I recently referenced Extras during a discussion with my sister to prove a point. She said I "don't like British humor and The Black Adder doesn't count" (Never mind that I have always been a huge fan of Monty Python, Faulty Towers, and Benny Hill.) I pointed out that she doesn't even know what Extras is. She did the womanly thing, twisting my argument so she could be mad at me for never telling her about Extras. She flipped out.
Anyway... The final episode of Extras was on tonight. My sister would have gone nuts if she were to have been introduced to the show with this one because it was more dramatic than comedic. That being said, it was brilliant. Somehow they managed to make a great show without using much of what made the entire series so good. Apart from the wit and sarcasm, each episode had a guest star who played hisself but with a wild alter-character like Orlando Bloom obsessed with every woman being obsessed with him or Patrick Stewart writing scripts where someone's clothes inevitabley fall off. In this one, Clive Owen's character wasn't very unusual, George Michael just played up his own lewd public acts, and Gordon Ramsey played Gordon Ramsey. But it was still a fine show and a perfect ending to the series.
Sean and I saw I am Legend tonight. We both came away from it thinking that it was good. However, I suspect neither of us would have given it even that good a review if we were not so jaded from bad movies in the last year or two. But at least we couldn't classify this one as bad. A few months ago, I allowed my friends to talk me into seeing Transformers even though I expected it to be absolutely terrible. I decided to see the train wreck with my own eyes so I would know for sure. I really should not doubt my instincts...it was a cg-turd. Then we were all looking forward to No County for Old Men. Sean and I agreed that the movie was missing something and disliked the ending. But Mike loved it and said he was definitely going to see it again. I tell ya, he must be a hopeless optimist.
Then there was The Departed. Everyone seems to have loved it and it won best picture and best director. I happen to not only think it was not worthy of the best picture Oscar (maybe it was, actually since I can't think of another right now) but its not even Scorsese's best. My favorite is Casino. But you don't have to agree with that. How about Raging Bull, The Color of Money, or Goodfellas just to name a few. Maybe everyone is jaded. There certainly aren't any great original scripts being produced.
Here are some examples of what I think are great movies. Its not a top best list, just some flicks for which current releases have made me nostalgic.
-- Rear Window -- From a time when movies told stories and the great ones had you interested in the characters and the outcome. There is no one like Hitchcock today because suspense has been completely replaced by horror. Without CG or gore, Hitchcock focused on Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly to show us fear and bravery in the face of it. Its interesting and exciting yet it could have actually happened.
-- Glengarry Glen Ross -- From the days when the independent movie genre was really hot. Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Kevin Spacey, and Alec Baldwin, just to name a few. Its one of the greatest casts ever. And the beauty is in its simplicity. Entirely driven by dialogue and shot in three settings (an office, a bar, and a diner), director David Mamet seemingly only had to sit back and let the magic happen. Its a great movie that I know many people have seen but few ever praise. But its worthly of all acclaim.
-- The Color of Money -- While I prefer its predecessor, The Hustler, The Color of Money is a better made movie. Tom Cruise wasn't yet openly crazy, Paul Newman revived the colorful Fast Eddie Felson, and Scorsese made it all look, sound, and feel huge. Most people think the main character was Cruise's Vincent but, as in The Hustler, it was about Fast Eddie and "character" like Bert Gordon said.
-- Heat (1995) -- This one had a huge budget and all-star cast so could have easily fallen short...but it didn't. There is plenty of action amid just enough character development. I think it was the first time Pacino and De Niro acted on screen together. Whether it was or not, their first scene in a diner is one of my favorites. And its a cool heist movie.
-- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly -- Great westerns come along once in a long while and there will never again be one like this. Clint Eastwood was so damn cool. Eli Wallach played a great double-crossing partner to "Blondie." Lee Van Cleef was the perfect bad guy gun slinger. Always great back then. If this movie were made today, it would surely be spoiled by high-speed camera moves and ridiculous CG scenery. But it was perfect without all that back in 1967.
There are many movies I love. These are just a few. And with all my bitching and the crap that is out there, I'm still hopeful. So I'll continue to waste $10.50 trying the find the next great film.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Things That Only Matter To Me
I am going to get a Wii. Redeemed some AMEX rewards points for Sears gift cards. I have the cards in my possession so now I just have to keep checking the store and online until they get them in stock. Its got to be the hottest item on the planet right now and there is good reason. John brought his new Wii over the other day and it was a blast. All we played were the games that came with it, the cheesy-looking bubble characters that don't do anything too sophisticated. But they are all realistic enough and definitely fun enough to enjoy and get the heart beat up.
He kicked my ass at bowling and boxing. I figured out tennis and handed him his ass. Then we battled at golf, a game he doesn't even play in reality. He figured it out quick enough to give me a good challenge. In fact, he chipped in for a birdie on the last of 9 holes forcing me to do the same for a one stroke win. My chip burned the cup but didn't go in. Tie game.
I can't wait to get mine. Hopefully before this weekend (doubtful) so I can have friends over to play. Everyone used to come to my place for Halo 1 but not since Halo 2 came out. That darn online play killed the added fun of having everyone in the same room. It is more fun that way. At any rate, Tiger Woods '08 is supposed to be totally realistic. I'm dying to play that.
In other news...
My local Starbucks (the most local, that is) will be closing its doors for good tomorrow. I was in there today and they were already running out of stock. No more tall cups and getting low on eveything else. It will be very interesting to see how far into the day they make it before having nothing left to serve. I won't miss the store. It was a crappy location. I will, however, miss the people...All the kids who work there and the other regular customers. I know I'll run into them at other Starbucks, but no other store is run like this one. It might be one of those once-upon-a-time places.
And another thing...
I have been stressing over the region above my ears for quite some time. My hair is still long and mostly all there, but its not what it used to be and neither am I. Or at least I am trying to become a little different. I don't want to change my image as I am a long-hair and will always be at heart. The biggest issue for me is that I am vain. I give too much weight to appearances and what others may think. Its weird. I know I don't necessarily look as good as I could, but I worry about not looking as good as I do (In my own mind). My hair is healthy but grows slowly. That presents a problem. If that wasn't the case, I could cut it and just grow it back if I wanted. However, it would take at least two years to get back to an acceptable length. I fear the long, awkward in-between stage.
SMC says I should shave it all off. He is of the opinion that I would look good bald. (Note: SMC is mischievous and not to be trusted.) I think he really means it but on what is he basing this? There is a part of me that would enjoy the simplicity of a shaved head. But it just doesn't seem right for me. Arghhhh! This is the shit I think about! How sad.
On a more productive note...
I haven't been to a casino in weeks. I have, however, been playing a good amount of poker. I have finally found what I hope to be my niche online playing four tables at a time. I am treating it as an experiment for the time being as the stakes are small but significant enough to build my bankroll. I am playing at least 2 hours per day (8+ online hours) and have a goal to move up in limits when I get my bankroll to a certain point. That is all I will say about it until I feel more established. I don't want to go into detail about something that may not be what it seems...
...And it apparently doesn't only matter to me. It will need its own post.
SEEYa
He kicked my ass at bowling and boxing. I figured out tennis and handed him his ass. Then we battled at golf, a game he doesn't even play in reality. He figured it out quick enough to give me a good challenge. In fact, he chipped in for a birdie on the last of 9 holes forcing me to do the same for a one stroke win. My chip burned the cup but didn't go in. Tie game.
I can't wait to get mine. Hopefully before this weekend (doubtful) so I can have friends over to play. Everyone used to come to my place for Halo 1 but not since Halo 2 came out. That darn online play killed the added fun of having everyone in the same room. It is more fun that way. At any rate, Tiger Woods '08 is supposed to be totally realistic. I'm dying to play that.
In other news...
My local Starbucks (the most local, that is) will be closing its doors for good tomorrow. I was in there today and they were already running out of stock. No more tall cups and getting low on eveything else. It will be very interesting to see how far into the day they make it before having nothing left to serve. I won't miss the store. It was a crappy location. I will, however, miss the people...All the kids who work there and the other regular customers. I know I'll run into them at other Starbucks, but no other store is run like this one. It might be one of those once-upon-a-time places.
And another thing...
I have been stressing over the region above my ears for quite some time. My hair is still long and mostly all there, but its not what it used to be and neither am I. Or at least I am trying to become a little different. I don't want to change my image as I am a long-hair and will always be at heart. The biggest issue for me is that I am vain. I give too much weight to appearances and what others may think. Its weird. I know I don't necessarily look as good as I could, but I worry about not looking as good as I do (In my own mind). My hair is healthy but grows slowly. That presents a problem. If that wasn't the case, I could cut it and just grow it back if I wanted. However, it would take at least two years to get back to an acceptable length. I fear the long, awkward in-between stage.
SMC says I should shave it all off. He is of the opinion that I would look good bald. (Note: SMC is mischievous and not to be trusted.) I think he really means it but on what is he basing this? There is a part of me that would enjoy the simplicity of a shaved head. But it just doesn't seem right for me. Arghhhh! This is the shit I think about! How sad.
On a more productive note...
I haven't been to a casino in weeks. I have, however, been playing a good amount of poker. I have finally found what I hope to be my niche online playing four tables at a time. I am treating it as an experiment for the time being as the stakes are small but significant enough to build my bankroll. I am playing at least 2 hours per day (8+ online hours) and have a goal to move up in limits when I get my bankroll to a certain point. That is all I will say about it until I feel more established. I don't want to go into detail about something that may not be what it seems...
...And it apparently doesn't only matter to me. It will need its own post.
SEEYa
Friday, October 12, 2007
Da Tins I Du
Hey, there! Caught me on the toilet. I'll be with you in a minute....
That's better. Its a good thing we know eachother so well or that would have been embarassing. You must really be wondering about me to just barge in like that.
In short, not much. I didn't play any poker to speak of during the entire month of September. I guess I was content to rest on my success from August (or worried about taking a downward turn). Even this month, I haven't played much even though I had intended to do so.
The new plan has been to try a different scene at Hollywood Park Casino. Its a little shorter distance from home and I used to play there primarily. But that was more than 18 months ago. My first session back there was on a Friday night when Kid Crash joined me and I staked him in the same $200 buy-in NLH game that I was in. In the end, he lost and I won enough to still turn a small win. Perhaps more important was that I found the game to be extremely soft. That's what I was hoping for. Now if only it could be that way every day.
In the two weeks since, I have only been back to HPC a couple of times. Fortunately, the games were every bit as easy as the first. One of the sessions was even in a $400 buy-in NLH game. It was made up of the same players as the 200 game. They just move down when they are losing and back up when they get on a roll. Sadly, that means they either hit-n-run on the 200 tables or lose-and-flee from the 400 game. So chips don't tend to stay in play for long at the lower game and the fishier players don't continue dumping in the bigger game. Still, the games are nice and soft.
I'd like to order the Erica Pikari Dust Ruffles. (Oops. Sorry. I'm watching Fight Club so I may fade in and out. But SMC already knows this.)
The down side, other than not playing enough, is that I haven't had a winning session since the night I played with Kid Crash. But not to worry. The losses were very small. I also managed to enjoy myself. This was partly due to the Thursday $20+15 multi-rebuy tourney. I used to play alot of HPC's weekly evening events. In fact, that's how I got started in serious poker...sort of. Years ago, I used to play tight regardless of the tourney format. But now I know differently. I play pretty damn loose in rebuy events and have a blast doing it. And if I happen to chip-up before the end of the rebuy period, the fun continues. This last time, I was really rolling in the first hour and got the entire table playing ultra-loose. It was great. Too bad I went card dead after the rebuy period when I had to tighten up a bit. No cash for me there.
Marla, you big liar! You tourist! I need this! Now get out!
I just read Brando's mini-rant about the WSOP-ME-Final-Table-pray-fest and am inspired to give my take on it: Jesus f'ing christ! What is wrong with you people?! Poker may be legitimized now but its still a form of gambling and that just doesn't fit in with religion. I'm not religious at all. In fact, I don't believe in a god. But if I did and fealt that my prayers were heard, I would probably use that power sparingly. Doesn't it seem like a bit of a stretch to invoke Jesus every time someone is all-in? Come on. What if someone in your family gets sick in the following week? You genuflect and get ready to pray the shit out of this one only to find that you've exceeded your prepurchased prayer limit.
Of course, that would only litteraly happen with a cell phone. But doesn't it seem a bit greedy, self-serving, and selfish to call on the man upstairs for every little thing? I think it does. If I was on the other end of the prayer line, I would eventually feel the need to say "fuck thou! I'm on a break." But, of course, God is omnipotent and loving and all-forgiving. Even being omnipresent, he couldn't have time for a social life.
Mother fucker! You hit me in the ear! Why the ear?
What's worse is that Lee Watkinson's wife/fiancee (don't get me started on that) wasn't just praying when he was all-in, she was quoting scripture. I think is was something along the lines of "He who brings false weapons against me shall not prevail." It was definitely something like that. And considering the fact that he was all-in as a dog, it didn't even apply! Please, folks, let the numbers speak. If a hand has 4% chance to win, it is not a miracle that allows that percent dog to suck out. It is just simple probability kicking in. Whatever! I'm too tired and drunk to go any further into it.
Truth be told, I left before the previous paragraph and went bar hopping. So while I was watching Fight Club before, I am now watching Real Genius on Mojo. Right now, Val Kilmer is rolling coins over both sets of knuckles, something I used to be in awe of but now do to pass the time at any poker table. That's right. I have magic fingers.
'Rue the day'? Who talks like that?
I'll leave you with that. No! Wait...
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates who said, "I drank what?"
SEEYa
That's better. Its a good thing we know eachother so well or that would have been embarassing. You must really be wondering about me to just barge in like that.
In short, not much. I didn't play any poker to speak of during the entire month of September. I guess I was content to rest on my success from August (or worried about taking a downward turn). Even this month, I haven't played much even though I had intended to do so.
The new plan has been to try a different scene at Hollywood Park Casino. Its a little shorter distance from home and I used to play there primarily. But that was more than 18 months ago. My first session back there was on a Friday night when Kid Crash joined me and I staked him in the same $200 buy-in NLH game that I was in. In the end, he lost and I won enough to still turn a small win. Perhaps more important was that I found the game to be extremely soft. That's what I was hoping for. Now if only it could be that way every day.
In the two weeks since, I have only been back to HPC a couple of times. Fortunately, the games were every bit as easy as the first. One of the sessions was even in a $400 buy-in NLH game. It was made up of the same players as the 200 game. They just move down when they are losing and back up when they get on a roll. Sadly, that means they either hit-n-run on the 200 tables or lose-and-flee from the 400 game. So chips don't tend to stay in play for long at the lower game and the fishier players don't continue dumping in the bigger game. Still, the games are nice and soft.
I'd like to order the Erica Pikari Dust Ruffles. (Oops. Sorry. I'm watching Fight Club so I may fade in and out. But SMC already knows this.)
