And Now For Some Poker
I have succeeded in playing some-what less, including 2-3 days of no play.
I wasn't even planning on playing last night, but an online group I know, plays a $20+2 tournament. Most people know each other very well from the message boards.
It's technically a MTT but usually has no more than two tables. Mondays I have class and don't get home in time. However, last night class ended early and I got home 10 minutes before the tournament started. The mrs and baby were sleeping, so I figured, what the hell.
I played pretty well- made a few good plays, was able to steal some pots with continuation bets, got some hands. Early on, I was 2nd in chips by about 30 (well exactly 30). The slightly bigger stack raised (either UTG or UTG+1).
It was early and I think she made it 180. I re-raised with AA on the button to 500. She calls.
Flop comes Q high and she insta-pushes. I think, but not for long, since I believe she would have checked a set. I call and she flips over AQ and she's crippled and I'm big stack. I pretty much had the chip lead until we got very short-handed.
Another key hand I put on a pretty big beat. Blinds I think were 60/120. I was in the BB with 9d7d. The UTG was super short stacked. He had around 450. He pushes. Everyone folds to me.
NOTE: UTG was the guy in the BB on this hand. At the time with 7s8s, I flopped trip 7s vs his AK. Now I realize that time, it was a bad call because there were bigger stacks behind me left to act and I only called. Pushing would have been a better option than calling. Either way... Now, same guy.
He pushed for about 450, and it folds around to me. I know I'm beat, but I have over 5000 in chips. There's about 7 players left. Only top 4 pays. I have a big enough stack that calling him will NOT hurt me in anyway AND I have a chance to knock out a player.
As you can guess, I call. He flips over TT. Flop gives me a pair of 7s, and the turn brings the 9 and he's out. He was less than happy about it.
I did get AA two more times. the 2nd time I got nothing but the blinds, and the third time I managed to knock out a smaller stack.
When we got to 4 and 5 handed things definitely slowed down, despite the bigger blinds. What was funny was that I played pretty tight the entire game. But did show two bluffs.. one was a semi-bluff...
When we were short handed, I lost the chip lead. The previous hand I ended up turning 2 pair, but the river brought I believe 4 to a straight on the board and had to let my hand go when someone pushed.
The next hand I was dealt 72 soooted. I raised made it a pot sized bet I think it was about 700. I get one caller. The flop comes with a 2-K- and I think a middlish card. I bet the pot about 1400 and it leaves me with only about 1300. My opponent thinks for a while and folds. I show my pair of 2s. He wasn't happy about that.
I got 72 and bluffed, but can't remember if I won teh hand or the raise or had to make a 2nd stab at it. I showed it again and people were really getting annoyed.
I get to heads up against the first guy I bluffed 72 off and had him down low, then he started to build back up, I'd knock him down a bit, and he'd build back up.
It ended when he raised from the button and I called with JT. Flop gives me 2 pair and I check. He checks. I check the turn he pushes and I call. he had K4 suited- no draws.
Nice win booked for $88.
How To Break Your Child's Heart
This was going to be a post about how we broke our daughters heart by making her give up her binky (pacifier for you non-parents out there).
Basically, a couple of days after we got home from vacation we noticed that her binky was about to break and if broke while she slept, she could choke. Of course we noticed just as she was getting ready for bed (the only time she uses her binky). We explained that she couldn't use it, gave her options- use it until fall asleep, then the Binky-Fairy comes, offered to take her to Build-a-Bear, and put binky inside the bear. The whole time, all three of us are crying. She refuses all that and all she wants to do is throw it away. It was breaking out heart to watch her cry and cry as she drops her binky in the kitchen garbage.
The point of this is to focus on what a resilient daughter I have. As I wrote earlier, she was a perfect angel during our crappy travel day. And after the tears were shed and we went upstairs to read, she was in a good mood. She hasn't asked us for it since.
We are very lucky.
Crappy Travel Day
As some of you read, I took a vacation with my wife and daughter. We went to Florida to visit my family. I’ve traveled a lot. I enjoy traveling, except the occasions when I get massive headaches that literally (and yes I’m using that term appropriately- make it feel like my head is about to explode). One time when I traveled for business and landed for a layover, I got off the plane, rounded a corner, dropped my carry-ons and started bawling my eyes out. I had to call my wife, still crying to tell her I loved her because I was scared I was about to die. I almost couldn’t bring myself to get on the next flight.
OK, Anyway, the point, I’ve traveled plenty and had my share of hiccups, missed flights, delayed flights (I’ve been stranded at O’Hare a few times, including sleeping in the terminal on my luggage), I’ve had luggage lost, all the typical issues. But this was one of the worst.
The day were supposed to fly, they’re of course predicting horrible weather in the northeast. So I check the Southwest website. A 10 minute delay, no biggie. We’re about an hour and a half from the airport, so we head out. My dad is driving us. “You should call the airline and see what the status is.” I tell him it’s too early. It was just delayed 10 minutes. And honestly, I just want to get to the airport. I’m expecting a delay. With this kind of weather, it’s gonna come. But I want to be at the airport to be prepared for any changes. I don’t call. Finally, we’re almost at the airport… my dad again, suggests I call. “OK, fine, I will.” I call their automated line and enter the flight number.
