What is wrong with this picture?

During a recent cash game, about an hour into a new table, this happened.  You might need to enlarge on your screen to see the problem.  I have never personally seen this.  Comment please if you spot it.


On the next table over, they had an unusual bad beat.  Pocket aces vs. Pocket kings.  Flop was x/A/A, runner kings.  Around $450 table share. So, 2 rare events in one short session.

Pocre

Here is a picture drawn by 6 year old grandaughter, Eva.  Looks like I've got ace/6.  Love her phonetic spelling and cursive letters.

Good week in tournaments with 2 6th place finishes.  Not much money but happy to be on the plus side.  Today's was a bounty, got one ten dollar one plus my own back.  Woo hoo.

Next table, Google Drive, Worst Restaurant Owner

Playing in the morning $40 tournament, there was a lot of yelling at the 3/300 cash game next table over.  Bad Beat hit for $9000.  I tried to get it on camera, but was set on movie.  Pocket aces flopped quads, pocket kings on runner runner turn and river.  Wow.

I am running bad, 12th out of 54 entries yesterday, out early today.  Frustrating in cash games as well.  Eight  names on waiting list for 3rd Omaha game but a few are in NL Hold'em so manager will not start game until more on waiting list for it.  I give up and drive home only to see message on text that seat is available.

Playing in 3/300 cash I am tight aggressive on a $150 buy in.  Win 2 hands in a couple of hours and down $20.  Could have been much worse, nice guy next to me loses $300, at least 2 others lose that much or more.  Bloody game.

Now for a scary story.  Send the kids to bed.  Volunteered to drive daughter and granddaughter to final dress rehearsal for Nutcracker.  Meg is playing a gentleman at the party, Eva is a bonbon that comes out from under a giant dress.  So, it is 5 p.m. on Friday afternoon, peak of bad rush hour traffic and we are running a little late.  My Google Drive directs me on fastest route to Snohomish high school thru back roads.  Only problem is eventually puts me back on highway 9, the main route, which is wall to wall cars in both directions, almost bumper to bumper and I am on a side street with no traffic light.  Daughter tells me there is extra lane as it is tough to see in the dark.  I wait for a small break in traffic and go.  Only problem, extra lane is on my side, cars not anxious to let you in, and car coming in passing lane is going fast and apparently suicidal.  Somehow he misses me, I shoot into gap and we make it.  Closest call ever.  The guy never tapped his brakes.

So, after dropping them off, we go for dinner.  I check on local spots, thanks again Google, and decide on a nice bowl of pho at a local Vietnamese restaurant .  Should have checked yelp reviews first.  Horrible horrible service and sub par food.  Read the one stars for Bamboo Bowl in Snohomish if you want more information.  It amazes me how rude people survive in hospitality businesses.

Yelp

High Hand Angle Shooting

Most people in the Omaha game are playing for the high hand money every half hour, which explains the quantity of players in a hand and also the quality of hand selection.  I won the first one on Sunday and had a pretty good lock on a second one with quad 10s until the guy next to me flopped quad jacks.  So later in the evening there are quads posted with a few minutes until the next high hand money starts.  I am playing A/K/x/x on an ace high flop.  It is bet and called by several players.  The turn is another ace plus I pick up a flush draw.  Again bet and called in several spots.  The river is a 9, not pairing anything in my hand, but bringing in the flush draw.  The first player to act, who has also been the original bettor fails to act.  He stares at his cards for several seconds.  I ask him if he needs help reading his hand.  He doesn't answer and continues to just sit there.  I get it, he is waiting for the clock to run out as he has filled up.  I call for the floor.  The supervisor comes over and I and other players along with the dealer explain, he then tables his hand showing aces full, even though no one has checked or bet.  Another player mentions she looked at the clock when he started this and saw 35 seconds remaining.  The floor awarded him the pot, but ruled it ineligible for high hand  ( it would have had to hold up for 30 minutes anyway).  I exchanged words with the ex dealer seated next to me who said I had done the same thing.  Don't think so, but would only have done to protect my existing hand, not try to slide into next one.  Also would not delay the game for half a minute.  I later apologized to the player as he spoke with the floor about it away from the table.  Bottom line, it sucked the joy out of the game for me and I cashed out a left.  Not sure if I even want to go back.

My stack earlier in the evening.  Cashed out with $206 on a $200 buy in.  Big whoop.  Up about $140 in picture.

A Game of Attrition

Talking with my "baby" sister this week (o.k. she is 3 years younger than me which makes her duh, let me do the math, 71 minus 3 is 68), we talked about one of my classmates that passed away this week.  She expressed the opinion that I had lost a lot of them (around 30 at last count out of 230 in class of '65).  I told her that she had probably lost nearly as many from her class of 1968.  She was not aware of very many but I assured her that actuary tables don't lie.  A day or so later she sent me a pretty long list, almost the same percentage from her smaller class.

The guy who died was not a good buddy, but he was a good guy and married to another classmate who I have known my whole life.  He had a lot of health issues going back 20 years including prostate, 2 strokes, 2 heart attacks according to another classmate.  He was in bad shape when I last saw him 10 years ago, so his passing did not come as a huge surprise.  That said, it has been gnawing at me.  I do know that we are all seving the same sentence here on earth, but with each loss it brings it closer to my thoughts.  RIP Keith.

Zig Zag

Ever notice how sometimes we zig when we should have zagged, and visa versa?  Today was that kind of day for me.  Sleeping poorly, waking up at 4:30 a.m., unable to go back to sleep probably should have stayed home.  But, since I missed my regular poker day on Sunday, had to play the 10:30 tournament.  It started off well, almost doubling up with a turned 2nd nut flush in a multi way pot.  Then the zigs began.  Raising to $400 with pocket 9's after 2 limpers with 50/100 blinds, the under the gun older guy re raised me to 1200 after big blind called.  I immediately knew he was trapping with a big hand, aces or kings.  I fold, but the big blind shoves his last 1600 with A/10.  UTG predictably tables kings.  I am congratulating myself on a good read and good fold until the board pairs 8's and the river is a 9.  Who knew?  I then proceed to fold a suited king on the button only to see the nut flush appear on the turn and 2 pair win a huge pot.  Later fold 10/4 on the button only to see a full house and another missed opportunity.  I chase a king high flush draw only to fold on the river when it misses.  Lucky for me as a lady had ace high draw. 

My last hand was a shove of 4 big blinds with A/Q.  A/K calls.  Flop is magic, 10/Q/Q but my bd luck continues when a jack hits the river.  Like I say, just off key the whole game.

Epic

Sometimes you win small in cash games and sometimes you lose big.  Yesterday's game was fairly epic.  It started fine, playing tight and winning.  At my peak probably doubled my buy in.  And then the wheels fell off.   Lost hand after hand, including 3 full houses.  The players were "T" in the 1 seat, an aggressive good player particularly when he is winning like yesterday.  Seat2 was "V", a very tight Asian player who only bets or calls with the nuts.  Easy to play against.  Seat 3 was a loose regular who is usually lucky.  Seat 4, "V", sporadic player who runs very hot or very cold.  He was running hot.  Seat 5 had turnover with an older lady who I played no limit 1/3 against recently.  She was a very marginal player.  She left down and gave her seat to "pretty boy", one of my least favorite people.  He buys light and plays every hand.  Seat 6 was "J" whose favorite seat happens to be mine too.  We race to get here early to lock it.  I "won" unfortunately.  Seat 7 was a jovial regular "M".  He plays well and is fun to have at the table except for when he takes your chips like yesterday.  Seat 8 was occupied by one of my favorite poker buddies, "B", who admittedly loses nearly always.  I have talked to him about the need to play fewer hands but he refuses to do so.  He suffered a larger loss than me.  I was in seat 9, my favorite.

The hand that really tilted me was a button straddle hand from seat 1.  He was straddling a lot and winning, so in the cutoff I folded 4S/5S/7x/9S as I suspected it would be 3 bet and frankly, while playable with 6 or 7 callers in late position it is a weak hand.  Nonetheless I would have played it for $4 or even 8 with multiple callers but folded wisely I thought when he raised and it got re-raised and capped at $20.  The flop came down 6S/7S/x, giving me the open ended straight flush draw.  The turn brought the 8S, giving me the 9 high straight flush in a gianormous pot, and also a $150 high hand bonus. Unbelievable.  The $20 fold cost me $300+. Made some other bad folds like top set on a straight and flush board, and bad low hands that would have won. That said also made some good laydowns that others would have called.  Comes with the territory in omaha 8B, but sometimes the fold costs you the pot.  Not sure if it all comes out in the wash or not.

The only bright spots were winning a high hand with a pair of 4's against 2 players, and collecting one high hand with aces full of kings.  Despite this, big loss and a dreaded trip to visit "Adam", or the ATM.  Better luck next time I say.

P.s.  congrats to Dewey for Wildhorse cash.  Would have liked to have gone but the stars did not properly align this year.

