In Between

Almost a week without a post.  It’s mainly due to me not having much time coupled with not having much to write about either.

The poker is going what I’d call “meh.”  The bankroll is pretty stagnant, but I can’t necessarily fault my play either.  I’d be up a healthy amount if I could win a few of those coin-flip situations.  Not the pair vs. overcards pre-flop ones, it’s the 14-15 outs twice post-flop ones.  It seems that I’m not catching the outs I need and my opponents are.  I still like pushing in those spots on either end of it because any fold equity you have makes the play +EV.  Also, you tend not to get paid if you wait until the draw hits based on the board texture.  There’s probably $800 or so in pots in the last few days of which I’m theoretically entitled to 50%.  I have zero.  No worries though, I’ll catch my share eventually.

Over at the TalkingPoker.com forum, they’re having a February 5/10 6-max limit hold ‘em challenge.  I was thinking of trying it, but realized there’s no way in high heaven that I’ll log 5000 hands in a month.  Regardless, I’m still going to see what I can do at the 5/10 game for a while.  Based on the first night, the 5/10 6-max tables are full of maniacs.  Two pair on the board?  Any Ace is gold!  I logged 150 hands and managed a statistically improbable 14.86BB/100 win rate.  That obviously won’t continue, but I chalk that win rate up solely to table selection.  Sure, I had AA cracked on hand #5, but the monsters I held were paid off in spades.  Or clubs if that’s what gets you going.  Otis made a comment to me in passing in Tunica that has stuck with me concerning my limit hold ‘em game.  I will either prove him wrong or right.

I’m also working on a small project that’s going to end up taking more time than I thought.  The final product will probably be high-end stupid, but that’s not going to stop me.  The G-Vegas crew knows what it is based on Thursday’s NL ring game at Otis’ house.  And that’s all I have to say about that for now.

Scared Money

When it’s at the table, can you see it? Sometimes you’ll have to look in the mirror, but usually it will be there.

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Hank comes out of his FullTilt coding bunker with a post this week, which is nice to see. His bankroll-type post is spot on, as usual. I’d like to comment on his type #4 – Scared money.

Last weekend in Tunica I was both the hunter and the hunted. Rather than chronologically discuss my adventures, I’ll relay them as they occurred to me – which unfortunately was in a backwards fashion.

At the Golden Buddha 1/2NL game on Saturday, there was a young kid to my right who was stuck. He wasn’t ashamed to admit that he just wanted to get even, but more than that, it was obvious to me that he was playing above his normal limits. Even though the 1/2NL game is the low-limit NL that you’ll find in casinos, online you have more lower limit choices.

I called a pre-flop raise from the kid with 47s, not quite a real hand. But, I had position and there was a legitimate possibility that I could outplay the scared money at the table. The flop came K-high with two hearts. The continuation bet from scared money told me everything I needed to know. He no longer liked his hand. So I smooth called because that’s the least information I could give about my hand to my lone opponent.

When the turn brought a 3rd heart and a check, I knew I could take the pot away. I even said aloud “I think I’m going to try to take this one away from you,” and made a pot-sized bet. He folded his pocket Queens.

****

Rewind back to the debacle known as Thursday in Tunica. At the Grand Casino, 2/5NL was the only no-limit game in town. I sat down nonetheless without even two buy-ins in my cash roll. From Hank:

…but is playing a limit where a loss will put a serious dent in his bankroll.

I made my best efforts not to play scared. On one hand I believe I succeeded. With pocket Jacks, I raised and got the button and the big blind to call. The flop was King-high and I bet hard at it. I had to. A check would be waiving the surrender flag. Luckily, the other callers folded and I won. But disaster would not be diverted entirely.

…this player will usually “pick a hand and go with it.” …it is often difficult for him to get away from the hand.

Holding AK and having position on a limp-caller, I made a huge continuation bet on an KQT flop. My opponent check-raised me all-in. I could not get away and busted out to his KT. I should have folded; that board was obviously scary and TPTK was obviously no good. But my money was scared and I played like it.

****

After playing on Saturday, if even I could recognize the scared money at the 1/2NL table, then regulars to the 2/5NL game should EASILY be able to recognize the scared money that I was. I walked right into the trap and suffered for it.

Fortune Smiles

Luck comes in many forms.  Perhaps there is some physical but undetectable particle that causes a random event to occur one way instead of another.  Perhaps our realities are constantly splitting into alternate ones, each split producing different outcomes – one positive, one negative.  Just ask Schroedinger’s cat.  Or Tasha Yar.

Whatever it is, after last Thursday’s early poker debacle, I knew I needed my share.  I sat at a $4/$8 table all by my lonesome it seemed while the remainder of G-Vegas traded barbs, cheques and check-raises at the $2/$5 NL table.  Even at the limit poker table, I was down a bit of my buy-in when The Luckbox walked over to check in on my status.  I fought the good fight, smiled a little and said, “I’m hangin’ in there.”  Plus Six Sigma walked back to his $2/$5 game and I played some more limit poker.

