back door and I gave pursuit, screaming all the way, that is until I realized I was buck necked.  Oops, had to give up pursuit.  We still suspect that it was one of our guests who had some history of breaking and entering.  I tried to track him down, but he shipped out shortly afterwards.

Which brings me to a related story.  Mickey, the next door neighbor had seen a peeping Tom one night and suggested that we try to trap him.  I agreed and sat in our darkened kitchen until late at night with my shotgun.  Mickey had a pistol at the ready.  Around midnight I gave up, went to bed.  Shortly afterwards I hear 2 gunshots and Mickey yelling "halt".  I said, "damn, he got him", grabbed my shotgun and ran out (dressed, lol).  Mickey had his violently shaking gun trained on the guy, who was begging him not to shoot.  I held him with my gun while Mickey called the mp's, who arrived quickly and hauled him off.

There was no more excitement after that.  I took an upholstery class and did a thrift store sectional couch for the class project.  It eventually ended up back in Missouri in my grandparent's family room for many years.  Bought a corvair, unsafe at any speed, from the first sergeant for $50 and sold it when i left for $50.  Brother Doug visited, we went to a bullfight in Juarez, Mexico and took the tram to a mountain.  One memorable excursion was driving to see cousin Mark who was in the air force in Alamogordo, New Mexico which was a fairly short drive.  He lived in the bachelor officer quarters on base next to the landing strip.  We had gone to college together, he a senior my freshman year.  I pledged his fraternity though he lived off campus that year.  He had taken ROTC, and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant upon graduation.  We sat in his apartment all day, polishing off a case of beer while listening to country music.  Willie Nelson was his favorite.  Getting hungry he drove us to a late night bar where we ate, listened to a guy who was a one man band, and continued drinking.  We were both so drunk and tired we alternated a cup of coffee with a beer until returning to the post.  I slept on the couch and distinctly remember having to pee, and freezing from the open window but too drunk to get up and close the window or look for a blanket.  Also, planes kept landing with a roar that shook the place, all night.  Tough drive home the next day.  Mark had commented that he had not given us a wedding or baby gift and shoved a handful of crumpled bills in my hand during our binge.  I later found around $100 and bought Amy her first baby shoes, white leather ones.

Our idyllic stay was rudely interrupted in June 1970 after a great year.  Each month a levy was posted on the bulletin board for transfer assignments.  My name appeared with transfer to duty in Vietnam.  Rut row.  Helene threw up upon hearing the news.  We made plans to travel home on leave and sold our dining room set.  I attended special training in the simulated Vietnam village and reported daily about the ambushes, guys hiding in wells and behind fake walls, spraying us with blanks after we had searched the area and found nothing.  A feeling of doom pervaded the atmosphere.  So, a couple of days before leaving I was called into the office and informed that my orders had been cancelled.  Upon asking why, I was told that my replacement had not shown up, gone AWOL.  When I passed the news on at home, Helene again threw up.  The AWOL soldier showed up a few days later.

Next intallment: Back on levy list

Army Part 2

At the end of basic training they post a list of your assigned "mos", which is armyspeak for "military occupational specialty".  Most of my fellow draftees were assigned the dreaded 11b, combat infantryman job.  This was readily acknowledged as your express ticket to Vietnam.  But first you also get a next duty station assignment which is nearly always AIT, advanced infantry training, basically more of the same stuff in basic training.  A very few received other orders, like Fitzgerald going to OCS and lucky me assigned directly to Ft. Bliss, Texas as a company clerk.  I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank the long dead Mrs. Neth for giving me typing skills which served to both make my army life easier, possibly even saving my life, and assisting in writing this blog.

So, reporting to my job, and it was just that, inventory supply clerk in a Hawk missile company with 9-5 hours, even working with some civilian clerks.  The officer in charge was a warrant officer very near retirement  (the only CW4 rank I ever saw), an ROTC shave tail 2nd lieutenant was his superior, but CW4 Dieter was the real power.  A lifer alcoholic E8 First sergeant was also passing time until retirement.  I still remember his sage advice to me, "Private Hall, if you drink, don't drive.....cause you might spill some".  Good call, Sarge.  There was also an Hispanic E6 sergeant who really did run things.  I am convinced that he was stealing the supply blind.  It was just too easy.  A specialist I worked with showed me his very complete auto tool set that he had stolen.  Rounding out the office was buck sergeant Barry recently back from 'Nam who was a real jerk.  I was the lowest ranking guy, which was fine with me. 