Don't Tap on the Aquarium Glass

Before I opine on the main topic, an update on recent play.  Can sum it up with "small wins".  Made two final tables this week for a profit of $20 on one, $30 on the other.  Also a 3/6 cash win of $10.  Best day was yesterday with a $120 buy in for Omaha, cash out 8 hours later for $277. Highlight was playing on the table next to Rep Porter, big time pro.  He was in the massive pot limit omaha game with a few thousand in front of him.  I asked my friend Paul, the tournament director if he could arrange a heads up match for us, $400/800 limit.  Ha ha.

So, despite my win yesterday it was a miserable game due to my seat next to a retired dealer.  He was always somewhat of a curmudgeon when dealing, and is now insufferable as a player.  He commented almost nonstop on my play to the point I put on headphones.  He was seated on my immediate right and also was very aggressive.  The thing was, I was playing super tight and nearly always had a good hand to call his raise.  I won pot after big pot from him.  While I was stacking chips, he was rebuying, into the game at least $400.

So, to my topic, "Don't Tap on the Aquarium glass". I read this years ago in  Mike Caro book.  He keeps it light and friendly so people don't resent losing to you.  He pointed out that when you criticize a player, or point out his mistakes, he begins to play better!!  You certainly don't want that.  I try not to target obnoxious players cause I have found that it usually backfires.  It is best to focus on good poker decisions and let karma do her work.  So, the lesson for Mr. Obnoxious is, don't tap on the glass, it disturbs the fish.  But, the thing is, I will never tell him this, cause, you know, don't want him to improve his game.

Tournament Blues and sub-minimum wages

Not running well in tournaments lately, and cash games not much better.  Yesterday played 60 player turbo and finished in around 30th place.  I then lost a seat in omaha game and waited 2 hours to get in.  3 hours later cashed out for $11 profit.  Woo hoo.  Got stuck early about $150, so was happy to finish up, but still a bad day.  I did validate my $20 free tournament entry by plaing 2 hours so have that going for me.

Watching the play yesterday was struck by how bad people play this game.  For me the rules are simple:
1.  Don't play unless your hand can scoop the whole pot.  That means you need a strong low.  An exception is a very strong high only hand and pray for no or only one 8 or lower on the flop.
2.  Always have a back up plan.  If you have a straight it is helpful to have a draw to a flush or higher straight.  If you have a low draw it is good to have counterfeit protection.
3.  Don't jam with the nut low if only 3 players.  This is quartering protection.  I got involved with an idiot yesterday on this.  Just costs you.
4.  Avoid drawing to or betting non nut hands.  Sometimes works out, but not usually.  Took 2 pots yesterday with the dumb end of a straight and with a super weak flush.  Really a pretty rare thing.
5.  Avoid really active pots with bottom 2 pair.  There is nearly always a set out there.

Had two really bad hands against the same player yesterday.  The first was plaing K/K on a K/x/x board (Think there were 2 low cards on the flop).  The villain calls, with low draw.  Turn is a 4.  Bet, villain calls.  River is another 4, bet, villain raises my nut full house.  I call.  Runner runner quad 4s.

Later, same guy, I bet flush draw all the way, hitting 2nd nut flush on the river.  I bet, he raises (there is a low).  Call., he has a "steel wheel", 5 high straight flush.  Jeesh.  This guy owns me. Note broken rule, betting non nut draw.

Mistakes, What Would You Do?

First, my apologies to loyal followers of my blog.  It is not that I have not been playing poker that I have failed to post, but probably playing too much and other activities (will write about these soon).  I really feel my tournament play is sub par, maybe because playing more cash? Age?  Senility?  So a couple of examples from recent games and ask what you would do.

Playing a $40 morning tournament, I am chip leader early, snapping pocket aces with pocket 4's on a 4/6/6 flop.  The regular good player on my immediate right raises.  I generally respect his game but he sometimes raises a little light with suited connectors or two face cards.  I have pocket 8's.  I call as does a loose aggressive player in the blinds.  I have both covered.  The flop comes K/J/10, all hearts.  I have the 8 of hearts.  Loose bets big, other player calls.  I consider and fold.  They get them all in on the turn, river is an 8.  Neither player had a heart, regular wins with K/Q.  I would have eliminated both of them who made final table.  In retrospect the correct play for me was reraising preflop to isolate.  I think he respects my game enough to fold, if not, I win on the river anyway.  What would you Do?

The second mistake in a different tournament was basically the same thing, failing to re-raise with a strong hand.  This time a few limpers, button raise, my small blind is A/K.  I flat call, others call, the flop is small, coordinated and suited, big bet, we fold.  Again the best play in my opinion was a preflop shove re-raise.  Do you agree?

It seems like I am playing too passively, probably a result of too much Omaha where pocket aces need to see a cheap flop, and all strong hands can be destroyed on the flop.  Also it is cash vs. Tournament play, where trapping with big hands is a good line.

Scared Money vs. Toxic Tables

I have written before about crazy poker tables.  Thursday was one of the worst in my history.  I commented shortly after the game began that it might be my quickest re-buy ever, losing most of my rack in 3 hands.  The problem was being seated between 2 maniacs.  The guy on my left was button straddling every opportunity he got (once every 9 hands), and the player to my right was 3 betting it.  Very bad spot.  I did recover due to size of bloated pots and hung in for an hour or so before buying my 2nd rack.  The problem compounded by a 3rd wild man who not only button straddled, but also straddled under the gun every time.  So basically at least 3 straddles per revolution of the button.  The new guy was experiencing one of those days where everything goes right.  He played every hand and either hogged or split most of them.  Seriously.  I tightened up, missing a couple of big pots due to raises and re-raised which is so frustrating.  One huge pot was mine if I made one 3 bet call with my open ended straight draw that hit on the turn.  Probably $80 For the high half, but I folded knowing that it would probably be a split pot and I had no low draw, my hand was 9/9/10/3 on a flop of j/8/4 with 2 clubs. I had spades so there went 2 outs. 

Another bad fold was with a very short stack and top pair flop.  Again, low was there and I folded with virtually no chips only to make 2 pair on river and one pair winning.  This brings me to the real topic, playing with "Scared money".  When you are winning and have a giant stack of chips in front of you it seems much easier to chase.  But, when stuck it is much harder for me to give up chips.  The game really played much bigger than normal and despite it being beatable and really not that big compared to a no limit game, it was out of my comfort zone as a conservative player.  I really should have gone for a table change, there were 2 others going, but somehow pride or something kept me there until I lost my last rack.

Addiction

Playing a couple of tournaments this week did not have great results.  The first was the morning $25 buy in, which cost me $5. Using my $20 discount.  Around 70 entries and finished no better than 25th.  Moving on to the local tournament on Wednesday, $50 entry bounty.  Played tight and despite a couple of setbacks managed to make final table with one $10. bounty plus my own.  They then did something i have never seen before, asking everyone to cash them in.  O. K.  I am now only stuck $30.  A couple of short stacks fall and now in the money.  I get them all in blind and 2 of us are eliminated at once.  I get 5th place money $55.  After tip a big $20 profit.

Now, a comment on the post title, addiction.  I cannot dispute my own poker addiction, too big to ignore.  I have several aquaintenances from the past who are all tied together by gamblers anonymous.  I worked with these guys years ago, some in management, others as employees.  So, I keep running into one of them at the casino.  I am not judging here, but last time I saw him got a phone number of a mutual friend.  So, when I saw him yesterday he asked if I had talked with him.  Yes, we had a good conversation, I said I had gotten his number from him.  He then expressed that he hoped I had not mentioned where I saw him.  I had not.  So, he was gambling in secret evidently, probably hiding it from his family and friends.  Besides the fallout from financial losses the other problems i see are taking time away from "better" activities, the need for secrecy, and neglecting other aspects of or life like excercise, work, etc.  Is this addiction manageable?  Can you find substitutes?  For many years I was addicted to work and racquetball.  I used to get up at 6 a.m. to play for a couple of hours before going to work for 10 hours, 6 days a week.  While this could arguably make me healthier and wealthier, it was addiction nonetheless. Sometimes our substitutes are almost as harmful in terms of best use of our time and robbing us of other important things.  My conclusion I guess is that we need to recognize our addictive personalities and make sure that we control them and perhaps channel them into beneficial activities.

Good day in Omaha

Bought in for $100 and cashed out 5 hours later for $424.  No high hands, though had 3 posted that did not survive the half hour.  Best one was quad 10's busted by quad kings.  Only one high hand at our table which is pathetic.  It was a volatile game with lots of straddles and raising.  Experience has taught me that you can do well in this type of game, but you need to tighten up a bit in the bigger pots and get used to the variance.

Some updates.  Played in 60+ player tournament, bubbled final table, no money, they pay only 10% of field.  Followed up with losing day at Omaha, despite one hundred dollar high hand.  Lost a little less than original $100 buy in.  Really did not play well due to being tired after tournament.

Yesterday gave Caribbean casino tournament another shot.  30 players, $40 buy in, lousy cards but hung in with short stack to cash in 5th place for $80.

