The (almost) Daily Snakster

BOOOOOM!!!

2008-07-21T19:08:00.001-04:00

Snakster Family Death Match Part II

2008-03-07T22:02:00.002-05:00

My son, knowing an easy mark when he sees one, challenged me to a dollar tournament again tonight. I reluctantly agreed, and we ended up playing twice. So I flip for deal, yadda yadda yadda, I'm out $2 and I still have not won a hand against him in real money play.

The big hand in the first match is when all the money went in preflop. I was short stacked and shove with A-3. It not being a big raise, he rightfully called with ATC. His ATC happened to be 10-3 and I'm digging my dominating position. I'm digging it more when the flop comes A3x. Turn 10...ummmmm. River 10. Ooooooooooo-kay.

Game 2 more of the same. The big hand was me flopping top pair of Queens and I watch the pot grow through the river. He tables Q-4 which I soon discover is two pair. Thank you come again.

Final updated score: three $1 games, three losses. Hands won: zero. I think I'm going to have him play the next BBT game for me.

Pippet!! Here Pippet!!!!!

2008-03-05T15:46:00.004-05:00

I suspect there will come a day when young men will realize beforehand that taunting large, wild, carnivorous animals is not a wise recreational activity. Fortunately for this dude there is no picture #4 of the crocodile shitting him out. For the full play by play, go here.

BBT3 Debut Tonght!!!

2008-03-05T12:51:00.003-05:00

God willing and the powder stays dry, I should be in the Mookie tonight. It will be real interesting to see how big the field gets.

Okay, that's it for the good news. Now I shall relate to you all how deeply I have descended into the bowels of patheticalness. It's bad enough that I was sitting at my computer last night watching the "skill series" game and listening to Buddy Dank Radio. (The radio part was good, but listening to riggstad talking through what sounded like an empty tin can connected by twine with a half a tin of Skoal in his lip was enough to make me try to scoop out my inner ear with a grapefruit spoon.) Anyway, that was bad enough, but then I started playing Main Event Race freerolls. I think that pretty much defines "rock bottom".

Interestingly....or not....I almost advanced to round 2 in one of them when I finished 4th (top 2 advanced). I'm actually trying to figure out now which path to the WSOP is the biggest lottery...it's a horse race at this point.

Speaking of horse races, The second of three Kentucky Derby Future Wagers pools starts tomorrow and ends Sunday. I was unable to get to the Turf Club for the first one. I was gonna put some down on two horse that time. I'm half glad I didn't. I wouldn't touch the one with a 10 foot riding crop now. But I still might put some on my other horse this time if his number is still decent. For the record, that would be El Gato Malo. Pyro is really starting to look like the strong favorite, but his number is so low, it doesn't make sense to put anything on him at this time. I'll probably find a second horse to take a flyer on before I head out. Frankly, I'm really just looking forward to a good mint julep.

Lastly, I am at work all alone today, and will be for the rest of the week. It seems the place I am working at (not working for) met their performance goals last year, so the company packed them all up and shipped them to Atlantis in the Bahamas for 4 days. They promised to bring me back some sand. I suggested that them bringing back malaria might make me happier.

Belated Report

2008-03-04T12:42:00.002-05:00

Well, I have mixed reviews of my trip to Harrah's Marina on Sunday. I like the poker room there. It is cozy (read: small) yet comfortable. It certainly is not on the scale of the Borgata or the Taj, but I don't suppose they are shooting for the clientele of those rooms. The dealers were okay; some were a little challenged when guiding novices on what was and was not acceptable, but no major faux pas. However some seemed to be a little disinterested in their task.

The tournament itself was worse than expected. It turns out the opening blinds were 100-200. So in essence, it was a $50 Riverchaser tournament (before RPT raised their starting stacks to 200 this year). I was disappointed with how I played my uber-passive table. I took a few pots down preflop with aggression, but could have done much more. Overall I played terribly and got what I deserved, which was a fairly early exit.

Not too many good stories to relate. But there were some players who clearly had no idea what they were doing. Botched raise attempts were frequent. "I see the 200 and raise 800." Ummmm.....no you don't.

If I go back there, I do not plan on playing that tourney again. The juice is too high (as a percentage) and the structure is terrible for a casino tournament. I would be happy to bring extra money though and sit at the cash tables. Just casual observation leads me to believe the game there is soft and profitable. Apparently you get free drinks if you're sitting at a poker table too. Why don't people tell me these things?

Moving on...the BBT seems to be a hit so far. 105 players for the Big Game, and 103 last night for the MATH. I plan on making my debut in the Mookie on Wednesday. This may be my only shot this week. I'm not too comfortable dropping $11 on Thursday to play a PLO tourney (how pathetic is that?). Such is the life of a low-roller who doesn't want to deposit any money. I'll make do with what I have (such as it is) for as long as I can.

Atlantic City Tomorrow

2008-03-01T13:08:00.003-05:00

Looks like I'll be making my first foray down to AC tomorrow. My buddy (millerd33 on FT) is looking to get some big stack practice in, so he's heading to Harrah's tomorrow to play in a 40+10. Yes it's kind of a rip off with a $10 fee for a $40 tourney, but I guess it's a moneymaker for them. I'm sure each casino down there needs to find a niche and I guess Harrah's is a cheapo daily tourney for tourists. Anyway, the starting stack is 10K (though I'm willing to wager starting blinds are 50-100 so what's the point?). There are also no antes, so that's a plus.

I expect the play to be at least as bad as the freerolls run by Riggstad's RPT. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it's worse. I fully expect a tourist paradise in this tourney, full of people whose poker knowledge comes solely from watching the World Poker Tour final tables.

But a trip is a trip and it will be nice to get down to AC. Hopefully I'll get a good story or two out of it to relay. Good luck me.

A for Effort

2008-02-29T09:52:00.003-05:00

Or perhaps that should be E for Effortless. After all, it doesn't take much effort to fold crap. Perhaps the best paraphrased cliche' to describe the RPT for me last night is, Slow and Steady but loses a Race.

Here is my tournament in a nutshell. The first river I saw was the 4th hand after the second break (which I believe was hand 138 or so of the tournament). By rights, I shouldn't have seen that river either. I was in the SB and it folded to me so I raise it up about 4x with Kh8h. The BB repops and I tank. I know I should just let it go, but this exact thing happened on the last hand before the second break. I think I had something like A8 on that hand and decided I didn't want to go busto on the last hand before the break, and I'd hate to make a stand by calling all-in with A8.

With that in mind it made sense to fold the K8 suited, but I pretty much decided to gamble. Up to that point I had not had a hand better than one pair. I had seen only 3 turns, and as I mentioned, no rivers. So I put the rest of my money in and he calls the extra couple hundred. I find, not unexpectedly, that I am up against AQ. Miraculously I river a flush and keep going.

An orbit or so later I flop an open end straight draw and bet out with one caller. The turn gives me the nut straight, but puts three hearts on board (I had one heart but it was fairly weak). I am relieved when my turn bet gets a fold and not a shove. That was the second of the only two hands in which I had better than one pair...out of a total of 190+ hands.

I somehow managed to squirm my way into the final table with a decent stack; a little better than 12K. But my final table experience did not last long. In the BB I get 77. It is folded to the button who position raises. The SB reraises to about 4k or so. I figure the button will fold his position raise, and I put the SB on a big Ace (at least that's what I was hoping), so I make a move and shove with my 77. The SB goes in the tank, and I figure I was right, but I'm still begging for no call. Ultimately he decided to call with his AJ and spiked a Jack on the flop; thanks for playing. The downside of Pyrrhic victories, is that the victor gets destroyed.

All in all, I should be relatively happy with the run I made considering I got virtually no help from the deck. But at the end of the day, it's another non-cash and that doesn't help my BBT3 schedule. Congratulations to whomever the donkey was who ended up winning.

Let the Games Begin

2008-02-28T14:59:00.002-05:00

The BBT3 is here and better than ever, I look forward to it all. Thank you long-haired hippy freak.

As much as I'm looking froward to it though, I feel like a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest. Why snak? Good question. It's because I know that I will play at best 30% of these games. And that may be extraordinarily optimistic. But I don't mope (much). Instead I will happily take my shots when they come. If I succeed, so much the better. If not, c'est la vie. There are worse things. I reserve the right to adjust this estimate if I go deep and cash big in an early contest.

I have come to realize lately that there is a downside to semi-retirement from online poker. It doesn't give you a whole hell of a lot to write about. I am reduced to giving sickbay reports (by the way, my son officially has the flu), or making stabs at humor with semi-fictitious stories (sounds like the real Olga was more worth writing about). What's next? More song parodies? (I'm doing my best to refrain.)

Hopefully my part-time participation in the BBT3 will spawn some new material. Good luck to all, and I'll see you (sometimes) at the tables.

Out Sick

2008-02-25T13:45:00.002-05:00

Well it was a glorious weekend of fevers, body aches and productive coughing. I don't believe anyone in the house is completely healthy at this point. Let me say right now, there is nothing quite as annoying as a nagging illness. I can't wait until my chest REALLY starts hurting from the continuous coughing.

As a result I was really in no mood to play anything over the weekend. A lot of sleeping was done. The shoveling I did on Saturday morning was a real treat. I think my heart was moments away from jumping out of my chest, wrestling away the shovel, and beating me to death with it.

I hope to achieve a level resembling normal in a day or two.

Snakster Family Death Match

2008-02-22T09:05:00.002-05:00

So I'm sitting on the couch last evening, minding my own business, when my 6-year old son walks up with a dollar in his hand and asks if I want to play poker.

GAME ON!!!!!

So I divy up some chips, flip for deal, yadda yadda yadda, he's stuffing $2 into his new wallet.

I'd like to say it was an epic, competitive battle, but I didn't win a hand. The coup de grace was when I flopped top pair with AK and he turned trip 4s. Live poker is so fixed.

Red Menace

2008-02-20T21:25:00.004-05:00

Nothing is quite as coincidental as life's great coincidences. Case in point:

Earlier today I was reading Poker Degenerate's post (yes, I'm the one) on team, Sputnik speaking poker at a Washington card room. An interesting and amusing little anecdote to be sure. But then tonight, I'll be damned if I don't have a similar experience. Just a little while ago, I went out to do some quick gocery shopping at the new local Giant.

What? A guy can't do grocery shopping? Are you and me going to have a problem about that? Then shut your piehole and let me finish.

Anyway, I was at the Giant. I'm minding my own business, humming to a tune, when this lady walks by me in the opposite direction talking Russian into her cell phone. Needless to say, I was floored. Still jacked up by Degen's story, I couldn't let it slide. So I say...

"HEY........OLGA! NO FREAKIN' SPUTNIK IN THE DAIRY AISLE!!!!!!"

Instantly she stopped dead in her tracks...completely silent. Everyone else went quiet too. Clearly they felt the same as me, but were probably too polite to say anything. She was staring at me in disbelief. I'm quite certain this was the first time somebody pushed back at her non-conforming behavior. Not wanting to lose my advantage, I continued...

"This is America...we speak ENGLISH here, capisce? You know the rules so take your bolshevik babbling back to the third world where it belongs. And that goes for the produce department too!!!"