The down side, other than not playing enough, is that I haven't had a winning session since the night I played with Kid Crash. But not to worry. The losses were very small. I also managed to enjoy myself. This was partly due to the Thursday $20+15 multi-rebuy tourney. I used to play alot of HPC's weekly evening events. In fact, that's how I got started in serious poker...sort of. Years ago, I used to play tight regardless of the tourney format. But now I know differently. I play pretty damn loose in rebuy events and have a blast doing it. And if I happen to chip-up before the end of the rebuy period, the fun continues. This last time, I was really rolling in the first hour and got the entire table playing ultra-loose. It was great. Too bad I went card dead after the rebuy period when I had to tighten up a bit. No cash for me there.
Marla, you big liar! You tourist! I need this! Now get out!
I just read Brando's mini-rant about the WSOP-ME-Final-Table-pray-fest and am inspired to give my take on it: Jesus f'ing christ! What is wrong with you people?! Poker may be legitimized now but its still a form of gambling and that just doesn't fit in with religion. I'm not religious at all. In fact, I don't believe in a god. But if I did and fealt that my prayers were heard, I would probably use that power sparingly. Doesn't it seem like a bit of a stretch to invoke Jesus every time someone is all-in? Come on. What if someone in your family gets sick in the following week? You genuflect and get ready to pray the shit out of this one only to find that you've exceeded your prepurchased prayer limit.
Of course, that would only litteraly happen with a cell phone. But doesn't it seem a bit greedy, self-serving, and selfish to call on the man upstairs for every little thing? I think it does. If I was on the other end of the prayer line, I would eventually feel the need to say "fuck thou! I'm on a break." But, of course, God is omnipotent and loving and all-forgiving. Even being omnipresent, he couldn't have time for a social life.
Mother fucker! You hit me in the ear! Why the ear?
What's worse is that Lee Watkinson's wife/fiancee (don't get me started on that) wasn't just praying when he was all-in, she was quoting scripture. I think is was something along the lines of "He who brings false weapons against me shall not prevail." It was definitely something like that. And considering the fact that he was all-in as a dog, it didn't even apply! Please, folks, let the numbers speak. If a hand has 4% chance to win, it is not a miracle that allows that percent dog to suck out. It is just simple probability kicking in. Whatever! I'm too tired and drunk to go any further into it.
Truth be told, I left before the previous paragraph and went bar hopping. So while I was watching Fight Club before, I am now watching Real Genius on Mojo. Right now, Val Kilmer is rolling coins over both sets of knuckles, something I used to be in awe of but now do to pass the time at any poker table. That's right. I have magic fingers.
'Rue the day'? Who talks like that?
I'll leave you with that. No! Wait...
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates who said, "I drank what?"
SEEYa
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Live @ Commerce @ The Bike
Damn it! Things were going along so smoothly.
Throughout the month, I have been finding mostly soft games at the Bike with many regulars who have enough tells and obvious betting patterns to yield good results for me. Then something happened...a good thing to start, then something else.
I was hanging at the usual Starbucks on Friday, talking to a girl who works there. I know her name but she just calls me "weird guy." (I don't know why.) She's only 18 and has a girlfriend so I am not thinking about anything beyond chatting. She's one of those rare well-read, smart, interesting eighteen-year-olds. We have cool talks about everything from books to sex. On this day, we got to talking about getting high. It told her I have never had my own stash, only ever smocking out when it was offered to me when hanging out. Then she asked, "What are you doing later?" I'm playing poker. "What time?" Around 8:30. "Oh." Why. "I was going to offer to smoke you out." She seemed a bit disappointed. I was flattered and a little excited, feeling very much accepted. But I had to decline. I was in full poker mode. I had to stick to my plan and keep playing this month. But I asked for a rain check.
I arrived at the Bike a little after 9pm as usual and got into a 5-5 NLH game. Sadly, everyone at the table was really quiet, appearing very suspicious though not involved in a hand at the time. As always, that is not a good seat for me, especially since most of these guys were pretty tough competition. They weren't going to call off a bunch of chips with an inferior hand. So I would have to get lucky. I did so early on flopping two-pair from the big blind in a limped pot. An aggressive player across the table in late position was doing the betting so I decided to let him. He bet on the turn and river and I flat called each time feeling that he would not call a raise at any time. I was right. He was betting with nothing.
A short while later, I was sitting on a smidge over 400 (my buy-in amount) when I found J-J UTG in a straddled pot. There were a couple callers then the straddle made it $50 to go. $40 more to me and I had to decide whether to call or raise...I wasn't going to fold. I wanted desperately to put him on A-K but couldn't. Instead, I figured him for Q-Q. If I was right, I would need to out flop him to win. Calling was the correct play here.
I did and saw a J-high flop with two diamonds. The straddle lead out for $75 and, again, I had to decide whether to raise or call. He had me covered and I had about 350 behind so he could find some fold equity if I did raise. I opted to use my position and let him continue betting into me. The turn was a Ten that change nothing for me. This time, he bet out $125. It was time for me to make a move. I went all-in figuring he was committed if my read was correct. After a little thought, he called the additional $225. I had made the perfect play because the river brought the Ad which would have been an action killer. I tabled my set and he mucked. For some time after that, I could tell he was looking over at me, maybe wanting to say something. It wasn't until later, at another table, when he said, "Why did you have to flop a set?" He also revealed that he did have an over pair. My read was good.
However, the table was still not good for me. I was sitting with 900 after getting lucky. I had only been in play for an hour and a half. I wanted to cash out but just couldn't get myself to walk away. I wanted to be good to the game and maximize my potential. But there wasn't much potential there. So I was only being good to the game. I leaked 100 back over the next 30 minutes, then the game broke. This was my chance to get out with a decent profit while not being responsible for breaking the game. Still, I just couldn't pull myself away.
I opted for a 3-5 NLH game as there were no 5-5 NLH seats open. I was hoped to find an easier spot in the smaller game anyway. And with the $200 buy-in, I was free-rolling. On my second hand played, I was second to act where I found A-A. I raised to $20 after UTG limped. It folded around and only the SB called. Even the limper folded. The worst part was that the SB started the hand with only $46. The idiot put almost half of it in by calling. I laughed along with him and the others next to him while I asked why he didn't just put it all in. He didn't have an answer. The flop was 2-3-Q. I put him all in and he said, "Why the heck not?" and called then showed K-5o. Turn: A. River: 4. I laughed about losing to his wheel since it didn't cost me much.
Then the floor man called me for a seat in a 5-5 NLH game. I didn't even know I was on the list and didn't want it. But there wasn't any money in play at my smaller game so I decided to check it out. I didn't recognize any players as "soft" but, for some reason (or lack thereof), took the seat. I added $200 to my $150 from the previous table and joined the game. In my first SB, I got K-K. 3 or 4 player had limped and I raised it to $30. Everyone called for the additional $25. The board was Q-high with two hearts. I led out with $100 and it folded to the cutoff. He was wearing a cap, sunglasses, and headphones and was getting a massage. He asked how much I had left even though it wasn't at all hidden. I made sure my hands were not blocking his view but he seemed to be waiting for an answer so I asked if he wanted an exact count. Then he called. The turn brought the 10h. I had not put him on a flush draw when he called the flop because it just didn't seem like it. Plus, I had not been at the table long enough to have any real read on the guy.
He had position and I still figured to have the best hand. So I had to bet. Checking and calling (or checking and hoping for no bet) would be the worst play in this situation. All-in. He waited for me to stack it off and push everything forward before finally calling. That made me feel good about my hand. The river was another 10 and head waited for me to show. I did and he slo-o-o-wly revealed Ah-2h. Some other people at the table gave him crap for slow-calling and slow-rolling. I left it alone and pulled out another four bills.
I played a few more dead rounds before deciding to make the next my last for the night. I was only down slightly on my rebuy so I would be cutting my loses. Almost finished, I picked up T-T UTG+1. I raised to $20 and was called by the player on my right who I had been talking to and who had also just come back from the ATM. With no chips in front of him and no other callers, it was like we were playing for my money. The flop was 9c-7d-6s. I bet $35 and was quickly called. The turn was the 4s. Again, I bet, this time $75 to move him off of a possible straight draw. His chips had just arrived so he settled up for the previous bets and called this one with a bit of a sigh. The river was a red 5 and I began to think. With a four-card straight on board, I could easily be beat but I could be missing a bet. Before I finished thinking, he quietly said, "Don't bet." I believed him and checked. He showed down 9s-8s. I had him all the way but his draw kept improving. He was empathetic about drawing out on me but I thanked him for saving me a bet on the river.
I looked at my rags UTG, mucked, and picked up. I was stuck 195 for the night after being outdrawn three times. It could have been worse but it could have been better if I had followed my instincts. I knew things weren't right that night. The soft players were M.I.A. and the Commerce Crazies were over for a visit.
SEEYa
Throughout the month, I have been finding mostly soft games at the Bike with many regulars who have enough tells and obvious betting patterns to yield good results for me. Then something happened...a good thing to start, then something else.
I was hanging at the usual Starbucks on Friday, talking to a girl who works there. I know her name but she just calls me "weird guy." (I don't know why.) She's only 18 and has a girlfriend so I am not thinking about anything beyond chatting. She's one of those rare well-read, smart, interesting eighteen-year-olds. We have cool talks about everything from books to sex. On this day, we got to talking about getting high. It told her I have never had my own stash, only ever smocking out when it was offered to me when hanging out. Then she asked, "What are you doing later?" I'm playing poker. "What time?" Around 8:30. "Oh." Why. "I was going to offer to smoke you out." She seemed a bit disappointed. I was flattered and a little excited, feeling very much accepted. But I had to decline. I was in full poker mode. I had to stick to my plan and keep playing this month. But I asked for a rain check.
I arrived at the Bike a little after 9pm as usual and got into a 5-5 NLH game. Sadly, everyone at the table was really quiet, appearing very suspicious though not involved in a hand at the time. As always, that is not a good seat for me, especially since most of these guys were pretty tough competition. They weren't going to call off a bunch of chips with an inferior hand. So I would have to get lucky. I did so early on flopping two-pair from the big blind in a limped pot. An aggressive player across the table in late position was doing the betting so I decided to let him. He bet on the turn and river and I flat called each time feeling that he would not call a raise at any time. I was right. He was betting with nothing.
A short while later, I was sitting on a smidge over 400 (my buy-in amount) when I found J-J UTG in a straddled pot. There were a couple callers then the straddle made it $50 to go. $40 more to me and I had to decide whether to call or raise...I wasn't going to fold. I wanted desperately to put him on A-K but couldn't. Instead, I figured him for Q-Q. If I was right, I would need to out flop him to win. Calling was the correct play here.
I did and saw a J-high flop with two diamonds. The straddle lead out for $75 and, again, I had to decide whether to raise or call. He had me covered and I had about 350 behind so he could find some fold equity if I did raise. I opted to use my position and let him continue betting into me. The turn was a Ten that change nothing for me. This time, he bet out $125. It was time for me to make a move. I went all-in figuring he was committed if my read was correct. After a little thought, he called the additional $225. I had made the perfect play because the river brought the Ad which would have been an action killer. I tabled my set and he mucked. For some time after that, I could tell he was looking over at me, maybe wanting to say something. It wasn't until later, at another table, when he said, "Why did you have to flop a set?" He also revealed that he did have an over pair. My read was good.
However, the table was still not good for me. I was sitting with 900 after getting lucky. I had only been in play for an hour and a half. I wanted to cash out but just couldn't get myself to walk away. I wanted to be good to the game and maximize my potential. But there wasn't much potential there. So I was only being good to the game. I leaked 100 back over the next 30 minutes, then the game broke. This was my chance to get out with a decent profit while not being responsible for breaking the game. Still, I just couldn't pull myself away.
I opted for a 3-5 NLH game as there were no 5-5 NLH seats open. I was hoped to find an easier spot in the smaller game anyway. And with the $200 buy-in, I was free-rolling. On my second hand played, I was second to act where I found A-A. I raised to $20 after UTG limped. It folded around and only the SB called. Even the limper folded. The worst part was that the SB started the hand with only $46. The idiot put almost half of it in by calling. I laughed along with him and the others next to him while I asked why he didn't just put it all in. He didn't have an answer. The flop was 2-3-Q. I put him all in and he said, "Why the heck not?" and called then showed K-5o. Turn: A. River: 4. I laughed about losing to his wheel since it didn't cost me much.
Then the floor man called me for a seat in a 5-5 NLH game. I didn't even know I was on the list and didn't want it. But there wasn't any money in play at my smaller game so I decided to check it out. I didn't recognize any players as "soft" but, for some reason (or lack thereof), took the seat. I added $200 to my $150 from the previous table and joined the game. In my first SB, I got K-K. 3 or 4 player had limped and I raised it to $30. Everyone called for the additional $25. The board was Q-high with two hearts. I led out with $100 and it folded to the cutoff. He was wearing a cap, sunglasses, and headphones and was getting a massage. He asked how much I had left even though it wasn't at all hidden. I made sure my hands were not blocking his view but he seemed to be waiting for an answer so I asked if he wanted an exact count. Then he called. The turn brought the 10h. I had not put him on a flush draw when he called the flop because it just didn't seem like it. Plus, I had not been at the table long enough to have any real read on the guy.
He had position and I still figured to have the best hand. So I had to bet. Checking and calling (or checking and hoping for no bet) would be the worst play in this situation. All-in. He waited for me to stack it off and push everything forward before finally calling. That made me feel good about my hand. The river was another 10 and head waited for me to show. I did and he slo-o-o-wly revealed Ah-2h. Some other people at the table gave him crap for slow-calling and slow-rolling. I left it alone and pulled out another four bills.
I played a few more dead rounds before deciding to make the next my last for the night. I was only down slightly on my rebuy so I would be cutting my loses. Almost finished, I picked up T-T UTG+1. I raised to $20 and was called by the player on my right who I had been talking to and who had also just come back from the ATM. With no chips in front of him and no other callers, it was like we were playing for my money. The flop was 9c-7d-6s. I bet $35 and was quickly called. The turn was the 4s. Again, I bet, this time $75 to move him off of a possible straight draw. His chips had just arrived so he settled up for the previous bets and called this one with a bit of a sigh. The river was a red 5 and I began to think. With a four-card straight on board, I could easily be beat but I could be missing a bet. Before I finished thinking, he quietly said, "Don't bet." I believed him and checked. He showed down 9s-8s. I had him all the way but his draw kept improving. He was empathetic about drawing out on me but I thanked him for saving me a bet on the river.
I looked at my rags UTG, mucked, and picked up. I was stuck 195 for the night after being outdrawn three times. It could have been worse but it could have been better if I had followed my instincts. I knew things weren't right that night. The soft players were M.I.A. and the Commerce Crazies were over for a visit.