Shana Tova

Happy New Year to my Jewish friends and family!  My New Year started great with a good winning day at Tulalip.  Began with the $60. No chop tournament, lasting about 3 hours until getting outkicked on two hands ( JK vs JA on a JJ flop, and J10 vs. JQ on  10 high flop).  Immediately signed up for Omaha new table forming.  After getting my butt kicked last Thursday was cautious and played tight.  The flops and rivers were good to me earning several hog pots and my chip stack grew to the largest at the table.  The high hands have evaded me, so was semi-happy to post a weak full house, Jjj88, early in the half hour.  Expressing my opinion that it probably would not hold up I offered to sell it.  A crazy big guy said he would give me $50, which i quickly agreed to.  So, a couple of minutes before the time was up, it gets beaten.....by that guy.  Lol.  So he gave me half of his win.  Nice.

Sometimes we just know when to quit, so the game got a little wild and I was up over $300 So cashed out in time to get home for dinner.  A good start to the new year.

Statistics, 151 hands

At Sunday's Omaha game, decided to write down each winning hand, not exact cards but flush, straight, pair, etc.  Over the course of about 7 hours of play I observed 151 hands dealt.  There were more, but distractions, bathroom, etc.  But captured at least 90% +.  Here is the breakdown.

Straights  37 or 24.5%
Full house 31, 20.5%
Trips(or sets), fairly even  26, 17.2%
Flush  24, 16%
2 pair  21, 14%
Quads  6, 4%
One pair   6, 4%
High card 1  .1%

So, evaluating, making a straight was statistically the best play, but lots of full houses came in.  Trips or sets won a surprising amount of the time, slightly ahead of flushes.  2 pair performed better than you would guess, while both quads and single pairs winning were pretty rare.

I raked chips around 27 times, including several half pots and one quarter, and one 3/4.  That works out to 18%. With 9 players just a little more than average share, and could be adjusted down as usually short handed with wanderers and vacant seats.  My financial result was a small loss, $53.00, probably one pot away from breaking even.  With 4 tables going, the high hand paid $200, and despite getting quad 8's, did not score.  A new player at our table did, drawing out on my trip aces by hitting her kicker on the river.  If I had hit mine, it would have been good that half hour.

I felt good about my game, played tight and well while other good players lost $200-300+ mostly due to loose play.  I have found that losing sessions can usually be traced back to poor starting hand selection as A/3 or A/4 is a big dog to A/2, and sometimes a back up plan of a 3 or 4 helps.  I had a lot of A2 hands that I folded post flop due to counterfeited lows or high flops.  These hands usually are money in the bank but not this week.

Comeuppance

After a nice run was due for a fall and it came today.  Arriving plenty early (I thought) for the big end of month tournament at about 10:15, was planning to miss the last minute sign up rush for the $230 buy in.  Boy was I late!  Informed by the tournament director that I was alternate #28, thought he was kidding.  Nope.  Ultimately over 80 alternates and re-entries I was looking at a possible 2 hour wait to get in.  The blinds just keep going up so would be at level 4 in two hours at first break.  With 12000 starting chips, blinds at 200/400, you are in bad shape, specially with other players nicely chipped up.  Decided to withdraw if I did not get in before the break, but made it with 15 minutes to spare.

Very card dead but picked up blinds a few times with raises, but no action.  At level 6 or 7 with only 7000 in chips, called a min raise with one limper in front of him holding 10/10.  First pair of my tournament, and with a short stack, I shoved my last 5000 on the J/J/9 flop after a check and a 2000 bet from original raiser.  The limper called for all of his chips, and so did the raiser.  Limped had Q/Q, raiser K/K.  Rut-Row!  The turn was a 7, giving me 6 outs for a set or the straight.  River brick sent me to the rail.  My problem was lack of fold equity.  Too small a stack to scare off the others, plus with a bigger stack could have waited for the turn or river to shove as a jack in my hand slow plays. 

Now on the wait list for omaha, I finally get a seat.  Terrible luck there and I leave a poorer but wiser player a few hours later.

  

4- peat for Butter

Breaking from routine, drove to Tulalip for the morning tournament today (not my usual poker day).  Using a coupon, entry cost only $5.00, but ran into trouble when a raised pot was called by 3/5 off suit and flop came down Q/3/5 and my Q/J failed to improve.  Oh well, it is a re-entry tournament so $25. later seated at a different table.  Running fairly good, again made final table, with two players eliminated on one hand only 9 seated, and 7 spots paid out of 70 entries.  We agreed to pay the two bubbles and a couple of guys went out shortly afterwards.  I ended up out in 7th place for a $70 payout when my K/10 suited shove was called by K/Q.  Making the only pair with the 10 sealed my fate as it gave him Broadway (whoever pairs their live card loses!!!).

Still feel good with 4th final table in a row this week, and about $500 in total wins.  Not much money, but bragging rights for the 4 peat.  Like butter, I am on a roll.

Update on kidney stone: urologist checked cat scan and says no stone.  Great, now I don't know why I was hurting.

Sunday No Chop

Sunday is my usual Omaha day, but feeling the love in tournaments decided to pass on oh8 and enter the $60. No chop.  The name explains it, they do not allow any deals, including bubble pay.  Using the $20 coupon from Thursday my cost was $40 to join the eventual 100 entries.  Running really well early chipped up big hitting suited connectors for straights and flushes.  Took a major hit when the short stack next to me went all in with AJ, I re-raised all in to isolate with AJ suited, but a big stack called with AK.  We hit our jack, but he hit his king.  I picked up a royal flush draw on the turn, plus the straight, but missed.  I would later get all my chips back from him with a flopped set of 4's vs. His KQ on a KQ4 flop.  Nearly eliminated when shoving from the button with K9 suited when big blind finds QQ.  Doubled up with the rivered flush and ultimately made final table with a short stack.  Watched 2 players eliminated, then shoved my one blind 6k stack with 3/3 and lots of callers.  Protection came with huge stack shove and hoped for AK.  Nope 5/5!!!  Some hope for a straight on a small flop when he flopped a set, but he hit quads on turn.  Cash out for $140, smaller win than I would have liked, but still 3rd tournament cash in a row.   Long wait for Omaha, missed lunch, tired, drove home.

Quick note on re-entries.  A very obnoxious player re-entered whining about cracked kings as she sat at my table.  I commented to the woman next to me that it was "headphone time".  She nodded in agreement.  This woman is big and loud and talks constantly.  Grateful to see her knocked out again quickly.  Her 3rd re-entry put her on table 1 and she was gone again soon. Two tables away could still hear her.

$5.00 Investment

Another Tulalip trip on Thursday.  Using my free tournament entry coupon from Monday, I did the "dealer appreciation", $5. add on for 500 extra chips.  Got great cards early on, then card dead.  Managed a double up against a good aggressive regular when he hit a straight vs. my nut flush.  Making the final table played carefully with a small stack to ladder up to 5th place.  There were 74 entries, 7 places paid, but we agreed to pay last 3 spots money back.  My 5th yielded $100.

Using my winnings to buy into a new Omaha game, cashed out a few hours later for $210, giving me a net profit of $205 ( plus another $20 tournament coupon).  Great day of poker.

On a personal side note, this year has sucked for me health-wise.  Fighting back pain for a couple of weeks, drove myself to urgent care at 4 a.m. Sunday with severe abdominal pain.  Turns out to be a kidney stone.  As additional side note, 4 a.m. is an excellent time to go to urgent care, literally only patient, free parking and no traffic which is awesome in Seattle east side. I feel much better and have lots of pills.  Will post picture of stone later if possible😎

Back in the saddle again?

Finally made it back to Tulalip casino for the morning tournament.  I went early, which was fortunate as shortly afterwards there was a huge wreck on I-5, blocking all northbound lanes.  I played o.k., but got unlucky with A/K on a A/J/x flop.  The other player had A/J.   Moving to a new 1/3 NL game, played 2 hours to validate my tournament free play coupon.  Financial results below:

Tournament buy-in:  25.00
Loss:  25.00

Cash Buy-in:  220.00
Cash out:  226.00
Net win:  6.00

Tournament free play coupon:  20.00

Net/net win:  1.00

As you can see, I am a high roller.

Branson, MO

Taking a break from poker writing the past few weeks for a variety of reasons.  Have been very busy moving the last possessions from our Cannon Beach home to Seattle.  The house sale closed on Friday morning, the 3rd, and we caught a plane to St. Louis at 12:30.  Saturday morning caught up with my high school buddy, Ron and wife Linda over brunch then drove 4+ hours to Southwest Missouri, Branson to check in to our rental home in a giant vacation complex (3300 acres).  This trip was a surprise family reunion for my wife's sister, who recently had a milestone birthday.  A total of 32 people are here in the heart of the Ozarks, including our kids and grandkids.  It is pretty chaotic in the 2 houses with combined 13 bedrooms.  The heat (95 today) plus high humidity are a radical change, and I am often freezing in the air conditioning.

There are a couple of food bucket list items on this old Missourians menu.  I got one today, deep fried catfish.  Pork tenderloin sandwich is next, also deep fried.  Making my heart medicine work overtime.  That is it for now, poker talk of late way too depressing.