A couple of "moments" stand out in my memory.  I was in a jeep with another guy on some errands.  He left me in the parked vehicle outside an office.  Idly sitting there, no smartphone to entertain me, a group came out and walked past the Jeep.  Among them were a command sergeant major, easily the most powerful rank in the army, and his full bird colonel.  They walked by, then the sergeant returned and asked me why I didn't salute.  I replied, I have only been in the army 4 months and was not aware of the requirement to salute if I am sitting in a vehicle when he walks by.  He then asked which unit I was in.  Like an idiot, I told him the truth.  The next day I get called into the office and am asked about the incident.  I told them about it, and my ignorance regarding the saluting thing.  They said I could receive a article 13 disciplinary action.  Wow.  So my punishment became confined to quarters for a week, which meant that I had to go home after work.  Harsh.  LOL. More about my home later.

The second incident I remember well was having an "IG, Inspector General" inspection.  It was a real big deal as we had to verify counts on the inventory cards with the actual parts.  There were thousands of items, and some had lots of quantities.  There were ever increasing levels of supervisors going over our counts.  The lieutenant, who I believe was probably 22 years old, my age at the time, was busting our asses.  He challenged me on a big box of nuts or bolts, and just fucking with him on the count (probably a thousand), I told him that we just weigh one item, then the box, then by multiplication gives us the total.  He nodded, but looked a little skeptical.  Later, during the actual inspection by a major, he told him what I had said, not attributing it to me.  The major called bullshit on him, and told him to count them.  The lieutenant gave me a look that, if looks could kill......

More about Ft. Bliss later.

Wildhorse Fall 2017 Roundup

Looking for a repeat of last year's cash in the senior's tournament, the Wildhorse beckoned.  The things I generally enjoy about the tournament are:
1.  Seeing Tri-City friends
2.  making money in good cash games
3.  The buffet dinners
4.  Playing a ton of poker, and winning tournaments

So, how did this year measure up?  I did see a bunch of old friends, so that was good.  I did make money overall in the cash games (omaha only), with one great night and one smallish win and a couple of losses.  The buffet dinners were bad this year, with one virtually uneatable.  Played a ton of poker, going deep in both the omaha tournament and the seniors.  Unfortunately no tournament wins this year.

I really have little recollection of the omaha tournament, just remember playing from noon to about 7:30 p.m.  Got one "bad beat", which in that game is not winning either high or low with A/A/2.  For that I got to spin the wheel of fortune and won a small duffel bag.  Would have preferred to win the pot as it was late in the tournament and the pot was large.  I think I went out about in 50th place, with only 17 positions paid.

Tuesday was all omaha, all day.  Total cash win was around $300.

Wednesday, the senior tournament started at noon and was visiting with a local poker friend (golfer Steve).  He had finished 4th in the Friday tournament for over $7000 in cash, and was telling me about our mutual friend (Clark) who had finished 3rd on Saturday for an even bigger win.  He told me that they had a side deal for 10% of the other guys winnings so he made out very well, even paying him off for his win.  Sounded like fun so we agreed to the same deal.  Later saw the other guy, and we ended up also making the same deal.  I thought it was great, as they are both good players and obviously lucky as well.  Turned out that I was the last guy standing so they made a better deal than me.  I ran really good at first, becoming chip leader at my table.  My troubles started when the player to my right (tall Jeff) called a pretty big preflop raise (Q/Q) with 5/6 off.  The flop came A/A/5.  My continuation bet was called.  The turn was a blank, and fearing a check raise from his ace, I checked back.  The turn?  Another 5, giving him the full house.

The next hit was a huge one.  In the big blind with a ton of limpers I have A/J suited.  I check my out of position big hand and the flop comes down A/K/J.  I bet, one or two players call, the short stack button shoves.  I re-raise 10K enough to put most players all-in and another player  shoves an additional 3800  more.  Crap.  I know exactly what he has, the Q/10 for broadway, but am pot committed and have outs.  A diamond on the turn gives me the nut flush draw and the dealer obliges my request to pair the board by putting another king up.  Now down to starting chip stack I float along for hours with the same chips.  With blinds huge plus Antes, I re-raise an active player for all my chips with 10/10.  He shows A/J and the flop brings both a king and a queen.  The turn bricks but the river 10 gives me a set and the exit door.