SEEYa
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Cross Corner
Last Thursday was somewhat eventful. The night before, my sister had texted me from a little bar around the corner called Paladino's. We've gone there many times over the years to see local cover bands like the Atomic Punks. Its also where we got to see the Foo Fighters open for the Punks a few years ago. That was cool.
Paladino's has always had two pool tables near the main bar in the front but Tara informed me they had added two more. I had been playing more pool over the previous month, mostly at Yankee Doodles (because its cheap and easy to get a table during the day), trying to get my game back to what it once was. I was also planning to play in some singles qualifying tourneys that the APA would be running at Paladino's on September 1. With four tables there, it seemed a good time to check out the new layout and the roll of the tables. So I headed over there Thursday afternoon.
I was pleased to see the pool tables laid out side by side in a single row in front of the main bar. It provided plenty of room around each. I was even more pleased to find they offered free play from noon to 6pm every day! Perfect! Its only two blocks from my home and I could get in a ton of practice daily. It also fits in with the routine I had recently established of playing pool during the day and poker at night with a trip to Starbucks in between. I'm really enjoying do that.
Time for poker...
On Thursday, I returned to the Bike, expecting attendance similar to Tuesday but only found two 5-5 NLH tables in action. There were four 3-5 NLH tables going so I put my name on the lists for each. A 3-5 game opened up first and I took the seat. It was a good choice as the table was full of easy players and I got the 7 seat. There was a guy on my left who kept showing me his cards whether he was folding or not. That caught on and the guys on his left and my right started showing me a bunch of their hands, too. It was wierd since I didn't show them any of mine but got all that free info from them.
I was able to take down medium-sized pots here and there while losing an occassional one. After a few hours, my stack had grown and shrunk a few times and I was sitting just slightly ahead when a big hand came up. I was second to act with A-Ko and decided to raise to $15. The cutoff, a man whose game I respect, called, the SB folded and the BB raised to $48. He was a young guy with his girlfriend sweating him while he held a small picture of a baby...apparently not hers. I had seen him raise without regard for position before so I put him on A-Js/9-9 at the bottom end with A-A a bit of a concern.
I went into the tank and, even though it should have been an easy call, I was seriously thinking about getting away from the hand. I wasn't really loving my position between these two. But I knew that was irrational and decided to explain some of what I was thinking since I was keeping everyone waiting. I said, "I know this shouldn't be such a tough decision." But I finally called. So did the cutoff. The flop was K-9-3 and the BB led out for $50 into the $150 pot. I should have loved my hand right away but I thought the kid might be playing A-A in this really cagey way. But I had TPTK and his bet was really weak. I came to the right decision and raised to $150. If he did have me beat, I was going to find out right there. The cutoff folded and it was back on the kid.
I was surprised when, after some thought, the kid just called. Then he looked at me and said "check." Checking dark? That's really strange in this spot. The turn was a J and it was immediately on me. I looked him over and saw nothing but confidence. Still, I was likely only losing to A-A at this point, as improbable as it would seem given the way the hand had played out (I did not put him on K-K). At any rate, there wasn't much value in betting there. There was no reason to put him on any kind of draw and I should only be called by something that beats me. I decided to check as well. The river was a 3 that paired the board but changed nothing. The kid bet out $50 and I quickly announced a call. He stated, "Boat!" and showed J-J for Jacks full of 3's. I was surprised as I folded my cards face-down.
Everyone else seemed to know what I had and was stunned that I was able to slow down when I was beat. I didn't explain what I had been thinking because I wasn't giving up any info that night. Then the kid explained his call on the flop. "I called there because I didn't want to look stupid." Huh? 'Well,' I thought, 'you ended up looking a little stupid anyway.' But I didn't say anything derogatory. Instead, I asked him what he meant. It turns out he thought I might be bluffing based on my pre-flop indecision and didn't want to appear that he could be bullied.
A few hands later, there was a limped pot involving the same kid with a flop of A-A-K. It checked all the way around and a rag hit the turn. It checked around to the kid and, this time, he bet. A few people started complaining that he was killing a potential jackpot as they all folded. But I knew he must have held A-little and understood that his kicker would not play into a jackpot (both hole cards must play). To appease some naysayers on his right who didn't believe he would bet with an Ace, he picked up his cards to reveal only that one. But he tilted his hand just enough to where I saw his bottom card (I was on his left)...a 7. When he showed the Ace only, the "pot-killer" theorists started in again. I helped out by explaining how his kicker was obviously too small to make the jackpot and he agreed, volunteering that it was a Jack. I decided to use the info I had to try to get in his head and said, "Naw. It was probably more like a 7." After the previous hand against him, he might think I was David Copperballs.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to take advantage of my magical image. It wasn't long after that when the kid racked up and took a nice stack off the table with him. Everyone was disappointed to see the chips go but we new it would happen sooner rather than later since his girlfriend was there. Guys don't usually stay long when a girl is sweating them.
As it usually happens, I stayed until the table got short-handed and broke. I opted out of a seat at a different table and cashed out at 2:30am +165. Overall, I played well and the result was an acceptable win. I could have easily lost with some of the hands I had.
SEEYa
Paladino's has always had two pool tables near the main bar in the front but Tara informed me they had added two more. I had been playing more pool over the previous month, mostly at Yankee Doodles (because its cheap and easy to get a table during the day), trying to get my game back to what it once was. I was also planning to play in some singles qualifying tourneys that the APA would be running at Paladino's on September 1. With four tables there, it seemed a good time to check out the new layout and the roll of the tables. So I headed over there Thursday afternoon.
I was pleased to see the pool tables laid out side by side in a single row in front of the main bar. It provided plenty of room around each. I was even more pleased to find they offered free play from noon to 6pm every day! Perfect! Its only two blocks from my home and I could get in a ton of practice daily. It also fits in with the routine I had recently established of playing pool during the day and poker at night with a trip to Starbucks in between. I'm really enjoying do that.
Time for poker...
On Thursday, I returned to the Bike, expecting attendance similar to Tuesday but only found two 5-5 NLH tables in action. There were four 3-5 NLH tables going so I put my name on the lists for each. A 3-5 game opened up first and I took the seat. It was a good choice as the table was full of easy players and I got the 7 seat. There was a guy on my left who kept showing me his cards whether he was folding or not. That caught on and the guys on his left and my right started showing me a bunch of their hands, too. It was wierd since I didn't show them any of mine but got all that free info from them.
I was able to take down medium-sized pots here and there while losing an occassional one. After a few hours, my stack had grown and shrunk a few times and I was sitting just slightly ahead when a big hand came up. I was second to act with A-Ko and decided to raise to $15. The cutoff, a man whose game I respect, called, the SB folded and the BB raised to $48. He was a young guy with his girlfriend sweating him while he held a small picture of a baby...apparently not hers. I had seen him raise without regard for position before so I put him on A-Js/9-9 at the bottom end with A-A a bit of a concern.
I went into the tank and, even though it should have been an easy call, I was seriously thinking about getting away from the hand. I wasn't really loving my position between these two. But I knew that was irrational and decided to explain some of what I was thinking since I was keeping everyone waiting. I said, "I know this shouldn't be such a tough decision." But I finally called. So did the cutoff. The flop was K-9-3 and the BB led out for $50 into the $150 pot. I should have loved my hand right away but I thought the kid might be playing A-A in this really cagey way. But I had TPTK and his bet was really weak. I came to the right decision and raised to $150. If he did have me beat, I was going to find out right there. The cutoff folded and it was back on the kid.
I was surprised when, after some thought, the kid just called. Then he looked at me and said "check." Checking dark? That's really strange in this spot. The turn was a J and it was immediately on me. I looked him over and saw nothing but confidence. Still, I was likely only losing to A-A at this point, as improbable as it would seem given the way the hand had played out (I did not put him on K-K). At any rate, there wasn't much value in betting there. There was no reason to put him on any kind of draw and I should only be called by something that beats me. I decided to check as well. The river was a 3 that paired the board but changed nothing. The kid bet out $50 and I quickly announced a call. He stated, "Boat!" and showed J-J for Jacks full of 3's. I was surprised as I folded my cards face-down.
Everyone else seemed to know what I had and was stunned that I was able to slow down when I was beat. I didn't explain what I had been thinking because I wasn't giving up any info that night. Then the kid explained his call on the flop. "I called there because I didn't want to look stupid." Huh? 'Well,' I thought, 'you ended up looking a little stupid anyway.' But I didn't say anything derogatory. Instead, I asked him what he meant. It turns out he thought I might be bluffing based on my pre-flop indecision and didn't want to appear that he could be bullied.
A few hands later, there was a limped pot involving the same kid with a flop of A-A-K. It checked all the way around and a rag hit the turn. It checked around to the kid and, this time, he bet. A few people started complaining that he was killing a potential jackpot as they all folded. But I knew he must have held A-little and understood that his kicker would not play into a jackpot (both hole cards must play). To appease some naysayers on his right who didn't believe he would bet with an Ace, he picked up his cards to reveal only that one. But he tilted his hand just enough to where I saw his bottom card (I was on his left)...a 7. When he showed the Ace only, the "pot-killer" theorists started in again. I helped out by explaining how his kicker was obviously too small to make the jackpot and he agreed, volunteering that it was a Jack. I decided to use the info I had to try to get in his head and said, "Naw. It was probably more like a 7." After the previous hand against him, he might think I was David Copperballs.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to take advantage of my magical image. It wasn't long after that when the kid racked up and took a nice stack off the table with him. Everyone was disappointed to see the chips go but we new it would happen sooner rather than later since his girlfriend was there. Guys don't usually stay long when a girl is sweating them.
As it usually happens, I stayed until the table got short-handed and broke. I opted out of a seat at a different table and cashed out at 2:30am +165. Overall, I played well and the result was an acceptable win. I could have easily lost with some of the hands I had.
SEEYa
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Bitches, Man!...Yet Again.
Sunday was an off day since the tourney that day was the women's event. There wouldn't be any extra action from busted out players getting into the cash games. The majority of the female players just don't do that as most men do. Monday was also a day off for me because it was Monday.
I went back to the Bike on Tuesday, hoping for alot of company. That much worked out with seven 5-5 NLH tables running. Other than that, things were the same as they had been the previous week. I had a bitch of a time getting things going (not the same "bitch" you are waiting for). After an hour plus, I was sitting with $300 on the SB with Ad-7d. UTG raised to $20, three others called, and I decided I was priced in...and I was dying to get lucky.
The flop was 3d-5d-Qc. This was what I had been looking for (obviously, three diamonds would have been better but...) so I lead out for $80. The preflop raiser paused and thought briefly before putting in a raise to $180. It folded back to me and I counted up to find $200 remaining (for those of you who had not been doing the math). This presented an interesting yet common situation where the raise was not enough for me to fold, giving the right price to call, but not leaving me with enough to just call. So I moved all-in.
To my surprise, the raiser went into the tank and was visibly upset. He must have held K-Q and now thought I had A-Q or a set. But he correctly called anyway. The turn was a 6 and I immediately realized how sick it would be if I took down the pot with a back-door straight. Instead, the river brought an Ace. So I missed the flush and straight but paired my Ace. He waited for me to show and I obliged sheepishly saying, "Well, I got the ace." Guess how he reacted. Shocked, then disbelieving, and finally heart broken.
That pot really set me on the right path. I won a bunch of small pots over the next couple hours. Then the table started to get short-handed. We had eight players but two of them were MIA. That was when I picked up a string of top starters. I raised with Ah-6h from the cutoff and got one caller. T-9-6 flop, I bet after it was checked to me and was called. He checked the turn so I did, too. He lead out on the river and I folded. A friend of his was certain that he had paired the 10 so I felt OK about my fold. The very next hand, I got A-Qo and raised again. Two callers this time. I missed the flop and the first player bet out strong...so I folded. Then I found A-A UTG and, of course, raised. This time, no one called.
That was fun. Thanks.
Even after all that, I still had a bunch of chips and the missing players returned so we were back to 8-handed. About one round later, I picked up Q-Q in the cutoff and raised. The SB, who had been fun and chatty all night, suddenly seemed peeved. He asked, "Are you ready for a bad beat? There's a bad beat coming. Sorry." I always welcome action, though, so I said it was OK. He called and the BB folded. The flop was T-T-6. He checked and I bet $50. He called quickly while still declaring that a bad beat was coming. The turn was a 9 that also put a flush draw out. Once again, he checked. I thought about slowing down but decided against it since it would be the wrong play having no real reason to think I was beat. So I made it $100 to go. My opponent started thinking and really seemed like he was done with the hand. I felt very confident. Then he called, leaned forward, looked right at me, and slapped the table saying "check dark." The river was a black 2 which changed nothing. If anything, my hand seemed stronger. But there was no value in betting. I'd only be called by a hand that beat me and he would probably raise me all-in if he paired even just the deuce and thought I was bluffing. Could I stand such a raise? No need to find out. I checked, too, and he said he had a 10. I showed my cards and he tabled his K-T.
Good timing on his part for sure. But he played the hand poorly. I would have called a sizable value bet on the river. He kept on about how he said a beat was coming and I simply replied that he had played it well. I was serious in as much as I was not upset and he had me fooled on the turn. This seemed to upset him a bit. I guess he hoped to put me on tilt. "I don't rattle, kid. Just for that I'm gonna beat ya straight!" Oh, wait. I didn't say that. That was Paul Newman (The Hustler).
I stayed in the game for a while longer but the table just didn't suit my game. I either got no action or was called by everyone trying to catch a busting hand so I couldn't follow up unless I hit the flop. I just couldn't be creative with them. I called it quits at 2:30am -65.
Alright, time for the non-poker content. Remember that chick I wrote about a while back? Her name is Gretchen. On the night that we met, we got drunk, then naked. We didn't go all the way but had a damn good time. We didn't end up going out for two more weeks because I was in Vegas the next weekend. But we did finally get together for drinks on a Friday. Everything went well. We had some great conversation at a beach cafe before finding a more secluded spot on the beach where things got intimate. That was pretty much it for the night.
The following day was Fred's b-day. He, Scott, and I played golf all day. Then Fred and I hit up a party at his friend's place (not a b-day party) where Gretchen also happened to be. She was already drunk by the time we got there. Still, she was happy to see me and I had fun briefly hanging with her. Then things got nutty. Gretchen and her friend, Ashley, threw each other in the pool. Apparently, its something they do all the time. While they swam, I mingled.
Later, they were out of the pool but not so dry and the woman of the house (Kim?) was freaked out over the idea that Gretchen would get her couch wet. Turns out she was falling-down-drunk by that point and ready to rest her eyes. Suddenly Kim and others were ushering Gretchen into the back yard toward the fire pit and bushes. They thought she was going to throw up but I could see she was just doubled over laughing at something. Even Ashley was worried about her because she was drunk herself and couldn't tell the difference. She was in no shape to help matters. I decided it would be best if I stepped in based on Ashley's state and the fact that Kim and her friends appeared they would rather Gretchen had not come to the party. They were all kind of catty.