Coolerville, Washington , Population:Me

So, I am so tired of coolers.  Hitting my hand hard and losing to one of two or three hands that beat it.  Today, prime examples.  After busting out of the tournament first against an unpredictable wild man.  He had raised big under the gun with 2/4, then bet big against 3 callers on a 6/6/Q flop.  He called my button raise A/K with 3/7 and won with a pair of3's.  So, when he raised my K/Q suited in hearts with A/J, i called his reraise.  The A/heart /heart flop led to my shove, which he called.  No heart, i am done.  He ended up winning it.

 I moved over to the cash games and played some 3/6.  No problem, up $1.  Moving to the 4/8 game, lost $5.  Next stop 3/300 big game.  First loss with K/J on king high flop.  He had raised preflop so lost about $75 to his shove on turn.  Doubled up through aggressive player, then got stacked with K/J vs. K/Q ON A k/q/J flop.  Two pair vs. 2 pair.  Next stacking happened with 8/8 vs. A/A, hit my set but he did too.  Wow.  That was my last hand of the day.  

Coins Cooler

There is this one Asian dealer at Tulalip that has a lot of difficulty pronouncing "queens".  I find it hilarious playing on high hand days when someone makes a queens full hand and he yells it out, "Coins full of jacks" .  He usually has to repeat himself.  Lol.  Which brings me to a discussion of queens.  The great Doyle Brunson once said, "Don't go all in with  queen in your hand".  I should listen to him as busted out of last two tournaments with Q/J and K/Q.  As i explained recently I can't win with queens or against them.  My aces were cracked in a tournament last month by QQ.

The last Sunday of month tournament seemed to come early this month, so when I tried to buy in with a $100 bill, the td asked me for $570 more.  I have been running bad in cash games and had decided to just play tournaments for a while to control losses.  No thanks!  But the cash omaha game would not start for an hour or more.  What to do?  I took some time and finally signed up just as the game started.  The guarantee was $65,000, and first place was over $20,000.  A good way to catch up and i have done well in the past in these big ones.

Running fairly good despite early setback of my straight vs. Nut flush, I was at about 20k at first break.  I like playing the last hand at break as many players are anxious to leave and it is a good spot to steal, particularly on the button.  So, when I limped, the player next to me, fairly loose/aggressive, raised from the small blind, I called with my Q/J in position.  The flop came K/Q/Q.  He bet a fairly large amount.  I viewed it as a continuation bet, or possibly A/K cutting off draws like J/10, A/10, A/J.   There were only 3 hands possibly ahead of me, A/Q, K/Q, and K/K.  I had to rule out all 3 of these hands.  Since I had a queen it would be very hard and a cooler for him to have one.  Also, a flopped full house would check here hoping for a steal attempt or a drawing hand to improve.  With this in mind, and thinking of his draw options, I decided to raise all-in.  His snap call was not a good sign.  He tables A/Q, which at least leaves me with a few outs.  No jack or paired board and i am gone.  Ouch and double ouch.  Which brings me back to the "queen rule".  Wise words indeed.

Double Entry

My philosophy on reentry tournaments is just no.  I have made exceptions a few times with mixed results.  Usually it involves a bad beat early on when I feel like I am playing well.  Also it usually has to be a low buy in cause you know, expense.  The most expensive one was the Wildhorse seniors, and it did work out with a cash.  So, last Thursday I entered the $45 morning tournament at Tulalip.  Losing a hand early on, had about 5000 in chips when I was dealt A/A.  I was cutting out raising chips and about to bet when the next player bet $220 (blinds at 25/50, middle position, 10 minutes into the game).  I threw 200 in, the dealer made him just call, and another player called.  Flop came J/Q/K.  With the ooverpair and gutshot I bet around 600.  The eager player raised to 2000, caller folded, back to me.  Since I am virtually never folding here, and a call puts half my chips in, I re-raised all in.  He calls and turns over Q/J for 2 pair.  I have 9 outs twice as a 10, K, or A beats him.  A 5 comes on the turn giving me 3 more outs.  The river pairs his queen and I am out.

So, figuring aces cracked is a bad beat, I reenter with a discount due to a $20 coupon I forgot to use the first time.  New table, much tougher players, I play 2 hands when I am dealt 3/3 2 spots UTG.  I limp after the UTG player's limp, and a couple of others also join in.  In this spot I am set mining exclusively and am rewarded with a 3 in the door.  Yes!!!!!  The flop is 2 suited 10/5/3 so when it is checked to me I bet pot to discourage any low straight or flush draws.  Next limper calls but UTG check raises to around 750.  I figure he probably has A/10, or overpair trapping and is also looking to protect.  I re-raise all in as no way could I be unlucky enough to be against one of the only 2 hands ahead of me, pocket 5's or 10's.  He snap calls with 5/5 and I am out again before the 2nd blind level.  I gather what is left of my dignity, announce that my aces were cracked at other table, and just not my day, walking stunned out of the casino.

Sadly I reconsider and join a cash game at another casino.  My bad luck continues and I consider my earlier losses trivial compared to getting felted 3 or 4 times in the 3/300 spread game.  Still licking my wounds.

Bob, Seat Open in The Big Game in The Sky

With great sadness a text came today.  My very dear old friend, Bob Pischel, passed away today.  Our history together goes back to the late 70's when we met through his daughter and son-in-law.  We were embraced by his whole family and enjoyed holidays, special events, birthdays and much more with him.  He was my roommate on our annual trips to Las Vegas with his sons and son in laws.  We even made a special trip together staying at Caesars Palace at a comped room he acquired.  I was threatened by his daughters about taking care of him as he was using a motorized scooter by then.  Must have done o.k. as no repercussions.  We both loved playing Omaha high low split and sat together at the poker tables for many many hours.  Whenever I would call him, the first thing he would ask was " tell me your bad beat story".  By golly, I never disappointed him on that.

He was always keenly interested in what was happening in my life, and remembered all the details.  An amazing man with a history in business that was unbelivable.  He loved to recount stories about selling (He owned the largest yearbook company West of the Mississippi), and taught me many lessons, both personal and business.  His generosity was a lesson in itself, at times of need he was always there.  I went through some tough times, even loaning me a car for several months.  When I would visit the Tri-Cities, a room was always available.  A meal was also included, sometimes if you were lucky he would make his specialty pork tenderloin sandwiches.  I still use his recipe for donut balls that he gave me, along with a show and tell session to make sure I got it right.  I could go on and on about Bob, but just know that there is a big hole in my heart right now.

This is my favorite picture of Bob,  taken on one of our Vegas trips.  I like to remember him like this, big chip stack in front of him, focused on his cards.  I had this picture on my bookcase in our living room for many years.

Karma, The Universe is Watching

Thinking long and hard today about karma.  In Hindu beliefs both thoughts and actions create future outcomes (sometimes you have to wait for that rebirth thing).  So, in my poker world, if I suck out on a hand will now someone suck out on me later?  If I chase will they chase?  Will taking money from others guarantee I will lose money later to them?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Also, if intent (thoughts) matter, how do we train our minds to avoid the bad karma situations?  I think I was a victim of that on my donations, my luck has been awful since then registering a big loss last Thursday in my Omaha game.  I have no other explanation as played my normal game with one notable exception, straddling and capping without looking at my cards until the river with a couple of other guys.  Fun but a loss. 

Planning to play tournament today, not my favorite, the no chop, which lasts late.  If blown out early will play omaha.  May have to quit cash games for a bit to limit losses until my luck or karma changes.

Something New

After a very bad outing at Tulalip in the omaha game on Sunday and bad results Friday at the Caribbean decided to switch things up with a new casino.  I had heard that the Red Dragon in Mountlake Terrace was good so drove there.  Timewise a ccompromise between the 10 minutes to Kirkland and the 30 minutes to Marysville.  The morning tournament was a $45 buy in with 2 tables.  The structure was turbo of course 15 minute blinds, 10,000 starting chips, 100/200 initial blinds.  It was also a reentry which i got to observe several times on my table.  I was runnning very good, not losing any hands, chipping up to about double starting chips.  Made a couple of small errors letting people off the hook with monsters and large bets .  Example: called tight player raise with 6/6.  Flop was 2/3/6 multi-way. Original raiser bet pot, I re-raised all in.  Everyone folded.  My thinking, did not want either a 5 or 4 to call with gutshot and make overpairs pay dearly.

Making the final table my last hand was a limp with 6/6, my old friend, with only 1 and a half blinds.  I had no fold equity so wanted lots of callers or a raise to go heads up.  I got the raise from A/Q, heads up flop was about as good as it gets, 4/5/7, giving me a great pair plus draw.  Turn was a queen and river failed me.  Got it in with best hand but missed money by 3.

Will try again as the morning Omaha game had $50 high hand every half hour and looked soft.