Overall, a fun time and not too expensive.

My Military Story (Part 1)

On this Veterans Day, thinking about my military service.  I have conflicting feelings.  I see the respect given to veterans today and contrast it with the neglect and sometimes disdain given to us Vietnam era vets upon our return.  Traveling through San Francisco airport there were many reports of insults and spitting on returning soldiers.  As a draftee, I was not given a choice about serving.  My life was interrupted and changed by forces outside of my control.  I was told what to do, what to wear, where to live for two years in my early twenties.  I was grossly underpaid as my contemporaries forged ahead in their careers.  I was resentful.  I had the fear of possible death hanging over my head.  It sucked.

Many restaurants offer free meals to veterans today.  I am not interested in trading long buried resentment for "endless fries".  I think it is great that so many businesses are making these gestures, but no thanks, I don't need your gratitude or your charity.  I have been writing this first installment for a while, keeping it in draft form.
This story, while in several parts, only covers less than two years (if I was my friend Don, who was career Air Force, it would be 10-15 times as long).

Recently PBS has been showing the Ken Burns Vietnam War story.  It is fascinating for those of us growing up during that era.  In 1968 the Vietnam War was in full swing.  As a junior at the University of Missouri I was protected from the draft by my student deferment.  That summer I blew my work earnings on restoring a 1957 MGA purchased that year from a friend.  My grades were bad, and I had been on continuous academic probation since my freshman year, making just good enough grades to not flunk out.  I decided to sit out a semester and regroup.  Also got married.  And moved to St. Louis. Big life changes.

I re-enrolled at the Mizzou St. Louis branch in January and began attending classes.  Unfortunately losing student deferment I was reclassified as 1-A in the draft.  receiving a draft notice in February and not wanting to go in on the army I attempted to get into naval officer's candidate school.  They basically wanted only college grads, so no luck there.  My father in law knew a sergeant in the reserves or national guard that would put me atop their waiting list for $500.  I declined.  Orders to report to Ft. Leonard Wood came in March.

I was inducted and became a private in basic training, way out of shape (3 years of college partying will do that to you).  It was tough on me as most of the other guys were younger and fitter.  I did not lose a pound in 2 months, but trimmed 3 inches off my waist.  Had the dubious honor of being a road guard on our daily marches, which meant I had to run ahead to block intersections, then run back to formation after the last man passed.  This was their way of giving me additional physical training.  I ended up passing the minimum fitness as a high motivation was the threat of repeating basic training cycle.  Not a pleasant thought. Sometimes I remember little things like going to mess hall after morning run and other physical training.  The rule was, "take all you want, but eat all you take".  The cooks put huge quantities on my plate and was half nauseous from exercise so ate maybe half.  When I took my tray to kitchen was turned back and told to finish it.  Remember the kid trick of wrapping unwanted veggies in a napkin?  I sure did.  Was extra careful in the future to dodge large helpings.

Being a low ranking enlisted man was a lousy life so when I was offered the "opportunity" to attend officer's candidate school I quickly signed up.  My orders came down for infantry OCS, not artillery or armor which were the only other options.  Sometime before signing the enlistment paperwork I heard that the lifespan of new infantry second lieutenants in Vietnam was 22 minutes.  Since OCS was essentially a prepaid ticket there, when the time came to sign the paperwork for an additional 2 years, I politely refused, preferring to roll the dice on my next duty assignment.  It turned out to be a good decision despite certain regrets about learning more leadership skills and more military prestige and money.  But hey, upside is I am still alive!  One guy in my company went on to OCS, another was offered a direct commission (he was a computer guy way back then), but refused.  I did not see Fitzgerald's name on the wall so hope it went well for him.  On a side note, ran into a very bitter guy later who went to OCS but his entire class was terminated due to wind down in the war, and he was given Sgt. rank as token.  He was not happy with his longer term of service from his enlistment extension.

One other life-altering thing happened.  During a midnight stint as "fire guard", received an important phone call.  My wife had given birth to baby Amy in St. Louis.  Sadly, could not see her until after basic was over, another 2 weeks.

Part 2 will reveal my assignment after basic training.