Oddly enough, my luck changed.

Coincidence?  Did Lafayette’s version of Longshot just empower me with a temporary ability to suckout?  When I spiked a six on the river with my pocket 6’s to drag a huge pot, I thought so.  When I caught runner-runner clubs for the nut flush when TWO OTHER people also caught runner-runner flushes, I knew so.

I was sold.  So much so that on Friday, I had CJ rub my head not once, but twice, to ensure that my luck continue.  As it were, I had the best poker-playing day of my career that day.

****

On Saturday, I sat back down at the Golden Banana’s $1/$2 table hoping to secure another winning day.  Spaceman stopped by the table to wish me some good luck in during a break in his WPT coverage.  He saw me lose my entire stack on hand #1 as I grossly misplayed KQs.  I was going to have to work hard to recoup an early deficit.

Sadly, CJ remained at the Grand, having to save up his entire bit of luck reserves for the WSOPC event he was playing along with Otis and Iggy.  I, on the other hand, would have to make my own luck.

****

I firmly believe in tipping the dealers.  They work hard and deserve a tip.  Even if I just win the blinds, I’ll give them a dollar.  On Saturday, I pre-tipped a dealer named Charles, throwing him a $5 chip and then asking him for a playable hand.  “Deal me a hand Charles,” I announced.  Charles complied.

The first card I was dealt slid all the way under the rail.  We had to pry the rail up from the table just to retrieve it.  It was the 8 of hearts.  The second card came and it was the 6 of clubs.  A monster.  I was on the button and when nearly everyone limped in, I tossed in my $2 and said “Charles dealt me a hand, be careful.”

The flop came 245 rainbow.  To the uninitiated, the flop may have appeared to have missed me.  But for whatever reason, double belly-buster straight draws jump right out at me and I didn’t miss this one.  The action checked around to me on the button and I made nearly a pot sized bet of $10.  Again I said, “Charles has dealt me a hand here.”  The BB called, but out of nowhere, a person two to my right check-raised me to $30.  Wasn’t he listening?

I called, but the big blind folded.  The turn came.  Somewhere CJ was smiling.

The check-raiser checked again.  I bet my nuts for $100 and the older guy came over the top all in.  Err….call?  He showed A3 for the flopped wheel, but was drawing dead to my straight to the 8.  “Thank you Charles,” and another $5 chip was tossed his way.

****

I’m sure we all want to be skilled poker players at heart.  Skill is something we control, but the luck factor is in someone else’s hands.  Whether you can make your own luck or rely on someone or something else to bestow it upon you, don’t turn your back on it.  Accept your good fortune and pray that it lasts.  I raise a toast to The Luckbox.

How Much Do You Have Left, Sir?

At last, I’m back home. Nine hours in a car with G-Rob on Thursday and Sunday is a marathon few could complete. Dueling iPod’s waged war with each other. It was Phish vs. In Flames. We’re still not sure who won. Now, on to the poker!

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I’m starting my trip report with a recap of Friday. I was going to post about Thursday night, but rather than bore the reader with a recap of how I got stuck early for the most money I’ve ever lost in a live session, I’d rather talk about the good.

And Friday was good. Real good. It’s nice to post your best ever live win the day after posting your worst ever live loss. Vindication one time, baby.

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I sat down at a brand, spankin’ new $1/$2 NL table with a bunch of like minded donkeys at the Gold Strike casino card room. My mind was fresh and I was enthusiastic to play well especially considering that this card room used ChipCo chips. I love ChipCo chips. Mmmmm…

Things started off well when my first pocket Aces of the trip did not get cracked and won me a nice $80 pot against someone who flopped top pair with QJ. Then it started. I began to felt some people. There is no other better feeling in the poker world than to felt someone at the NL ring game. None. Let’s recap a few hands.

1. Pocket K’s in MP. A pre-flop raiser makes it $12 and I pop it to $30. Only the pre-flop raiser calls and the flop is TTT. I figure my hand is good and when the pre-flop raiser bets out $50, I ask, “How much do you have left, sir?” I put him all-in and he calls with AK. No Ace and no case ten, and MHIG.
2. Pocket J’s in the SB. An EP raiser makes it $12 and it’s called twice before getting back to me in the small blind. I call. The flop is QJx rainbow and I get sneaky with a check. It’s checked all around. The turn is an 8 and I bet out $50. An LP caller raises me to $100 and I ask, “How much do you have left, sir?” I put him all-in and he calls with his turned set of 8’s. No case 8 and MHIG.
3. I was dealt a hand and there was some confusion about who was in the pot since someone who had been away just sat down again and didn’t post his missed blinds. The dealer asked for all the cards back, and stupidly, I looked at my now dead hole cards. Pocket Q’s. Ugh. I figured Karma would make up for it. The very next hand I’m dealt 97 of hearts. I call a small raise from the button and 4 people see a flop of 89T. The 8 and the T are hearts. I’ve flopped an OESFD and middle pair. The EP raiser bets $10, 1 caller comes along and I call as well. The turn is a 9. Now I still have the OESFD and trip 9’s. I’ve got to be feeling pretty good about my hand right now. The EP raiser bets $15, 1 caller stays with us and I call too. The river? What was the river you ask? If you looked at my pants, you’d instantly know that it was the 6 of hearts. My OESFD just became an honest-to-goodness straight flush. The EP raiser now bet out $50 and the caller went into the tank. I was praying for a call, but the guy managed to lay down his straight he would later say. I ask “How much do you have left sir?” and put him all-in. He calls and says incredulously, “What do you have, a straight flush?” “Yes, yes I do,” I respond. His pocket T’s and his full house were no good. M-m-m-m-monster pot comes my way. I clean myself up in the men’s room not soon after.