Suicide is (not) painless

One of my all time favorite movies is "MASH".  As you know, it is very anti-war and anti-military set during the Korean war.  It shows the absurdity of the whole thing without being a war movie per se.  The staff dentist has fallen into depression and the doctors arrange a suicide ceremony for him at his request.  The song, "Suicide is Painless" is sung .

 https.//genius.com/Suicide-is-painless-mash-theme-song-lyrics

The attempt has a "happy ending" with the dentist being given a reason to live by a nurse.  Sadly, this is not the case for many.  Which brings me to Thursday poker.  The tournament manager, Paul, was very down and as a friend we started talking.  He explained that he was very busy helping Sheri, my favorite dealer, with her problems.  He told me that her son had committed suicide last Saturday.  He was a great kid with a lot going for him (see link).

Www.gofundme.com/fly-high-11-for-sayon

I decided to donate any winnings that day to his fund.  Paul told me that all the funeral parlors demand up front payment and they could not afford to bury him.  Too sad.  I had a great day in Omaha, hitting the 1st high hand of the day.  I gave the cash to Paul with a short note.  I then won the 3rd high hand and cashed out for an additional win of $156.  My intention to donate all my winnings wavered and mentally decided $100 was enough.  The next day, playing in a cash game lost my $100 buy in and did a short buy for $15 since the morning tournament was starting soon.  I lost it all on a bad beat.  Pocket 5's heads up with original raiser's A/10.   Flop was A/5/6.  Great all in!  Turn 6 filled me up!!!!  River A awarded the pot to my opponent.  Had some choice comments which earned me a dealer warning and left the game.  The tournament was bad for me, losing my 5 blind KQ shove to big blind QQ.  The tournament buy in?  $40.  So, my total loss was $155. Is the universe trying to tell me something? Yes, so arriving home I sent $156 to the go fund me account.  Am hoping this squares things away in the karma department.

Back to the painless thing.  The pain is not upon the suicide but is on those who love them.  The ultimate selfish act sometimes causes real injury to others.  Pain is not eliminated, merely transferred.  Like the thermodynamics physics law that matter cannot be created or destroyed, just change forms.

Imperfect Reflections on Mortality

Recovering from my heart attack has been challenging.  My energy level is low and prolonged exertion is difficult.  Most of the time I am good for short bursts of work, but then have to rest for a while.  Trying not to be paranoid, but still be wise about listening to my body and what it is telling me and what it needs.  Today I am a coin flip from driving to the ER, playing poker, or going to Costco.  They all offer some appeal.  Side note:  went to urgent care, 4 hrs. Later checked out o.k. with referral to cardiologist next week.

I think about my life and the directions and misdirection it has taken.  A pretty wild ride at times.  It has often been driven by impulses and spontaneous decisions as well as some semblance of a plan.  Organized chaos if you will.  While it is important to live a life without regrets, I do not see how that is possible.  While I am somewhat financially secure, looking back can see how much better off I could have been with better decisions, better planning.  Think holding on to my Amazon, Starbucks, Microsoft and Costco stocks.  I joked with my recently added financial advisor that I would have been so much better off by falling into a coma at some point in the 90's.

As we all speed ,(time does speed up as we age) towards the end, it is important to reflect both on what is, what was, and what could have been.  "I coulda been a contender!".  The paths not followed.  We are also like Cats, "I can dream of the old days, life was beautiful then".

Profitable Turnaround

My poker day started off poorly with  a $109 loss in the 4/8 limit game prior to the tournament.  No luck in the tournament either with my 8's falling to A/10.  Going back to the 4/8 I was stuck another $235 before a seat opened in the 1/3/300 game.  I am such an idiot for playing in a bigger game after getting my ass kicked in the small games and tournament.

However, after buying in for $270, I ultimately cashed out for over $800.  My big win was a $700 pot won by my flopped 2 pair K/J vs. A/A.  Doubled up a couple of small stacks or would have been an even better day, still netted over $150 in 5 hours.

Side note on double ups of others.  First was vs. 2 pair with my AQ vs. Q10.  GLAD he was a short stack with only $100 behind, he is a solid player who usually has much more.  That said, good lesson here.  When playing against solid players, top pair top kicker is usually no good and I should fold.  Against looser players, specially short stacks, much more likely to see QK or QJ.  Another double up happened when I had KK and raised to $20 preflop.  A very loose player to my immediate right called with 9/10.  He caught a 9 on the flop and called a $40 bet.  Another 9 hit the turn and he called my 40 bet, then shoved a very small stack on the river.  Every pot I saw him win was with crap...like 7/3, etc.  Very loose, very bad.

It is normal for you to win chips from players on your right due to position.  It was unusual that I lost a couple of pots to him, and yet won nice pots from the more aggressive, better player to my left who also was very deep stacked.  Was flat out lucky with medium strength hands and got in great value bets.  Which brings me to the topic of "when are you going to stop overplaying your medium strength hands, stupid?"  Just lucky yesterday or could have been a very sad story indeed.

Owned!!!!

My poker day started great today.  Arriving a half hour or so early for the 11 o'clock tournament I grabbed a seat in the 3/6 limit game.  Running good was up $85 when had to cash out.  There were 59 players signed up,  and I was playing well but not a lot of traction  to make it down to 2 short tables.  Highlight early on was quad jacks, sweet, but not a huge pot.

Moving tables, was on the button with A/Q suited and folded to me.  I raised to put short stack big blind older lady all in.  She calls with K/10.  She hits a 10 on the flop and doubles up.  A round or two later, I raise her again with A/8.  She calls all in with 7/9 of hearts.  Flop comes down A/8 (hearts)/10.  Turn is a great card for her, 5 hearts, giving her flush, straight and straight flush draws.  River is 6 hearts for a runner runner straight flush.  She owns my sorry ass.

Eventually down to just $500, with blinds at 1000/2000, a player shoves with Q/Q.  I have K/K.  He hits a queen on the river and I am out.  Sad.

Money for nothing

Just listening to some classic 70's soft rock.  I have come to love the Dire Straits song "Money for Nothing".  Googling the lyrics, you understand it is a song written from the perspective of some working class blue collar guys who are mocking and envying the rock and roll band guys.  Ironic, eh?  There was criticism over the use of the word "faggot", but I find that argument spurious as they are really describing themselves, including banging on bongos like a chimpanzee.

www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/direstraits/moneyfornothing.html

Side notes, Sting sings the falsetto in beginning and end.  From their Sultans of Swing album which contains my other favorite song of theirs from the album title.

70's music

At the dentist's this week talking to the munchkin assistant I quoted some lyrics from Fleetwood Mac.  She had a blank look on her face.  I then told her the source.  She had never heard of the group.  I then patiently (get it, I am a patient) explained that some of the finest music was from the 70's and 80's.  She said, "I was born in 1993".  That makes sense, I am only slightly familiar with 30's and 40's music, ten to twenty years before I was born.  Dang that made me feel old.  That and getting two dental implants.

Update on Sunday Omaha game:

High hands won:  0
Hours played:  7
Net profit:  $49.00
Earnings/hr.:  $7. or almost 2 big blinds/hr.

Chasing

Yesterday morning stopped in at my local casino for a short session.  Only game going was 3/6 limit, which changed to 4/8 kill.  I just cruised along with little variance for two hours.  On one hand I limped behind a crowd, on the button with 7/9.  Flopped a 7, called flop, turn bets, and rivered a 9.   The betting player made a nasty remark about my chasing and immediately called for $200 more chips.  I commented, "yes, I am the only chaser".  He then proceeded to raise every hand I was in.  When I left he was stuck over $100.  Me, down $22, and would have been up $100+ if I had chased two gunshot draws.

Truthfully, all non no limit games are chasing games.  And they are filled with "acemasters" and "flushmasters", those who play any ace and any two suited cards.  Be careful out there kids.  Getting ready to sit in the ultimate chase game, 4/8 Omaha high low limit.  Always a crowd, always draws against you.

Back at Beach Poker

Trying to ready the beach house for sale, spent last week there.  The Wednesday game at the Bayway was just 2 tables, but got to visit with friends some.  My cards were rotten and I was eliminated shoving over a raise.  He had j/j vs. My 6/6.  My heart soared like an eagle when I flopped my 2 outer 6, but I was crushed on the turn when he hit his 2 outer jack.

Moving on to Friday action at the legion, pretty card dead all night and went out with 7/7 vs. A/Q When the board runnered 8/9/10/J, giving him the higher straight.  Cest la vie.  Worked pretty hard, towing a full 5 x 8 trailer back, great to see some poker buddies.  I am planning on going back next week for more house projects.

One Thin Dime

I must make an admission.  I pick up money from the ground.  My grandmother, Jetty (cool name huh), walked the same path to the grocery store for many years.  She would pick up coins that she found and put them into a jar in her closet.  After she passed away we found her jar.  It probably had a hundred dollars of face value inside.  But, the real value was in the very old dates.  There were Indian head pennies in there! She was from an era where pennies matter.  My mom had a collection as well.  She was a child of the depression, when pennies really mattered.  When she passed away, my brother and I divided the coins.  Some of them were really old and valuable.