She s-l-o-o-o-o-w-w-w-w-l-y closed her phone and started to back away. I think she got the message. But just to make sure, I saw some pock-faced 17 year-old kid in an apron walking near by. "Hey Floor!!" I called, "C'mere." I told him the whole story. He looked pretty stunned. I guess he didn't think something like that would happen in his place. So I gave him a fiver and suggested he have the eye in the sky keep an eye on her.

Feeling pretty good about myself, I finished my shopping. I hate having to be the grocery police, but I'm a stickler for rules...just my nature I guess.

Marking Time

2008-02-20T15:47:00.002-05:00

Just counting down the days until Thursday and the RPT. The thing about semi-retirement from online poker...it cramps my content style.

I did play a little bit at the nickel-dime tables last night. Lost a stack at the NLHE table by constantly getting second best hands. Then made most of it back at a PLO table. Exciting, I know.

I have been spending a lot of time recently researching something new. No point saying what it is yet, because so far I haven't really done anything. Perhaps it will come to light in the near future. But man can I get obsessive when looking at something new.

Other than that, nothing to see here. If I don't fall asleep early I may be on a PLO table again tonight. Feel free to join me if you don't mind playing in the kiddie pool.

Quiet Evening on the Rail

2008-02-18T14:14:00.002-05:00

As I was still a bit fatigued from the previous night, I limited myself to the rail last night. I was watching Chad's progress in the FTOPS Main Event and Riggstad at the .50-1 NL table. At least I did until I found a good movie on the tube.

Riggs was at about 100 when I popped in and was down to about half that by the time I popped out. I think at one point he was sucked out on 5 or 6 hands in a row. It was actually pretty sick to watch. The impressive part was, many people we know would have gone broke on several of those hands. It was impressive how he was able to minimize his losses, although he admitted to misplaying a couple of the hands. Even on an off night I find things to learn from him.

Chad did a nice job in the ME. I kept the window open so I could see how it finished. I noticed he finished in the money in the second level. Well played sir.

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

2008-02-17T14:45:00.003-05:00

And one Rye, and one Tequila, and one more Bourbon for good measure.

Good time last night. We ended up playing a little short handed (6) for most of the night due to a couple late cancellations. I was up about 70 or 75 early, but lost two large pots to the same person and ended up only $6 on the evening. After 3 people departed, the remaining 3 of us played PLO until 4:30. I was essentially card dead for the last 5 hours or so, able to pick up a few small pots here and there to tread water. A couple of occasions where I decided to win the pot before the cards were dealt, and fortunately no one woke up with a hand. That kind of thing.

Two new faces last night who brought solid play to the table to make for an enjoyable poker experience. I generally get compliments for the game I host because it usually includes solid players and people who are capable of letting go marginal hands. Hopefully I'll have another one scheduled in 2 or 3 weeks; just need to check the calendar to see which one works best.

No online poker this weekend, and I'm just trying to eliminate the poison from my body today.

The Bar is Open

2008-02-15T10:33:00.007-05:00

Here are the beverages available for enjoyment on Saturday night:

And here are the chips used at the Manor:

Yes....I'm a geek.

Delayed Retirement

2008-02-15T09:51:00.002-05:00

Thanks to a 4th place, in the money, finish in the RPT last night, my retirement has been delayed. It was a tough beat that put me on the felt 4 handed (AQ < AJ), but I was the beneficiary on several occasions of cards falling my way, so I can't complain. I was done in when my JJ couldn't hold against KQ. Congratulations to whomever won. Zeem had the big stack 3 handed, and the deck seemed to be smacking him almost as hard as it was smacking me.

Ironically, I probably played worse last night than I have in weeks, yet I finished better. A number of misplays on my part were not punished, and I often found myself wiping my brow and sighing relief. However, as I noted to Riggstad on AIM after I called a shove four handed with Ace-rag (and lost to a bigger Ace), bad play only gets you so far. I promised him that was my last call of an all-in 4 handed with Ace-rag. Perhaps if he wasn't so loaded, he would have berated me more. I was certainly deserving

My only regret was that it was not a KO tourney. I lost count of how many people I took out. It was at least 7 and there were only 31 in the tourney. Good times though. I guess I'll see you for a few more weeks (until the money runs out).

I'm looking forward to the cash game at my house tomorrow night. It has been too long since the last one. I'll try to keep notes in case anything entertaining happens.

All Systems Down

2008-02-14T16:22:00.002-05:00

I got home last night to discover that my Verizon FiOS was down (is that Riggstad I hear laughing in the background?). That means Internet, Television and Phone…all out. Of course the phone wasn’t a big deal, but the other two were a bummer. I called verizon up to see if I was an isolated victim, or if it was a broader issue. I was relieved to find out it was a broader issue. This was the first time FiOS has crapped out on me, and the weather has been pretty crappy. No biggie…THIS time.

My wife, bless her heart, was concerned about whether I was going to miss a tournament. Fortunately the answer was no (sorry Mookie). It was all just as well. I had an errand to run after scraping up something to eat, then I had to pick up my daughter and her friend from a Wednesday night activity. I got home to see my son had taken over the TV (again) with a Scooby Doo video.

After I got everyone safely off to bed, I popped in A Few Good Men; one of my comfort movies. It’s like potato chips for the mind. I think this was the first time I watched it on my big screen TV. Quick review: it’s still good. The good news is services were restored by the time I woke up this morning. I should be good to go for the RPT this evening.

I was a little perturbed this morning when I did a quick read of the Riverchaser message boards. A gentleman was taking Riggs to task over the absence (so far) of the top 100 freerolls for the online tour. Apparently the only reason he played that particular $10 tournament was to qualify for the freeroll and the big payday that it represents (sarcasm intended). It seems he’s deep enough to play any other $10 tournament he wants, but played this one for the big payoff at the end. Well bully for you. But here’s a question: how many of those other tournaments offered you an opportunity to play in a freeroll with 1 in 28 chance of winning an $18K Aussie Millions package? What’s that? SPEAK UP YOU UNGRATEFUL TWIT!!

Part an parcel to his criticism was the brushing aside of the participation of the RPT online tour on the BBT for an Aussie Millions package. At the risk of confirming myself as one of the RPT management ass kissers he refers to, I have this to say: go fornicate yourself. Are people really that stupid to not understand that these packages and freerolls are offered by a stand alone entity and that these are provided at their pleasure? Full Tilt doesn’t just give these things away because they think Al is a groovy guy. These are business decisions. The work and effort behind the Aussie Package (and future packages) can’t possibly be slam dunks. If the timing of a freeroll suffers so I can compete for a mega package so be it.

So if I may presume to speak for those who provide us with great opportunities, let me leave with a quote from another superb movie, Snatch: “Listen, you f**king fringe, if I throw a dog a bone, I don't want to know if it tastes good or not.”

The Worst Damn Poker Show

2008-02-12T19:16:00.000-05:00

I had the misfortune last night of witnessing quite probably the worst poker television show ever conceived. Ironically, the title of this debacle is The Best Damn Poker Show. This particular disaster features both Annie Duke and Phil Helmuth sitting in a back room watching and critiquing amateurs playing poker. Apparently, based on their judgement, they are allowed to eliminate the worst players at the table and the best move on to some future round. I have no idea what that entails. God willing, I never will.

The production value was so bad, it looked like the budget was about $400. The video may as well have been recorded with $300 Korean camcorder. They were using chips that you could get at Wal Mart for $20. Neither Annie (whose failed solo show held the previous title as worst poker show) nor Phil could be bothered to dress like they were going to be on television. It appeared as if they rolled out of bed on a Saturday morning, put the clothes on they wore the night before, and hurried over to the filming. The location seemed to be half of a banquet room at a Holiday Inn. Plus we get to see Annie slugging down a large coffee that she must have bought at the 7-11 on the way in.

To sum it up, this show sucked from top to bottom. The teaser for the next episode showed a big blow up by Annie Duke over Phil's constant yammering. Ooh, how could I possibly not tune in to catch that forced exchange? Do yourself a favor if you make a wrong turn and find this show on your screen: change the channel immediately! Otherwise you may be tempted to shove long metal spikes into your eyes.

Family Style

2008-02-09T21:41:00.000-05:00

This just in...my brother just AIMed me that he finished 4th in a $55 tournament on PartyPoker (no, he doesn't live in the U.S.). 586 started and he cashed a cool $1767.

Congratulations to you sir.

Having Some Fun Again

2008-02-09T12:02:00.000-05:00

I have found my happy place, and it's at the nickel dime PLO table. A sense of sanity has been restored. My sanity anyway; the people who play these tables suck, but they generally suck in a good way. I'm certainly not going to get rich at these tables. Even if I go on a sick run (which I haven't yet), I'd only be looking at 10-20 bucks. As it is, I walk away ahead a few bucks, but I believe I'm learning some things.

For example, I am getting a much better sense of pot management playing these games. Although it's true others may be pot button mashers, I am using the opportunity to hone MY game as best I can. I also believe I am getting a better feel for PLO. While others at the table may not be all that concerned with improvement, it is always my goal. The most important thing I have learned is that improvement can be pursued even at the smallest of games...if it's the right game.

Riggstad has been kind enough to join me at these tables from time to time. We have a lot of fun laughing at the other players. It really is amazing what people will call off their money with in Omaha. Gotta love people who bring their Hold 'em game to an Omaha table. Anyway, these small successes are delaying my ultimate retirement. Here's a hand from last night (I folded it of course). I'm quite certain someone at the table would have played it. Heck I stacked a guy who played 3 aces; none of them suited to the 4th card.

I decided to bag the RPT game on Thursday. As I've stated before, I have no great love for Stud at this juncture in my life. Some day. I railed the donkament a little last night. Kat must have lost in every way imaginable. That's no way to treat the host. It was like watching Marvis Frazier try to fight Mike Tyson. Just ugly.

A Bernard Hopkins Kind of Retirement

2008-02-06T19:54:00.000-05:00

I have achieved a nice sense of inner peace since my retirement from online poker. So far it is going extremely well, probably because I'm still playing. That is I have been playing some nickel/dime omaha to pass the time. It is a nice way to try to clear some bonus money. I'm still running uber-badly, but I don't really care now. The race is on between the leak of my roll and the bump from bonus. It's like trying to walk up a down escalator.

I shall also be spreading my chips around at the RPT tomorrow night. Come early if you want some. I shall not be playing the Mookie tonight, but I'll probably rail a little just to make smart ass remarks. It keeps me warm.

Part and parcel to my retirement from online poker is a hopeful increase in live play. I've been able to go out to the bars to play a little more recently. It's nice to be able to build up a stack to show that you can, than donk them off without remorse when you get bored. As riggstad put it the other night, it's like a cat batting around a crumpled up paper ball.

Also I have been able to schedule my first home ring game in a couple months. Things have just been too busy and I got away from it. I anticipate bringing it back to its semi-regular status now. First up...February 16. Participants TBD, but the list is growing fast. That should be fodder for a week's worth of posts.

Wits End

2008-02-04T09:57:00.000-05:00

I simply can't take it anymore. I'm done. Finis. You won't have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore.

I made the decision yesterday to essentially divorce myself from online poker. I can not take the play at the low levels in which I live, and I am not about to make an investment to play higher. I am too tired of only winning 20% of the time in situations where I am 80% and 75%. I realize 75% and 80% is not 100%, but it's not 20% either.