End result...I was left with Gretchen by the fire pit while everyone else went inside to do some more shots. It was a while before Ashley and her husband were ready leave so I was stuck in the "nice guy" spot. I got back to partying after that.
The next day, I received a text from Gretchen thanking me for looking out for her and indicating that she didn't remember any of it. I gave it a couple of days before trying to get in touch with her again so she could recover from the weekend. When I finally did, she was slow to respond. Then it occurred to me that she had never answered the phone when I called. She did return a call once but everything else was via text. And even that was never a quick resonse. WHAT'S THE MATTER? YOU CAN'T CALL NOBODY? I decided to step back for the next week and see if she called or texted me. She didn't.
This all seemed weird...maybe even shitty. Ah, hell! It sucked. I liked her and we had plenty in common. I figured it was worth one more try. I texted on a Thursday with the ultimate pick up line: "So....Do you like...stuff?" Nine hours later, she replied with "Stuff?" I replied to that and followed up with another text to suggest we meet for drinks the next day. I never heard back from her. I expected more from someone my own age. Its a shame but she is officially a bitch. As SMC would say, "Redundant."
When I started this "Bitches, Man" series, I was in a foul mood thanks to Gretchen and some trying times in poker. While poker isn't always so good, at least it is sometimes. It seems women never are. Yet I find myself wanting to meet a new chick right now. I quess its been a while and I'm tired of the s.o.s.
Enough of that. I've got more poker to recap and I've been getting my pool game in shape. There's some good stuff to come.
SEEYa
I went back to the Bike on Tuesday, hoping for alot of company. That much worked out with seven 5-5 NLH tables running. Other than that, things were the same as they had been the previous week. I had a bitch of a time getting things going (not the same "bitch" you are waiting for). After an hour plus, I was sitting with $300 on the SB with Ad-7d. UTG raised to $20, three others called, and I decided I was priced in...and I was dying to get lucky.
The flop was 3d-5d-Qc. This was what I had been looking for (obviously, three diamonds would have been better but...) so I lead out for $80. The preflop raiser paused and thought briefly before putting in a raise to $180. It folded back to me and I counted up to find $200 remaining (for those of you who had not been doing the math). This presented an interesting yet common situation where the raise was not enough for me to fold, giving the right price to call, but not leaving me with enough to just call. So I moved all-in.
To my surprise, the raiser went into the tank and was visibly upset. He must have held K-Q and now thought I had A-Q or a set. But he correctly called anyway. The turn was a 6 and I immediately realized how sick it would be if I took down the pot with a back-door straight. Instead, the river brought an Ace. So I missed the flush and straight but paired my Ace. He waited for me to show and I obliged sheepishly saying, "Well, I got the ace." Guess how he reacted. Shocked, then disbelieving, and finally heart broken.
That pot really set me on the right path. I won a bunch of small pots over the next couple hours. Then the table started to get short-handed. We had eight players but two of them were MIA. That was when I picked up a string of top starters. I raised with Ah-6h from the cutoff and got one caller. T-9-6 flop, I bet after it was checked to me and was called. He checked the turn so I did, too. He lead out on the river and I folded. A friend of his was certain that he had paired the 10 so I felt OK about my fold. The very next hand, I got A-Qo and raised again. Two callers this time. I missed the flop and the first player bet out strong...so I folded. Then I found A-A UTG and, of course, raised. This time, no one called.
That was fun. Thanks.
Even after all that, I still had a bunch of chips and the missing players returned so we were back to 8-handed. About one round later, I picked up Q-Q in the cutoff and raised. The SB, who had been fun and chatty all night, suddenly seemed peeved. He asked, "Are you ready for a bad beat? There's a bad beat coming. Sorry." I always welcome action, though, so I said it was OK. He called and the BB folded. The flop was T-T-6. He checked and I bet $50. He called quickly while still declaring that a bad beat was coming. The turn was a 9 that also put a flush draw out. Once again, he checked. I thought about slowing down but decided against it since it would be the wrong play having no real reason to think I was beat. So I made it $100 to go. My opponent started thinking and really seemed like he was done with the hand. I felt very confident. Then he called, leaned forward, looked right at me, and slapped the table saying "check dark." The river was a black 2 which changed nothing. If anything, my hand seemed stronger. But there was no value in betting. I'd only be called by a hand that beat me and he would probably raise me all-in if he paired even just the deuce and thought I was bluffing. Could I stand such a raise? No need to find out. I checked, too, and he said he had a 10. I showed my cards and he tabled his K-T.
Good timing on his part for sure. But he played the hand poorly. I would have called a sizable value bet on the river. He kept on about how he said a beat was coming and I simply replied that he had played it well. I was serious in as much as I was not upset and he had me fooled on the turn. This seemed to upset him a bit. I guess he hoped to put me on tilt. "I don't rattle, kid. Just for that I'm gonna beat ya straight!" Oh, wait. I didn't say that. That was Paul Newman (The Hustler).
I stayed in the game for a while longer but the table just didn't suit my game. I either got no action or was called by everyone trying to catch a busting hand so I couldn't follow up unless I hit the flop. I just couldn't be creative with them. I called it quits at 2:30am -65.
Alright, time for the non-poker content. Remember that chick I wrote about a while back? Her name is Gretchen. On the night that we met, we got drunk, then naked. We didn't go all the way but had a damn good time. We didn't end up going out for two more weeks because I was in Vegas the next weekend. But we did finally get together for drinks on a Friday. Everything went well. We had some great conversation at a beach cafe before finding a more secluded spot on the beach where things got intimate. That was pretty much it for the night.
The following day was Fred's b-day. He, Scott, and I played golf all day. Then Fred and I hit up a party at his friend's place (not a b-day party) where Gretchen also happened to be. She was already drunk by the time we got there. Still, she was happy to see me and I had fun briefly hanging with her. Then things got nutty. Gretchen and her friend, Ashley, threw each other in the pool. Apparently, its something they do all the time. While they swam, I mingled.
Later, they were out of the pool but not so dry and the woman of the house (Kim?) was freaked out over the idea that Gretchen would get her couch wet. Turns out she was falling-down-drunk by that point and ready to rest her eyes. Suddenly Kim and others were ushering Gretchen into the back yard toward the fire pit and bushes. They thought she was going to throw up but I could see she was just doubled over laughing at something. Even Ashley was worried about her because she was drunk herself and couldn't tell the difference. She was in no shape to help matters. I decided it would be best if I stepped in based on Ashley's state and the fact that Kim and her friends appeared they would rather Gretchen had not come to the party. They were all kind of catty.
End result...I was left with Gretchen by the fire pit while everyone else went inside to do some more shots. It was a while before Ashley and her husband were ready leave so I was stuck in the "nice guy" spot. I got back to partying after that.
The next day, I received a text from Gretchen thanking me for looking out for her and indicating that she didn't remember any of it. I gave it a couple of days before trying to get in touch with her again so she could recover from the weekend. When I finally did, she was slow to respond. Then it occurred to me that she had never answered the phone when I called. She did return a call once but everything else was via text. And even that was never a quick resonse. WHAT'S THE MATTER? YOU CAN'T CALL NOBODY? I decided to step back for the next week and see if she called or texted me. She didn't.
This all seemed weird...maybe even shitty. Ah, hell! It sucked. I liked her and we had plenty in common. I figured it was worth one more try. I texted on a Thursday with the ultimate pick up line: "So....Do you like...stuff?" Nine hours later, she replied with "Stuff?" I replied to that and followed up with another text to suggest we meet for drinks the next day. I never heard back from her. I expected more from someone my own age. Its a shame but she is officially a bitch. As SMC would say, "Redundant."
When I started this "Bitches, Man" series, I was in a foul mood thanks to Gretchen and some trying times in poker. While poker isn't always so good, at least it is sometimes. It seems women never are. Yet I find myself wanting to meet a new chick right now. I quess its been a while and I'm tired of the s.o.s.
Enough of that. I've got more poker to recap and I've been getting my pool game in shape. There's some good stuff to come.
SEEYa
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Bitches, Man!...Cont.
Saturday was much like the previous two days at the Bike. I had trouble getting anything going with crap cards and tons of raising ahead of me.
I was seated at the same table from the night before but it was full of tight/trappy players this time. Fortunately, a couple of the guys at the other end of the table were talking and having fun so I was able to enjoy it.
After sitting around, paying blinds, folding on missed flops, I was able to limp in middle position with 2s-2c. Five of us saw a flop of 7h-6c-2h. The blinds checked and I lead out with $15 into the $21 pot (after rake) and was called by one late position player and the big blind. The turn was an off-suit 4. BB checked, I paused briefly to consider the possible straight and came up with a $50 bet. The late player folded and it came back to the BB. He thought only briefly before declaring "all-in." He was sitting with about $1500 and I had already picked up on him using it to bully some pots. I had $255 left behind but that didn't even factor in. I new it was a huge bet into me but I was already prepared to make it. It only took about two beats for me to say "call." But he was distracted by a player on his left and didn't hear me. The dealer didn't hear me either as he was rearraging the pot and rake, or something like that, which he should not have been doing.
So I repeated myself to the BB and then to the dealer. They finally got it and the dealer peeled off the river, a black J. I thought momentarily that it could have been a bad card if the guy had been bluffing with paint (obviously wrong). At any rate, I waited for him to show since I had called him and he was first in order. He revealed 7-5 for top pair, open-ended on the turn. My set miraculously held up. When I tabled it, the BB was stunned. For several hands after that, he continued to discuss it with the guys next to him. I never told him that I called because I thought he was making a move. I decided to let him make up his own mind, likely that it was a loose donk call.
The table was still pretty dead for action, though, and I was freezing my ass off directly under an AC vent. So I asked for a table change and was immediately moved. At first, the new table didn't seem any different than the first but it turned out to have a few very soft players and a couple fun people to talk to. Unfortunately, things didn't really go my way there. In one hand, I checked T-T from the BB with three limpers after thinking that I would raise from there if I had a big hand. But when I looked at it, I changed my mind. Bad choice. Flop was T-T-5. I checked and so did everyone else. I decided to bet the turn when a 9 came because someone might have picked up a straight draw. No dice...no action. The only good thing I took away from it was that I didn't show and resisted the urge to brag about it. After all, it is best to leave as much unknown as possible.
Later, I raised preflop and made a continuation bet after everyone checked to me. I had $150 behind and bet $70 into a $100 pot. It folded back to the player on my right (new to the table) who MIN-RAISED ME! At the first table, I had been minned three or four times. I was already quite sick of it. But I had missed the flop so I decided to lay down. As I discussed it with the guy on my left, I realized the other player may have just min-raised because he knew it essentially put me all-in. I asked him, "Did you know how much I had left?" to which he replied, "Huh?" So, no. He was just min-raising because that's what people do.
I wasn't steaming but did pick up Q-Q on the very next hand and decided to push for my remaining $80 after the min-ster had limped. I hadn't given it any serious thought. I simply thought I might take advantage of the "tilt" image from the previous hand and maybe get called by a hand I dominate. It folded back to the min-ster and he went into the tank. He actually asked how much more it was, as if the exact amount really mattered...it was alot compared to the $5 he had in. He decide to call and the rest was down hill. The board ended up being 10-high so I figured I was either up against a set or I was good. After studying the board, he announced that he had a straight. Really? Yep. Jd-8d completed a straight.
Oh, well. I got what I had hoped for but it just didn't work out. I rebought and played for a couple more hours without much success to speak of. I cashed out at 3:30am -540.
Damn. I am not happy after writing this. I think I'll have a scotch before trying to sleep and save the rest for another day. I still haven't gotten to the inspiration for the title of this series.
SEEYa
I was seated at the same table from the night before but it was full of tight/trappy players this time. Fortunately, a couple of the guys at the other end of the table were talking and having fun so I was able to enjoy it.
After sitting around, paying blinds, folding on missed flops, I was able to limp in middle position with 2s-2c. Five of us saw a flop of 7h-6c-2h. The blinds checked and I lead out with $15 into the $21 pot (after rake) and was called by one late position player and the big blind. The turn was an off-suit 4. BB checked, I paused briefly to consider the possible straight and came up with a $50 bet. The late player folded and it came back to the BB. He thought only briefly before declaring "all-in." He was sitting with about $1500 and I had already picked up on him using it to bully some pots. I had $255 left behind but that didn't even factor in. I new it was a huge bet into me but I was already prepared to make it. It only took about two beats for me to say "call." But he was distracted by a player on his left and didn't hear me. The dealer didn't hear me either as he was rearraging the pot and rake, or something like that, which he should not have been doing.
So I repeated myself to the BB and then to the dealer. They finally got it and the dealer peeled off the river, a black J. I thought momentarily that it could have been a bad card if the guy had been bluffing with paint (obviously wrong). At any rate, I waited for him to show since I had called him and he was first in order. He revealed 7-5 for top pair, open-ended on the turn. My set miraculously held up. When I tabled it, the BB was stunned. For several hands after that, he continued to discuss it with the guys next to him. I never told him that I called because I thought he was making a move. I decided to let him make up his own mind, likely that it was a loose donk call.
The table was still pretty dead for action, though, and I was freezing my ass off directly under an AC vent. So I asked for a table change and was immediately moved. At first, the new table didn't seem any different than the first but it turned out to have a few very soft players and a couple fun people to talk to. Unfortunately, things didn't really go my way there. In one hand, I checked T-T from the BB with three limpers after thinking that I would raise from there if I had a big hand. But when I looked at it, I changed my mind. Bad choice. Flop was T-T-5. I checked and so did everyone else. I decided to bet the turn when a 9 came because someone might have picked up a straight draw. No dice...no action. The only good thing I took away from it was that I didn't show and resisted the urge to brag about it. After all, it is best to leave as much unknown as possible.
Later, I raised preflop and made a continuation bet after everyone checked to me. I had $150 behind and bet $70 into a $100 pot. It folded back to the player on my right (new to the table) who MIN-RAISED ME! At the first table, I had been minned three or four times. I was already quite sick of it. But I had missed the flop so I decided to lay down. As I discussed it with the guy on my left, I realized the other player may have just min-raised because he knew it essentially put me all-in. I asked him, "Did you know how much I had left?" to which he replied, "Huh?" So, no. He was just min-raising because that's what people do.
I wasn't steaming but did pick up Q-Q on the very next hand and decided to push for my remaining $80 after the min-ster had limped. I hadn't given it any serious thought. I simply thought I might take advantage of the "tilt" image from the previous hand and maybe get called by a hand I dominate. It folded back to the min-ster and he went into the tank. He actually asked how much more it was, as if the exact amount really mattered...it was alot compared to the $5 he had in. He decide to call and the rest was down hill. The board ended up being 10-high so I figured I was either up against a set or I was good. After studying the board, he announced that he had a straight. Really? Yep. Jd-8d completed a straight.
Oh, well. I got what I had hoped for but it just didn't work out. I rebought and played for a couple more hours without much success to speak of. I cashed out at 3:30am -540.