So, I am a child of a child of the depression and I don't save the coins I find, but willingly will stoop to pick up a lost penny that most today will walk right over.  Side note:  why the heck are we still producing pennies today?  There are estimated to be several hundred billion in circulation, with 4 to 8 billion produced each year.  Most of these are in jars.  The cost of producing a penny today is 1.5 cents, or 50% more than its value. Crazy, huh?

 Which brings me to poker yesterday.  Claiming my seat in the 4/8 Omaha game, I looked on the floor and there was a dime!  Well, if I will pick up a penny, sure as hell gonna pick up 10 of them!  I nicknamed it "my lucky dime" and placed it atop my starting stack of $100 in blue poker chips.  Was it lucky for me?  Well, i did manage to hit a king high straight flush and claim the high hand for $200.  Sweet.  Unfortunately it was a day of suckouts, losing several big pots on the river.  After 7 hours of play, I cashed out for exactly my buyins and left with a total profit of...........10 cents, the dime I picked up.

Home (in) On The Range

A key skill is figuring out a preflop player's raising range.  What cards would he raise with in which position?  Some players are easy peasy because they play such tight ranges, others not so much.  I regularly play against an older fellow who cagily, he thinks, always min raises in early position with aces.  Have seen it several times.  It is so great to call in position with a wide range and either fold on the flop or get it all in when you hit big like two pair or a set.

 My nemesis described in a previous post was again sitting to my immediate right in a tournament last week.  Shit!  His range is pretty much any two cards.  So, after he survived two all ins with crap (did i mention he is very lucky too?), this hand came up.  He raised from the big blind.  I had limped utg with 6/6, doing me some set mining.  There were 2 other callers.  The flop was j/j/5.  He put out a "c" bet of maybe 1/3 pot size.  I called, the others folded.  At this point i felt i had him as no way is he betting trips here, but had to worry about the other players.  The turn was a queen and he looked warily at me and checked.  Trapping or squadooch?  I checked back giving myself the opportunity to fill up.  The river was a 9, and he bet almost pot size.  A bad call cripples me.  Our table had just broken and the tournament was on hold awaiting my decision.  I tanked and considered his range for way out of position preflop raise.  All pairs, A/9, A10, AJ, AQ, AK, 10K, 10/Q, 10J, JQ, JK.  What could I beat here?  Probably only 2s, 3s, or 4s.  Finally I folded as my stack was just o.k. and he flips over A/3.  Given his range, I was a little upset but not as much as when he knocked me out later with his A/Q call of my 9/10 suited shove.  He would not have had enough chips to do so had I made the earlier call.

Quick side note on my shove.  In a turbo with only 6 blinds, this is definite late position material.  I much prefer this over weak aces and small pairs. Yesterday in the Omaha game won $100 high hand with it, making a king high straight flush😎

Set Over Set

Probably the best or worst flop you can get vs. one opponent is set over set.  You are drawing to one out if you are on the bottom end barring random straight or flush bad beats.  This happened to me twice yesterday with the same hands with me fortunately on the top.  What the heck are the odds on that?  The first was in a 3/6 limit game.  I was on the waiting list for both the 4/8 and 3/300 games.  Like most limit games was stuck quickly but recovered some in a big pot with j/j vs.  K/K and A/A.  Capped preflop I hit a jack on the flop and won a nice pot.  Later, playing K/K I created a big pot vs. a good, tight player (he is a dealer at this casino) when he raised preflop.  Flop was K/8/x and we capped it.  He was playing pocket 8's. Nice pot.

Moved to 1/3/300 game and had the same situation.  Pocket 8's raised, I re-raised with kings.  Flop K/8/x .  This time we got it all in and I doubled up.  Strangely enough had pocket kings twice after that, taking one raised pot down preflop, losing the other on an ace high flush board. Overall a good but not spectacular day winning $127 in about 3 hours of play.

Aggressive players

I wrote earlier about aggressive players.  I would like to expand on that thought.  While aggression is an important part of poker, it's judicious use must be considered.  In Hold'em it is a key factor in winning, including stealing from late position, taking the lead in pots, bluffing, and raising for value.  Aggressive players are usually winners while passive ones are generally not.  Which brings us to the reasons for raising.

1.  To reduce the number of players competing for the pot. By raising we eliminate random but weak hands that can "flop lucky".  All cards play better heads up rather than in multi-way situations.
2.  To gain positional advantage.  Knocking out players who would act behind you is never a bad thing.
3.  To "take the lead".  The tendency is to check to the raiser so this can work well to either bluff the callers, gain value when you hit big, cover later bluffs, or check behind on big draws.
4.  I almost hesitate to even mention this one, but it is the main reason many weak player do it.  To build a bigger pot.  I will elaborate on this one in reference to limit games and more specifically Omaha hi low.  When you raise in a limit game you do not elicit many folds.  Players with premium hands will play back at you while hands that would have folded to one bet will certainly fold to two.  Earlier limpers will always call, building a pot size that is "protected".  If there is $50 in the pot, no one is folding for a $4. flop bet.  The pot odds have given everyone good odds to call with any draw and gives strong made hands future equity and even reason to re-raise.  The problem continues to the turn, with the only folders on river misses.  The best oh8 starting hand is said to be AA23 double suited, however a low hand only  happens 60% of the time, we all know about flush draws, and a pair of aces is only a single pair.  So, your super premium hand will sometimes win, but often fail.

It gets worse for the straddler, playing random cards out of position in a swollen pot.  Since super aggressive raisers often straddle, this compounds their problems.  I wrote earlier about my success against this type of player who was seated on my immediate left, so Sunday a similar player was seated in the 7 seat while I was in the 2.  She bought in for 4 or 5 hundred which is ridiculous for starters, even commenting about how she planned to use them.  True to her word, she raised the first hand and most of them afterwards.  The saving grace was that she was losing and frequently leaving the table for 20 to 30 minutes.  After a couple of hours I commented about her raises quietly to the player next to me (who was killing the game plus one high hand).  Her bat ears picked it up and she began mouthing off to me about her many premium hands.  I ignored her.  Not long afterwards she racked up $250 and left.  I ultimately cashed up $42.

One more concept about raising.  Pot control.  When you raise big, you put pressure on your hand for subsequent streets.  If you raise 50/100 blind to 250 and get one caller from the sb, there is now 600 in the pot, making your continuation bet of 1/2 pot size only 300.  If you had raised to 450 instead, your continuation (and I hope you are nearly always doing this) would now have to be 500 to bet a 1/2 pot.  The pot has more quickly grown into a monster that you may not be able to get away from with your pair and 2 over-cards showing.

One last raising comment.  In my oh8 game I seldom raise for deception purposes.  By raising only with super premium hands I would announce my hand to the table.  By calling, more players enter, my hand is well disguised, leading the k/K and A/3 hands believing they are best.  This nets more money on the river, particularly from 2nd or 3rd nut low hands.

Fiddy Cents

Wrote last post about "earn rate".  This is an important concept for both recreational and more serious players.  Our time is our life, and the time spent playing poker should hopefully show some return on investment.  Playing poker yesterday started out in the $60 Sunday "no chop".  About 80 entries, so not too daunting a field.  Hated my table (as usual?) because of one loud mouth obnoxious player, arriving late and immediately attempting to become "table captain".  When I have described this player to dealers and other players, they immediately say their name, so I am not the only one.  Said player went on a heater, very aggressive, but lost most of them, then bounced back.  So, since player raises frequently and was the middle position, the raise was an easy call for me and 2 others, the loose big blind, the hijack and me, the button, playing A/10 of clubs.  Flop comes 10 high with 2 hearts.  When checked to me I shove $4300 into the $1600 pot, surely enough to get folds from over-cards and flush draws one would think.  I am called by the big blind who shows A/9 of hearts.  We all know what is coming and I hit the rails.

A seat opens on the Omaha game and I play for 3 hours.  I show a net profit in the game of $42.  When you subtract my tournament buy in of $40 (I used a $20 freeplay to lower cost), ended up netting $2.00 for 4 hours of play, or $.50/ hr.  Fiddy cents earn rate.  Oh yeah, also got another $20 coupon for future tournament play (paid for 2 hours cash game play after tournament).  So there, $5.50/hr. I feel better now, over 1 big blind per hour earnings.

Mixed results

My poker game has been yielding mixed but mostly bad results lately.  One tournament cash for $220 out of maybe 6 played, including a $290 buy in giant.  Had a terrible seat, to the right of a good but talkative player.  Another player owned me when I turned 2 pair vs. His A/K, then was counterfeiters on the river.  He later got the rest of my chips on a 5/6/7 flop, me playing 7/8 while he had 8/9, 2 spades, turned the flush to ruin a possible chop.

Have played few cash games, last Thursday my first win in a bit in 4/8 Omaha hi/low.  Again, bad seat.  The player to my immediate left straddled constantly, raised every hand.  Fortunately, my cards were running good and was able to hog several big pots.  Still prefer a more passive omaha game as there are so many flops that destroy good starting hands and like to see them cheap multi-way.  The aforementioned player was stuck over $300 while I cashed out for a $174 profit after only 3 hours of play.  It was a great earn rate of $60 an hour, and phenomenal 15 Big blinds per hour. 