I know I am not a pro caliber player, but I can't take the level of play anymore at these micro levels. I am doing myself no good by continuing to subject myself to the idiocy. So I am out. Kaput. Good game Japan.

Well almost. I have decided to continue to play the RPT until that time in which my roll finally drains. I also may be playing some cash games for the next couple weeks because I have bonuses I can clear. After that, it's over. So whether it's RPT or cash games that finally put me out, I will be doing it no longer.

I will continue to have cash games at my house, and I'll play the occasional Riverchaser bar tourney. These too are increasingly difficult to play in, but when I get bored, I don't mind donking off the stack and leaving. I will also try to get to AC fairly regularly. Once a month may be a stretch, but more than my current once a year ought to be obtainable.

So search for me when you're online. Then you can say you sat with me during my farewell tour.

By the way, that had to be the best Sooper Bole I've ever seen. I have long been a closet Eli Manning fan. I have an Ole Miss #10 jersey I bought when he was still slingin' it for the Rebels. I wear it proudly every Turkey Bowl.

There's Always Tomorrow

2008-02-01T09:46:00.000-05:00

"Sister luck is screaming out somebody else's name"
-Black Crowes

It's amazing how frustration can pile up quickly. I've been running more bad than good in recent weeks. I try not to let one day affect another, and I am generally successful at that. What I try to be aware of is that my fuse on the next day may be a little shorter when the previous day ran real bad. In that light I try to keep my eyes open to self realization. Huh?

What I mean is, if after some bad beats I see myself making very uncharacteristic plays and calls in the next game, I realize that I have been thrown off kilter and I shut it down for the night. No sense making a bad situation worse. Such was the case last night.

It started off badly enough. While waiting for the Riverchasers game to start, I jumped into a 6-man SNG. Always seeming to be second best I quickly found myself sitting on a short stack and nursing my chips. Somehow I managed to survive to three-handed play. I was able to steal a few and then the second stack lost a big pot to the chipleader. Amazingly I was in second now, by a margin of just under 300 chips (but still small compared to blinds). Next hand, the shortstack limps UTG and I shove KQ. He calls with K6. He turns his 6 and suddenly I'm down to 285. The very next hand I have AT and put my money in. I am called by the chipleader who shows A4; dominating again. Flop comes 235 of course. Good game Japan.

So then the RC starts. I lose a bunch early to Waffles when I pushed back hard with my underpair to the board. He apparently flopped TPTK with his AQ and wasn't about to let go, and I eventually had to give in. But this was not crippling (thank you deepstack tourneys). However, for the better part of the rest of my short stay, I rarely made a bet that wasn't re-raised by somebody, or at least it seemed that way. There was at least one occasion where I felt a move was being made, but discretion always seemed the better part of valor, and I was always able to lay down good, but certainly not great, hands. Finally I cracked. After getting re-raised yet again, I could stand it no longer and decided to shove with 66 in hopes that, miraculously, I would only be in a race (not that I've been winning many of them lately). Alas, Waffles ended my misery when he called with his lowly KK.

I still felt ok though and decided to jump into another 6-man SNG. I more than double on the first hand. UTG+1 raises to 105, cutoff calls, I have 33 on button. What the heck, I say to myself, see if I can hit a set and do some damage. Three to the flop which comes AJ9 rainbow. Initial raiser and CO both check. Hmmmmmm. I throw out a 3/4 pot bet. Raiser calls, CO folds. Turn is a 3...YAHTZEE! Raiser checks again, I bet 2/3 pot, he calls again. I decide he is on a straight draw. I figure as long as a low card hits the river I should be good. River is a 6 and I'm certain I am gold. Raiser shoves his last 500+. I see this as a desperation shove after missing his straight draw and instacall. Sure enough he flips over QTo and I rake in the pot. I won't even get into the preflop raise with QTo, I'm used to that stuff by now.

About one orbit later I eliminate player #2 and I'm feeling really good. It gets to three handed and I'm still the comfortable chip leader. Mayhem then ensues. I have forgotten the specific details of the suckouts that followed (I believe that is clinically referred to as "hysterical amnesia"), but it was in keeping with the crap that has been hitting me quite often in recent days/weeks (indeed, similar to the pre-RC SNG described above). So there I sit, having gone from chipleader to out on the bubble (again) in a virtual blinking of an eye. Grrrrrrrrrrr.

I immediately jump into another one. On the third hand I watch myself put all my chips in the middle (after some back and forth raising and re-raising) preflop with TT, being quite certain that the guy is going to call and flip an overpair. He does. QQ. That's about the time I AIM riggstad that I am shutting down for the night. Tilt cost me the last SNG buy-in, but at least I knew that I was out of my game and that I needed to wait until the next day to play anymore.

Hopefully the good run starts tonight.

Happy Anniversary To Me

2008-01-30T15:39:00.000-05:00

Tonight marks the one year anniversary of my “Big Win” in the 25K guarantee in FT. I suspect there are some who would suggest that it is the anniversary of me hitting the lottery that tournament represents, but you’ll forgive me if I ignore those people. Much like every hit in a box score is a line drive, every win in a large tournament is a testament to the skill of said victor……at least it was that night……as far as you know.

Needless to say I am proud of that highlight of my 2007 poker year. However I am bemused by the fact that I can probably count on one hand the number of times I have played that game since then. I’m a little at a loss to explain why that is so. Perhaps it was because I was up until 3:30 in the morning on a work night, so I realize the time commitment (and sleep deprivation) needed to go deep. There are always weekends of course, but it has rarely occurred to me to play it on weekends.

But whatever the reason, I haven’t been playing it, nor do I plan to do so anytime soon. That could change in a month or so, but I need to be systematic in my approach to such things; it’s just the way I am. So tonight I may raise a glass to toast myself and I may play a couple SNGs, but I will not be looking for lightning to strike again. At least not tonight.

I would also like to take the opportunity to give thanks to my buddy Doug who railed me until 3 AM or so that fateful night; until he ran out of gas. He kept the screen open though. His reaction the next morning will always be a fond memory of mine…."Are you f***ing kidding me????"

Catching Up

2008-01-28T11:03:00.001-05:00

Well I haven't posted since the RPT Razz tourney on Thursday so I'll say a few words on that. I must admit I like Razz. To me, it's a pretty simple game. I have a hard time figuring out why other people think it's so hard to understand. Frustrating? Absolutely. But the play of some people is very bizarre to me. I think what it is, is that many people have a difficult time remembering that no one else can see their down cards.

Up to the first break, I pretty much had my own way with some bad hands but good looking up cards. The only problem is that eventually, in a Razz tourney, you will need help from the cards; and I just never got it. My best starting hands always seem to get face cards on 4th and 5th street. In that light I slowly bled toward the second break, and finally died about halfway to the third break. I actually had a decent hand, and it took miracle cards on 5th, 6th, and 7th for me to lose, but they came and I was done.

The one strange thing that happened to me is something that should NEVER happen in Razz. Yet I was the beneficiary four time. Four times I walked with the "bring in" when I had a King or Queen up. Twice with a King and twice with a Queen. Here are the four screen caps as evidence:

On this first one, no one had a great up card, but when it folded to the 7 and only face cards were left behind, he MUST complete there. Heck even the Jack should with two kings behind.

This next is a little stunning. An Ace and a 2 folds with no other card lower than an 8 showing? I can see if the 2 had crappy cards in the hole and the Ace had completed, but the ace folds. What could the 2 possibly be worried about in that spot?

Here's another one where a 2 and an Ace folds. And the Ace was last to act before I walk. Everyone folds to the Ace, the ace only has to worry about my King up and he folds? Unbelievable.

And finally we see a 3 fold with only a Queen behind. You can't make this stuff up.

Saturday I was allowed a night out, so I went over to my buddy Doug's place. We played a little wii (he beat me in HR derby, but I took 2 for 2 in bowling). Then we played some RPT at a local establishment. All in all a good time.

I took my daughter to see The Water Horse yesterday. Nice family type movie, though a bit predictable. Nothing wrong with that though if it is done well. Good weekend.

Close Only Counts In Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

2008-01-24T11:12:00.000-05:00

First, as a quick follow-up to yesterday's post (and Riggstad's comment on same), my overbets have now been pot sized bets as he suggested. Sometimes I might go pot plus 50 or something, but that's the neighborhood I'm in. Thanks for the feedback.

Now on to the subject at hand. I played three SNGs yesterday and I bubbled each and every one of them. The last two I had the best hand when the money went in. The first one was AT vs. AK after I had been clinging to life with the shortstack for a good 10-15 minutes. The previous day I was also 0 for 3 with two bubble departures. Currently I am on an 8-game non-cashing streak. This has inflicted calamitous damage to my meager bankroll.

I think the popular impulse is to change things up. Do something different to break the spell. However I try not to be reactionary. Upon quick reflection, I don't believe I played particularly poorly or incorrectly during the streak. I just got unlucky at bad times or suffered from some poor timing. As such, I don't plan on changing a thing, with the exception of ending the streak.

The downside is that this may affect my decision on whether to play the RPT tonight. The cost is now severe compared to my funds. But I do like Razz, so I may just bite the bullet and jump in for poops and giggles. Hope to see you tonight.

Light Bulb Moment

2008-01-23T13:56:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while you come across something that, although simple and obvious, had not dawned on you. One of those "missing the forest for the trees" kind of things. And I call those rare moments of realization "light bulb moments" (at least I do as of today).

Today, the light bulb clicked on while I was reading riggstads post in which 6-man SNGs are briefly discussed. Before I get to the bulb, I would like to point out a misquote of my reaction to Fischman's advice on the 6-man turbos. I was not "surprised to see his advice on being super aggressive". Indeed, I think it makes perfect sense. What I wrote to riggstad was, "apparently I usually play them right. What amazes me is that this (his tip) is probably news to some people."

Of course this was only true up to a point. The light bulb came on regarding my shortcomings after reading riggs' clarification:

He does however advocate overbetting pre with a premium hand as to make sure you get less calls with marginal hands. So yes, that would be aggressive. It's just making sure that the holdings advised to make those plays with are premium hands.

EUREKA!! I can easily state that much of my misery (when it occurs) pertains to having premium hands losing to really crappy holdings. It was not a matter of not raising pre-flop. It was really a matter of not raising enough pre-flop.

Last night for example I had aces cracked by J9 suited. A couple limpers in front (25-50) and I pot a raise which made it 250. A raise to 400 or 500 might have been the way to go. There will always be the clowns who will call with their ace-rag or suited one-gaps anyway, but it will eliminate more of the fence riders, and perhaps the J9 folds to a bigger raise.

On premium hands I really need to steer away from the 'standard raise' mentality. This would be true with position raises too. Considering it is a 6 man turbo, I need not worry about people catching on to betting patterns; it's a sprint, not a marathon.

After my aces were cracked, I said to riggs that the next time I get AA, I'm shoving. Sure enough, the next game I got in to, I was dealt AA fairly early. I shoved, everybody folded (including early limper). I'll take it. Shoving in that situation over exaggerates the point and I will tone that down, but the lesson is finally learned. Aggressive means AGGRESSIVE!

Here is hoping it brings a little more consistency to my 6-man results.

Lower Level Poker: Outplay or Outlast?