Damn. I am not happy after writing this. I think I'll have a scotch before trying to sleep and save the rest for another day. I still haven't gotten to the inspiration for the title of this series.
SEEYa
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Bitches, Man!
After the stint of traveling in June, I lost the urge to write that had returned to me only weeks before. So its been some time and, quite honestly, this one is kind of forced. I need to get some things off my chest.
First of all, the Legends of Poker series is underway at the Bike right now. All month long, there will be plenty of action there. I got some of it last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It was pretty interesting as I played rather poorly in many spots and ran card-dead yet my overall results were the same as they usually are. Two winning sessions and one losing one leaving me in the black.
The first night, I was at a table that ran both loose and tight with occasional bouts or lunacy. Normally, I end up under the bus against players like that but I was lucky enough to have Q-Q hold up against A-Ks when the guy moved all-in over the top of me for my remaining $350. I had raised to $40 in a stradled pot and he found big slick from the stradle. I put him on just that and called, resigned to only be a small favorite. Then I woke up to A-A in the small blind (another stradle on) after the button had raised to $30. I made it $90, he called, I lead out with $150 on the flop and he folded. Those were the only significant hands of that session which ended at 2:30am +395. I'll take it.
The next night, pretty much the same for me except the table was pure action! There was hardly ever a hand that wasn't raised and reraised preflop. And it wasn't because everyone was wild and loose. Some took their shots but most of the time people had huge starting hands. I liked that spot so I joined in the banter and waited to find something good to go with. I ended up finding 5-5 in the small blind against a raise to $20 that had been called by to late positions. I called, followed by the big blind. The flop was Ts-7s-5s. I only had about $280 but decided to check and hope someone bets. Sure enough, the 1s bet $100 as he was likely to do if he caught any piece of the flop. But this time he looked extra cagey as if he had a huge hand himself. Then the 3s called and it folded around to me.
From the 1s's demeanor, I had to consider him having flopped the flush. But then I put the 3s on a big spade, probably the A. So I'm either ahead right now or need the board to pair. But I wasn't going to fold. I had a chance to more than triple up with this hand and finally get something going. I moved all-in and the 1s went into the tank. After a bit, he decided to call and the 3s quickly moved all-in over the top with enough to cover the 1s. With a little more thought, the 1s folded. The 3s declared he had "the nuts" and showed As-Qs. I said, "Potential nuts," and tabled mine. I was neither surprised nor disheartened as I had already accounted for this situation. It was quick and painless...T on the turn and I took it down. I was able to work my stack up a couple hundred more afterwards but that hand made the night. I cashed out at 3:00am +615.
Oops. Its past 8:30pm. I need to hit the road and finish this later.
SEEYa
First of all, the Legends of Poker series is underway at the Bike right now. All month long, there will be plenty of action there. I got some of it last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It was pretty interesting as I played rather poorly in many spots and ran card-dead yet my overall results were the same as they usually are. Two winning sessions and one losing one leaving me in the black.
The first night, I was at a table that ran both loose and tight with occasional bouts or lunacy. Normally, I end up under the bus against players like that but I was lucky enough to have Q-Q hold up against A-Ks when the guy moved all-in over the top of me for my remaining $350. I had raised to $40 in a stradled pot and he found big slick from the stradle. I put him on just that and called, resigned to only be a small favorite. Then I woke up to A-A in the small blind (another stradle on) after the button had raised to $30. I made it $90, he called, I lead out with $150 on the flop and he folded. Those were the only significant hands of that session which ended at 2:30am +395. I'll take it.
The next night, pretty much the same for me except the table was pure action! There was hardly ever a hand that wasn't raised and reraised preflop. And it wasn't because everyone was wild and loose. Some took their shots but most of the time people had huge starting hands. I liked that spot so I joined in the banter and waited to find something good to go with. I ended up finding 5-5 in the small blind against a raise to $20 that had been called by to late positions. I called, followed by the big blind. The flop was Ts-7s-5s. I only had about $280 but decided to check and hope someone bets. Sure enough, the 1s bet $100 as he was likely to do if he caught any piece of the flop. But this time he looked extra cagey as if he had a huge hand himself. Then the 3s called and it folded around to me.
From the 1s's demeanor, I had to consider him having flopped the flush. But then I put the 3s on a big spade, probably the A. So I'm either ahead right now or need the board to pair. But I wasn't going to fold. I had a chance to more than triple up with this hand and finally get something going. I moved all-in and the 1s went into the tank. After a bit, he decided to call and the 3s quickly moved all-in over the top with enough to cover the 1s. With a little more thought, the 1s folded. The 3s declared he had "the nuts" and showed As-Qs. I said, "Potential nuts," and tabled mine. I was neither surprised nor disheartened as I had already accounted for this situation. It was quick and painless...T on the turn and I took it down. I was able to work my stack up a couple hundred more afterwards but that hand made the night. I cashed out at 3:00am +615.
Oops. Its past 8:30pm. I need to hit the road and finish this later.
SEEYa
Friday, July 06, 2007
Back Home. Gotta Go.
So much to write about after 5 days in Vegas. I don't have the energy right now, though. Made the long drive through the desert midday on Wednesday. Damn it was hot. I would have waited until night to make the trek but wanted to try and make a 4th of July party at a friend's house in Simi. Unfortunately, I was too damn tired to do anything but sleep and cool down for a few hours.
Yesterday was also spent recuperating and rehydrating. I finally feel better today, just in time to leave again tomorrow...this time to NY.
When I get back, I'll catch up on Vegas notes including some hand histories. Then I'll be behind on any NY stories. So be it. But maybe I can find some down time in NY to write a bit.
One quick note...I did get to hang out with Brando and his friends. They were cool. We all had a great time on our first night in town. We went 'til the sun came up. More on that for sure.
SEEYa
Yesterday was also spent recuperating and rehydrating. I finally feel better today, just in time to leave again tomorrow...this time to NY.
When I get back, I'll catch up on Vegas notes including some hand histories. Then I'll be behind on any NY stories. So be it. But maybe I can find some down time in NY to write a bit.
One quick note...I did get to hang out with Brando and his friends. They were cool. We all had a great time on our first night in town. We went 'til the sun came up. More on that for sure.
SEEYa
Friday, June 29, 2007
YBM,S
That is my contribution to the poker lexicon. YBM,S stands for "You been min-ed, son!" Online or off, its perfect for both mocking and celebrating one of the weakest plays in NL poker, the min-raise. (When I say it is weak, I am mostly referring to an open-raise pre-flop.)
On the poker front...I finally got out and played a real game last Friday at the Bike. It was the usual 5-5 NLH ($300-500 buy-in) game. Nothing of major note occurred. I played tight and aggressive while looking to get some shots at three very soft players. I got my piece of one of them when I raised in late position with A-K and was called by 3 players including one of the softies who had limped in (as he did with most hands). The flop was Ac-Tc-Ad and Softy, first to act, lead out for $100. I only had about $340 but had him covered (about 300 tot). I loved that he had bet into me but was faced with determining the optimal play. Can I get more out him if I just call or should I move in right there so he might put me on a pair lower than Ts? I couldn't solidly put him on an Ace. If I could, the decision would be easy. Instead, I decided to move in to protect against possible club draws behind me and hope Softy could talk himself in to calling.
He thought briefly while shaking his head but did make the call. The turn and river didn't appear to help him and I turned up my hand. He showed A-5o and I took down a nice pot, about $700. Over the next couple of hours, I worked my stack up over $800 with small pots. After 4 hours of play, I decided to call it quits as two of the soft players had been busted and left and the remaining players were way too tight/trappy. So I booked my first good win in a while: +480.
Away from the felt...My friend, Joanna, is in town with three of her girl friends. I took them to Q's in Santa Monica on their first night where they met my friends Mike and Brian. On Thursday, I joined the girls at Magic Mountain. I hadn't been there in many years and was a bit hesitant. My worry was too many people and long lines. There was some of that but it was still pretty fun. And damn! They have a ton of rides now. Way more than when I was a kid. I don't think its possible to hit every ride in one day. We only made it on six thanks to more than 2 hours in line for "X". We all agreed the best ride (of those we went on) was Tatsu. I love its tag line: "Fly at the speed of Fear." As the Samurai would say, "Bitchin'!".
I was thinking about meeting up with Jo again tonight at Universal City Walk but I decided to pass since I will be going to Vegas with them tomorrow. As it stands, it'll be five days in the desert with four British women. I may have to cut it short by a day at least, if you know what I mean. Just kidding. I am expecting to have a lot of fun with some poker peppered in.
Now I'm going to do something I normally wouldn't...tell about a new girl I met. After four days on antibiotics last week, I decided I was well and would risk quitting so I could meet some friends and drink. I met up with Fred, Kristy, Scott, and Carolina (known to SMC as "Worlds Collide") at El Torito. After that, I went to another friend's house with Fred and Christy expecting to drink and play corn hole with the usual unsingle people who have no single, attractive female friends.
I was caught off guard when Christy introduced me to a married woman who asked if I was single. My reaction lead her to think I wasn't looking and the subject went nowhere. Then I saw a blonde chick in a Tenacious D shirt and asked if that was who she was talking about. Yep, that's Gretchen. So I took it upon myself to strike up a conversation. It went so well, we ended up talking until everyone else started to leave. The party was over but Gretchen was up for more hanging out back at Fred's house. Long story short, she's really fun and cool. We're going to try to get together next week. That may be another reason to cut my Vegas trip short. I hope it works out in spite of writing about it before it happens.
Side story...I felt fine on Sunday, other than a hangover, but started to feel my throat getting sore again. I decided I could try getting back on the antibiotic since I still had six days worth left. It might still work. The only problem was that I wouldn't be able to drink when I took out Jo and her friends. That was painful but the thought of being healthy and ready to do some serious drinking in Vegas helped me through.
I took my last pill a little while ago. I'm so looking forward for some Guinness tomorrow.
I was thinking about writing about Chris Benoit because I'm a big wrestling fan. But maybe another time.
SEEYa
On the poker front...I finally got out and played a real game last Friday at the Bike. It was the usual 5-5 NLH ($300-500 buy-in) game. Nothing of major note occurred. I played tight and aggressive while looking to get some shots at three very soft players. I got my piece of one of them when I raised in late position with A-K and was called by 3 players including one of the softies who had limped in (as he did with most hands). The flop was Ac-Tc-Ad and Softy, first to act, lead out for $100. I only had about $340 but had him covered (about 300 tot). I loved that he had bet into me but was faced with determining the optimal play. Can I get more out him if I just call or should I move in right there so he might put me on a pair lower than Ts? I couldn't solidly put him on an Ace. If I could, the decision would be easy. Instead, I decided to move in to protect against possible club draws behind me and hope Softy could talk himself in to calling.
He thought briefly while shaking his head but did make the call. The turn and river didn't appear to help him and I turned up my hand. He showed A-5o and I took down a nice pot, about $700. Over the next couple of hours, I worked my stack up over $800 with small pots. After 4 hours of play, I decided to call it quits as two of the soft players had been busted and left and the remaining players were way too tight/trappy. So I booked my first good win in a while: +480.
Away from the felt...My friend, Joanna, is in town with three of her girl friends. I took them to Q's in Santa Monica on their first night where they met my friends Mike and Brian. On Thursday, I joined the girls at Magic Mountain. I hadn't been there in many years and was a bit hesitant. My worry was too many people and long lines. There was some of that but it was still pretty fun. And damn! They have a ton of rides now. Way more than when I was a kid. I don't think its possible to hit every ride in one day. We only made it on six thanks to more than 2 hours in line for "X". We all agreed the best ride (of those we went on) was Tatsu. I love its tag line: "Fly at the speed of Fear." As the Samurai would say, "Bitchin'!".
I was thinking about meeting up with Jo again tonight at Universal City Walk but I decided to pass since I will be going to Vegas with them tomorrow. As it stands, it'll be five days in the desert with four British women. I may have to cut it short by a day at least, if you know what I mean. Just kidding. I am expecting to have a lot of fun with some poker peppered in.
Now I'm going to do something I normally wouldn't...tell about a new girl I met. After four days on antibiotics last week, I decided I was well and would risk quitting so I could meet some friends and drink. I met up with Fred, Kristy, Scott, and Carolina (known to SMC as "Worlds Collide") at El Torito. After that, I went to another friend's house with Fred and Christy expecting to drink and play corn hole with the usual unsingle people who have no single, attractive female friends.
I was caught off guard when Christy introduced me to a married woman who asked if I was single. My reaction lead her to think I wasn't looking and the subject went nowhere. Then I saw a blonde chick in a Tenacious D shirt and asked if that was who she was talking about. Yep, that's Gretchen. So I took it upon myself to strike up a conversation. It went so well, we ended up talking until everyone else started to leave. The party was over but Gretchen was up for more hanging out back at Fred's house. Long story short, she's really fun and cool. We're going to try to get together next week. That may be another reason to cut my Vegas trip short. I hope it works out in spite of writing about it before it happens.
Side story...I felt fine on Sunday, other than a hangover, but started to feel my throat getting sore again. I decided I could try getting back on the antibiotic since I still had six days worth left. It might still work. The only problem was that I wouldn't be able to drink when I took out Jo and her friends. That was painful but the thought of being healthy and ready to do some serious drinking in Vegas helped me through.
I took my last pill a little while ago. I'm so looking forward for some Guinness tomorrow.
I was thinking about writing about Chris Benoit because I'm a big wrestling fan. But maybe another time.
SEEYa
Friday, June 22, 2007
pokito
Over the last three days, I've been playing micro-limit on UB since I'm on the bench right now and had $5 in my account. I have played micro in the past as an exercise in playing tight...tight/smart poker when the amount has no meaning really helps develop patience. This time around, I have been playing in the background while getting other things done on the compy. The results have been good. There still aint much in the account, but its growing.
I have managed to avoid getting bored and raising in early and middle positions with weak hands. I've also stayed away from calling raises out of position or when I would most likely have to hit the flop big to win. So I've avoided trap hands and vulnerable spots and developed a new understanding of small-ball.
In three days I have only been involved in 2 all-in pots where I was behind. In each hand, my opponent disquised his hand well. So I had good reason to move in or call (as the case was). Here are the deets:
Hand 1 --
Limped with 9-9 in middle position. One late and two early callers.
Flop: 8-T-T
Checked to me and I bet out just under the pot amount.
Player behind me calls and others fold.
Now I'm ready to shut down.
Turn: K
I checked and he bet out just under the pot amount.
Now I'm back in because he's not likely to bet like that holding a 10 and I don't expect the K to have helped him.
I raised all-in for about 4x his bet so there is plenty of fold equity.
He calls and I know I need a 9.
River: 9
He shows J-J
I win with three 9's.
player: Nice river LOL.
darsky: You disquised your hand so well. Had me right where you wanted me.
darsky: Its a good thing I know how to luckbox.
player: Please teach me.
darsky: If only I could.
player: LOL. Its cool.