To finish this post would like to quote Sir Winston Churchill (just watched "The Darkest Hour").

  "Success is not final, failure is not fatal.  It is the courage to continue that counts".

And one more, for you fellow senior citizens.

"When youth departs may wisdom prove enough."

Busy with Buying and Guido

Apologies for lack of posting, the last 3 weeks have been a little crazy.  For starters, on March 1st I found a house ad in Bothell.  Called my realtor friend who set up viewing for the next day.  The ad had posted at a few minutes past midnight Thursday morning, we toured the townhouse at 2:30 Fri.  Loved it but found out an over asking price offer had already been made that expired at 11:00 Saturday morning.  Gulp.

A quick word about Seattle housing market.  It is 2nd hottest in the country, with barely 30 day supply.  Similar houses or 2 br apartments are renting North of $2500 a month.  We were paying 2k for a 1 bedroom apartment.  Our daughter spent a frustrating year before outbidding for her house 2 years ago.  A racquetball buddy sold his 1700 sq. Ft. Split level 2 weeks ago for $135k over the $750 asking price.  There were 120 viewings and 13 offers within 2 days.

So, we decided to go in fast and strong meeting our realtor Satuday morning to write an offer.  Bottom line, we got it by noon that day with escalation, full cash, no contingencies, and a non-refundable $75,000 deposit (not an Ernest money), beating the other offer by $10k.

Now the fun begins.  I must deposit the $75 by Monday and show proof of funds for purchase.  The deposit funds were my sweat with most of my assets invested and some lag time for clearing.  I had 1/2 available but needed $35 cash (not check) immediately.  This is where "Guido" comes in.  I saw a poker buddy Saturday night and described my dilemma.  He asked how much I needed.  I replied $35k, cash.  No problem, he would loan it to me.  Really, $35k cash? Yep.  Poker players are such sick f_cks!  We walk around with more money than most people have in checking accounts (not me of course in case some bad person reads this).  So, I meet him the next day, he hands me a thick manilla envelope secured by rubber bands.  We don't count it.  Turns out i didn't need it, but it did raise the banker's eyebrows when I told him I was bringing it in.  Explaining it was poker money led to a discussion of Hold'em with him being a player!

So, deal closed on 16th while we were in Missouri on family visit, we moved on the 21st.  Like I said, a crazy month.

Swedish Club

My last visit to the Swedish Club with its killer view of Lake Union was probably in the early 90's at a company Christmas party.  Last Saturday afternoon there was a private poker tournament held there.  Lucky to get a last minute invitation to the $250 buy in event from an old buddy who is more of a poker degenerate than even me.  Food and drink was provided, along with professional dealers.  The only weird thing was the lack of poker tables.  Long banquet tables were loosely covered with felt, which kept bunching up.  Also with 40 players they were short one dealer so we did a rotating self deal that was awkward.  I have had reoccurring dreams about this for a long time with long tables, awkward dealing.  Deja vu? 

The structure was good, 30 minute blinds, 12000 starting chips, reentry 3 levels, and 5000 chip $60 add-on at end of reentry.  Didn't hear size of prize pool, but paid 6 spots with over $4000 first place.  Unfortunately unable to cash in 8th place after 7+ hours of play.  Mistakes were made, which I will outline.

Mistake 1:  flopping a set of 3's on a 10 high dry board I let a very aggressive player off the hook who had flopped top pair.  A queen was on the turn and he folded to my large turn bet.  Had I checked pretty sure he would have bet, drawing dead with the A/10 that he showed.  An ace or 10 on the river would always get all the chips in.

Mistake 2:  flopped a set of 3's (are you seeing a pattern here?) On a 7/3/2 board.  Flop action, with a player calling my bet.  Like a rookie donkey I opened my mouth, saying "7 2?".  He folded to my turn bet commenting about my comment.  He was one of the chip leaders at the final table.

Mistake 3?:  Not sure about this one. Playing A/K, hit an ace on the flop.  The aggressive guy from before raised my bet.  The turn was a king, putting 3 Broadway cards on the board.  I bet into him, he re-raised all in.  I tanked, then folded.  Live to play again as it was early.

Mistake 4: also involving same guy.  On the final table, he shoves in late position.  I have him barely covered but will be the shortest stack if I lose, all in with small blind.  I have 9/9 in the big blind.  I go into the tank.  Finally, after agonizing, I fold.  He shows A/K.  You are nearly always going to coin flip at some point late, and think I should have here.  The really bad part was the player next to me later took him out and then took me out with his enhanced stack.  My last hand was 4/8 in the big blind vs his 10/J in small blind.  I was pot committed with only 1 blind if folded.

There were several very good players and I learned a few things, particularly about late position aggression.

Momentum in Turbos

What is there to say about Turbos? They are the gambling side of tournament play, particularly in the latter stages when no one at the table has more than 10 or 15 big blinds.  Also, they are low buy in, so the payouts are not so good.  Played Monday at Tulalip cause decided it was important to get back on the horse that threw me.  There were 81 entries in the $25 event so it paid 8 spots.  Had a couple of amazing hands.  The first came in my big blind.  A short stack shoved, followed by another slightly bigger stack.  I had to call a few hundred but with great pot odds did so with my "Doyle Brunson" offsuit 10/2.   The board ran out with 4 spades (My 10 was a spade), giving me a straight and a flush, and wait....A jack high straight flush!!!  Two players down.  Getting to the final table, I was never in great shape but survived a couple of all ins including one with 6/9.  A player had shoved with A/5 who had survived earlier with 6/9 making a straight.  I flopped 2 9's and rivered a 6, which was just showing off.  Finally was eliminated in 6 th place which paid only $90, but a win is a win.

Tuesday, another turbo.  Better buy in $40, more chips, 4000 vs 2000 in Modays, 16 minute blinds, around 80 players.  Going deep, down to 14 players, went for the gold  vs. Just cashing.  A player I had beaten a couple of hands min raised under the gun.  He was raising very light, so I shoved a pretty big stack to isolate with my A/Q.  He called along with short stack big blind.  Raiser has 9/9, big blind 2/3. Flop is pretty good for me, J/10/x, giving me nut gutshot straight draw with 2 overs for 10 outs.  Turn is a 3, giving shorty 5 outs.  River is a 9 eliminating both of us in 14th and 13th place.  I literally could have folded to the money (paid 10), but where is the fun in that?  I am playing to win.    Overall think I am playing well and will eventually crush these games.

Anticipation

All week I have been anticipating the big ($230) end of month tournament at Tulalip.  I was the 96th entry an hour before starting time.  There were over 60 alternates after me, so big money.  The wheels started coming off early with my pocket queens folding on a scary flush/straight/ace high board.  Losing a couple more hands I made a big time laydown to the player to my immediate right.  He raised to $200 With blinds 25/50.  Looking at my pocket kings I re-raised to $800.  He then quickly 4 bet it to $6000.  I folded my kings face up and he then showed his pocket aces.  Several players praised my fold.  His hand was face up to me as I knew queens or jacks would not be in his range with this action.

A little later, I ran into trouble again with him.  A player raised to 275 and he flat called.  I had k/10 off, which I realize is not strong, but already in blind with other callers hoped for a great flop with one of my favorite hands.  The flop came down k/10/6 With 2 hearts.  I liked it, but bet right out due to flush draw.  The original raiser called the 800 bet, then my nemesis re-raised big.  I thought briefly (probably too briefly), putting him on either A/K, or even possibly A/A, and remotely 6/6.  I had these hands either drawing thin, or in the case of 6/6, had outs.  I shoved.  The other guy folded, villain paused briefly and called, turning over K/K.  Ouch.  Player down with no saving runner runner 10's.  I was either 2nd or 3rd player out.  Leaving dazed and confused was really upset.  Really bad luck combined with questionable play.

Another Losing Outing

After a 4 day winning streak, I have gone the other way.  Cutting back on cash games and focusing on tournaments seems like a cheaper way to go.  Wednesday, playing in a turbo, bubbled final table when I misjudged a player's all in.  He had min raised 2 under the gun and I was in big blind with 7/7.  The flop was 6/6/3, and I checked.  He shoved and I put him on A/J, A/Q or small pair.  Wrong.  He had 10/10. Oh well, best showing so far in this particular game, starting to figure out players.

Yesterday, played almost a freeroll, cost $5 due to my $20 coupon.  Played very well down to 20 players from 64 entries when I picked up Q/Q on the button with one limped.  Raising to 1200 with blinds at 200/400, one caller.  Flop was Q/x/x.  No real draws and bet 1200 when checked to me.  Call.  Turn brought J of hearts and player shoves and had me covered.  With no better hand possible i called.  He turns over 9/10 of hearts, giving him both flush and straight draws.  River is a heart which does not pair the board and i am done.  Play it different next time?  Don't think so.  He was dumb to call my flop bet, then lucky to get runner runner.

Played omaha for a couple hours losing 1 1/2 buy ins.  The high hands at our table were insane with quad aces, then quad kings, then quad aces again which were beaten by a flopped royal flush!!!  I was in that hand with an 8 high flush, but quickly folded.  Only "bright" spot was winning $45 on poker machine while waiting for my seat. 