2008-01-22T12:35:00.000-05:00

The more I play online at these lower levels (because I have to) the more I wonder about what the true secret to success is. Or to put it another way, is it more a matter of outlasting the level of competition here than outplaying them? Or to really boil it down, is it even possible to outplay them?

For the majority of the players at this level, I don’t think it is possible to outplay them. That’s not to say they don’t get outplayed…they just outplay themselves. I like to think I have something to do with it, but I don’t. I can’t take credit for their bad play. I can’t say I outplayed someone who calls off his stack on the flop when he plays 10-6 suited to a raise pre-flop and hits top pair of 10s and no secondary draw. Nor can I say I outplayed the person who can’t lay down ANY Ace preflop, then finds himself outkicked when the money goes in. No, these people outplay themselves.

Indeed, when faced with these players at your table (and I think most of us can spot them pretty quick), it is counterproductive to even try to outplay them. All they see is their Ace, or their flopped pair (even if it’s second or third pair), or their flush draw (7 high flush draw is a monster). Board texture, betting patterns or sizes, over cards, check-raises, folding for a half hour-then raising…none of these have a measurable effect. So it becomes more of a matter of outlasting such players as opposed to outplaying them. Let them outplay themselves and hope you don’t get run down. Unfortunately, this happens all too often; which even the most modest search of poker blogs will reveal.

As has been written about ad nauseum, this can be quite frustrating. Unfortunately it is what needs to be dealt with. I suspect that there is a degree of this kind of thing at most levels, but I have to believe it is most prevalent in the levels in which I live. The down side is that it tends to dull the poker senses. Yet on those occasions where you are lucky enough to play with people who have some ability, it becomes that much better.

I suspect this is, in some way, a basic and foggy acknowledgement of riggstad’s forthcoming piece on Situational Awareness (SA). I look forward to that and hope to expand on my thoughts once his are published. It seems to me that part of making effective use of SA is finding out what players at your table are not SA. This would directly affect your decision making process. Do I need to play ABC here? Or can I get a little frisky?

At any rate, I can’t say that I have been doing a lot of outplaying of people. I’d say I’m at least doing kind of okay at outlasting them. But man those suckouts hurt. Especially when it’s several games in a row. But…back in to the breach! Keep your head down and your powder dry.

Housekeeping

2008-01-20T09:04:00.000-05:00

Quick update on the weekend. So far we (two kids and I) are all still alive in wife's absence. This is no small accomplishment in my book, so I will pat myself on the back (with my good arm). Speaking of which, the MRI showed no tears or serious damage. The diagnosis was tendonosis and some other minor irritations and/or degenerations. Treatment? A shot of cordisone and physical therapy. Thanks a lot. It still hurts. Yet another case of me going to an orthopedist and having zippo done to actually correct a problem. The previous two relate to a finger I dislocated playing football more than two years ago (still stiff and sore) and a bone that is broken in my wrist for the last 20 years. Yes, I have had a broken wrist for the last 20 years and I will, apparently, until the day I die. Stop by and I'll show you the x-ray.

SNGs are going pretty well these days. I won 2 of 3 last night. I finished one spot out of the money in the third. The first one I knocked out all of the other 5 players. I think that was a first for me. I only played one on Friday and that was a win too.

I'm in the process of looking for an inexpensive yet still decent mp3 player for my son. I think I've narrowed it down to either the Sansa Clip 1GB that I can get for $38 and change at WalMart or a Sony B105 2GB that is on sale, starting today, at Staples for 39.99. That seems like kind of a good deal to me. Apparently the Sony not only has a FM receiver (as does the clip), but you can record the radio too. I don't see this being used an awful lot, but it's nice just in case. Plus twice the memory.

Frankly I hate pulling the trigger on this kind of thing because I know I'll find a better deal on a better player two days later.

Sudden Loss of Interest

2008-01-18T14:01:00.000-05:00

Well it was a good time at the old RPT Tourney last night, until I suddenly lost interest. Not uncoincidentally (made up word alert!), that disinterest coincided with my inglorious departure. But for poops and giggles, let's review.

It started innocently enough. I didn't play a hand other than an unraised BB for essentially the first three orbits. Then I came out swinging. Soon, the leader board looked like this:

I quickly lost the top spot. Trying to lay low and not get too involved. But, a few well timed moves and I found myself back in the lead...

After that, I really did lay low. Lost a little right before the break. Got down to below average stack, then grinded my way back into top 10. Along the way, the following back to back hands occurred. Please note that it was the same two individuals involved in the hands, and they WERE back to back...

Just hideous. Earlier I had witnessed another occasion of AA being cracked by KK. All in all, I saw 5 pocket aces at my table. Three times they were no good. But that's neither here nor there. I have a tournament to play. I'm 10 of 19 left. I get involved in a big pot and knock a guy out in 19th. Amazingly, I find myself here...

Woohoo!! 1 of 18!!! I'm set to make a run baby. That is until....

Yes....back to back hands and our hero finishes in 18th place. Just epic.

It is unfortunate that I will not be able to help Riggstad celebrate his birthday this evening. I am a single parent this weekend as my wife is escaping to pursue her hobby. She could certainly use the break and the time away, and as usual I will do my best to keep the house from burning down in her absence. I trust those present will raise a glass for me tonight. Better yet, I'll raise a glass for me tonight. Assuming I can get the kids to bed before midnight.

Obligatory Post About Nothing

2008-01-16T10:30:00.000-05:00

Posting for posting's sake...how utterly sad.
- R. Carnal

I was sorely tempted to play in the Blogger Skillz game last night (Razz), but opted out. Razz is actually a game I like quite a lot. Maybe because it is so mind numbingly simple and yet people seem to think it's akin to trying to translate cuneiform. But even though I like the game, I was also painfully aware of the field. I am happy that I was able to avoid the suffering that riggstad endured during the game. Just another in the long series of 'chase and catch' that occurs so often. All the while, the villain is blissfully unaware that he is being outplayed.

Recent SNG results have no doubt played a large part in my sour and dour outlook. Like having Aces cracked by K3o (I was run down after the money went in and he only had me slightly covered). Or like having Jacks lose to Q5s when my opponent called off 80% of his stack to my preflop shove. Is there any wonder that a degree of cynicism has creeped into my consciousness?

However I did follow up that last debacle with a win when I racked my way to final two. I had a monster chip lead going heads up. Then a few suckouts later I was down to less than 800. Fortunately I hung on long enough to play past the bad luck and ended up winning. But my last nerve was frayed. I even went so far as to berate the idiots in the chat box...and I NEVER do that. Just goes to show that every man has his limits.

So I decided to take a break last night. I like the game, but couldn't take any more suckouts. Just needed to recoup some of my mental faculties. I'll be back in the saddle Thursday night for the RPT.

I would say something about my MRI on Monday, but it was pretty uneventful. I now understand why people who are claustrophobic might freak out a little. I'm not. So I just laid there relaxing and listening to music. I'll learn tomorrow what the deal is with the wing. Stay tuned.

Blind Squirrel AND Blind Nut

2008-01-13T20:22:00.000-05:00

We had a great time at the benefit poker tournament yesterday. Five tables were filled so the number was right around 40 people. There were a number of rebuys and quite a few add-ons. All in all it was a great success in raising some money for the Parzych family. By my unscientific calculation, I think they came away with close to 2K. Agreat big 'thank you' and 'well done' to all who came and participated.

What's that? How did I do? As you probably guessed by the title of this thread, I stumbled my way to sweet victory. It was a tale of three tourneys. I absolutely owned the first stage (up to the first break). I finished the first 3 levels with 11K (started with 3k). As others were adding on at the break (add-on was 5k in chips), I counted stacks and noticed that others were only evening themselves up with me. But then I remembered why we were there, so I put down the extra $30 for the add-on though I didn't feel I needed it.

After the break I ran ice cold. By about the end of the 5th level, I think I could officially classify myself as a shortstack. I then proceeded to put on a clinic on short stack play (he said modestly). I nursed that stack for the next hour. Even so, I was quite certain there was virtually no chance of making it to the money (top 8). Yet I nursed and nursed. Shoved a couple times to take blinds while I still had a little fold equity. Then when I didn't, I showed the patience of Job. I painfully avoided making my stand with sucker hands.

At last I could wait no longer. After folding A2 with 4 hands before the BB put me all-in, I put my last chip (5K) in with A5 (4k-8k blinds). Four people to the flop and I hit my 5. Unfortunately, the pair of 5s wasn't good enough...until....FIVE ON THE RIVER!!!! Slightly more than Quadruple up and I'm still breathing....deeply. I stay patient a little while longer and decide to make another all-in move with KJ (the one sucker hand to which I'm susceptible). I get called by...KQ. Jack on the flop, jack on the river for good measure. By this time I'm up to second in chips with about 6 people left. I actually knock one or two people out.

We then get down to four players. We play a couple hands when someone finally mentions a chop. We learn that there is 1230 in the kitty. It is determined that we go with the suggestion (might have been mine) of donating 100 extra each to the family, taking 200 each, and playing it out for the last 30 (which came my way...as noted above). But that is really anscillary. The real success was the money raised. I'm very happy with the chop situation, as I suspect more extra money was donated with the chop than there would have been if we played it out. Chalk one up for the Blind Squirrel

Shortly thereafter I came across riggstad and some others who were gathering for a cash game. I was sorely tempted to join in seeing some of the players involved, but I was a little fried from grinding out that shortstack for so long. So I wished him luck and went to decompress at Champs for the Saturday night game there. I proved to be sage in refusing to play for real, because I was out in about 15 minutes calling off my stack with a flopped top pair of queens against my opponents pocket Aces.

Not feeling fully decompressed, I played in a 'points only' sit and go. Nine people at the table. First hand I decided to play it blind. Limp and raise in front of me, so I reraise. one caller. Flop comes Jack high and he checks to me. I bet pot and he reluctantly lets go. I check to see what I had and it was the all powerful hammer. I then proceeded to play about 75-80% of the rest of the SNG completely blind. Yes, the Blind Nut won.

So ended a fun day.

Ready for the Weekend

2008-01-11T14:19:00.000-05:00

I must say, I do look forward to Friday afternoons. I am a coin toss on whether I will try for a seat again tonight. I am much more aware these days of the necessary balance of 'we' vs. 'me'. Although balance is not the right word because 'we' deserves more attention than 'me'. And 'me' time is already lined up for tomorrow when I go to the poker benefit for Scott Parzych. So whatever way it goes tonight, I'm content.

I blew off the RPT tourney on FT last night. PLO8 would surely have treated me the same as PLO on Tuesday did. I have decided to stay away (for the most part) from -EV situations. It's almost like I won $11 by not playing. (How's that for spin?)

On the injury front, I will be having an MRI on my shoulder on Monday. I should know by Thursday if I will need to go under the knife for repair work. I really don't know what the straw was that broke the camel's back, but it has been bothering me for a good 6 months now. The pain has been increasing and the limited range of pain-free motion has been deteriorating steadily. It has always been a 'trick shoulder', but something must have finally let go in there. I've learned to live with a broken bone in my wrist for the last 20 years, but I don't think I can similarly adapt to the searing pain currently experienced with the shoulder. So hopefully corrective measures are in the offing.

0 for 1

2008-01-10T19:53:00.000-05:00

No goot in my first attempt at a seat last night. AA and 5x preflop gets 4 callers...welcome to hell. It was one of those Sammy Farha nightmare tables. You needed cards to win, and I didn't get any. Next attempt: hopefully tomorrow.