Hand 2 --
Damn! I forgot the details of this hand. But it is pretty similar to the other one. Only major diff is that I checked-called my opponents all-in because it didn't make sense the way the hand played out. He did have an over-pair but I had a pair with an open-ended draw which came for me.
Same kind of chat following the hand in which I let him know that he disguised his hand very well and I'm a luckbox.
Those are the only two hands like that from about 500. I think that's pretty good.
I'm feeling great now but I have to stay on my antibiotics for several days. Went to Howl at the Moon last night and Club Vodka at the Key Club tonight. U-n-bearable! I can't drink while I'm on the Rx but I really needed to to endure the horrible singers at HatM and the always boring Key Club. But I smartly abstained. I'll have to avoid places like that this weekend.
I've stopped trying to make plans for Vegas or poker or anything in general since nothing has been working out. I'm on permanent vacation until further notice (I guess that would be 'indefinite vacation'). As for alcohol, next week, ITS ON. ITS O-O-O-ON!
SEEYa
I have managed to avoid getting bored and raising in early and middle positions with weak hands. I've also stayed away from calling raises out of position or when I would most likely have to hit the flop big to win. So I've avoided trap hands and vulnerable spots and developed a new understanding of small-ball.
In three days I have only been involved in 2 all-in pots where I was behind. In each hand, my opponent disquised his hand well. So I had good reason to move in or call (as the case was). Here are the deets:
Hand 1 --
Limped with 9-9 in middle position. One late and two early callers.
Flop: 8-T-T
Checked to me and I bet out just under the pot amount.
Player behind me calls and others fold.
Now I'm ready to shut down.
Turn: K
I checked and he bet out just under the pot amount.
Now I'm back in because he's not likely to bet like that holding a 10 and I don't expect the K to have helped him.
I raised all-in for about 4x his bet so there is plenty of fold equity.
He calls and I know I need a 9.
River: 9
He shows J-J
I win with three 9's.
player: Nice river LOL.
darsky: You disquised your hand so well. Had me right where you wanted me.
darsky: Its a good thing I know how to luckbox.
player: Please teach me.
darsky: If only I could.
player: LOL. Its cool.
Hand 2 --
Damn! I forgot the details of this hand. But it is pretty similar to the other one. Only major diff is that I checked-called my opponents all-in because it didn't make sense the way the hand played out. He did have an over-pair but I had a pair with an open-ended draw which came for me.
Same kind of chat following the hand in which I let him know that he disguised his hand very well and I'm a luckbox.
Those are the only two hands like that from about 500. I think that's pretty good.
I'm feeling great now but I have to stay on my antibiotics for several days. Went to Howl at the Moon last night and Club Vodka at the Key Club tonight. U-n-bearable! I can't drink while I'm on the Rx but I really needed to to endure the horrible singers at HatM and the always boring Key Club. But I smartly abstained. I'll have to avoid places like that this weekend.
I've stopped trying to make plans for Vegas or poker or anything in general since nothing has been working out. I'm on permanent vacation until further notice (I guess that would be 'indefinite vacation'). As for alcohol, next week, ITS ON. ITS O-O-O-ON!
SEEYa
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Sitting Unpretty
So this is where I'm at...sickish.
My throat has continued to feel sore. Today, I finally went to a doctor (an ENT) and he put me on an antibiotic. That means I can't drink for the next ten days while I am taking it. In the meantime (during the meanwhilst?), I will be hoping to feel better so I can finally go to Vegas. Broken record, I know. But I'd rather not drive 330 miles only to sit in a hotel room feeling like crap or head right back. It would be a mistake to play poker if I was in bad shape.
Right now, I feel just fine so I'm hopeful. Since I'm still here, though, I will probably end up going to see Knocked Up with some friends tommorrow. I might even go to Howl At The Moon with my sister. That might suck without the benefit of alcohol but its still an option. Of course, the Bike is running its "Mini Series of Poker" right now so there should be some action. That might become the plan for Thursday. I've got to do something.
The Mini Series is a pretty nice idea that they have been doing for at least a few years now. Its runs at the same time as the WSOP and is made up of the same events as the WSOP but with small buy-ins. I won't be looking to play in any of those. The cash games should be sort of fat along side the tourneys.
I've been thinking alot lately about gambling in general, not just poker. The green felt jungle has been drawing me back. I really want to get back to playing more pool. I'm about three balls short of my peak which was three or four years ago at least. I have only been playing, at most, once a week for the last two years with my APA team. While I have lost some shooting touch, I have found my defensive skills conversely improving. My mental game is strong. Its the only thing that has kept me at a high competetive level. Now I see how much better I can be. And while there isn't much action to be found in pool rooms anymore, it would be a nice complement to the poker grind (when I'm all the way in).
For tonight, I'm going to hit the gym for the first time in two weeks. Damn!
SEEYa
My throat has continued to feel sore. Today, I finally went to a doctor (an ENT) and he put me on an antibiotic. That means I can't drink for the next ten days while I am taking it. In the meantime (during the meanwhilst?), I will be hoping to feel better so I can finally go to Vegas. Broken record, I know. But I'd rather not drive 330 miles only to sit in a hotel room feeling like crap or head right back. It would be a mistake to play poker if I was in bad shape.
Right now, I feel just fine so I'm hopeful. Since I'm still here, though, I will probably end up going to see Knocked Up with some friends tommorrow. I might even go to Howl At The Moon with my sister. That might suck without the benefit of alcohol but its still an option. Of course, the Bike is running its "Mini Series of Poker" right now so there should be some action. That might become the plan for Thursday. I've got to do something.
The Mini Series is a pretty nice idea that they have been doing for at least a few years now. Its runs at the same time as the WSOP and is made up of the same events as the WSOP but with small buy-ins. I won't be looking to play in any of those. The cash games should be sort of fat along side the tourneys.
I've been thinking alot lately about gambling in general, not just poker. The green felt jungle has been drawing me back. I really want to get back to playing more pool. I'm about three balls short of my peak which was three or four years ago at least. I have only been playing, at most, once a week for the last two years with my APA team. While I have lost some shooting touch, I have found my defensive skills conversely improving. My mental game is strong. Its the only thing that has kept me at a high competetive level. Now I see how much better I can be. And while there isn't much action to be found in pool rooms anymore, it would be a nice complement to the poker grind (when I'm all the way in).
For tonight, I'm going to hit the gym for the first time in two weeks. Damn!
SEEYa
Thursday, June 14, 2007
As Joe Hachem Would Say
Mothaaa........
It appears forces may be aligning against me. I can't seem to get anything going my way. After writing last night, I realized I had already been awake for 22 hours. Add 4 hours of driving and an immediate session and I would be tired before I even got started. So I decided to get some sleep and start my way to where the action is in daylight hours.
Set my alarm for 10am. Kid texted me at 9:51am. I woke up and went back to sleep until the alarm sounded and I awoke again. As I usually do when I don't have to get up, I went back to sleep. An hour later, I woke and found my throat was soar once again. Disappointed, I thought some more sleep might help....not really...I just had no desire to face the day if it meant I wasn't well enough to travel.
I ended up sleeping on and off until 3pm. My throat still hurts a little and that has me concerned. Its been the same way for a week. I feel fine throughout the day but not-sa-gud after sleeping. Its not that I "feel" sick, its just that I haven't been totally right for a while.
Being 4pm now, I have a few hours to assess the situation. I might get out of here around 8 or 9 o'clock. If not, I might just wait until tomorrow and go the opposite direction heading for Santa Barbara. I haven't been to Chumash in ages and its a hell of a lot shorter drive. Plus I can hang out with Kid Crash while I'm up there. Then I can go to Vegas on Monday as I had planned this week. I already made sure I haven't forgotten plans or a gov't mandate so I won't have anything but health standing in my way (OMG! Kissed!).
What the hell is wrong with me? That's the second time in a week that I have kissed something via this blog. FYI, to "kiss" something is to give it the kiss of death. Its a natural ability that not everybody has. Joe, Lewis, SMC, and I (aka: LSD) all have it. I think its strongest in Joe and me probably because we are the most negative. And for those of you wondering why I would write something if I realize it is a kiss, there's no avoiding it. For the people like me, all it takes is thinking it. That's as good as saying or writing it. Its already out there and nothing can change that. For instance, I was once driving solo from San Diego to L.A. and was cruising along when I thought about the fact that I had not hit any traffic. SCREEEECH. As I sat in traffic the rest of the way, I suddenly thought, "Well at least its not raining." Guess what happened next. Within a couple seconds, the first drop hit my windshield.
Anyway, I'm saying I might be responsible for my current situation.
SEEYa
It appears forces may be aligning against me. I can't seem to get anything going my way. After writing last night, I realized I had already been awake for 22 hours. Add 4 hours of driving and an immediate session and I would be tired before I even got started. So I decided to get some sleep and start my way to where the action is in daylight hours.
Set my alarm for 10am. Kid texted me at 9:51am. I woke up and went back to sleep until the alarm sounded and I awoke again. As I usually do when I don't have to get up, I went back to sleep. An hour later, I woke and found my throat was soar once again. Disappointed, I thought some more sleep might help....not really...I just had no desire to face the day if it meant I wasn't well enough to travel.
I ended up sleeping on and off until 3pm. My throat still hurts a little and that has me concerned. Its been the same way for a week. I feel fine throughout the day but not-sa-gud after sleeping. Its not that I "feel" sick, its just that I haven't been totally right for a while.
Being 4pm now, I have a few hours to assess the situation. I might get out of here around 8 or 9 o'clock. If not, I might just wait until tomorrow and go the opposite direction heading for Santa Barbara. I haven't been to Chumash in ages and its a hell of a lot shorter drive. Plus I can hang out with Kid Crash while I'm up there. Then I can go to Vegas on Monday as I had planned this week. I already made sure I haven't forgotten plans or a gov't mandate so I won't have anything but health standing in my way (OMG! Kissed!).
What the hell is wrong with me? That's the second time in a week that I have kissed something via this blog. FYI, to "kiss" something is to give it the kiss of death. Its a natural ability that not everybody has. Joe, Lewis, SMC, and I (aka: LSD) all have it. I think its strongest in Joe and me probably because we are the most negative. And for those of you wondering why I would write something if I realize it is a kiss, there's no avoiding it. For the people like me, all it takes is thinking it. That's as good as saying or writing it. Its already out there and nothing can change that. For instance, I was once driving solo from San Diego to L.A. and was cruising along when I thought about the fact that I had not hit any traffic. SCREEEECH. As I sat in traffic the rest of the way, I suddenly thought, "Well at least its not raining." Guess what happened next. Within a couple seconds, the first drop hit my windshield.
Anyway, I'm saying I might be responsible for my current situation.
SEEYa
Qvick Vpdate
I approached the 101 FWY at 7am and decided to go right. Unfortunately, Vegas is to the left. I went to jury duty and, as always, sat around all day for nothing. The only highlight was a young woman in pink. She was the only thing worth looking at. Everyone else was really tough on the eyes. Then I saw a baby with one eye at Starbucks. It looked like she was born without a right eye rather than losing it later. She was really cute anyway.
After only 4 hours sleep and a long day of sitting around and reading, I'm kinda tired. Its now almost 3:30am Thursday morning and I'm ready to hit the road. But I'm not sure I can stay awake for that long drive to Vegas by myself. It goes by fast with someone to talk to.
An option is to get some sleep and leave before midday. But its supposed to be 103 to 107 degrees along the way and I'd really like to avoid driving in that...out of respect for my Bullitt.
I'll make up my mind in the next 15 minutes. Either way, I will be in Las Vegas today.
SEEYa
After only 4 hours sleep and a long day of sitting around and reading, I'm kinda tired. Its now almost 3:30am Thursday morning and I'm ready to hit the road. But I'm not sure I can stay awake for that long drive to Vegas by myself. It goes by fast with someone to talk to.
An option is to get some sleep and leave before midday. But its supposed to be 103 to 107 degrees along the way and I'd really like to avoid driving in that...out of respect for my Bullitt.
I'll make up my mind in the next 15 minutes. Either way, I will be in Las Vegas today.
SEEYa
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Feelin' Better
I woke up feeling better today. I think I'm healthy again. Unfortunately, I have to report for jury duty on Wednesday. I have group 038. They called 003 through 029 for today so I knew my group would come up. Sure enough, I just called the notifaction line and got the bad news.
I have been thinking about just not going. I mean, come on, what are they going to do? Until now, it hasn't been a real option since I have been sick. But now I'm thinking about it. If I do go to JD, best case will be hanging around for one day then hitting Vegas on Thursday. Worst case, I get selected for a jury. Then who knows. But I doubt I would be chosen as I have a background in insurance claims investigation. They apparently don't like taking people who have a solid understanding of the law and contracts. So, even though I don't do that work anymore, I'll still tell them that I do.
I haven't made up my mind yet. Sin City could be in the cards for tonight or Thursday. I am really dying to play and, hopefully, make some money.
SEEYa
I have been thinking about just not going. I mean, come on, what are they going to do? Until now, it hasn't been a real option since I have been sick. But now I'm thinking about it. If I do go to JD, best case will be hanging around for one day then hitting Vegas on Thursday. Worst case, I get selected for a jury. Then who knows. But I doubt I would be chosen as I have a background in insurance claims investigation. They apparently don't like taking people who have a solid understanding of the law and contracts. So, even though I don't do that work anymore, I'll still tell them that I do.
I haven't made up my mind yet. Sin City could be in the cards for tonight or Thursday. I am really dying to play and, hopefully, make some money.
SEEYa
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Its Not a Sport But...
I'm happy to say that I have not recently had to hear the whole "is poker a sport" discussion. Its always been a pathetic subject as far as I am concerned. Its not a sport. But there are elements common to poker and sports.
This occurred to me today as I watched the French Open tennis finals between Nadal and Federer. Damn those guys are great! And (spoiler alert), althought it didn't come down to a fifth set, they each had moments of being in control of the match and their opponent. The momentum swung several times. That's a huge aspect of athletic competion. When one side has a big lead, they can slow things down, playing safer to protect the lead. But that opens the door for the opponent to take an aggressive stance and turn things around.
It can work the same way in poker. Whether in a tourney or cash game, it comes into play. You hear about people being able to change gears during play usually when describing some winner's "skills" in confusing his opponents. Its not just about playing the same type of hand in different ways so nobody can put you on it. I think the true skill is knowing how to find a spot where you can take control of the course of play (momentum) then maintain that.
Many times, I have started a session slowly, just waiting for a playable hand to get things going. I've noted in the past how important it can be to win the first hand so you don't have to play from behind, as far as stacks go, from the get go. So its easy to play when your picking up cards, hitting draws, and have alot in play. But when its not going that way, someone else is certainly rolling and raising and you're usually playing from behind in every hand. Its hard to push back in those cases and make things happen for yourself.