Why I haven't been posting

So, this year has been rough on me so far.  Recovering from my heart event on January 12th, I quickly developed a nasty cold, but fortunately not the flu.  With it came a bad cough which somehow threw my back out.  Suffering for 4 days, finally went to the doctor.  Heat treatments daily and some heavy duty pain meds have eased my suffering, but still unable to play more than a couple of hours.  Staying away from most cash games, just going with low buy in turbo tournaments.  No luck there, yesterday lost most of stack with my 10/10 vs. 8/8, hitting a set on the river which made him a straight.  With 6 blinds, shoved in middle position with 10/J suited.  Called by K/K.  Player down despite flush and straight draws.

Speaking of which, getting damned tired of not hitting big draws while opponents hit long shots.  Wah!!!!

Good Outing but not maximized

Had a good outing a few days ago at Caribbean card room, but should have been a lot better.  One of my struggles in cash games is bet sizing and sometimes when not to bet!!!  An example was calling a raise with 7/7.  The flop came down 7/2/2 and the original bettor put out a 1/2 pot size bet.  I called.  The turn was a brick, he then checked.  I then bet 1/2 pot and he folded.  Fish off  the hook!!!  One could argue that perhaps he had an overpair and I protected my hand, but in all likelihood he had an ace/x hand that could have improved had I checked, then I could have gotten all of his stack.

This type of scenario seems to be what happens to me a lot.  I blow people out of the hand with strong bets rather than giving some rope so they can hang themselves.  I did end up with almost a 300 profit that day, so I was satisfied, but felt it could have been a lot more.

My winning streak since getting back on the tables was really great, 5 straight wins until yesterday.  That was a disaster with my strong made hands destroyed on the river time after time (board usually pairing to give opponent full house), while my sets could not find a pair on the river.  I recall one big pot that was particularly sick.  A player raised preflop (usually indicating an A/2 type of hand).  Tons of players called and I came along with middle and large suited connectors. The flop came down 5/6/8 with me having two pair (5/6).  With lots of players and a low made there was a ton of betting and raising.  Four of us saw the turn which brought 2 players betting and raising, 2 of us calling.  The river brought a bet and raise, and when the other player folded, so did I.  Turned out he had pocket 6's (set on flop) while the other two had A/2 and one with a small pair.  I was drawing dead, but with a large pot probably should have called on the river.  Just could not imagine that there was not a nut low plus nut straight out there given the action.  Lesson:  sometimes you just gotta throw those last bets in.

I hit one high hand with quad 3's which quickly got beaten by quad 6's. Did not get another hand up on the board but several made it on our table including quad aces, eights, and a full house or 2.  Heard from the floor that another bad beat was hit, this one for $56,000.  Table shares almost $3000.  He said it was straight flush over straight flush in a holdem game.

One other fun outing earlier this week.  While waiting for my seat looked at a table and saw a former salesman of mine from Redmond.  We had a short opportunity to chat, and while doing so, my racquetball/poker buddy came in.  We later sat at the same table with Bryan, another poker friend from the Tri-Cities.  It was a super marginal day, lost almost a hundred in a 3/6 limit game before winning it back in the 1/3/300 spread game.  Finished up precisely $7. 

Lucky month

January started off abysmally.  Ten or so consecutive losing poker sessions, then the heart attack.  They say when you find yourself in a hole, quit digging.  Good advice.  Nonetheless figured eventually the worm had to turn.  So, finally booked a $200 cash game win.  Yee-ha!!!  Then yesterday playing in the $4/8 Omaha game a miracle happened.  I was stuck about $200 on a very active table with lots of raising going on.  No high hands for me, and only 2 at our table after almost 4 hours of play.  Then, playing 10/10/x/x I got a good but not great flop, 10/9/8 with the 9/8 suited in hearts.  I had the 10 of hearts in my hand.  There was betting and several callers.  The turn brought the case 10 and when it was checked to me I bet and got two callers, probably the worst players at the table.  The river was the 5 of hearts and a player bet into me.  I raised, one caller, then a re-raise.  I thought briefly, decided he had an under-full so i capped it.  They both called.  The first bettor turned over the 6/7 of hearts for the 9 high straight flush, beating my quads.  Bad Beat!!!!!  I lost the $200 pot and the high hand worth $150 but got a consolation prize, half the bad beat jackpot of $5900.  There were lots of high 5's as the straight flush got 25% and the other 25% was split among 5 players, $300  each.  My $2950 got paid about an hour later after withholding paperwork was signed, cards counted and picked up, drivers licenses recorded, etc.  First bad beat jackpot I have been involved with and only the 2nd I have seen.  It resets to $5000, someone said it had recently been hit.  You know what, I don't care.  It capped off my "lucky" month.  Lucky to be alive, and lucky to get out of the hole.  It also felt good to give a giant tip the older lady dealer who has been very kind and friendly to me.

The greens are $25, row of blacks $100 chips (20 of them), reds are $5, blue $1.

Birthday Boy Bubble

In my first poker outing since my heart event decided to play local turbo event.  I sort of like this one, $40 entry, 4000 chips, 16 minute levels.  It was a small turnout, only 28 players, paying 5 places with around $900 prize pool.  I played well, surviving multiple shoves and made the final table.  When we were down to 7, the chip leader suggested paying 2 bubbles.  Only one disagreed, so we played on.  He was eliminated next (karma???), so then the bubble idea was again floated.  This time some grizzled old guy said something about a previous tournament that wouldn't  pay him, so he vetoed it.  As a super short stack 2k with blind 2/4 k I was just looking to survive.  I got dumb, throwing in my last chips in early position (pocket 4's) with the big blind also super short.  The button, aforementioned no bubble jerk, min raised to put him in too. He wisely folded despite having over half his chips already committed.  The button had pocket aces and I was done.  Just a few minutes before the guy was short, all in with 2/6 and got lucky.

Player Down, Almost Seat Open

Playing in poker tournaments, we often hear the phrase "player down".  A player has lost their remaining chips and is eliminated from the game.  In cash games, we hear "seat open", meaning a player has either decided to cash in their remaining chips or has gone broke.  Either way, they are vacating their seat at the game and leaving.  So, last Friday, I came very close to being that player down or seat open in the big poker game of life.

I was just hanging out, my usual routine in the morning, coffee, more coffee, breakfast, playing on the computer.  I had gone to bed early the night before, commenting that I felt "unusually tired".  So, when I felt a squeezing pressure in my chest and some numbness and pain in my arm it was alarming. I needed gas in my car and debated driving to Kaiser Urgent Care, about 15 minutes away.  Finally decided not a good idea, so called my son-in-law to see if he would be available.  He was, and 20 minutes later we headed to Bellevue.  I checked in at the front desk, where they asked about my symptoms.  When they heard chest pain, I was immediately taken to an exam room and hooked up to an EKG.  After discussions with the nurse and a "normal" reading I was sent back to the waiting room.  At least an hour later was invited back to the exam room and met with the doctor.  She had blood drawn and another EKG.  An hour after that, they got my 2nd blood work done, then things started happening.  A cardiac doctor was consulted, given my results and suddenly 3 or 4 people came in and started transferring me to a gurney.  I was whisked to pre-op, and prepped for an operation.  I signed paperwork (undoubtedly releasing the hospital from any liability) to authorize possible surgery.  Informed that I had suffered a heart attack, the plan was to do angiogram and angioplasty either through my groin or arm.  They then took me into the O.R. where the team had assembled after an emergency call to their homes.  They were super quick and it was over in no time. I was awake the entire time, and felt zero pain.  They discovered 100% blockage in one artery, 97% in a 2nd, and 67% in the 3rd.  Two stents were placed, and I may have to return soon for the 3rd one.

Recovery was easy.  The ICU nurses were kind and efficient, got little sleep that night due to constant blood drawing, pressure testing, constant machine beeping, etc.  My wife slept on a small sofa in the room.  A couple of cardiac doctors checked in on me, discussed it all, and assured me of early release. Was cleared to go on Sunday for Monday release which happened around noon.  Really glad to be gone from the hospital and the hook up to monitors, IV hookups in both arms, hospital food, and being easily the wellest person on the floor. My biggest downside was buying all the drugs needed as I had foolishly opted out of part D drug options due to never taking any medication ever.  One drug was $320 for a 30 day supply.  The doctor and I discussed it, and after that a much cheaper generic will be o.k.  Joking with him, told him how I got the "Dr. Phil" poker nickname and commented that I was also a "card-iolist".  Also got to tell him a poker joke.  A doctor was home when he got a call from some colleagues inviting him to a poker game that night.  When he told his wife he had to go out on an emergency medical call, she asked him if it was serious.  "Yes, very serious" he replied, "there are already 4 other doctors there."

So, looks like my poker days will be shortened.  I plan on eating better, exercising more, and not doing such long term sitting at the tables.  They do say sitting is the new smoking and I will have to give up being a chain smoker.