Time to Make a Push

2008-01-09T15:52:00.000-05:00

Satellite in my eyes like a diamond in the sky, how I wonder.
-Dave Matthews

Fresh off my latest debacle in an online multi-table tournament, I am hopeful that I will be able to make a push at trying to win a seat in the latest Riverchasers Super Satellite series. All I need to do is win a bar luckament. I've done this before, so surely I can do it again. All I need is to play a few and I'm sure to score. My primary goal is to bring fortune to myself. My secondary goal is to bring fame to RPT with my cash (dare I say win?) in a $1K Borgata tourney. But first things first; I need to win a qualifying seat for round 2. Wish me luck.

Regarding the aforementioned online MTT (the questionably labeled Blogger Skillz Series), I shall be brief (much like my appearance). First hand, Al takes about 40% of my stack, and 100% of someone else's, when I flopped top set. It was very easy to let go on the turn after my half pot flop bet revealed that the other two had either A) flopped the flush; B) flopped the straight; or C) both. I had no shot at either of them and wasn't going to get knocked out on the first hand chasing a boat. No worries.

However I had no reservations about getting knocked out on the second hand. I'll admit I did not have the strongest holding when I shoved on the flop, but I would have never guessed in a million years that I would have been called with the hand that I was called with. That I was called with that hand preflop was even a little head scratching. But people make their plays. I either win or I don't. No clue how it all turned out in the end, nor do I care.

1 for 1 cashing in SNG action last night. I couldn't pull out the win, but getting in the money took a little doing so I was pleased. I hope to not be able to play many in the coming days. Ideally I will be out winning a seat in the RPT Super Satellite.

Sure, I'll Jump off the Bridge

2008-01-07T17:39:00.000-05:00

If everyone else is doing 2008 goals, I guess I have to as well.

Personal stuff is just that...personal. But suffice it to say that my continued goal is to be a better person to the people who deserve it most, my family.

Poker goals. Now that's a tough one. I honestly have not given it a whole lot of thought, but I recognize the importance of goals. I know that at the base level, my goal should be to surpass my "successes" of last year (which really amounts to one big success and some minor outliers). That is going to be tough to do. Although I have made a conscious effort to play more, I still don't play an amount that would qualify as 'a lot' to many people. Couple that with the fact that I really don't play the tourneys that will allow me to score bigger than my one big win last year.

But perhaps I am setting myself up for a self fulfilling prophecy here. If I predict mediocrity, I will surely achieve it. So let's get ambitious and see what happens. My online bankroll is nothing to brag about currently. So let's say I build it up to $1000. Let's also say that I give myself at least a chance (i.e., play in) to win a medium size (prize pool) tournament again this year with the goal of two final table finishes.

Live play. Continue to host a fairly regular home game with the goal of enjoying the heck out of myself. Okay, okay, the goal will be to be up a net of $1000 by the end of the year. That should be achievable.

I went to AC exactly once last year. This matched the previous year's total. This year I want to DOUBLE it!!! Two trips to AC or the year is a complete FAILURE! Once I get there, my goal is to make more money than I did last year in AC, which was about $325 (net). I suspect those two trips will be made with riggstad, so it's sure to be educational and entertaining either way.

LAS VEGAS!!!!

I have no plans on going to Las Vegas this year....sorry.

I would wager that many will look at these goals and conclude that they are modest and weak. For many that may be true. I look at them as another step towards improvement of my abilities. To maximize the return on my limited opportunities. Quality over quantity. (Do I need to throw out any more cliches to get the point across?)

So there they are. snakster goals version 2008. I'm sure I have other goals that are not poker related, but it is of little value to list them here, so mind your own business.

Weekend Update

2008-01-06T12:39:00.000-05:00

This just in....Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.

I've only played a little online the last couple days, as I am still licking my wounds from the Mookie and the RPT (KK<88).

I went to the inaugural Friday night game at Champs Sportsbar the other day. Partially because Al had indicated he was going. I shouldn't have fell for the hype. Al was a no-show. In the skill portion of the tourney, I ran my table. Those people may as well play with their cards up because their play is so transparent. Unfortunately as blinds escalate quickly, the latter stages become a lottery. You either hit or you don't and that's the difference between winning and only finishing in the points.

Crucial hand for me late. I had a person all-in preflop. My 99 vs her AJ. I flop my set, but she goes runner-runner Jack high straight. C'est la vie. I don't mind those beats. But as I said, you either hit or you don't. After that I was down to 800 and blinds were 100-200. I shove with ducks and get two callers. The bad (and at least marginally good) news was they both had KK. But alas, I did not catch the miracle 2-outer and I was done in 14th. I think 60+ started.

Still, Champs is a great place to play for me. It's very close to home. I have developed a friendship with the manager. They have my staple bourbon of choice (Buffalo Trace). And a lot of the people I have become friendly with through Riverchasers plays there.

Well, maybe I'll be back online tonight hitting a few SNGs. I need to build my roll back up a little to prepare for the regular tourneys this week. I think I may eschew the Mookie and just take a crack at this weeks RPT variety, which I believe is limit Omaha h/l. That should be quite interesting.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-02T10:23:00.000-05:00

My wish for all is a more successful year than the one just completed; even if you were very successful last year. The exception to this sentiment is if you happen to be sitting at my table.

Moving on. I'm a big believer in Dirty Harry Callahan when he said, "a man's got to know his limitations". It is with that philosophy that I declined to play in the blogger skill game last night. The featured game was 7-card stud high. Despite the age and reverence of this game, I don't have the first clue how to play it well (i.e., basic strategy). Perhaps one day I will break down and read Chip Reese's chapter on the subject in Super System 1. Perhaps that will give me a ground floor education in the tenets of the game. Perhaps it will give me the confidence to play some low stakes stud to employ those tenets. Perhaps I may even get good at it. But that hasn't happened yet, so last night would have been the equivalent of a $13 donation. Or maybe not...

Riggstad and I were chatting on AIM pre-game last night. He asked if I was playing and I indicated I was not. I gave him the reasoning loosely provided above, but I said I may rail for a while, just to see if I can learn a little by watching. I did indeed learn something by watching. I learned that a lack of understanding of how to play the game did not stop everybody. I may not know how to play stud well, but I can sure recognize crappy play when I see it, no matter what the game.

I see people calling bets chasing a jack high flush (that they hit on 7th) and then state that the bets were so small compared to the pot, that they had to see what the better was playing. That was one example that stood out of many more I could describe. And that's why I didn't want to play last night. I knew that I would either have to contend with that sort, or (worse yet) BE that sort.

It may be argued that the purpose of the rotation of games in the blogger skill tournaments is to get people to play other variations, and presumably to improve at them. My counter argument would be that millions of people are playing lots and lots of hold 'em, and I would wager that the vast majority are not getting noticeably better.

The more I play, the more I understand how much more I have to learn. But alas, it is not that way with many people. I feel comfortable playing hold 'em with anyone because I feel I have a base of understanding that can be successful. I may never be the best player in a mtt that I'm in, but I know I'm not the worst. I do not have such a comfort level with other games. Some people may not be bothered by playing virtually blind; indeed they seem to celebrate it. I can not do that. So yes it was only $13, but you will see no donations from me. At least not until I hit the books.

Benefit Poker Tournament Information

2007-12-28T19:11:00.000-05:00

Benefit Poker Tournament
"30 - 30 - 30"
$30 Donation
$30 Rebuys - unlimited during 1st 3 blind levels
$30 Add-on
50% of all proceeds goes towards the prize pool
50% will benefit the family of Scott C. Parzych
Date: January 12, 2008
Time: 12pm Sign-up, 1pm start
Where: The August Moon
300 E. Main St.
Norristown, PA 19401
610-277-4008
http://www.augustmoonpa.com
For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Doug Miller at millerd33@aol.com

Brief Return From Hiatus

2007-12-27T14:09:00.000-05:00

(No, that does not mean the small town in Massachusetts nor is it the french/creole speaking caribbean nation that co-occupies the island of Hispaniola.)

A brief post to report that I successfully conquered my fantasy football foes and won the championship of my new league. All net proceeds of the victory have been donated to a more worthy cause than me.

Being the Holiday season (Christmas, New Year's, Boxing Day), I have taken a respite from writing and playing; hopefully to return with vim and vigor in the New Year. I am toying with the idea of doing something a little more seriously with this writing gig, but that may warrant a different address.

For those readers in the SE Pennsylvania area, there will be a benefit poker tournament on Saturday January 12 for the surviving family of Scott Parzych (the young man in my fantasy league who died tragically a few weeks back). Unfortunately I do not have all the details handy, but you can get all the information if you go to the Riverchasers message board. I will try to update here later when I have the info in front of me. If you can make it, please do so.

A Brief Word on BBT

2007-12-19T11:25:00.000-05:00

I would like to extend congratulations to those who qualified for the Battle of the Bloggers Two tournament. From my disjointed vantage point, it seemed to be a success. While I wish all of those participating good fortune, I will be rooting for lucktruck, as he is the only one I know personally. I hope that my endorsement is not the kiss of death.

Congratulations also go out to those who finished in the top 50 in points and will be playing in the point leader freeroll. In that one, I don't give a fat rat's ass who wins.

It was certainly fun to be involved, if only a little bit. Hopefully for BB3, I can/will participate in more than the 8 events I played this time around. I would also like to join the congo line to give Al a pat on the back for all the work involved in setting this up and keeping it running smoothly.

'Fantasy Boy' is Back

2007-12-18T10:16:00.000-05:00

That was the moniker my lovely wife bestowed upon me a number of years ago when I was as fanatically obsessive about Fantasy Football as I am of poker today. This was not meant to be complimentary. It was her subtle way of telling me that I'd rather do that than anything with my family. I spent untold hours pouring over reports and research, both pre- and post-draft. My affinity for deal making was legendary, and I plucked more hidden gems from the waiver wires than can be recounted in such limited space. When asked what I thought of the team I just drafted, I would remark that it didn't matter, because none of them would be on my team by year's end anyway.

But that was then. A couple years ago, that fire was reduced to embers and was replaced, perhaps not coincidentally, by poker. I ended up retiring from serious (read: for money) Fantasy Football two years ago; eschewing the manic obsession that had so dominated my free time for so many years. Fantasy Boy was dead. My wife, ever supportive, assured me it was for the best.

However, this past spring, my buddy Doug (millerd33 on Full Tilt) came to me with an offer to play in his league. They were expanding from 10 teams to 12. They were a bunch of good guys, I was assured, and I would really enjoy it. Well who am I to refuse such a request? I still did not have the level of obsession that used to fill me up, but I knew a couple of the guys and figured what the heck, could be kind of fun.

I am happy to report today that I have reached the finals of the league after a decisive semi-final victory was secured last night. Being that I was not as all-consumed as I was in the past, references internally to 'Fantasy Boy' were more nostalgic than derogatory. It's nice to see the 'old boy' still got it.