I recently found myself in just such a spot in our home game. In the first tourney of the night, I started off hot at a passive table. I was able to take the lead in many pots and take down several without making hands. The result was a 2nd place finish. In the second tourney, play was significantly different. Several different players with different styles than my first table of the first tourney. Mainly, there were more calling stations. I didn't win any of the first 4 hands I played and found myself needing to reevaluate my approach. I was going to have to tighten up and take advantage of the players who would most likely pay me off while avoiding them when I didn't have a made hand. That's what I call "Folding Into First." Play became uneventful for me and the next thing I knew, we were three-handed and I had the chip lead. I had picked up some momentum when we got to the bubble and kept it going. The result was another 2nd place finish. The same good result thanks to knowing when and how to switch things up.
Its Sunday night and my plan has been to go to Vegas tomorrow. Oops. I forgot that I was summoned for jury duty this week. Luckily its in Ventura county where they assign you to a group number and have a phone system to let you find out if your group has to report the next morning. My group is 038 and Monday is groups 001 through 003. I have to call in each evening this week to find out if my group is selected. I might not have to report at all. I'm still going to Vegas, though. When I leave will all depend on how well I feel and the jury duty. My plan is still to hit the road tommorrow but now I'm going to leave at night so I'll have already been able to find out about JD. And I'm still not 100% healthy either.
Thanks to a cough, I didn't sleep at all on Friday night. In fact, I gave up trying to sleep after 45 minutes and just watched TV until leaving early for the pool tournament that started at 9am. I played the worst offensive game of my life but was able to keep things interesting with some creative defense. Our team won even though I lost. I didn't have to play in the matches that evening so I skipped the event all together and played both poker toureys at Paul's house. Beforehand, Kid Crash, Kirk and I met for some beers. The combination of tired and a couple beers didn't effect my play but I know I appeared loopy as I was talking up a storm throughout the first tourney. No points, no cashes. Then I dropped a little in the side games. But it was fun. We finished up at 3:30am. That's a damn good run at Paul's. Of course, we finished with the traditional Del Taco run.
On my way home, I encountered a fool in red shorts and shirt walking in the middle of the road. I drove as far away from him as possible as I passed. I hope he was only drunk or high. But in L.A., he might have been completely straight and sane. Some people are just assholes. I made it past him and home without incident.
After 40+ hours I was finally able to sleep. Woke up at 5pm Sunday. I hope I can sleep tonight and maybe I'll feel up to snuff tommorrow.
SEEYa
This occurred to me today as I watched the French Open tennis finals between Nadal and Federer. Damn those guys are great! And (spoiler alert), althought it didn't come down to a fifth set, they each had moments of being in control of the match and their opponent. The momentum swung several times. That's a huge aspect of athletic competion. When one side has a big lead, they can slow things down, playing safer to protect the lead. But that opens the door for the opponent to take an aggressive stance and turn things around.
It can work the same way in poker. Whether in a tourney or cash game, it comes into play. You hear about people being able to change gears during play usually when describing some winner's "skills" in confusing his opponents. Its not just about playing the same type of hand in different ways so nobody can put you on it. I think the true skill is knowing how to find a spot where you can take control of the course of play (momentum) then maintain that.
Many times, I have started a session slowly, just waiting for a playable hand to get things going. I've noted in the past how important it can be to win the first hand so you don't have to play from behind, as far as stacks go, from the get go. So its easy to play when your picking up cards, hitting draws, and have alot in play. But when its not going that way, someone else is certainly rolling and raising and you're usually playing from behind in every hand. Its hard to push back in those cases and make things happen for yourself.
I recently found myself in just such a spot in our home game. In the first tourney of the night, I started off hot at a passive table. I was able to take the lead in many pots and take down several without making hands. The result was a 2nd place finish. In the second tourney, play was significantly different. Several different players with different styles than my first table of the first tourney. Mainly, there were more calling stations. I didn't win any of the first 4 hands I played and found myself needing to reevaluate my approach. I was going to have to tighten up and take advantage of the players who would most likely pay me off while avoiding them when I didn't have a made hand. That's what I call "Folding Into First." Play became uneventful for me and the next thing I knew, we were three-handed and I had the chip lead. I had picked up some momentum when we got to the bubble and kept it going. The result was another 2nd place finish. The same good result thanks to knowing when and how to switch things up.
Its Sunday night and my plan has been to go to Vegas tomorrow. Oops. I forgot that I was summoned for jury duty this week. Luckily its in Ventura county where they assign you to a group number and have a phone system to let you find out if your group has to report the next morning. My group is 038 and Monday is groups 001 through 003. I have to call in each evening this week to find out if my group is selected. I might not have to report at all. I'm still going to Vegas, though. When I leave will all depend on how well I feel and the jury duty. My plan is still to hit the road tommorrow but now I'm going to leave at night so I'll have already been able to find out about JD. And I'm still not 100% healthy either.
Thanks to a cough, I didn't sleep at all on Friday night. In fact, I gave up trying to sleep after 45 minutes and just watched TV until leaving early for the pool tournament that started at 9am. I played the worst offensive game of my life but was able to keep things interesting with some creative defense. Our team won even though I lost. I didn't have to play in the matches that evening so I skipped the event all together and played both poker toureys at Paul's house. Beforehand, Kid Crash, Kirk and I met for some beers. The combination of tired and a couple beers didn't effect my play but I know I appeared loopy as I was talking up a storm throughout the first tourney. No points, no cashes. Then I dropped a little in the side games. But it was fun. We finished up at 3:30am. That's a damn good run at Paul's. Of course, we finished with the traditional Del Taco run.
On my way home, I encountered a fool in red shorts and shirt walking in the middle of the road. I drove as far away from him as possible as I passed. I hope he was only drunk or high. But in L.A., he might have been completely straight and sane. Some people are just assholes. I made it past him and home without incident.
After 40+ hours I was finally able to sleep. Woke up at 5pm Sunday. I hope I can sleep tonight and maybe I'll feel up to snuff tommorrow.
SEEYa
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
OMG, I'm Back Agaiaaan!
Gosh it seems like just a year ago yesterday that I last wrote. I was thinking about it today and finally wrapped up a thought about it that began several months ago... I no longer think anyone would care to read about what's up in my life because telling the tales involve either bitching or bragging. Or at least I see how it could come across that way. When I began posting my thoughts over a year ago, the subject matter was mainly about work and that is something people definitely relate to. So even when I was pissing and moaning, I figured someone out there would relate. In fact, that was the whole point of posting my thoughts. It helped me understand that I wasn't the only one hating my job and shit like that. (you may notice I got tired or that last sentence before I could finish it.)
Well I am going to try to start writing again with no particluar goal in mind. If anything, it is interesting to go back over the things I wrote many months back just to see how or if my perspective has changed. I drafted a few things that were never posted because they were either unfinished or too personal. Looking back, there was some good stuff in those texts that I could expound upon or draw ideas from for new compositions. And I will certainly try to start writing about poker again.
I always like to read others' poker posts. One thing common among them is self aggrandizing one's own skills (not sure about that prase). People talk about their losses from major suck-outs or how they continually trounce everyone they come up against. Yet they don't play professionally or even derive significant funds from playing. Well, I do play professionally but have never stated my own superiority. That is about to change...sort of.
I haven't managed to play much in the last couple of weeks. But in the past couple months, I feel confident in saying I have been playing top notch. I started focusing on reads, trying to put people on hands whether I was in the hand or not. It has resulted in better overall play. My reads have been, for the most part, spot on. Sometimes even getting the right read on an opponent from no particular information. I think that is a side effect of paying attention. In addition to excellent reads, I've been making correct decisions. Barry Greenstein calls it the optimal play.
I feel great about myself as all this has come together. I've simply been playing terrific poker. Unfortunately, I have to admit my monitary results don't tell the same story. I guess that is the sad potential outcome of no-limit play. You can play perfectly for hours only to be drawn out on in one big hand that basically ends a long session. That's what has happened most recently. One way around this would be to play limit games. But I'm not too fond of limit Hold'em and Omaha and Stud just aren't played much in L.A. The simple fact is that NLH is where all the action is. At any hour of any day I can be in action in a NLH game in about 30 minutes whether its 10-20 or 1-2 blinds. Besides, I am damn good at it. I'm hoping I will just go on a month-long rush.
It needs to happen soon, though. I love to play and would like to continue being able to call it my profession but that can't happen until I start to pay some bills out of my table stake.
One thing I realized just yesterday is that I have been wasting my time. I have the freedom to go anywhere I want whenever I want. So I don't need to stay close to home when I could hit the road at the drop of a hat. I've been a little sick this week so home is the place to be. And I have a team pool tourney in Simi Valley this weekend so I have to stick around for that. But come Monday, I'm putting rubber to the road and heading to Vegas. The WSOP is underway so I won't have any trouble finding action all week long. Now is the time. But I'll be doing it differently than ever before.
I have always had a plan for Vegas trips including (especially) a place to stay. Not this time. I could book a cheap room somewhere but why bother, really? I already have reservations at MGM for the week of July 1 when I will be there with Joanna and her friends from England. This time, I'm flying solo so I might as well wing it for a change. And who knows. I might spend to first 48 hours in a game so a room would go waste. Or I might come up winner in the first session or two and be able to choose nicer accommodations. If all else fails, I could get a cheapo off-strip litterbox just to sleep and clean up. I checked online and there are plenty of places available. I swear there are so many hotels now, the town might not be able to sell out anymore. (kissed!)
But before all that, Saturday will include the afformentioned pool tourney and the home poker tourney at Paul's. In addition to the normal payouts, we are doing a point system and small percentage from each buy-in that will go to a big tourney at the end of the year. I'm currently at the top of the points race with 24 (5 for a 1st place finish, 4 for second, etc.) and a nice lead. The points will translate into extra chips in the final tourney. I think its 200 chips/point. So I'm already going to be in great shape. If things go well in the pool tourney, I won't be able to play in the first poker tourney this week so I'm kinda torn. I don't want my team to lose at pool but I really don't want to miss any poker at Paullywood Park. And with all this going on, I already had to pass on seeing Tesla at the HOB Sunset. That sucks. I guess I could have worse troubles.
This turned into quite a post. Maybe I'll be able to make a habit of it.
SEEYa
Well I am going to try to start writing again with no particluar goal in mind. If anything, it is interesting to go back over the things I wrote many months back just to see how or if my perspective has changed. I drafted a few things that were never posted because they were either unfinished or too personal. Looking back, there was some good stuff in those texts that I could expound upon or draw ideas from for new compositions. And I will certainly try to start writing about poker again.
I always like to read others' poker posts. One thing common among them is self aggrandizing one's own skills (not sure about that prase). People talk about their losses from major suck-outs or how they continually trounce everyone they come up against. Yet they don't play professionally or even derive significant funds from playing. Well, I do play professionally but have never stated my own superiority. That is about to change...sort of.
I haven't managed to play much in the last couple of weeks. But in the past couple months, I feel confident in saying I have been playing top notch. I started focusing on reads, trying to put people on hands whether I was in the hand or not. It has resulted in better overall play. My reads have been, for the most part, spot on. Sometimes even getting the right read on an opponent from no particular information. I think that is a side effect of paying attention. In addition to excellent reads, I've been making correct decisions. Barry Greenstein calls it the optimal play.
I feel great about myself as all this has come together. I've simply been playing terrific poker. Unfortunately, I have to admit my monitary results don't tell the same story. I guess that is the sad potential outcome of no-limit play. You can play perfectly for hours only to be drawn out on in one big hand that basically ends a long session. That's what has happened most recently. One way around this would be to play limit games. But I'm not too fond of limit Hold'em and Omaha and Stud just aren't played much in L.A. The simple fact is that NLH is where all the action is. At any hour of any day I can be in action in a NLH game in about 30 minutes whether its 10-20 or 1-2 blinds. Besides, I am damn good at it. I'm hoping I will just go on a month-long rush.
It needs to happen soon, though. I love to play and would like to continue being able to call it my profession but that can't happen until I start to pay some bills out of my table stake.
One thing I realized just yesterday is that I have been wasting my time. I have the freedom to go anywhere I want whenever I want. So I don't need to stay close to home when I could hit the road at the drop of a hat. I've been a little sick this week so home is the place to be. And I have a team pool tourney in Simi Valley this weekend so I have to stick around for that. But come Monday, I'm putting rubber to the road and heading to Vegas. The WSOP is underway so I won't have any trouble finding action all week long. Now is the time. But I'll be doing it differently than ever before.
I have always had a plan for Vegas trips including (especially) a place to stay. Not this time. I could book a cheap room somewhere but why bother, really? I already have reservations at MGM for the week of July 1 when I will be there with Joanna and her friends from England. This time, I'm flying solo so I might as well wing it for a change. And who knows. I might spend to first 48 hours in a game so a room would go waste. Or I might come up winner in the first session or two and be able to choose nicer accommodations. If all else fails, I could get a cheapo off-strip litterbox just to sleep and clean up. I checked online and there are plenty of places available. I swear there are so many hotels now, the town might not be able to sell out anymore. (kissed!)
But before all that, Saturday will include the afformentioned pool tourney and the home poker tourney at Paul's. In addition to the normal payouts, we are doing a point system and small percentage from each buy-in that will go to a big tourney at the end of the year. I'm currently at the top of the points race with 24 (5 for a 1st place finish, 4 for second, etc.) and a nice lead. The points will translate into extra chips in the final tourney. I think its 200 chips/point. So I'm already going to be in great shape. If things go well in the pool tourney, I won't be able to play in the first poker tourney this week so I'm kinda torn. I don't want my team to lose at pool but I really don't want to miss any poker at Paullywood Park. And with all this going on, I already had to pass on seeing Tesla at the HOB Sunset. That sucks. I guess I could have worse troubles.
This turned into quite a post. Maybe I'll be able to make a habit of it.
SEEYa
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Poker Folks
Lately, I have been more interested in the many types of people that play poker than the specifics of the games I have been playing. My results have been quite positive. But I find it interesting that I have not been focusing on my cards and hand histories when going over things in my head. I think that is at least partly good. I'm not all hung up on money.
I've been rolling along for a few weeks, playing very tight and never losing much in any session. All my wins have been significantly larger than any of my losses by session. However, that all took a turn in my last day at the office. On Monday, I played my regular game at the Bike starting at my usual time. But the crowd was a little different. There were four 5-5NLH tables running and a quick overview of each showed an overabundance of type players. That's not exactly what I like to see. The result is usually no action until two players get involved with set over set or something like that. And that described my table perfectly.