At one point in the ring game, I had roughly $1100 sitting in front of me. I completely erased my first day’s loss and was relieved to say the least.

****

G-Rob and I cashed out of the Gold Tooth and went back to the Grand where we were staying. We met up with Iggy and Tuscaloosa Johnny and sat down at a $120 single table satellite. Understanding that the SNG was a crap shoot, I just played my strong hands hard. I managed to chop 1st with a random guy after I eliminated G-Rob in 3rd. Add another $430 profit to my day and I finished Friday up over $1100, by far my biggest live winning day ever.

More to come…

G-Vegas on the Road

I've managed to secure a ticket on the G-Rob express. BB and the UpForPoker crew will be in Tunica by this evening. Reports to follow.

WWdN Victory Brew

 


I went downstairs at the break with 3 left to get my last beer. Luck of the Pauly prevailed. Thanks to all the railbirds, it was a total blast. 

G-Vegas vs. The Big Game

I really loved watching the GSN Big Cash game last night.  What a cast of characters.  It’s comforting to know that poker is poker is poker at least on some level no matter what the stakes.  Here’s a quick run down of that game compared to the regular G-Vegas no limit game.

Daniel Negreanu ran over the table early.  His aggressive style with garbage superbly disguised the times when he held his monster hands.  Combine that with his talkative demeanor and you basically have G-Rob in a nutshell.

In the category of not-so-subtle reminders, Texas Dolly pulled the classic limp/re-raise all-in with AKo.  The message was clear:  I’m at this table too with a big stack.  Don’t fuck with me Kid.  With all that gamble in him, one can compare that style to TheMark who’s always looking to make his presence known at the table.

Jerry Buss was there too.  Big money with deep pockets and a decent, but not world-class level of play, he reminds me of The Rankster.  Both are quiet and are there to play some cards; perhaps learning from some of the better players surrounding them during their stay.

I tell you one thing.  If I’m a gynecologist, I’m living in Las Vegas.  That guy’s business must thrive beyond belief in the City of Sin.  “Hey doc, should anything be growing down here?  Didn’t think so.”  Oddly, he was the big winner with a set over set hand against Ted Forrest.  His style is reminiscent of Teddy Ballgame – a bit loud, a bit abrasive and willing to put some cash in the pot.

My co-worker Random101 put my style on that of the young kid.  Probably because he was bald too.  Thanks.

****

Some other observations:

Ted Forrest’s call of the all-in is debatable.  Now, I’m not saying I can make that laydown there, but I have seen others do so.  When I was at The Palms back in October, I witnessed one guy bet out big with top two pair, and then one guy raise $200, about 1/3rd his stack.  A guy in late position then went all in.  The board was uncoordinated and rainbow.  Both EP bettors folded.  The second guy folded his bottom set face up.  So I’m just saying I’ve seen it done.  On the 245 board, can you really think you’re good?  I’m interested to hear other’s opinions on that hand.

Poor Sammy Farha.  Guy couldn’t buy a seat.  I did notice that the game was 8-handed.  I just know I’d make room for Sammy at my table, if for no other reason than to liven it up.

G-Vegas needs some waitresses.  There once was a rumor that one semi-regular player could get one of his co-workers to serve beer for us all night.  We asked him what she looked like and he simply said, “She’s 18, and unbelievably hot.”  We then asked how much money she wanted and he said $20 would do.  On cue, everyone at the table reached for $20 and told him to make the phone call.  He said, “Not $20 per person, $20 total.”   He never called.  Talk about disappointment.

I will say this however, Mrs_All_In makes one killer late night bacon and eggs.  Killer.

****

Two closing notes:

First, I had a winning session.  Yes you read that correctly.  Took a small step up in limits and played some of my best poker in a while.  Post forthcoming.

Secondly, I sent my chip design in.  Some comments:  

“you have what looks to be a pretty solid Illustrator file”
“your art looks good and pretty much ready to go”

Color me excited.  I’ll let you all know when I pull the trigger.