Changing gears, Full Tilt last night started as another string of gruesome suckouts. I did not cash in any of the first 3 SNGs I played. So I decided one more for the night and that was it (a $6 six-man). The worm finally turned. With 5 left I had about 3800 or so with nobody close. It was at this point that riggstad, who was railing, AIMed me with, "If you don't win this one, you really suck". Then for good measure, "you know that, right?" I thanked him for assigning me the needed extra pressure. Despite his jinxing efforts, I was able to complete the victory and at least draw back to basically even for the night. Hopefully tonight will bring a step back into the plus side.

The Dog Ate My Homework

2007-12-17T09:28:00.000-05:00

File this one under "Famous Lame Excuses". Last night I missed the Blogger Skill game (that I had committed to play) because I fell asleep putting my kids to bed. As weak as that sounds, it is actually a very common occurrence in my house. The only difference last night was that it was me instead of my wife. The worst thing about it though, was that I woke up at around 11:45 and couldn't fall back asleep for two hours. However, I must apologize to cracknaces for not making the game. I owe you one. And not like a Julius Erving 'owe you one' from 1978 that turned into a 'we owe you five'. I mean a real 'owe you one' as in the next game you put on, I'll be there.

And now for the weekend update...First the dirty: I am the proud new owner of a roto-rooter type machine, being that I frequently have issues with the sewer main going from the house to the street. So there I was Saturday afternoon working hard on the latest 'issue'. I am proud to report the issue was resolved and water is again flowing freely out of the house. Add that to the ever growing list of things where I don't know what I'm doing but am successful anyway.

After that stress easing success, I attended a Beef and Beer benefit for the surviving family of a friend who recently lost his life in a car accident. The young man was in my fantasy football league that I just joined this year and his passing was as tragic as it was untimely. My regret is that I only knew him for a brief time and that is my loss. I say that based on the people who came to the benefit. It was a very good crowd. I think a lot can be gleaned about a person based on the quality of those who are close to them, and Scott's friends and family were first rate. Godspeed Scott, you will be missed.

Following the Beef and Beer, a bunch of us went to a Riverchasers event that was close by. This was at Champs Sports Bar at Center Square Golf Club. Although I am most frequently associated as a Riverchasers guy, my actual attendance at their games is a rare occurrence. It was good to see a bunch of people I don't get to see very often. I was half in the bag at this point of the day, so I played, as the saying goes, like a drunken lemur. As you might guess, this is exactly the style of play that brings success in these bar freerolls. I believe 72 started. When I got to heads up play, my opponent Ron (apparently being named Ron is also a necessary component for success) suggested we chop the first prize money ($100) and play out for the free golf second prize. Being that I have not swung a golf club in anger in several years now, I suggested we chop the money and he keep the golf certificate. He said that he didn't golf either. So we chopped the money and gave the golf to the Tournament Director.

As for yesterday....I fell asleep putting the kids to bed, remember?

Friday Night Donkament

2007-12-15T09:29:00.000-05:00

I had a lot of fun playing the Friday Night Donkament last night (hosted by Katitude). This was the second or third time I played in it. It's a great way to interact and generally goof around with other people. No one takes it too seriously and you definitely will get a lot of laughs out of it. It seemed in the beginning that my recent run of improbability would continue when this happened:

However, as was inevitable, better hands started holding up. I got to heads up with the chip lead for a while but then decided to shove on the turn with a double gutter. My opponent had top pair and called. No improvement for me and I finish in second. No matter, as I said, it was a lot of fun.

Cracknaces was railing us near the end. I made a deal with him that if I finished in the top 2, I would play the blogger skill game. He may think I have reneged because I did not sign up right away. If you are reading this, don't worry, I'll keep my promise, even though I have no skills and seriously dislike 2 of the 5 games. No worries though. It will be fun being the bad player who sucks out on hands he has no business even being in. (Some may argue that that is usually the case anyway.)

Work Pollyanna

2007-12-14T15:57:00.000-05:00

We had a "holiday" party in my department today. I took part even though I don't technically work for this company (the simple description would be consultant). Anywho, they do a Pollyanna here (who does that anymore?). We each created a wish list of three items for the person who drew you to choose from. I listed 3 poker books (seemed easy enough). The person who drew my name must have gone over the $20 budget. They weren't exactly the titles I was looking for, but it was very nice for the person to get me multiple books.

I received Phil Gordon's Poker Box Set which includes the little black book (formerly Poker: The Real Deal), the little green book, the little blue book. Additionally I got Zen and the Art of Poker, by Larry Phillips. I look forward to reading this one.

Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin

2007-12-14T08:49:00.000-05:00

One thing I try to never do, is lambaste an opponent of mine after he/she sucks out on me horribly thus eliminating/crippling me from a tournament. There are several reasons I subscribe to this philosophy. The primary reason is that I want my opponent to put himself in that position. I want them to do it again the next hand; I want them to do it again the next day; I want them to do it again next year. I do not want to rant at them, belittle them, educate them. You want to play like a smacked ass? Have a day.

Now...does this mean I don't get...irritated? Absolutely not. I especially get...irritated...when I'm in with the best of it against the same person and continue to get run down. Such luck sackery will drive anyone to drink. Yesterday I lamented how this happened 3 times in a span of 8 hands in a SNG. Here are the screen caps of that nightmare (chips are in preflop on all of them):

Then there was the RPT last night. The nemesis this time was Jcanuck7. He had shown an uncanny ability in the Mookie (the night before) to get his money in with the worst of it and be rewarded. Little changed last night (until he ran into a bigger suckout artist). I was cruising along in the top 5 when (and I'll accept some culpability here), having folded for a little while, I decide to raise it up in EP with KT. I had been getting respect on these raises and I didn't want to go too long without flexing a little. Folds to Jcanucky7 who smooth calls in SB (in fairness, he was ahead at this point as you will see). Upon the flop, he shoves. I read it as a steal attempt. I felt my hand was good, albeit vulnerable. With my stack size compared to his, I was comfortable making the call. It wouldn't kill me to be wrong. Here is the screen cap:

So yet another situation of getting the money in when I was a 2-1 fav. Just a few hands later the money goes in preflop against him and I find I'm a 3-1 fav. Seeing that, the following, I guess, was inevitable:

I am now scraping the felt and bow out when my 88 runs into KK. For good measure, I sit down at a six-man SNG, get my money in on the turn with 2 pair vs. a dude who paired his ace on the flop, then proceeded to hit his 2 kicker in the river.

So, in summation, I am certainly overjoyed that people continue to put their money in when I'm way ahead, but I seem to be losing more of these than the math suggests I should (especially against the same villain). The good news is, now that I'm playing more, this should straighten out over the long haul. Small sample size anomalies should not discourage the anticipation of long term success in these situations. So love the sinner who continues to play from behind; hate the sin of them getting rewarded all too often.

As a side note, late in the tourney, Full Tilt went kablooey. It will be interesting to see what happens with that.

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'

2007-12-13T08:56:00.000-05:00

Okay I whiffed in the Mookie last night, but I'll take the Pyrrhic victory of finishing 24th after riding a short stack for the last 45 minutes I was there. I'd congratulate the winner, but I do not know who that is right now. Whoever you are, congratulations and well played; it was inspiring.

Interesting stat line of the night: After 100 hands played in the Mookie, I had seen exactly ONE flop. One. And that was in an unraised BB. I had not seen a turn. But I had won 15 hands preflop. I felt like the anti-Vito Corleone asking, "what have I done to earn such respect?" I even raised, won and showed the hammer at about hand 50 (Hoy was at my table and was a bad influence, I confess). Does that get me action? Noooooo. I move to another table finally. Raise, win and show the hammer again (Hoy might be on to something) and finally I start to get a little action. Which was unfortunate, because it was about that time the cards dried up. Still a lot of fun though.

In addition to the Mookie, I played 3 more SNG last night in effort to keep up with my pledge. Cashed in two, with one win. The night before I played in four, cashed in three (one being a token), won two (well the token win really doesn't count), and finished second in a 45 man. All in all, I'd say things are going pretty well.

Lest someone conclude that I must be catching every hand to do so well, I offer up this string of hands in the SNG I cashed (finished third), but didn't win last night. In the final eight hands, I got the money in heads up against the same guy three times. Each time I was at least a 2-1 favorite (one I was 2.5-1), and I did not win one of them. Those were happening in the last SNG of the night too, but I was fortunate enough to be playing against players of... questionable caliber. They gleefully (well I was gleeful) gave whatever gains they made back to me.

Remember, tonight is the next to last chance to get that seat in the Aussie Millions BBT Challenge. See you all at the RPT tourney, 9:00 (eastern), 10+1, password: riverchasers. (As if you didn't know.)

With Apologies to Neil Young...

2007-12-12T11:14:00.000-05:00

Hey hey, my my
My bankroll can never die
I'll paint you a picture
Of the other guy.
Hey hey, my my.

Out of the blues and into the black
He calls off his chips with a pair of jacks
But I had an over, and took all his stack
Now I'm out of the blues and into the black.

The king was out but I guess forgotten
These low limit players are really rotten
It's better to burn out 'cause fish never sleep
The king was out but I guess forgotten.

Hey hey, my my
My bankroll will never die
Yes I'll be fixture
Till the day I die.
Hey hey, my my

Hope to see you all at The Mookie tonight.

More Baby Steps

2007-12-11T09:45:00.000-05:00

Okay I lied yesterday. I actually made two attempts at a token yesterday. For tokens, I like to play the 2 table SNGs. 18 players, 8+.70 buy-in, 6 spots paid (5 tokens and sixth place gets $14). These come in both standard and turbo varieties. I generally prefer the turbo; otherwise it drags out too long.

Apparently I was not supposed to play the MATH last night because I finished sixth in both token games. It happens. Accentuating the positive again, at least I was up $10.60. Any day that your account ends higher than when it started is a good day in my book. The plus is I'm in a comfortable enough position now to play both the Mookie and the RPT this week (couldn't say that last week).

Having failed in my token quest, I decided to watch a movie I had recorded off of HDnet. Last night's selection was "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead". My review: If it doesn't put you to sleep, you'll wish you were dead. It had lots of potential, but never got there.

I ended up railing the MATH after the movie. Although I do talk it up and goof around in the chat boxes, I spend a fair amount of effort watching people play. I was particularly impressed with the play of Lucko. He came up a little short in the end, but I definitely picked up a few things that I think can improve my approach in short table play. Congratulations to twoblackaces on the win.

Accentuate the Positive

2007-12-10T09:06:00.000-05:00

Hmmmmmm......the positive.....the positive......ah, here you go: a million more weekends like this, and I'll be a millionaire!

Okay, okay, that's the sarcastic positive. The real positive is that I am keeping up with my commitment to play more. Although I am quite certain my volume still pales in comparison to most, I am quite pleased. A brief recap (if you'll indulge me) of Saturday and Sunday night follows.

Saturday night I played but once. Instead of going with the SNG plan, I decided to try the 10+1 knockout tourney. For those unfamiliar with what this is (I'm looking at you nephew in Germany), I shall briefly explain. Of the $10 that counts as your buy-in, $8 goes to the prize pool and $2 is used as a bounty. For every player that you knockout, you win his $2 bounty. I decided to play this on Saturday because I haven't tried one of these yet and I just wanted to see how it was.

I lasted a fairly good while considering I was card dead the entire way. I had AQ once and four pocket pairs; Presto twice and the Magnum twice (that's 55 and 44 for those of you in Limerick). If memory serves, I made it past the second break with those rags, I didn't cash though and I was only able to knock one person out. Net result: -$9. Booooooooo.