“The flight has been canceled.” No one believes me and thinks I’m kidding. I repeat myself numerous times and I’m transferred to an agent to help reschedule. We’re driving and can’t decide on what we want to do so decide to hang up and once we know what we want to do, call them back. We make a decision to get on the first flight in the morning. I call them back, and when I enter my flight # it says it will transfer me, then transfers me to a Bank of America customer service line? HUH? I hang up again, this time, it just hangs up on me when I transfer.
I finally get a hold of someone and book on the first flight in the morning, 9:40am. We turn around and get back to my folks place. Most of us are all in pissy moods. Things get better around dinner time and we’re all happy again.
We get up super early to get to the airport, again, anticipating a delay from the heavy snow that night. Sure enough, 3 hour delay. Our 9:40 flight takes off at 12:30. The flight is an easy one, we land around 3pm and go to get our luggage.
Lambert Airport in St. Louis was the worst baggage claim I’ve ever had to deal with, it ALWAYS took forever, and it wasn’t that big of an airport. We had to wait about an hour and a half before they finally spit out luggage out.
Now during all this, I have to say, my daughter was an ABSOLUTE angel. She was so good and happy. She played, she read, she watched her DVD player (even though there was a big crack in the screen right in the center). She was perfect. She made it sooo much easier than it could have been
Instead of going right home, we stopped Friendly’s for dinner. Then got home. Then spent 2 hours shoveling our driveway in the dark. What was about 6-8 inches on the driveway, was a foot of snow, solid, heavy icy snow, that the street plows had pushed onto my driveway.
The end of a perfect day.
Tilt and Bank Roll Management
I recently suffered some stingy losses. And they weren't my fault. Sure there was some bad play, but it wasn't my fault. I was suffering from Tilt.... and poor bankroll management.
I had my bankroll down to $175. With that amount, I should only be buying in for $5 @ a .05/.10 NL table. BUT I decided to buy in for 30, at a deep stack .10/.30 table. I blew through $30 pretty quickly. OK, I can get that back. Play tight and wait for a big hand. I buy in for $30. I lose that through bad play. OK... $30 more.. I'll REALLY be patient this time. Type your
I'm in the BB w/ LeDawn (Kc7c). One person min raises, and I call. Flop comes with a 7, and one club. I'm not going crazy, I check, so does he. Flop comes another club. I check, so does he. River comes a 3rd club. Ta da... Got what I wanted. He ends up pushing and I call. He shows AcQc. At the same time I lost $10 at .10/.25 table. I'm Tilty McTilterson. I blew through $100 of my $175 in less than an hour.
I didn't learn my lesson. When I returned home from taking my daughter to day care, I had about an 30 mins to play. I bought in for $10 at the .10/.25 (instead of $5 @ .05/.10).
I managed to get JJ and double up when the guy didn't hit his draw. Then my ride showed up and got JJ again (it was the VERY next hand). I'm Tilty! I have about $18.00. One limper, I push all in. Limper calls.... WITH KJ!!!!! My hand holds up and I made a nice little profit.
When I got back from my appointment I played the $5 @ .05/.10 nl short hand, and managed to turn a profit there (after re-buying).
So I'm just over $100 and basically have to see if I can rebuild this sucker. But seriously, I'm going away for a week and probably won't play much.
Seriously...
No really...
Well maybe a little bit...
Shut it!
Big Hands
I love AA vs AA vs XX. XX wisely folded, and unfortuantely the amount he put in first was not enough to cover the rake, which meant, that it was going to be a loss for the two of us.
I love AA vs AA with a flop of 3 diamonds.
I love AA vs AA with a flop of 3 diamonds. Then a river of the 4th diamond.
I love AA vs AA when I have the Ace of Diamonds :)
The Crackhouse
Dawn has already put a small post about it at I Had Outs. But I did make it to the Crackhouse's March game. And while they assure me it was a shell of it's usual self, I still had a good time. Definitely an -EV trip in terms of cash, but well worth it to see the last half of Talladega Nights. No not really. The real pleasure was meeting the two hosts of my favorite Poker Blog. And putting faces to some of the other names that pop up on the blog (Mary, Alceste, as well as Dawn and Karol).
A mere 8 people showed up with a buy-in of $30 and one rebuy in the 1st 2 hours (only one person used it). I was short-stacked for quite a while. I didn't even have enough chips to shuffle. But the lovely Karol (or is it fiery, I can't remember which) was nice enough to loan me some chips to shuffle. I was good in that I never bet them. Which I was tempted to do. I, of course, repaid her kindness by turning a 3 in when my 33 went up against her JJ.... um... sorry.
My favorite quote of the night was curtesy of Karol after that beat.
Me: Republican money is the best money.
