Flushed Away

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

Tournament Update

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

Big Pairs vs. Connectors

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

Keeping Track of Poker Wins

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

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

First Hand Last Hand Amazing Flops

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

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

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

 

Lucky or Good?

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

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

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

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

  

Why Me?

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

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

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

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

Nice Hand Online Tonight

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

Good Omaha Day at Wildhorse

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

Barbara and Karma

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

Sets, Bad Luck, Bad Calls

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

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

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