Last night I went back to the SNG route. I actually played four of them (which means it will probably start raining frogs this afternoon). Based on a recommendation from Riggstad, I started in on the 6+.50 six person turbos.

(Editor's Note: Your humble correspondent [me] is beginning to think that the impression he is giving the reader [you] is that the only person that he knows is Riggstad. The author [me again] would like to stress that this is the furthest thing from the truth. However, the resident blogger [yes....me] would like to say that he will continue to cite and refer to Riggstad on a frequent basis. His knowledge and experience in this game are top shelf, and he has been very generous with his thoughts and theories to yours truly. Not to mention he's funny as hell. So get used to seeing his name and please check out his blog, because as a poker mentor, he's the nuts.)

So....$6, six-man turbos. The first one I shot myself in the foot and finished 5th. Okay...just needed to orient myself. The second one went better. I cashed by finishing second (things are looking up). The third one decided to knock me down a few pegs by kicking me squarely in the rocks. Money goes in on the flop, villain hits two-outer on the turn, I'm done in 4th place.

Okay, time-out. Time to regroup, think things over. I decided to shake it up a little and played a $5+.50 nine person (non-turbo). I quickly regretted this decision as it became clear to me that this would not be a fast tourney. So about 10 minutes in I decide to loosen up a little and see more flops when I could get in cheap.

Apparently not caring is a key ingredient for success in these low buy-in SNGs. One hand in particular illustrates this point. I was in BB with 46 off. several limpers, I check. Flop came something like KJ7. I don't hit the check/fold button, I hit the fold to any bet button. I wanted no more part of this. Inexplicably, there were checks all around (four people in the hand). Turn is a 5. Okay now I'm open-ended, so I unclick the fold to any bet button. First guy checks, second guys bets a quarter of the pot (about 120). I say "why not" and call. Fourth guy folds, and the first guy check raises. He bets like 800 (leaving himself about 100). Second guy then folds. (Here is where the not caring part comes in, you knew we'd get here eventually.) I raise putting him all-in. I do this KNOWING he has the best hand. KNOWING he has to call. KNOWING I will be extremely short-stacked if (when) I lose. He calls, river 8. Weeeeeeeeeeeeee! He was not amused.

I went on to win this table leaving me up $10 and change for the night and up $1 and change for the weekend. I'm going to try ONCE for a token tonight to try to get into the MATH. If I fail, I'll be back at the SNG table. Wish me luck.

Hate the Rake

2007-12-08T21:38:00.000-05:00

There is surely no bigger pain in the arse on this plane of existence than having to go outside and rake the leaves (what, you were expecting a different kind of rake?). Wait, I partially take that back. There is surely no bigger pain in the arse on this plane of existence than having to go outside and rake wet leaves. And so we find that a truism in micro-stakes poker is also a truism in life. To wit: you can't beat the rake.

I've been pondering a philosophical question today. If you work for a company in which you have never stepped foot in their building and never actually met face to face with anyone who works there (including your manager), are you actually an employee? It would seem so because I attended the company Christmas (sorry, "Holiday") party last night. The gathering took place at beautiful and historic Normandy Farms and was well attended...and I didn't know a soul. In my book, that's the good news.

The better news was an open bar. The bad news was that the only bourbon was Jim Beam white label. I managed to get one of those down over lots of ice. From there I decided to move on to Crown Royal. Not something I would necessarily buy, but it was an adequate repast for the evening (broken up by some red wine for dinner). My lovely bride and I stayed for cocktail reception, dinner and awards presentation, then got out of Dodge to rescue my parents from the kids. Supposedly my aforementioned manager was in attendance...I still haven't met her.

When I got home I was smart enough to realize that I was in no shape to play poker for real money, but I had an itch that needed scratching. I jumped into a couple freerolls; one for Aussie Millions qualifier, and one for Poker after Dark. These are always fun to goof around in and to see if there is anyway you can irritate people who are actually taking them seriously. I decided to play as normally as I could for as long as I could (being half in the bag as I was). In the PAD, I made it to the final two tables before the urge to donk became too great.

In the Aussie, it was clearly impossible for me to play bad enough. As a result, this happened.

Okay, stop it, I'm embarrassed enough as it is. Round two was this afternoon. Of course I forgot about it and I missed a majority of the beginning (I was on the roof scooping a mixture of leaves and ice cold water out of the gutters - still better than raking). When I actually figured out I was in the middle of a tournament I was down to about 780 in chips. Nothing really happened after that except for a fairly typical exit. Dealt 88 in MP. I shove for 800 and change and I get one caller out of the blinds who shows 66. No, he didn't spike his 2 outer. He four flushed me. Sure...why not.

I also helped out Riggstad earlier by playing the first hour and change of a freeroll he qualified for. I will not step on some good stories he is sure to tell. I would like to say I had him in good position when he took over. I was up to 5600 at one point. But one bad read and one lost race had him down to about 2600 when he jumped in. The rest is his tale.

Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.

2007-12-07T09:44:00.000-05:00

It was a dark and stormy night. By "dark and stormy" I mean that I did not have the funds in my account to buy into the RPT tourney. The rng had made me its own private Idaho the night before and I was sitting on a steaming pile of $6.12. Despair was scratching at my door...oh wait, never mind, the dog wanted to come in. But I needed another 5 beans by 9:00; I had three hours. My first inclination was to stick to the plan I had crafted scant days before. $2 SNGs. Scratch my way above the waterline, and try to cash in the RPT. However, with the debacle of the previous evening still as fresh in my mind as a Wendy's hamburger, I decided risks must be taken.

The decision was made. I'd risk it all in a single table $5+.50 SNG (I challenge you to find that sentence anywhere else on the interweb). I played strong. I played inspired. I played with the desperation normally found only in movies where the protagonist is very desperate. And thanks to the masterful blend of skill and skill, I took it down for $22-ish. I really don't remember the specifics. It was as if I was watching myself play, looking like a monkey on screen with virtual cards. Very surreal.

I immediately bought into the RPT to ensure that I save myself from myself (i.e., so I wouldn't piss away my gains before the tourney started). As it was, I didn't play anymore until the RPT started. Confidence had now replaced despair. It had been a while since I made any kind of splash in the RPT, and I was determined to alter that state of affairs.

It was another decent showing for the RPT, a little lighter than some recent weeks, but still 82 strong. I stayed with my game plan of pretty much solid ABC poker; trying not to take any unnecessary risks. I pretty much tread water for the first half hour or 45 minutes, then slowly started to build. Some time after the first break with 4 or 5 tables left, I took down a couple really nice pots and found myself as the chip leader. Discovering, not surprisingly, that I liked this position, I kept it until we got to the final table.

The final table seemed to take an eternity, There was a lot of chips being passed back and forth. Blinds were getting big and most were reluctant to put too much at risk to call a short stack's all-in. I stole a few when I could, got away from some hands when it was right to do so, and generally kept myself in a position to win. I had my share of luck to be sure. Once I was all-in with AJ vs. 99 (I think) and I hit the wheel. That was nice.

A near fatal blow was delivered when we got to four-handed play. The money goes in preflop. To my horror, I see that I am in a dominating position when the cards are revealed. So the following result was pretty much inevitable.

On the very next hand, I'm dealt A6s and I'm desperately short, so I shove. I get two callers who end up checking it down all the way. I was not truly comfortable until the turn.

YES! Back in business. But alas, it was only a temporary reprieve. I ended up going out in 4th when my KQs did not improve against a middle pair. Final results as follows:

Congratulations to actyper for the well played victory and for the seat. Personally, I was very pleased with the course of the evening. I was able to give myself a little breathing room going forward and I'm starting to feel like I'm getting my swing back. Special thanks to my own personal Gunny Highway: Riggstad, and to Jamyhawk who was cheering me on from the rail.

Night of the Living Suckout Part 13,627

2007-12-06T11:25:00.000-05:00

With more sequels than the horror franchises of Friday the 13th, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street and Land Before Time combined, Full Tilt was in peak form last night. I will not bore you with the stories of my first three SNGs where I had the money in with the best hand in all three (when it counted) and lost; twice on a rivered 3 outter. Nor will I relay the story of my 4th SNG where I shoved with a gutterball figuring it was my turn to suck out on the river (it wasn't). (It was at that point I decided I was no longer in the frame of mind to continue playing.)

But the Mookie....ohhhhhhh the Mookie. There seemed to be entirely too much fun going on, which was in no small measure the fault of a fantastic live broadcast of Buddydank radio from Las Vegas. There was definitely a 'what the hell' mentality permeating throughout the event and the broadcasters could hardly keep up in detailing the various suckouts that seemed to be coming three at a time. The offending suck outters were appropriately demeaned and ridiculed and fun was had by all. Well mostly all.

Ironically, the individual who took it the hardest on a given hand was not the victim of suckout, but rather a big, fat cooler. I speak, of course, about my good friend Riggstad. He was playing quite well, taking some pots with marginal holdings in good spots and had grinded his stack up to 4K+. And then he was dealt KK. I knew this in advance as he informed me via AIM (I see no conflict here, as I was not playing in the tournament). His preflop raise was greeted by one caller. The flop came A-K-x and he immediately broke into the naked victory dance (artistic license engaged). I believe he bet around half the pot and was smooth called (hmmmmm). Blank turn and our hero shoves (or at least puts the other cat all-in). Insta-call and he shows.....AA. Oof.

This did not eliminate his Eminence, but the psychological blow was beyond repair. He hung on for a while longer (30 minutes or so), but eventually bowed out when he lost a race. All the while hammering expletives into my AIM window. Good times...goooood times.

Attention Usual Suspects

Even the unusual, usual suspects. Game, Manor, Saturday, Interested?

If you wish to become a usual suspect, drop me a line and I will initiate the vetting process.

The Bourbon of Choice for Saturday will at least start with the last part of the Eagle Rare Single Barrel. If that gets killed, I'll have to play it by ear. Perhaps crack open the Bernheim Wheat Whiskey (you won't be disappointed). The El Tesoro Anejo Tequila will also be available for consumption. Be forewarned, the corn snake has temporarily taken up residence in the poker room. I will do my best to resist the urge of bringing him out.

One more thing. Don't forget....

Tournament: Riverchasers Online Poker Tour
When: Tonight. 21:00 ET
Game: NLHE Deepstack
Buyin: $10+1
Password: Riverchasers

Aged Bourbon

2007-12-05T14:52:00.000-05:00

Just a quickie post to point to an article in the LA Times (of all places) on aged bourbon. It's a good read. The crux of it is, get some while you can because there may be a bit of a shortage of aged bourbon in the next couple years.

I can personally attest to the quality of the A.H. Hirsch 16 year bourbon referenced in the story (and pictured as well). It's just great stuff and is my personal favorite. I am fortunate that I have about 3/4 of an open bottle and two in reserve of the Hirsch. Good luck finding it now though, at least for under $100.

Introspection and Discovery Part 2 "So What"

2007-12-05T09:55:00.000-05:00

Okay, so you've been bored to tears with the set up, and the obvious question is "So what?". Well that's a good question, thanks for asking. The "so what" is, I've uncovered a yet deeper discovery. And that is, I'm not doing myself any favors by doing what I'm doing. Furthermore, playing socially and playing to increase bank roll are not, and should not, be mutually exclusive entities. I should not be so wrapped up in one that I ignore the necessity of the other.

