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
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