Karol: All money is Republican money.
Ladies, I had a fun time. And hopefully can get a chance to play again. Let me know when you can make it up to Foxwoods and I'll meet you out there.
The Slump
Well, throughout February, I turned by poker around and turned my last $20.00 into $400.00. Over the last week or two, I've taken cash from people and transferred some money to their Full Tilt account. I went on a run of excellent finishes in the $11+1 Turbo SnGs. Now I've been slumping in my SnGs and haven't been performing up to snuff in my cash games either. Yuck. I've dropped my $400.00 down to $178 (the extra 29 came from finally breaking my streak and finishing 2nd in one of those SnGs). The only bright side is that I'm still up for the year, depositing a total of $150 (and I've "withdrawn" $110 that I transferred to other people).
So my game has gone to crap and I think I'm going to take a hiatus. It might actually be a two weeks until I play again...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Yeah right.
Seriously, I am going on vacation with the family to Florida, so we'll see. My mom has a laptop so maybe I'll be sitting by the pool playing some poker. Basically the rest of the week I want to limit my playing time... We'll see how that goes.
People Disgust Me
Father, daughter die in suspicious plane crash
While I believe, suicide is never a solution, if you're gonna do it, be a fuckin' man and do it alone. Who the hell takes their daughter with them. Asshole.
I'm No David Williams
Not only haven't I performed in a S&M pornographic movie, and I'm not a cheating Tournament Magic: The Gathering Player. But I also can't lay down a set.
For any of you that watch UPC: Cash Poker, David Williams was in position against two other players. He had pocket 10s. I don't remember the flop, but he flopped a set. Player A (a hyper aggressive player) flopped a straight draw. He bet out, Player B flopped the straight. He pushes all-in for about $20K. David Williams has a look of complete shock on his face. He takes a couple of seconds then mucks it. Player A folds as well and David Williams had to wait until it airs to know he made a great laydown.
Had a similiar situation (different position) happen last night at a .10/.25NL (6max).
Full Tilt Poker Game #1902507686: Table Jeanne (6 max) - $0.10/$0.25 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:43:55 ET - 2007/03/02
Seat 1: pmpdaddyred ($46.75)
Seat 2: Leviathan101 ($66.65)
Seat 3: TruePlayya ($24.40)
Seat 4: KULakester ($48.60), is sitting out
Seat 5: Unimpressed ($16.85) (I bought in for $15 and fluctuated btwn $10-$20)
Seat 6: Johnam ($21.10)
Unimpressed posts the small blind of $0.10
Johnam posts the big blind of $0.25
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Unimpressed [4s 4d]
pmpdaddyred calls $0.25
Leviathan101 folds
TruePlayya calls $0.25
Unimpressed calls $0.15
Johnam raises to $0.50 - I seriously hate the min raise?
pmpdaddyred calls $0.25
TruePlayya calls $0.25
Unimpressed calls $0.25
*** FLOP *** [7s 3h 4c] - SWEET.
Unimpressed checks
Johnam bets $1
pmpdaddyred raises to $4
TruePlayya calls $4
Unimpressed raises to $16.35, and is all in
Johnam raises to $20.60, and is all in
pmpdaddyred folds
TruePlayya: YES
TruePlayya: shipit - Never mock on Full Tilt.
TruePlayya: sexy
TruePlayya calls $16.60
Johnam shows [Ac As]
TruePlayya shows [6s 5s]
Unimpressed shows [4s 4d]
*** TURN *** [7s 3h 4c] [7h] - Oh the seven, how I love thee! no 7 no ace, no 7 no ace!
*** RIVER *** [7s 3h 4c 7h] [9h]
Johnam shows two pair, Aces and Sevens
TruePlayya shows a straight, Seven high
TruePlayya wins the side pot ($8.25) with a straight, Seven high
Unimpressed shows a full house, Fours full of Sevens
Unimpressed wins the main pot ($52.30) with a full house, Fours full of Sevens
pmpdaddyred: hahaha
Unimpressed: Or not.
Johnam is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $63.55 Main pot $55.05. Side pot $8.50. Rake $3
Board: [7s 3h 4c 7h 9h]
Seat 1: pmpdaddyred folded on the Flop
Seat 2: Leviathan101 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: TruePlayya (button) showed [6s 5s] and won ($8.25) with a straight, Seven high
Seat 4: KULakester is sitting out
Seat 5: Unimpressed (small blind) showed [4s 4d] and won ($52.30) with a full house, Fours full of Sevens
Seat 6: Johnam (big blind) showed [Ac As] and lost with two pair, Aces and Sevens
So for those monitoring my diet. I've lost 20.5 lbs since the new year.
For those watching my bankroll, I've turned my $20 into $375 (that also takes into consideration the $50 I transferred to a friend who gave me cash in person).
"We will not compromise on our food and restaurant quality"
Rats in NY
I don't like rats in my food either, but seriously.. "compromise... our food and restuarant quality." It's a Taco Bell/KFC. I think the rats might help.