Or as Riggstad so ham-handedly put it, "WAH! get off the friggin Wii and start playing more...forgoe (sic) any further introspection of why, and get busy playing. You know its (sic) what you want to do " . And it's as simple as that. So Introspection is complete and I have Discovered what is in plain sight. Time to roll up the sleeves and dig myself out of this hole.

To that end, I have committed myself to start at the bottom and claw my way back to respectability. It shall be painful at the beginning because I will start my trek by playing $2 SNGs. It may not sound like a lot, but my goal is to play at least one per night. This is a step forward. It is at least an 800% increase in my current volume of play. Keep in mind that it is a stated MINIMUM and it is only the BEGINNING of my rebound.

I began my quest last night. After the family watched National Treasure together, and they finally went to bed, I sat down and played two $2 single table SNGs. One normal, one turbo (I'm trying to decide which is the best way to go). I think the turbo is the best bet.

In the first one I sat there like a rock, watching in amazement at the utter stupidity on display. Played a couple hands and was second in chips. Then this happened at the 50-100 blind level....

UTG+1 limps, UTG+2 (chip leader) limps. Folds to me in BB with K3s. I check the option. Flop comes K-5-3. I'm generally not one to risk a slow play here, but I knew a bet was coming so I check. UTG+1 checks. Chip leader leads out with a half pot bet. I raise to about 1100 (committing about half my stack). UTG+1 calls. Chip leader shoves. We both call. I show my two pair. UTG+1 shows AA and chip leader shows.....K7. He spikes his 7 on the river. As a side note, the AA limper did the same thing UTG earlier with KK. That almost bit him in the ass too. Who are these people?

Undeterred, I jump back on the horse and get in a $2 Turbo. People play even more recklessly in these (if that's possible) because I guess they figure they have no time. There was no moment in this game where I was in any danger and I took it down for $9.

Net result: Two SNGs, $4.50 in, $9 out. It's a start. Based on the events, I believe I'll concentrate on the turbos. The play is particularly bad and you are virtually guaranteed to get paid off when you make a hand. The only thing that can stop you is a horrible suckout or dead cards. That's the unfortunate aspect, you really have very little chance if you don't hit at least a couple hands. These people are seemingly allergic to observing the table or the board texture, so making "good plays" bounces off of them like bullets on Superman.

I do not plan on detailing my daily progress for two reasons. 1) It will save me from potential embarrassment and 2) it will save you from homicidal boredom. Periodic updates will be offered though.

Wish me luck.

Introspection and Discovery

2007-12-04T09:33:00.000-05:00

I’d like to get serious for a moment if it’s okay with y’all.

(Bring house lights down 50%.....cue piano and violins)

Since deciding to start doing this last week, it has kind of forced me to look inside myself to see what’s really going on, and how I plan to actually keep it going. This has led to some self-realizations and discoveries that I will share with you now.

First off, I have discovered that as a person who now purports himself to be a (predominately) poker blogger, I play a shockingly small amount of actual poker. That is not to say that I don’t dedicate much of my waking hours to the subject (evidence that I am the leading poster in the RPT message boards), I just don’t play much. Now I’ve known this fact for quite some time, but until now, I have not actually confronted it. So it seemed natural that I ask myself “why?”. This led to more introspection and another startling discovery.

I don’t play poker to win money. Hmm, perhaps some clarification is needed. Clearly when I sit down and play in a tournament or at a cash table, I would like to stand up a few hours later with a heavier pocket. However, that is not the reason I sit down in the first place. For me, so far, playing poker, whether online or live, has been social first, cerebral second, and money third. Let us look at these one at a time.

First and foremost is social. I got into poker roughly two and a half years ago now. In that time, I have been fortunate enough to meet some great people and establish some very good friendships. A kinship has developed. I am married with two children and I don’t have a lot of free time, but I try to afford myself one hobby. Being that I like the game and have established true friendships, poker is that hobby and has become my social activity of choice. Unfortunately, it is difficult for me to get out nights to play the RPT. I try to have a semi-regular cash game at my house (Palatial Snakster Manor for those who don’t know) for my social pursuits. So when I DO have the opportunity to actually sit with friends and play, it’s social.

Reason two is cerebral. I like to play because it is a thinking man’s game. Last week during the RPT tourney, some Cowboy fan wrote in the chat that they would give anybody 7 points right then for the game (The Boys were up 6 or so at the time). I replied “No thanks, I don’t like to gamble”. It got a “lol”, which was the desired response, but it was also a true statement, I really don’t like to gamble. I don’t consider poker, by and large, to be gambling. At the risk of sounding like a PPA cliché, I believe poker is a game of skill and mental acuity, and that is why I like it so much.

THEN there’s money. A little over a year ago, my friends finally convinced me to make the jump to online poker. I had been resistant because it seemed a little impersonal from the outside looking in. But I relented in the hopes that it could possibly be a social surrogate to my ever decreasing ability to actually play live. Fortunately, it was about that time that RPT started its online tour (coordinated by the venerable Al). This helped fill the void of social activity for me. Being that it was a new experience for me, I also branched out to other games, some cash and some other tournaments (like the 25K guarantee). I experienced a modicum of success which, upon withdrawal, paid for my summer vacation.

As time went by and the novelty wore off, I stopped playing the cash games. I rarely played SNGs before, and that hasn’t changed much and I stopped playing the guarantee tourneys (for the most part). I basically limited myself to the RPT online and the occasional Mookie. So I find myself playing, at best, one time a week. You may see the problem this has caused. Playing so infrequently makes it near impossible to avoid or play through extended cold spells. Each MTT becomes an isolated incident. If I don’t cash, then I don’t give myself another opportunity for another week, maybe two. This has slowly, inexorably drained what few funds I had in my account. For me, the money was only there so I could play in these games. Now I sit here with a pittance in my account (and writing a small novel detailing why). Something has got to give.

Next Post: Introspection and Discovery Part 2 – “So What?”

TEST

2007-12-04T09:22:00.001-05:00

This is a test.

This is a test of the e-mail posting system. The blogger on this page, being sufficiently technologically challenged, is conducting this test to see if he, as he suspects, has half a brain.

If this was an actual blog post, you would now be reading some irreverent and grandly entertaining content. As it is, you are now sitting there sincerely wishing you could get the last minute of your life back.

This concludes this test of the e-mail posting system

Poker is Like a Box of Chocolates

2007-12-02T18:38:00.000-05:00

Well...sometimes it is. And other times, you know exactly what you're going to get. That was the case last night when I was railing Riggstad and generally yucking it up with him on IM. If you watch long enough, it's not a matter of if he berates someone, but when. Everything was going along smoothly and he was, as usual, playing exceptionally well (and giving me pearls of wisdom as a bonus). But there is a point to this lead-up, so I offer the following screen capture:

Now what is important to understand here is the preflop action. Mr. QJ off limped UTG, clearly intent on trapping with his monster. It folds to Riggs. At this point I send a message suggesting he shove, which he does for over 3K total when blinds were something like 50-100. Now I am certain that my suggestion had zero influence here. However I think Riggs held the same belief that I did; which was that the limper would call. It folded to BB who took his time, but eventually dumped too. Mr QJ off thought for a couple seconds, made the call and...well...you see what happened. Through the fits of laughter that ensued on my end, I was able to catch snippets of the subsequent conversation. For your reading pleasure, I have boiled it down and post it here (with some commentary of my own in italics). Enjoy.

Dealer: riggstad shows [Ad Ac]
Dealer: untouchableme shows [Qd Js]
riggstad: un real
Dealer: riggstad shows a pair of Aces
Dealer: untouchableme shows two pair, Queens and Jacks
Dealer: untouchableme wins the pot (6,280) with two pair,
Queens and Jacks

(Fireworks in 3.....2....1.....)

riggstad: you donpe
riggstad (Observer): QJ is the nuts
riggstad (Observer): I knew youd call too idiot
riggstad (Observer): limp call a shove
riggstad (Observer): fcktard
riggstad (Observer): get aids hippy

(He must like this guy, he's going pretty easy on him)

untouchableme: r u talking 2 me

(Further indication he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer)

riggstad (Observer): no I'm talking down to you
riggstad (Observer): noob
riggstad (Observer): -EV player you are
riggstad (Observer): slit
ohhhlandon26: what do you expect in a five dollar
tournament, riggs

(don't get involved, man)

riggstad (Observer): not the point
riggstad (Observer): at all
ohhhlandon26: you call him a noob, this is where noobs play
ohhhlandon26: five dollar tourny
riggstad (Observer): all this time and finally decides to dust
off with QJ
ohhhlandon26: if you want more respect for your plays, move
up

(must be Phil Gordon)

JesusMastaJiz: i'm not a noob
JesusMastaJiz: how dare you

(Who invited this joker to the party? Having watched this clown stumble his way to a chipstack, I can remain silent no longer)

snakster (Observer): no...you just suck
JesusMastaJiz: im still in
JesusMastaJiz: u suck
snakster (Observer): and Jamie Gold won, what's your point?
JesusMastaJiz: he's a miilionare now
snakster (Observer): and you're not. check and mate

(I suspect he's STILL licking his wounds from THAT encounter)

ohhhlandon26: don't get upset with the moves people make in
a five dollar tourney, you have to expect it
JesusMastaJiz: you see, noob's can win it big

(And this, of course, is what makes these game so profitable in the long run. So I feel I must appropriately offer....)

snakster (Observer): thank god

And there we have it. More entertaining than ANYTHING on TV. Keep fighting the good fight Riggstad.

The On Ramp

2007-12-01T08:04:00.000-05:00

Well I suppose it's high time that I post my inaugural blog......thing. Heck it's all of 3 days old and already living up to its name of (almost) daily. From the jump I would kindly request patience as I figure out this whole posting thing. I'm not a complete idiot, so hopefully the learning curve will be short. Now...to the point....

I suppose that exactly what the world doesn't need is another blog that will primarily revolve around poker and drinking adult beverages. This is especially true when the blogger doesn't play a whole lot of poker nor does he drink copious amounts of adult beverages (comparatively speaking). However, having now played with many poker bloggers online, for roughly a year or so, via the RPT and the Mookie, I feel a sort of kinship with them that no amount of showering can cure. So thanks to that, along with some encouragement from my man Jim (head honcho of RPT), here I am.

So here's the real poop on what you can expect. For the record, and for full disclosure, let me state the following: I am by no stretch of the imagination a poker or bourbon expert. Quite frankly, the only people I can probably educate on either subject are children or patrons of the Limerick Inn. Social commentary expertise is the same, only more so.

With that disclaimer (and it's the only one you'll get, so I hope you read it), it will not stop me from pontificating on virtually any topic that crosses my mind on an almost daily basis. Poker commentary will center less on 'considered analysis' and more on sardonic wit (look it up). Bourbon commentary will center less on complex tasting notes (e.g. "Arising as subtle cinnamon-maple syrup. The maple falls away, leaving the layer of cinnamon after a minute of swirling") and more comments like, "it's smooth and damn good stuff". Social commentary will expose me as a right wing nutjob and proud of it. And to top it off, I won't be able to resist commenting on baseball in general and the Phillies in particular.

So there we are...a beginning. Are we having fun yet?