I managed to more than double my stack when I flopped bottom set against a tight player who had a big over-pair. So I had about $1100 in play when I picked up Ad-Ah in late position. I raised and four of us saw the flop. It was 8-high, all hearts. UTG lead out for $50 and the next player called. The next to act folded and I decided to raise to $150 thinking that I had the best hand. Then the original bettor moved all-in. I thought he probably had a set but may have had pocket 10s with a heart. It didn't take me too long to call. He had Jh-Th and no other hearts appeared on board. The call was for another $480. I had no problem with my play or the results at the time. In hindsight, however, I should have given the guy more credit. I figured I was most likely behind so I was gambling with what I hoped was 11 outs.
Not long after that, I saw a free flop from the blind with K-To. I lead out on a K-8-5 board and got two callers. The turn was a T. I liked that card as I didn't put either opponent on A-Q or A-J...they were in the cutoff and on the button and, being tight themselves, would have raised pre-flop with those hands...Q-J was out of the question because neither would call the flop with it. This time, there was only one caller. The river was an A. I didn't like that one because I felt I could be up against two pair. If I was, a bet would be followed by a raise that I would be committed to call as I only had $125 left. If I checked, I thought, I might only have to call $60 or $80 to find out. So I checked. The guy moved in for $150! Oops! As I replayed the hand, it was clear that he would have played it the exact same way with a set of fives. It was less likely that he would have A-8 and not at all likely that he would have any other combination to make up two-pair. But I thought I might still be good and had a good price to find out. So I called. A-8 it was. Chips; table 18!
I won a few pots with my next buy-in to help bulk up my stack. Then I landed the black Aces in the small blind. Several players had limped and I raised. 3 out of the 5 called. 7-5-2 flop, all black. I was first to act, obviously, and bet out. There was a raise from middle position and everyone else folded. I reraised and he moved all-in. This time, it would cost me my remaining $240 for a pot of over $700. Again, I should have given this guy credit because he is so tight...and I did. But there was enough of a chance that he had an over-pair like Ts or Js and 3-1 on the call so I called after exclaiming that it felt "let a set but I have no read." Ducks for bottom set and they held up. Chips; table 18!
Now normally, I would quit after dropping two buy-ins. But there were so many chips in play at the table (thanks in part to me) and I wasn't really running "bad" so I decided to stick around.
Again, I built upon my new stack when I found A-Ko on the button. An early player min-raised to $10 after a few players had limped. I had seen him do this once before with A-K in the same position. Then the cutoff raised to $25. I decided to flat call to disguise my hand. Both raisers and I went to the flop: 8-3-8. It checked around and the turn brought a K. Now the min-raiser bet out $50. The cutoff raised to $100. I thought about reraising but decided I could just call and get heads up in position against the cutoff. I really thought the min-raiser would bail out. Instead, he raised $250 more. Now I really thought he had A-K. After the cutoff folded, I was looking at a potential chop. I had $440 more and put it all in as there was one card to come and he might actually lay down A-K even for just $190 more. He was that tight. After deliberating, he called. Nothing of note on the river and he held out his cards, ready to muck. I said, "I think we're chopping," and turned mine up. He was clearly surprised as he revealed 8-6. He expected me to have him kicked, probably with a suited A. Oops again.
That was the end of the night for me. Of course, I took it all in stride. But I've been going over it ever since. I've come to two conclusions. 1) I wasn't betting to find out where I was as I should have. Instead, I was betting having convinced myself that I had the best hand. 2) Each time the money went in, I was behind. That is unusual. I tend to have way the best of it in big pots or I get away from big hands when I know I am beat. That didn't happen this night.
I was a bit shaken after that outing. It was the largest single session loss I've ever incurred. But it hasn't harmed my confidence and, I hope, it hasn't altered my game. I'm looking forward to getting back in action tonight. There should be one more week of good action at the Bike while the Winning O' The Green tourneys are running then I'll be off to Vegas for a long weekend of poker and pool.
SEEYa
I've been rolling along for a few weeks, playing very tight and never losing much in any session. All my wins have been significantly larger than any of my losses by session. However, that all took a turn in my last day at the office. On Monday, I played my regular game at the Bike starting at my usual time. But the crowd was a little different. There were four 5-5NLH tables running and a quick overview of each showed an overabundance of type players. That's not exactly what I like to see. The result is usually no action until two players get involved with set over set or something like that. And that described my table perfectly.
I managed to more than double my stack when I flopped bottom set against a tight player who had a big over-pair. So I had about $1100 in play when I picked up Ad-Ah in late position. I raised and four of us saw the flop. It was 8-high, all hearts. UTG lead out for $50 and the next player called. The next to act folded and I decided to raise to $150 thinking that I had the best hand. Then the original bettor moved all-in. I thought he probably had a set but may have had pocket 10s with a heart. It didn't take me too long to call. He had Jh-Th and no other hearts appeared on board. The call was for another $480. I had no problem with my play or the results at the time. In hindsight, however, I should have given the guy more credit. I figured I was most likely behind so I was gambling with what I hoped was 11 outs.
Not long after that, I saw a free flop from the blind with K-To. I lead out on a K-8-5 board and got two callers. The turn was a T. I liked that card as I didn't put either opponent on A-Q or A-J...they were in the cutoff and on the button and, being tight themselves, would have raised pre-flop with those hands...Q-J was out of the question because neither would call the flop with it. This time, there was only one caller. The river was an A. I didn't like that one because I felt I could be up against two pair. If I was, a bet would be followed by a raise that I would be committed to call as I only had $125 left. If I checked, I thought, I might only have to call $60 or $80 to find out. So I checked. The guy moved in for $150! Oops! As I replayed the hand, it was clear that he would have played it the exact same way with a set of fives. It was less likely that he would have A-8 and not at all likely that he would have any other combination to make up two-pair. But I thought I might still be good and had a good price to find out. So I called. A-8 it was. Chips; table 18!
I won a few pots with my next buy-in to help bulk up my stack. Then I landed the black Aces in the small blind. Several players had limped and I raised. 3 out of the 5 called. 7-5-2 flop, all black. I was first to act, obviously, and bet out. There was a raise from middle position and everyone else folded. I reraised and he moved all-in. This time, it would cost me my remaining $240 for a pot of over $700. Again, I should have given this guy credit because he is so tight...and I did. But there was enough of a chance that he had an over-pair like Ts or Js and 3-1 on the call so I called after exclaiming that it felt "let a set but I have no read." Ducks for bottom set and they held up. Chips; table 18!
Now normally, I would quit after dropping two buy-ins. But there were so many chips in play at the table (thanks in part to me) and I wasn't really running "bad" so I decided to stick around.
Again, I built upon my new stack when I found A-Ko on the button. An early player min-raised to $10 after a few players had limped. I had seen him do this once before with A-K in the same position. Then the cutoff raised to $25. I decided to flat call to disguise my hand. Both raisers and I went to the flop: 8-3-8. It checked around and the turn brought a K. Now the min-raiser bet out $50. The cutoff raised to $100. I thought about reraising but decided I could just call and get heads up in position against the cutoff. I really thought the min-raiser would bail out. Instead, he raised $250 more. Now I really thought he had A-K. After the cutoff folded, I was looking at a potential chop. I had $440 more and put it all in as there was one card to come and he might actually lay down A-K even for just $190 more. He was that tight. After deliberating, he called. Nothing of note on the river and he held out his cards, ready to muck. I said, "I think we're chopping," and turned mine up. He was clearly surprised as he revealed 8-6. He expected me to have him kicked, probably with a suited A. Oops again.
That was the end of the night for me. Of course, I took it all in stride. But I've been going over it ever since. I've come to two conclusions. 1) I wasn't betting to find out where I was as I should have. Instead, I was betting having convinced myself that I had the best hand. 2) Each time the money went in, I was behind. That is unusual. I tend to have way the best of it in big pots or I get away from big hands when I know I am beat. That didn't happen this night.
I was a bit shaken after that outing. It was the largest single session loss I've ever incurred. But it hasn't harmed my confidence and, I hope, it hasn't altered my game. I'm looking forward to getting back in action tonight. There should be one more week of good action at the Bike while the Winning O' The Green tourneys are running then I'll be off to Vegas for a long weekend of poker and pool.
SEEYa
Friday, February 23, 2007
Quads?
I've added a new link (at right) to a blog I just found on a site that I have frequented for a long time. Steve Vai is one of the greatest guitarists around. I would go so far as to say he is the best of the best. Even if you don't know who he is, you've probably heard his music. Check him out.
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Admittedly, the title of this post is in bad taste. Here is why...
Yesterday, I had my poker play criticized by a quadriplegic guy. I sat next to him in a tournament a long time ago and have since seen him around, but this was the first time playing in a cash game with him. The tourney stint was shorter as cash games tend to go much longer with the same people. So there had to be a revalation.
This guy plays with the assistance of a friend who does not play. He lifts his cards for him to see then acts on whatever he says to do -- bet 25, fold, etc. My past impression was that he was quiet, a solid player, and a nice guy. I had assumed that he had a better perspective on the game and life since he had to "persevere" through something the rest of us have not. But it turns out he's a dick. (So I'll refer to him as Dick.)
Dick was in the 4 seat with his assistant in the 4 1/2 seat. There was a hand in which someone raised in middle position (it might have been me in the 9 seat). The 1s called and the 2s reraised. (BTW, I hate the term "reraise." A raise is a raise as far as I am concerned. But I admit it helps in describing hands in print.) It folded all the way back around to the 1s who made another big raise. It was an odd play and sent the 2s into the tank. He had only been thinking for about 20 to 30 seconds when Dick asked for a clock. The 3s seemed to be a friend of the 2s so he spoke up. DIck protested that it had been two minutes but the rest of us agreed that it had not been very long at all. We also all realized there was alot of money in the pot so a little time to think was certainly warranted. The floor man arrived and agreed with the majority (8-1 1/2...DIck's assistant had thrown in his two cents) and declined to start a clock. It didn't take much longer for the 2s to act, folding, and discussion resumed about Dick being too quick to call for time. Then he said, "I don't mind the decision. I'm just mad about your girlfriend getting involved." Dick, of course, was referring to seat 3. And that didn't go over well.
I was surprised. My perception of him was smashed. Then a very strange hand went down. Dick's handler left the table leaving the dealer to reach across and turn up the corner of his cards for him to see. He was under the gun with a straddle on. As the dealer showed him his cards, he exclaimed, "He saw my cards," with his eyes averted to his right toward seat 3. But the guy in seat 3 had been sitting forward with his head down and his view impeded by his own cap. 3s didn't say anything until directly questioned to which he simply shook head. Dick persisted a little longer but I defended the 3s as he had made no extra effort to see his neighbor's cards and it wouldn't matter anyway.
Dick finally gave up and called the $10 straddle. There were a couple other callers and I found A-Ko on the button. I raised to $55 to get rid of some of the limpers. Both blinds folded and the straddler in the 3s called. Then Dick completed a limp-reraise play declaring all-in for $210 total. It folded back to me and I thought about it for a while, trying to talk myself into calling. But I was at best in a race situation. I decided against it and folded. Back to seat 3. He thought for a moment then folded as well. Discussion broke out around the table and everyone egreed that I could have and, likely, should have called. Then Dick chimed in. He claimed to have had Aces and lectured me, "You shouldn't raise if you can't call." The 3s and I exchanged a look of bemusement. I entertained the statement and suggested that it did not actually apply to the situation at hand. He abruptly responded, "Yes it does!" Me: Done. There was no chance for a thoughtful conversation.
There were a few other times Dick made ignorrant and annoying statements throughout the night. For instance, he was called down through the turn by a player who had the nut flush and straight draws. The draws missed, they checked the river and, upon seeing the losing missed draw, he belittled the other player (a very strong player) querying, "Why were you calling?" He certainly solidified his new moniker.
SEEYa
---------------------------------------------------------------
Admittedly, the title of this post is in bad taste. Here is why...
Yesterday, I had my poker play criticized by a quadriplegic guy. I sat next to him in a tournament a long time ago and have since seen him around, but this was the first time playing in a cash game with him. The tourney stint was shorter as cash games tend to go much longer with the same people. So there had to be a revalation.
This guy plays with the assistance of a friend who does not play. He lifts his cards for him to see then acts on whatever he says to do -- bet 25, fold, etc. My past impression was that he was quiet, a solid player, and a nice guy. I had assumed that he had a better perspective on the game and life since he had to "persevere" through something the rest of us have not. But it turns out he's a dick. (So I'll refer to him as Dick.)
Dick was in the 4 seat with his assistant in the 4 1/2 seat. There was a hand in which someone raised in middle position (it might have been me in the 9 seat). The 1s called and the 2s reraised. (BTW, I hate the term "reraise." A raise is a raise as far as I am concerned. But I admit it helps in describing hands in print.) It folded all the way back around to the 1s who made another big raise. It was an odd play and sent the 2s into the tank. He had only been thinking for about 20 to 30 seconds when Dick asked for a clock. The 3s seemed to be a friend of the 2s so he spoke up. DIck protested that it had been two minutes but the rest of us agreed that it had not been very long at all. We also all realized there was alot of money in the pot so a little time to think was certainly warranted. The floor man arrived and agreed with the majority (8-1 1/2...DIck's assistant had thrown in his two cents) and declined to start a clock. It didn't take much longer for the 2s to act, folding, and discussion resumed about Dick being too quick to call for time. Then he said, "I don't mind the decision. I'm just mad about your girlfriend getting involved." Dick, of course, was referring to seat 3. And that didn't go over well.
I was surprised. My perception of him was smashed. Then a very strange hand went down. Dick's handler left the table leaving the dealer to reach across and turn up the corner of his cards for him to see. He was under the gun with a straddle on. As the dealer showed him his cards, he exclaimed, "He saw my cards," with his eyes averted to his right toward seat 3. But the guy in seat 3 had been sitting forward with his head down and his view impeded by his own cap. 3s didn't say anything until directly questioned to which he simply shook head. Dick persisted a little longer but I defended the 3s as he had made no extra effort to see his neighbor's cards and it wouldn't matter anyway.
Dick finally gave up and called the $10 straddle. There were a couple other callers and I found A-Ko on the button. I raised to $55 to get rid of some of the limpers. Both blinds folded and the straddler in the 3s called. Then Dick completed a limp-reraise play declaring all-in for $210 total. It folded back to me and I thought about it for a while, trying to talk myself into calling. But I was at best in a race situation. I decided against it and folded. Back to seat 3. He thought for a moment then folded as well. Discussion broke out around the table and everyone egreed that I could have and, likely, should have called. Then Dick chimed in. He claimed to have had Aces and lectured me, "You shouldn't raise if you can't call." The 3s and I exchanged a look of bemusement. I entertained the statement and suggested that it did not actually apply to the situation at hand. He abruptly responded, "Yes it does!" Me: Done. There was no chance for a thoughtful conversation.
There were a few other times Dick made ignorrant and annoying statements throughout the night. For instance, he was called down through the turn by a player who had the nut flush and straight draws. The draws missed, they checked the river and, upon seeing the losing missed draw, he belittled the other player (a very strong player) querying, "Why were you calling?" He certainly solidified his new moniker.
SEEYa
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